BULLETIN
Published by: NUMISMATICS INTERNATIONAL P. 0. Box 30013 Dallas, Texas 75230
APRIL 1973
Volume 7, No. 4
Copyrighted April 1973 by Numismatics International, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES
Coinage of Crete, by Dolores H. Davis
English Hammered Coinage, by R. Grant Duncan
Land Mass Designs on World Coins, by W. B. Slate
Top Auction of Norwegian Coins 1814-1972, by B. F. Brekke 25 Most Popular World Silver Crowns, by William B. Slate-
DEPARTMENTS
Book Reviews
Dallas Chapter Program and Meeting Announcement
Letter to the Editor
Member Notice Page
New Issues
89
77
86
93
98
102
70
76
104
70
INSIDE N. I.
Bulletin Editor's Comment
"GOALS FOR NI"
Librarian's Report
Membership Chairman's Report Membership List Publication-
RUSSIA Coin Tour
6th NI Mail Bid Sale
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72 72
71
72
73 72
OTHER ITEMS
Bhaunagar Paisas, by Richard K. Bright---
Bruce Smith's "WHAT'S IN A NAME?"
Double Thaler of Archduke Leopold, by Warren J. Weese
Greece 5 Drachmae 1930, by Dolores H. Davis
New Coining Devices for Coins of the Federal German Republic by Walter Hilke ’
WHY, WHO, WHERE, WHAT???, by Bill Naylor
World's Worst Modem Coin, by Richard K. Bright ”1”
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82, 85
- 8l
- 92
- 88
- 74
- 83
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
ROSS SCHRAEDER Chairman
EIMORE B. SCOTT President
IRVING BERLIN Vice-President
DR. HOWARD L. FORD Secretary
BILLY M. GERMAN Treasurer
WILLIAM E. BENSON K. T. EDWARDS MARVIN L. FRALEY JACK E. LEWIS EDWARD E. SLADE ROBERT L. TOMLINSON JOHN E. VANDIGRIFF Past-Presidents
APPOINTED STAFF
MARVIN L. FRALEY Editor
CARL YOUNG Librarian
JACK E. LEWIS Membership Chmn.
DR. HOWARD L. FORD Notes of Interest
DOLORES H. DAVIS Publicity
"GOALS FOR NI"
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
WILLIAM E. BENSON Management and Structure
JACK E. LEWIS Membership
BILLY M. GERMAN Publications
DR. HOWARD L. FORD Services and Activities
NEW ISSUES WITH ASSIGNED YEOMAN NUMBERS
(The catalog numbers assigned to new issues published here are supplied by special arrange- ment with "Current Coins of the World", pub- lished and copyrighted by Western Publishing Co., Inc., Whitman Publishing Div., Racine, Wisconsin, USA. No further use of these cata- log numbers in any other publication is auth- orized. )
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Y97 50 Korun 1973, Silver (31mm)
25th Anniversary Workers ' Victory
ECUADOR
Y51c 5 Centavos 1970, Nickel-clad steel (17mm)
GER4AN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Y4l 10 Mark 1973, Silver (31mm)
75th Anniv. Birth of Bertolt Brecht
GUATEMALA
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Y126 |
1 Centavo 1972, Brass |
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IRAQ |
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Y42 |
250 Fils 1972, Nickel (32.5mm) |
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y43 |
1 Dinar 1972, Silver (40mm) Both 25th Anniversary of Central Bank |
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ISRAEL |
|
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Y65 |
10 Pounds 1973 Silver ( 37nnn) 25th Anniversary Commemorative |
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MALAYSIA |
|
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Y10 |
1 Ringgit 1972, Cupro-Nickel (33mm) 1st Anniversary of Kuala Lumpur as City |
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MALDIVE |
ISLANDS |
|
Y7a |
1 Larin 1970, Aluminum |
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Y8a |
2 Lari 1970, Aluminum |
AAAAAA^AAVWWWWWWVWWWWWWWVWVWW\ DALLAS CHAPTER PROGRAM AND MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
The 106th meeting of the Dallas Chapter of Numismatics International will meet on Wednes- day, April l8, 1973, 7:30 PM in the Community Room (East Side) of the Republic Savings and Laon Assn., 63OO East Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas, USA.
The program for the meeting will be presented by Dick Upton -- "Porcelain Coins and Medals".
Dick is President of the Emergency Money Society and Editor of the society's publication "Journal of the Emergency Money Society". He is very knowledgeable in this field.
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INSIDE N. I.
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
MARCH APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP: Membership Application Numbers
849-854 published in the March 1973 NI Bulletin have been admitted to membership.
APRIL APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP: The following persons have applied
for membership. If no written objections are received by May 1, 1973* their membership will become effective that date.
