Michael Souza

New Caledonia Emergency Postage Stamp Money

23 October 2015 22 October 2015Bank Notes, Stamps

Here are two examples of unusual paper money from New Caledonia. Between 1914 and 1923, New Caledonia postage stamps were used to make emergency issue currency. The first issues were pieces of cardboard to which stamps were affixed in denominations of 25 and 50 centimes, 1 and 2 francs, with the 50 centime denominations made from either a single 50 centime stamp or a 15 and a 35 centime stamp. The reverse of the cardboard is handstamped with “TRESORIER PAYEUR DE LA NOUVELLE CALEDONIE”, roughly translated as: “PAYABLE BY THE TREASURER OF NEW CALEDONIA”. This item is listed…

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…

Imperial Bank of Canada Counterfeit 1917 $100

18 October 2015 16 October 2015Bank Notes

During the First World War, the Germans counterfeited the Imperial Bank of Canada’s $100 banknote presumably to undermine Canada’s financial system. According to Joseph Boling’s March 12, 2012 presentation to the Chicago Coin Club entitled Official Counterfeiting of Paper Currency, “The counterfeit $100 Imperial Bank of Canada circulated in the Middle East, and became known in Canada in the 1920s. The paper does not feel right on this intaglio item of middle quality — the intaglio is shallow, and all pieces seen in the numismatic market have a Persian bank stamp (the Imperial Bank of Resht in northwest Iran, on…

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…

Operation Bernhard Bank of England 10 Pounds

15 October 2015 11 October 2015Bank Notes

During World War II, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp was the location of a secret plot called Operation Bernhard. Its purpose was to undermine the British economy by issuing counterfeit Bank of England 5, 10 and 20 and 50 pound notes. The plan was directed by and named after SS Major Bernhard Kruger. Major Kruger recruited 142 counterfeiters from among the inmates. They were involved in engraving the complex printing plates, developing the appropriate rag-based paper with the correct watermark, and breaking the codes to generate valid serial numbers. German agents abroad were putting these fake notes into circulation and by the…

Singapore 2008 $5 Beaded Stamp

14 October 2015 11 October 2015Stamps

This colourful stamp sheet was issued by Singapore in 2008. The stamp itself with the design of the deer is intricately pasted by hand with ‘caviar beads’. The stamp was inspired by the exquisite beadwork which is a distinctive aspect of the Peranakan culture. The Peranakan were descendants of Chinese that immigrated to Indonesia and Malaya in the 15th and 16th Century. Reputed for their creativity, the Peranakans used brilliantly-coloured miniscule glass beads to create intricate designs on anything from slippers to tobacco pouches. This text and image by North Shore Numismatic Society is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.…

Italy 2010 Magnetic Stamp

13 October 2015 11 October 2015Stamps

Post Italiane issued of a stamp in the “Made in Italy” series, dedicated to Federacciai, on the centenary of the inauguration of the complete continuous iron and steel casting plant in Bagnoli, the first in Italy. The stamp shows the Federacciai logo with the name standing out at the top on a grey background. At the bottom, a series of geometric and chiaroscuro effects appear to create a block of steel. The words “MADE IN ITALY”, “ITALIA”, and the denomination “€ 3,30” complete the stamp The stamp is printed with special metallic ink and can be picked up with a…

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)

Hong Kong 1941 $1 Overprint

3 October 2015 3 October 2015Bank Notes

When the Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong on 8 December 1941 and overwhelmed the defenders on the mainland, the remaining British forces retreated to Hong Kong Island. While under siege on Hong Kong Island there emerged a shortage of coins and $1 banknotes. The shortage of the $1 banknotes arose when the Japanese distributed leaflets warning that all notes over $10 would be worthless after the Japanese took over the colony. To relieve the situation, a stock of The Bank of China 5 Yuan notes were discovered on the premises of The Commercial Press Limited located on King…

Austria 2014 Ceramic Stamp

3 October 2015 3 October 2015Stamps

This stamp was issued by Austria in 2014 and it is the first official porcelain (ceramic) stamp in the world. The stamp is made of fine porcelain and was created in cooperation with the porcelain manufacturer Augarten in Vienna. It was not printed but made in an elaborate, specially developed process. The white ceramic base was fired for 24 hours at 960 degrees, then glazed and cured at higher temperatures. Only then was the “Viennese Rose” design, the country name and the denomination added. It was then baked at 820 degrees in a further operation to ensure the color fastness. Thank…

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…

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…

Canada’s 1935 Silver Dollar

16 August 2015 18 August 2015Canadian Coinage

Canada’s first silver dollar was issued in 1935 to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. Emanuel Hahn designed and engraved the iconic “Coureur Des Bois” or “Voyageur” design. Percy Metcalf designed and engraved the effigy of George V. The silver in the coin is currently worth C$ 10 but in MS-63 Uncirculated grading it has a 2015 value of C$ 110 Mintage 1 dollar 1935 : 428 707 Specifications Alloy: 80% silver, 20% copper Weight: 23.33 grams Diameter : 36.00 mm, thickness 2.84 mm Engraver: Obverse: Percy Metcalfe, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn Designer: Obverse: Percy Metcalfe, Reverse: Emanuel…

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