Unusual Coins – Page 2 – North Shore Numismatic Society Vancouver

Pismo Beach Clamshell Money

21 October 2015 15 October 2015Unusual Coins

When the Depression and resulting banking crisis hit their community, the residents of the coastal town of Pismo Beach, California picked an unusual but logical medium of exchange. The pismo is a species of clam with a very thick shell, then found in large numbers along the California coast and prized as a food. A town named after the bivalves suggests an adequate supply of their shells. Perhaps with tongue in cheek, the merchants and officials of Pismo Beach (who were often the same people) decided to make the best of a bad situation, and to make the humble clam…

Somalia 2012 Guitar Coins

16 October 2015 11 October 2015Unusual Coins

Following the popularity of the 2008 Guitar Coins (see my earlier post on September 29), Somalia issued another six Guitar Coins in 2012. The 2012 issue consisted of the USA map guitar, which is similar to one believed to have been used by Rick Nelson of Cheap Trick and is based a guitar produced by Gibson. The double-necked Gibson guitar is based on a style used by Jimmy Page. The red rectangular guitar is based on a style used by Bo Diddley. The Gretsch White Falcon was used by Neil Young and others. The green Gibson reverse V was used…

Palau 2015 $5 Game Coin

12 October 2015 11 October 2015Unusual Coins

This Palau 2015 5 Dollar “Game Coin” is a REALLY BIG COIN. The high relief bronze coin is 180mm (7 inches) in diameter and weighs 680 grams (1 1/2 Pounds). One side consists of a treasure hunt game titled “The Treasure of the Cruel Captain”. Two players toss a dice to move their markers across the game coin to see who can get to the treasure first; however there are hazards on the way! The game can be enjoyed by players of any age. The other side features the arms of Palau. The coin has an attractive antique finish…

China Tea Brick Money

11 October 2015 11 October 2015Unusual Coins

The use of tea as a commercial trade item probably began with the heavy demand for fine Chinese tea from the Russian nobility. It was considered very valuable and only the rich could afford it. At first, dried leaves were transported from China to Russia by caravans of camels over the silk route. In time it was discovered that a more convenient commodity could be fashioned by processing the tea and forming it into solid bricks about the size of a large book. Eventually tea bricks became an accepted medium of exchange that could pass the same as silver…

Somalia 2008 3-D Coins

11 October 2015 11 October 2015Unusual Coins

In 2008, Somalia issued the first 3-D coins to commemorate geometric shapes in mathematics: from left to right, the Pyramid, the Cube, the Orb, the Cylinder, and the Cone. The coins were made of copper nickel and silver-plated, have a denomination of $1, and bear the Coat of Arms of Somalia. The coins proved so popular with collectors that the set was re-issued in 2014. Mintage figures of both sets are unknown. Image courtesy of StrangeBusiness.com (http://www.strangebusiness.com/content/item/168236.html)

Japan 1 Sen 1945

2 October 2015 2 October 2015Unusual Coins

Due to the shortage of metal in Japan caused by World War II, this 1945 1 Sen coin was made of baked clay and pressed into service. It circulated in central Japan for only a few days at the end of the war. The coin features Mt. Fuji on the obverse with the value of 1 Sen, while on the reverse is the Imperial Seal of Japan with the name of the issuing authority. The coin comes in two varieties, one in brown baked clay, and the other in red baked clay. Both are quite scarce and mintage is unknown.…

Wooden Coin from Democratic Republic of Congo

29 September 2015 29 September 2015Unusual Coins

Democratic Republic of Congo 5 Francs Reverse

This 2005 coin is made of Maple wood and was issued by the Congo to commemorate the efforts to protect gorillas and their rainforest habitat. The gorillas were once considered endangered due to poaching, clear cutting of the trees and disease but have made a comeback. Only 2,000 were made. Thank you Joel for the image. http://www.joelscoins.com/

Somalia Guitar Coins

29 September 2015 29 September 2015Unusual Coins

The multi-coloured silver-plated Guitar coins have proved unbelievably popular with coin collectors, guitar enthusiasts, Rock ‘n Roll fans and the general public. These multi-color guitar coins are designed after famous electric guitars. The coins were issued to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Rock ‘n Roll. The top row was issued in 2004 which included the classic red and white Fender Stratocaster, an American Flag Stars and Stripes Gibson Flying V, a Gibson Flying V, a pink star Guitar used by various rock stars including Gary Glitter and Abba, a blue Gibson X-Plorer and a yellow Klein. Thank you Joel for…

Copper Penny of Torrhen Stark

24 September 2015 24 September 2015Unusual Coins

“The copper penny of the North Kingdom was minted at Winterfell by Torrhen Stark, the last King of the Independent North Kingdom. It dates It dates from some three hundred years before King Robert Baratheon’s reign, long before Aegon’s Conquest that united Westeros. The obverse pictures the standing king with scepters. The reverse shows the head of a Dire Wolf, mascot of the House of Stark” Thank you Joel at joelscoins for text and image.