(MT = Will Trade by Mail)
855 Harvey A. Bruns, P. 0. Drawer 908, Mission, Texas 78572
(Dealer in Mexican Coins)
856 Charles F. Blocker, 65IO Petain Ave., Dallas, Texas 75227
857- MT Freeman Craig, Jr., Box 1112, Smyrna, Ga. 30080
(Latin America, Costa Rica Paper, Br. Commonwealth)
858- MT Gordon Andreas Singer, 3^17 Tulane Drive, No. 12, W. Hyatts-
ville, Md. 20783 -- (Medieval European Coinage)
859 Roger B. Stolberg, P. 0- Box 9^72, San Diego, Calif. 92109 (Dealer in World Coins)
CHANGES OF ADDRESSES AND COLLECTING SPECIALTIES :
576-MT Patrick D. Barnes, 3301 Melody Lane, Lansing, Mich. 48912 (Br. Commonwealth and Crowns)
836-MT J. P. Connolly, P. 0. Box 3849* Los Amigos Station, Downey, Calif. 90242 -- (Paper and Coins of China, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, Turkey)
708-MF Thomas C. Dittrich, 9 Mountain Terrace, Upper Montclair, N.J. 07043 -- (Br. Commonwealth, Orient)
274 Bill German, Route 4, Athens, Texas 75751 (World Types)
768-RT Donald W. Orton, N. C. S. Box 4l7, FPO New York 09544 (World Types, Morocco)
644-MT Dr. H. M. J. van Vuuren, P. 0. Box 17853* Hillbrow, Tvl.,
South Africa — (South Africa, Portuguese Colonies, Rhodesia, Zambia, Malawi)
695 -MT Carl Young, Box 1836, Dallas, Texas 75221 (Canada and Latin America)
OOOOO
BULLETIN EDITOR'S COMMENT: We have changed the layout of the first
two pages of the NI Bulletin, experimenting with a new format. Please let me have your suggestions, pro and con, as they will help us arrive at a decision of what front page format to use for future issues.
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LIBRARIAN'S REPORT: The following items have been added to the NI
Library and are now available for 30-day loan periods:
Book or Periodical
Donor
"Notgeld Newsletter, Vol. I"
Dwight L. Musser
Seventy Auction Catalogs
29 ANA "The Numismatist" (various dates)
Fred Drost
Edward E. Slade, Jr.
The NI Library now consists of 10 sets of Slides (available for loan for program topics at member's local events), 15^ reference books, several hundred periodicals and several hundred auction catalogs.
A new Library List will be forthcoming during the first half of 1973 if time can be set aside to get it completed. In the meantime, if any members have questions concerning the slide sets or references available, please drop me a line for a prompt reply. As to the slide sets available (along with text of lecture), most programs presented at the Dallas Chapter meetings which included slides are in the Library.
Please note my change of address: P. 0. Box 1836, Dallas, Texas 75221.
Carl Young, Librarian and Historian
OOOOO
6TH MAIL BID SALE: The catalog for the 6th NI Mail Bid Sale was
included with your March mailing. Please note that this sale closes on April 20th and all bids should be sent to the regular Dallas address as soon as possible. Members are urged to support the sale.
MEMBERSHIP LIST PUBLICATION: The up-to-date membership list will be
published and mailed with the May NI Bulletin. REMEMBER -- if you wish a change in your address or collecting specialty OR if you wish that your name not be published, please notify Membership Chairman Jack E. Lewis at once. Previous requests not to publish your name will not be honored as we have learned from experience, people tend to change their mind.
OOOOO
"GOATS FOR NI": The "Goals for NI" committees will be settling down
to some hard work in the near future. Any member having ideas for the betterment of the organization is urged to write to the chairmen of the committees (see page 70). It is planned to finalize all committee work and implement the final decisions of the "Goals" committees on or before the 10th Anniversary of NI in July, 197^. These final decisions will set the pattern for the way NI will function in the years ahead. For this reason, it is important that the committees have as much information available to consider as possible so that the final decisions will be the right one and the ones recommended by the membership itself. Be active in your own organization -- write in your views of the future of NI now.
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As announced in the February NI Bulletin, NI is going to Russia in 1973* Departure date from New York is set for May 31st for a 21-day numismatic tour to Leningrad, Odessa, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent and Moscow. If you have not signed up to go along, it is not too late but time is getting very short. Cost will be approximately $1100.00 per person, all-inclusive, from New York. The tour will be completely guided by English speaking guides. Any member who is considering going on the tour should contact tour coordinator Irving Berlin immediately as you must allow the necessary time to obtain necessary visas, passport, etc.
Some late information just received says that the tour group will be touring the Moscow Mint. This is a first ever visit for any group from the western nations to have the opportunity to tour the Russian Mint.
Other highlights scheduled for the group include seeing the exquisite numismatic collection in the famous Hermitage Museum in Leningrad. Host for the tour at the Hermitage will be Dr. I. G. Spaskii, the world famous curator and director of the Hermitage's numismatic department .
Igor V- Victorov, of Chelyabinsk, will greet the group in Moscow which is scheduled to be the last stop on the tour before flying back to New York via Finnair.
The group's visit to Odessa will be one of the first by western groups as this city was previously closed to foreign tourists.
Also, a first for the group is the fact that members of the group will be able to take coins into Russia, without restriction, for trading and research with their numismatic counterparts in the USSR. Inasmuch as the tour will take its members to the top Russian numis- matic museums and market places, as well as being hosted by various numismatic groups in many cities (trading allowed), the lifting of the restriction of bringing in and out of Russia collector coins is very important.
REMEMBER -- time is short if you intend to go along. The $1100.00 per person covers everything -- except the pocket money you will need to buy the many numismatic bargains to be found on the trip.
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WHY, WHO, WHERE, WHAT???
(Why Did You Start Collecting Coins? Questionnaire Results)
by Bill Naylor
To the staff of the NI Bulletin and to all the NI members who took the time to return the completed "Why Did You Start Collecting Coins?" questionnaire, please accept my sincere THANK YOU.
26$ of the membership returned the forms and this is a sufficient sam- pling to project the results for the entire membership.
