Despite what I say, there are some interesting coins. Some, like the one in the Featured Image, are interesting because of the picture they have on them. Penguins are a guaranteed winner. I mean, who can resist a Penguin?
Here are a few others that I put on recently. They aren’t quite as interesting as Penguins, but they are considerably better than some of the coins you see around.
We bought a couple of collections today, including one that had some interesting old coins.
This was one of them.
It’s a 2 sols of Louis XVI. It appears to be dated 1793, though it’s a bit worn so you have to look closely. It was quite a big year for Louis, on account of him being executed by guillotine in January 1793. The sol, or sou, was made up of 12 deniers and 20 sols made a livre (pound).
You may notice that this uses the letters L S and D and 12, 20 and 240 – very much along the lines of the UK’s pre-decimal coinage.
The French adopted the decimal system in 1795, being the third country in the world to do so after Russia (1704) and the USA (1787).
This was another that cropped up.
It’s a 20 Baiocchi of the Papal States, dated 1860. Pope Pius IX is the man on the front. I recall him and the Papal States and Garibaldi from my school history. Unfortunately I don’t recall it well enough to write more about it. I’m going to have to do some reading.
The Falkland Islands coins look well designed and made.
They are. It’s a pleasure to deal with them, though later ones are less good. That’s life…
You’re right. It’s hard to beat penguins. But the Louis XVI is interesting from a historical perspective.
🙂 I feel disloyal to Penguins, but I do like history.
Interesting, indeed – all for different reasons
🙂 Thanks Derrick.
NICE!