Armillary Sphere coin in gold from the Cook islands

20 September 2015 20 September 2015Unusual Coins

Coin week have reported the new “Armillary Sphere” coin. It’s an ounce of finest gold and is actually legal tender in Cook Islands value $100. This avant-garde 24-carat gold coin concept comes in the shape of an Armillary sphere. Four individual annular $25 1/4 ounce coins combine to form a large one-ounce $100 coin. This coin was produced by Swiss gold manufacturer Valcambi and is legal tender in the Cook Islands. Each of the rings is individually packaged and comes with its own assay card, which lists purity, weight, and authentication by a Valcambi certified assayer. Obverse: Three concentric rings and an center disc.…

Many people carry their money…on their head

17 September 2015 17 September 2015History In Coins, Unusual Coins

The great mines of Falun in Sweden provided much of Europe’s copper during the seventeenth century. Now a world heritage site the mine’s production affected the economic and political situation throughout the continent and gave rise to one of the more idiosyncratic monetary practices…. Following the first coinage act for plate money in 1644, sheets of copper of varying sizes were stamped with dies to indicate their value in terms of silver dalers. These included eight daler pieces which were over half a metre in length and weighed 14kg, leading a Danish visitor to comment: “Many people carry their money in…

2015 Canadian Maple-Leaf shaped $20

10 September 2015 10 September 2015Canadian Coinage, Unusual Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint recently issued the 2015 Maple Leaf-shaped $20 coin. It is a first for the Mint. “The coin recreates the familiar shape of a maple leaf—specifically that of the silver maple (Acer saccharinum) species. Here, the coin’s unique shape accentuates the palmate leaf’s beautifully serrated edges. An intricate series of deep veins are rendered with finely detailed engraving, as they run through each of the leaf’s five pointed, tapering lobes. Different finishes bring added dimension to the design, enhancing the engraving and lending the leaf a bright natural appearance.” Mintage: 15000 Composition: 99.99% pure silver Finish: Proof…

Patron Saint of Numismatists

9 September 2015 7 September 2015Medals, Unusual Coins

Did you know that there is a patron saint of numismatists? His name is St. Eligius. Eligius was born near Limoges in France in 590. He became an extremely skillful metalsmith and was appointed master of the mint under King Clotaire II of Paris. Eligius developed a close friendship with the King and his reputation as an outstanding metalsmith became widespread. Eligius later fulfilled his desire to serve God as a priest, after being ordained in 640. Then he was made bishop of Noyon and Tournai. Eligius died on 1 December 659 or 660 and was buried at Noyon. He is the patron…

Silver oban, Japan, 1600 – 1750

28 August 2015 28 August 2015Unusual Coins

Japan, large silver oban perhaps 5 inches high and weighing 157g. Obverse: 134 counterstamps, plus a border of punches Reverse: impressions of stamps Thank you American Numismatic Society on Pinterest who sourced the image from Numismatics.org http://numismatics.org/collection/1939.20.3

Alice In Wonderland – the first working clock coin

25 August 2015 25 August 2015Unusual Coins

Coin Week report the first working clock coin ever struck. To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s book, the Perth Mint has struck a colorized Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Silvered Antique Clock Coin. Bearing a denomination of $2, this .999 fine silver coin is legal tender on the island nation of Tuvalu. Obverse: In the center, the back of a golden watch. A spiraling inscription reads “OH MY EARS AND WHISKERS, HOW LATE IT’S GETTING!” The coin’s outer ring features an antiqued finish. At the top of the design, is Ian Rank-Broadley’seffigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which sits as if it the 12 o’clock position…

Benin 100 Francs 2011, Cannabis Leaf – scented

18 August 2015 18 August 2015Unusual Coins

The African nation of Benin issued a series of coins in 2011 commemorating Famous Plants of the World. This unusual coin was minted in the shape of the Cannabis leaf and is also scented accordingly. The earliest recorded use of cannabis date from the 3rd millennium BC. Varieties of Cannabis plants have been used extensively to produce among other things, hemp seed foods, oil, rope, cloth and fuel. Other varieties that contain a higher level of the psychoactive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are widely used as a recreational drug commonly known as marijuana. This chemical is what causes the…

Europe-shaped coin

12 August 2015 12 August 2015Unusual Coins

One of the most unusual shaped coins ever issued is this 2002 coin issued by Nauru, an island republic situated in the western Pacific Ocean. The face value is $10 and the coin is in the shape of Europe. It was issued to commemorate the first issue of the Euro. The coin contains 1oz of .999 silver and mintage is only 2,500 pieces. Note that they had to build a “land bridge” to connect the UK to the rest of Europe. ~Mike Souza

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