Even though I asked for no names or addresses, 86$ of the replies had them prominently displayed. At the same time, only 17$ of the persons had to be college graduates (because of their occupation) . From the rest, it is estimated that not over 52$ were formally educated.
Below are my calculations on each individual question put forth.
OCCUPATION : 12$, the largest group, was retired persons. 6$ were
professional coin dealers. Another 6$ were students. Beginning with 1$ and ending with a category of only 2 persons, other occupations were as follows: Teachers, Computer Specialists, Soldiers, Salesmen,
Housewives, Electronic Engineers, Cartographers, Accountants, Postal Clerks, Ministers, Funeral Directors, CPA's, various Engineers and two unemployed. All other listings were one of a kind and if you can think of an occupation, we probably have it. Some of the more inter- esting were National Park Ranger, Boilermaker, Liquor Store Manager, Winemaker, and Disabled Veteran.
AGE: The average started collecting coins at age 21. A high number
started at age 12. 85$ started collecting coins between ages 10 and
50.
The average age of the members is 44. The spread was from 17 to 78 with a high number being 3 6 years of age now. 67$ of the members are between ages 30 and 60.
As to how long members have been collecting coins, the spread ran from 1 to 64 years. The average was 12-1/2 years. Understandably, 68$ have been collecting less than 20 years while 24$ have been collecting be- tween 20 and 40 years
WHY DID YOU START TO COLLECT COINS?: Very few members started to
collect as a hobby per se. The few that did were at an adult age at the time. 25$ started because a relative or friend had or gave them some coins. l6$ traveled and picked up available coins. 15$ started because of the historical value in coins. 8$ were strictly for the investment angle. 7$ collected other items such as stamps, guns, etc. Only 4$ started for the sole reason of it being a hobby.
Other reasons given for starting ranged from "a fishpeddler gave me a seated dime in change" to "bored".
RESIDENCE AREA: 46$ listed Metropolitan for their residence area,
37$ were Suburban and 17$ were from Rural areas.
If anyone knowsthe official Government statistics on this I would appreciate receiving them from you.
HOURS SPENT PER WEEK ON NUMISMATICS: The answers here ranged from 1 to
50 hours per week and did not include answers from full time dealers. The most recorded number and average of the membership was 10 hours. k 3$ were in the 1-9 hour group while 25$ were 10-19 hours and 20$ were 20-29 hours per week.
HOW MANY NUMISMATIC ORGANIZATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER? : The answers
ranged from 1 to 20 with 4 being the average number. 13$ are apparent- ly loyal only to NI as they listed just one organizational membership.
DO YOU BELONG TO A LOCAL NUMISMATIC CLUB OR ORGANIZATION? : Only 53$
of the body belonged to a local club and that leaves L7$ not belonging. As only 17$ lived in a rural area, it seems that greater efforts are needed to aid the local clubs and form new ones in areas without clubs.
HOW MANY PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED REGULARLY: The replies ranged from 1
to 20 and again did not include full time dealers. The most recorded number and also the average was 4 publications.
SPECIALTY: There was a great variety, as expected, of replies to this question. "World Coins" was tops with 20 replies; "US" was next with 17 replies; and "World Crowns" was third with 13 replies. Individual countries copped the next several spots with Great Britain leading the list of individual countries as favorite collecting areas.
REFERENCE BOOKS: The top five reference books listed as "most used"
are as follows:
Yeoman's "Modem World Coins" 55$
Krause's "Standard Catalog of World Coins 37$
Craig's "Coins of the World" 33$
Yeoman's "Current Coins of the World" 26$
Remick's "British Commonwealth Coins" 21$
From here the list of "most used" dropped off to 6$ of the replies stating Davenport's "European Crowns and Talers".
COMMENTS : This of course was the most used item on the questionnaire
and it would take numerous pages to list the various replies. Some of the more interesting were as follows:
"Apathy is breeding in most of the coin clubs and organizations to which I belong. "
"I gave up on U.S. coins — too costly. Now the foreign are getting to be expensive."
"Find a category that you feel is right for you and stick with it. " "The book comes before the coins."
"Numismatics is mankind, struck in metal, and knows no boundaries."
"Sharing knowledge is a must if our hobby is to prosper. "
"40 years ago coin shops and dealers were for the wealthy. Now, anyone interested in coins, wealthy or not, can get some help. "
"This can be an all consuming hobby or avocation that could get the youngsters off the streets -- if we make it interesting enough."
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"Through NI I have been able to contact persons that are Interested in my specialty. "
"Most needed are books (in English) that cover the area up to Craig."
"A standardized grading system should be attempted. "
The final comment came from an MD and it seems to me that, no matter where our level of life might be, this is what makes a good old coin collector.
"No one is a coin collector over night. It usually takes one incident (profit, personal gratification, a gift, discovery of one valuable item, etc.) to start. Then knowledge broadens with coin papers, coin clubs, books, etc., and a collector is bom."
This is not the best report that some of you have read but, it is the best report that I have ever had published. The reason being, it is my first. I would be more than pleased to have comments and questions sent to me and I will, for sure, answer all such letters. It has been fun and very informative. Thank you all.
Bill Naylor, 304 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, N. Y. 13850
T.hTITER TO THE EDITOR:
Inaccuracies in the "WHAT'S IN A NAME" series
Dear Sirs:
I am writing about a few inaccuracies in the "What's in a name" series of the NI Bulletin, which are more linguistic than numismatic in nature. All these points seem to involve horses, in one way or another.
1. January 1973, page 26: "Equitas regni" is tentatively inter-
preted as "Reign of the horse ? year of the horse ? " . Equitas how- ever stands for Aequitas meaning equanimity, and Regni is the genitive form, i.e., "of the reign".
2. February 1973, page 39: "Cavallotto", and not "cavalloto" is a
term which was used - as far as I know - in the Ligurian and not in the Sardinian monetary system. See for example Craig's "Coins of the World", 2nd Edition, p.282.
3. February 1973, page 43: The Italian "Cavaliere", presumably from
late or vulgar Latin "Caballarius", means horseman, not horse. In Italian, horse is cavallo, from late Latin caballus. In classical Latin, caballus was a derogatory term for a hack, while equus was horse. Incidentally, the zoological name for horse is Equus caballus. In modem French, horseman is chevalier, not cavalier. The author
of the series had given the right Italian equivalent of horse on page 26 of the January issue.
All this is not to split hair but to keep the record straight. I tend to trust the NI Bulletin and I would hope that others might pick up and correct the inaccuracies they might find.
/s/ Dr. M. L. Tarizzo,
Commugny, Switzerland
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ijAJfl iHESiEi 0I©3NA(g1E
by R. Grant Duncan
(Reprinted from "The Stater", May 1972, Empire State Numismatic Assoc.)
"New Interest in Hammered Coins" reads the banner headline atop the British trends in the March h, 1970 issue of "Coin World". In view of market developments since then, that may have been one of the great understatements of modem times, surpassed only by the visionaries who in 1959 predicted the "continued future growth" of the coin collecting hobby.
For one of the hottest areas of world numismatics today is undoubtedly English hammered coins. Prices have passed from static to steady, un- relenting growth; in a matter of three years, virtually the entire series has become highly sought after and thus ever scarcer.
This boom in English hammered coins, that is English coinage minted before 1 663, is the result of the familiar combination of their enor- mous appeal and the discovery of their existence by increasingly know- ledgeable collectors and investors with increasing amount of extra cash. The appeal is very broad. Not only were they hand struck, and thus handcrafted; not only are they centuries old (reason enough for those of us with what English historian C. V. Wedgwood calls "a sense of the past") but they are Medieval and Renaissance art, and generally well executed at that. Amazingly enough, many collectors are unaware of the existence of such early series, or at least know nothing beyond.
A hammered coin is simply a piece of metal which has been hammered out roughly round and usually quite thin. The thin planchet was then pressed between dies, and a blow was struck on the upper die with a mallet. Thus the design was "hammered" into the surface. This method was open to much human error, and it is not unusual to find hammered coins struck on planchets too small or too large, or weakly struck, or double struck.
This minting method was the same one used in ancient times, except that the planchets are thinner, usually due to the scarcity of gold and silver and the diminished need for large denominations in medieval commerce; and the designs are lower in relief and Christian oriented on hammered coins.
The earliest hammered coins in Western Europe were the Carolingian "deniers", simultaneously produced as silver "pennies" by the early Saxon kings of England. The Saxon pennies averaged about twenty millimeters in diameter, composed of a fairly reliable high quality silver, and were very thin. The design usually involved a cross or a highly stylized portrait of the monarch on the obverse, with large,
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crude lettering around indicating the name of the king and perhaps his title. The reverse usually depicted a cross with additional legend around .
The Saxon patterns continued largely .unbroken through the Norman conquest and the Norman and early Plantagenet kings, into the reign of Edward I, who ruled from 1272 until 1J07- Then, at the height of the Middle Ages, with Europe more prosperous than at any time since the later Roman Empire, Edward insisted that his silver pennies be of a consistently reliable quality of silver, and that they be stamped with a more realistic portrait of himself, in contrast to the maze of lines and dots which the early medieval die cutter called a portrait.
The silver "sterling" pennies of Edward I became extremely popular both in England and on the continent, where they were copied almost exactly. Edward's pennies are common today, thanks to the high quality of silver which made them very "hoardable" and the high mintage figures due to increased commerce. Still, the price of a very fine specimen has doubled from about $5- to about $10. in the last three years.
Also in Edward's reign a groat or four pence piece was struck, another response to the growing need for higher denominations in the medium of exchange. But this was a trial issue which saw limited circulation.
The English economy and silver supplies had not quite grown large enough. Consequently, the groats of Edward I are scarce, though highly desirable. Fractional denominations, however, proved to be more success- ful. These consisted of a half penny and a farthing. These fractional coins of Edward's reign are scarce today simply because they were very small and were easily lost. The farthing measured only about 8 mm.
As yet no gold coins had been struck, with the exception of a limited and unpopular issue of a "gold penny" valued at twenty silver pence struck in the reign of Edward's predecessor, Henry III.
The innovations of Edward persisted throughout the later Middle Ages, no doubt a combination of his popularity, the reputation of the ster- ling pennies, and the lack of much real creativity and innovative spirit for which the Middle Ages are, somewhat unfairly, notorious.
Several important developments occurred under Edward III ( 1327-1377 ) > but these all involved the addition of new denominations to meet the demands stemming from further changes from the agrarian to a mixed agrarian and commercial economic structure. The groat and half -groat (two pence) were added as regular coins of the realm, as were several types of gold coins.
For further significant developments in the English hammered coinage we must look to the early northern Renaissance, in the reign of the
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first Tudor king, Henry VII (1485-1509). In the first years of Henry's reign, groats, half groats, pennies, half pennies and farthings with the likeness of Edward I continued to he struck. But, by his death, the groat, half groat and pennies bore the likeness of Henry.
One of the most beautiful series of coins ever minted was begun in Henry VII 's reign, when gold "sovereigns" were struck. These dollar sized hammered gold coins, valued at 22 shillings, six pence, showed the king enthroned, with an elaborate Tudor rose dominating the re- verse, all in superb detail. These types were continued under his successors, each of whom placed his or her own distinguished figure on the royal seat in the design, adding up to a superb series, specimens of which, unfortunately, are extremely rare today.
The reign of Henry's son, the well-known Henry VIII (1509-15^7); ap- pears as perhaps an even more curious and significant transition period. At first, Henry VIII continued the portrait types of his father. But in the 1520's groats and half groats were issued with his own portrait, while the penny bore his own unmistakeable person on the throne.
Later in the reign, further changes were made to bring the portrait more up to date.
As a Machiavellian or "realistic" monarch, Henry VIII was not above exploiting the popular faith in the stability of the currency by de- basing the silver coins. In fact the exploitation was so extensive that by the reign of his only son, Edward VI ( 1547-1553)> the Testoon, or shilling of twelve pence which Henry had introduced on a limited scale and which displayed his facing bust, the copper content began to show, as a result Henry picked up the nickname "old coppemose" in reference to the part of the portrait to wear down first.
It is important to note that the term "testoon" was actually a corrup- tion of the Italian "testone". The English economy had advanced enough to accept larger denominations, but as with the gold "florins" centuries before they were not an original English idea but an Italian one imi- tated, as the word signifies.
As Renaissance commerce flourished and new mines opened up, the need for and practicality of higher denominations grew. The Testoon, more popularly known as the shilling, came into its own as a permanent regular issue in Edward VII 's reign, along with its parts, the six pence, the three pence, and its multiples, the crown (five shillings.
79
six pence). Groats, half groats and pennies and their fractions con- tinued to be issued. The quality of silver was restored somewhat by the regents who ruled for the sickly fifteen-year-old Edward, but much work was left to Elizabeth (1558-1603).
The last notable development in hammered coinage eventually caused its end. First during the early years of Elizabeth's rule, and then again, in the reign of the second Stuart, Charles I (l625-l6Vj), machinery was used to strike the coins. These "milled" issues, struck in a collar to keep them round, were limited and sporadic and hand hammered coin- age continued to be the dominant minting process. But the milled coins were artistically superior to the hand hammered issues, and as they were more perfectly round, clipping was more difficult to get away
with. (Clipping was a particularly popular pursuit in medieval and renaissance times, when silver had more value and the thin planchets made it simple enough to snip off bits of silver before passing the coin on at its face value.) The superiority of the milled coins was enhanced in Charles I's reign because the hammered issues became in- creasingly crude just before and during the Civil War of the l640's.
The first hammered copper coins had been issued in the time of Charles ' predecessor and father, James I (1603-1625). The fact none had been minted up to this time was because, I think, the penny had been inflat- ed over the centuries to the point where its fourth part, the farthing, was now a much smaller sum, and the English government had become so well established that a token coinage could be thought successful. As was the custom with many areas of manufacture and trade, a monopoly for the minting of little copper coins was sold to a government ser- vant named Harrington, later to be transferred to the Earl of Richmond, with profits (which we are assured were huge for this token coinage) split between the crown and the monopolist. Perhaps because the coins often measured no more than ten millimeters, and because of the question able business practice behind their manufacture, they were never popu- lar, and finally the government had to offer an extra shillings worth on every twenty to get rid of them.
During the brief English Republic ( l649-l653), hand hammering was the only minting method, but in the succeeding "Protectorate" regime of Oliver Cromwell ( 1653-I658), experimental milled issues struck on smaller, thicker planchets were circulated. The commerical background of Cromwell's Puritans gave them the insight to see that such "dumpy" coins were economically more practical. The price of silver had fallen as supplies rose, and smaller and thicker coins were both more handy and less susceptible to being bent or broken.
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Finally, after the restoration of Charles II in 1660 and two years of hand hammered and collarless machine-made issues, the more practical "dumpy" milled issues were permanently adopted. The English hammered coinage has passed into obsolescence. But it has left us much evidence of the development of the English and European economy, government and culture in the crucial centuries of their growth.
As we stated in the opening paragraph of this study, English hammered coins are very much in demand. This is particularly time of the issues which initiated significant changes, such as the Henry VII groats, and Henry VIII testoons, or the otherwise historical coinage such as the 155^-1555 issues which depicted the facing heads of Mary (1553-1558) and her husband Philip II of Spain, who later sent the Armada against Elizabeth. But many types can still be acquired at fairly modest cost.
Certainly this is one area where the old adage "but the book before the coin" should be taken very seriously. It is possible to obtain real bargains in this relatively obscure area of world numismatics, but it is also possible to be taken advantage of, so it is best to familiarize yourself with the market first. The most widely used catalog is Seaby's "Standard. Catalogue of British Coins". A new edition comes out annually, with the latest prices.
THE DOUBLE THALER OF ARCHDUKE LEOPOLD
by Warren J. Weese
I noted with interest the photo of the double thaler of Archduke Leopold which was published in Numismatics International's "Notes of Interest" for January, 1973* I should very much like to elaborate upon the background of this particular specimen. Material of this type and locale are my personal numismatic interest and specific area of concern.
The cojoined busts are those of Archduke Leopold Hapsburg, of the Austrian Province of Tyrol and his bride, Caludia de Medici, of Italy. Through Claudia's marriage to Leopold, she then assumed the title of Archduchess of Tyrol, as the wife of Leopold. Although this piece is undated, their wedding took place in the year of 1626.
The double thaler die was also used in the striking and issue of a square (klippe) triple thaler, which is also undated. The triple
thaler is exceedingly rare and I have not personally observed a pub- lished photo of this piece in the past twenty years. Another point of interest, relative to the triple thaler, is the fact that some of these pieces are found to be of a gelded variety. These gelded pieces were, supposedly, handed out to selected members of the royal court, by Archduke Leopold, as a souvenir of his royal wedding to Claudia.
This Archduke Leopold, was not the same Archduke Leopold Hapsburg, who later became elected and recognized as the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. This point is mentioned only to distinguish between these two Archdukes, as their physical resemblence is very close when ob- served in the portraits on their thaler coinages, during the same general period of circulation. The Archduke Leopold, who married Claudia, died in 1632, whereas. Emperor Leopold, who was also an Austrian Hapsburg Archduke until the time that he was elected Emperor, was not born until the year of 1640. It is hoped that this rendering clarifies the confusion these two Hapsburg Archdukes named Leopold bring on.
Another interesting highlight, of Archduke Leopold of Tyrol, was the fact that he was the Bishop of Strasburg from 1619 into the year of 1625. His thaler coinage from 1620 through 1624, all portray Leopold clad in the ecclesiastical robe, apparently symbolic of his rank of Bishop. Leopold renounced his title of Bishop, at this time, in order to become married, as previously mentioned. The poinA of a Catholic Bishop becoming married, is really not a distressing and disturbing issue, when one learns of the circumstances which surround- ed his title of Bishop. The fact that Leopold held two offices, one temporal and the other clerical, allowed him this privilege. In Leopold's particular case, the title of Bishop was purchased, from the Church, for a financial consideration and was looked upon as being that of a purely titular office. In so many words, Leopold was a Bishop in title only and did not perform any of the sacred duties or obligations associated with the office of Bishop. In fact, it is highly speculative that Leopold was even ordained. Such offices were not uncommon at this time as there are cases of record which clearly indicate that several small boys were made Bishops at the tender age of nine years.
Of the variety of double thalers of the Holy Roman Empire, this par- ticular specimen, alone, is unique in the fact that it is strictly commemorative in its nature. Perhaps this brief sketch will be of interest to some of the other members of our organization.
Bruce Smith’s "WHAT'S IN A NAME?
DIRHAM (also spelled DIRHEM and DERHAM) : The Arabic denomination of
DIRHAM comes from the Greek Drachma or Drachme, meaning a handfull which in turn comes from "drassesthai" meaning to grasp.
ETSCHKREU7.RR • The ETSCHKREUZER is so called from the south Tyrolian district of Adige (also called Etsch) where it was introduced about 1270. This coin was issued till the end of the 15th century.
FARTHING: The FARTHING comes from Middle English "ferthing" which
is from the Anglosaxon "feorthung" from "feortha" meaning one-fourth. "Feortha" in turn is from "feor" meaning four.
82
THE WORLD'S WORST MODERN COIN?
by Richard K. Bright
In ancient and medieval times, many coins were so poorly struck and so extensively circulated that the average specimens that have come down to us today can be most charitably described as "fillers" and in some cases, decent specimens are unknown. There are a number of Indian types of these periods that would fall in that category but by more recent times, say from 1850 on, most countries of the world maintained a fairly decent standard of coinage. My candidate for the worst modem coin from a country or state that was issued on a regular basis (non-emergency types) are the Hyderabad dubs of Afzal- ud-Daula, 1857-69 and Mir Mahbob Ali Khan II, 1869-I9II. It's not that the Hyderabad mint was incapable of doing a better job; they could, and did, on the rupees of these two princes listed in Craig and Yeoman as C-95 and Y-A5- The average coin of these types avail- able to collectors today is in nice shape and well struck. The cop- per dubs are something else again.
The usual dub is rectangular, or squarish, and well worn or lightly struck. The dimensions can vary greatly from 2k x 13 x 11mm. to 22 x 9 x 6mm. to 16 x 14 x 6mm. with the weight ranging from 10 to 12 grams. While the metal is usually copper, occasional pieces appear to be made of brass. So poorly understood are these coins that most standard world catalogues list only the dub of Ali Khan II, usually with an unclear illustration. Yet dubs were also struck in the reign of Afzal-ud-Daula. The coppers of both rulers were modeled after their rupees but from more crudely cut dies. The silver coins of the first ruler are the old style Halli Sikka rupees; the initial "alif" ( l ) for the Nizam's name is in the center of the obverse.
The coins of Mahbob Ali Khan are the new style Halli Sikka rupees which are essentially the same as the previous ones except the second and third lines of the reverse are interchanged and the initial "mim" ( f ), for Mahbob, is in the center of the obverse. Both coins are struck in the name and title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah Bahadur, the first Nizam who founded the dynasty at Hyderabad in 1724. The ob- verse gives the Hegira date of mintage while on the reverse is the regnal year of the Nizam at the upper left and the mint name, Hyderabad.
C-95 Y-A5
The dubs, as mentioned above, were struck from similar but more crudely cut dies. Usually very little of the full legend appears and only rarely, the Hegira date. Ordinarily, the best method of differentiating between the dubs of the two rulers is by the Nizam's initial which may be found in the center of the obverse die enabling attribution of the ruler. If the obverse is very worn or weakly struck, the center line of the reverse may afford positive identifi- cation, however, some coins appear the have Mahbob ' s initial but
83
the reverse as on the coins of Afzal-ud-Daula. The following are some typical examples of what can be found on the actual coins.
55
/i (n,
Dubs of Afzal-ud-Daula
Y-l
BHAUNAGAR PAISAS
by Richard K. Bright
Bhaunagar, a small Indian Native State on the Kathiawar Peninsula, was ruled by a Hindu prince with the title of Thakur, a member of the Gohel clan of Rajputs who claimed descent from Salivahana who ruled in the area about 77 AD. In the early 19th century and probably for some years prior to that, extensive counterfeiting in base metal of most of the rupees current in West India was practiced and in 1812, the Thakur was suspected of sharing in the profits. He was Vakhatsinghji, 1772-l8l6 AD. and it was during his reign or earlier that the two varieties of the copper paisa listed as C-15 were issued. They may have been continued to be issued until l840 when the mint was closed by arrangement with the British Government.
The coins are reckoned as being scarce. Codrington, when he visited the area in or about 1890 spoke to a coin collector who was the son of a former Diwan of the state, and he had none in his collection nor knew anything about them. The Mughul Emperor mentioned on the common obverse was probably Shahjahan III, the usurper who pretended to the throne briefly in 1759> which hints at an initial striking date for these coins as being around that time. It is curious that the Persian word Bahadur should be written in Nagari on the reverse and the reason for its usuage in this instance is unknown according to the references available to me. I believe one possible explanation is that in 1755 AD, an Afghan established the neighboring state of Junagadh using the name of Bahadur Khan and ruled until 1758. Since Junagadh received small contributions from many of the lesser states of Kathiawar, maybe Bhaunagar was in some way tributary to Junagadh and included the name of the founder of the latter state on its coins.
An unusual coin in my collection is a rather broad and thin Navanager dokdo and in better than usual style so presumably is an early issue as the legends of this type became more debased as the years passed. Lightly impressed over it is a striking from the dies of the first variety of Bhaunagar paisa. As the Bhaunagar mint closed in 1840,
84
the original date of the dokdo minting would have had to be prior to that or the Bhaunagar strike was done by a private party with access to the dies after l840. According to Yeoman and Craig, Navanager coppers were first struck in 1852 but it is almost certain that they were struck for many years before that so it is likely that the Bhaunagar mint officials were willing to use whatever planchets available to strike their coins, even lightly worn coins of a neigh- boring state. One contrary fact is that my coin weighs 8.i^gms. while Bhaunagar paisas weigh 7*l-7*9®ns. but the difference isn't so great as. to rule out its use if it were cheaper than preparing new flans.
In lined circle.
J U*o dJl
Falus Shahjahan sikka mubarak
"Falus of Shahjahan, auspicious coin".
Similar.
In lined circle.
jsir? r
swor4
V
Zarb Bhaunagar Bahadur
Struck at Bhaunagar, Bahadur.
( j&9 ^
31# ? T
sword
7] 1 I V r**
Bruce Smith's "WHAT'S IN A NAME?"
FELS : The Arabic denomination FEI£> comes from the Arabic "fals"
( plural falus) which comes from the Greek "phollis" (Latin Follis), a Byzantine copper coin. In addition the Islamic terms PUL, FALUS, FALUCE and FULUS, all coin denominations, probably come from Follis The southern Italian denomination FOLLERO (also Follaro and Folaro) also comes from Follis. These denominations were used during the 9th through 12th centuries.
LEK: The Albanian denomination LEK (pi. Leku or Leke) comes from
Alexander (the Great) whose portrait appears on the first issues of this coin, introduced about 1925*
85
LAND MASS DESIGNS ON WORLD COINS
by
W. B. Slate
Collecting world coins is a very vast area that is almost impossible to complete in every field. To find a way to successful completion, many collectors are now turning to the new and specialized field called topical collecting. This topical theme means that a collector can now set his goal towards collecting coins around a specific design topic. Three of the most common areas to collect in the topical field are coins with the designs of Animals, Birds or Ships.
In order to have new inroads to collecting we first need to have the lands where roads can be made. The topical theme of collecting coins with the land mass design is a relatively small area when collected as coinage of the realm and by type. Since 1964 there have been many pure silver concoctions created under the mis-leading category of non- circulating legal tender (NCLT) which portray a land mass. These con- coctions should never be considered as coins because they do not circulate and they do not have any smaller denominations for change.
Without going into ancients, medieval, United States or junk concoctions, the first appearance of land mass designs are on the pillar real series of Spanish America during the reign of Philip V, Ferdinand VI and Carolus III. On these coins are the two globes of the East and West hemisphere between the pillars.
From the largest category of globes we drop down into smaller and smaller areas. The next division contains continental areas and the 1930 German Graf Zepplin series is the first one with the continent of Africa.
From Africa we go to South America as it is portrayed on the Brazilian 1932 400 Reis coin. The latest in this group is Australia on the Australian 50 cent 1970 issue.
Next in line are the individual countries that are found on the continents. Brazil is the first country to have its design on its own coinage and also the first to
86
issue a land mass design, other than a globe, on minor coinage. The earliest series is the cruziero series of 1942-1956 and the last is the commemorative issues of 1972.
In 1945 Guatemala issued a twenty-five cent coin with the design of both Guatemala and British Honduras. From 194-3 we jump across the Atlantic Ocean to the Greek 1963 30 Drachmai commemorative which shows the islands of the Aegean Sea as well as Greece. Continuing with our journey we next come upon Turkey on the Turkish 50 Lira 1971 Commemorative.
After the continental land masses we must go to the seas and oceans for the islands. The first island to appear is Madagascar and it is found along with the continent of Africa on the German Graf Zepplin series. To raise funds for the tuberculosis epidemic in Greenland in
1953, the country of Denmark issued the island of Greenland portrayed.
a 2 Kroner commemorative with
The only remaining minor coinage series is the Formosian coinage of 1949 and 1950 with the island of Formosa. Except for the Australian and Greek coins previously men- tioned with their islands, the remaining islands that are found are all on their own country's denominations and all are crown size. These crowns are Bermuda 1959 and 1972, New Zealand 1969 and Jamaica 1972 Ten Dollars.
Two other countries not mentioned are Panama and Cuba because they are represented in a more unusual design. Panama is found in the middle of the shield of Panama and its design is not of the outlined land mass type. Cuba is represented only in symbolism as the key between North and South American on the Cuban shield and on the 1953 Peso.
Other ideas for the topical collector along this line are to acquire coins that show areas of water, distant views of land areas or mountains.
NEW COINING DEVICES FOR COINS OF THE FEDERAL GERMAN REPUBLIC
by Walter Hilke, Essen
(Translated from the German text by Matthew J.van der Voort, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ) .
The discriminating observer of the German fractional coinage will have seen in the course of the last years some small changes in the effiges of the coins. The reason for this is that the dies which had been in use for 20 years were worn out and had to be changed.
The following alterations have occurred:
1, 2, 9 and 10 Pfennig
Obverse: In the word "Bundes repub lik" the "K" is no longer so strong
linked in the center as it used to be.
Reverse: The corns in the ears and the letters in PFENNIG have become
more slender.
90 Pfennig
Obverse: The heaps of earth behind the feet of the figure are now
larger, the dotted circle is further from the rand of the coins.
Reverse: The legend has been changed and the Mintmark is much larger.
From 1972 on the pieces have a smooth edge.
1 German Mark
Obverse: In the word "Bundesrepublik" the "K" is no longer so strong
linked in the center as it used to be.
Reverse: The letter "R" in the word "MARK" is below no longer swing-
ing, but cut straight.
9 German Marks
Obverse: The upper feathers of the wings of the eagle are semicircular.
On the old pieces these feathers were executed as waving line.
Reverse: The stars at the left and right of the date are thicker
than before.
88
The Coinage of CRETE
by Dolores H. Davis
FTER MANY REVOLUTIONS AND INSURRECTIONS ( 1833, l8*+l,
1858, 1866-68, 1878, 1889 and 1896), which resulted in the loss of thousands upon thousands of both Christian and Moslem lives, came the successful 1897 re- volt in Crete. The revolt stemmed out of territorial claims and after a short campaign Turkish troops were forced to withdraw from Crete and the European powers intervened in its behalf.
Crete was given virtual independence and in November, 1898 Prince George, the younger son of King George I of Greece, was appointed High Commissioner, a position he held until his resignation in 1906. Zaimis, a former (and later again) Prime Minister of Greece, assumed the position as High Commissioner on February 22, 1907- On October 12, 1912, the eve of the beginning of the Balkan Wars, Cretan deputies were admitted to the Greek Chamber by Eleutherios Venizelos, a Cretan and a veteran of Cretan revolts. Crete was formally ceded to Greece under the Treaty of London in 1913-
In order to adapt herself economically to Greece, the government of Crete in 1900 decided to issue its own coinage. All nine of the de- nominations were of the same weight and fineness as those of Greece. Under law 91 of July 10, 1900 the ratio of coins to be struck was set at the rate of six drachmae silver coins per capita and three drachmae in copper-nickel and copper coins per capita. The population of Crete in 1900 was 301>577* A total of 1,809, *+62 drachmae in silver and 90h, 731 drachmae in copper-nickel and copper was struck.
All coins were engraved by A. Borrel and were struck by Paris Mint bearing the mintmarks: A, Cornucopia and Torch. The engravers name
was written in Byzantine lettering.
The new issues of Crete were placed into circulation on December 9>
1900. The copper-nickel and copper coins circulated until March 6,
1923. The silver coins were withdrawn from circulation on July 23,
1929^ under law No. *+13*+. This long period of circulation, plus the fact that Cretan issues were legal tender in Greece as well and cir- culated freely alongside Greek coins, accounts for the vast majority of all issues being found for the most part in the lesser grades.
Law No. 157 in 1900 set forth the following table of alloy, weight, and measures:
89
Composition Weight Diameter in
|
Denomination |
Metal |
Tolerance |
Grams |
Tolerance |
MM |
|
Copper .950 |
.010 |
||||
|
1 Lepton |
Tin .040 |
.005 |
1 |
- |
15 |
|
2 Lepta |
Zinc . 010 |
.005 |
2 |
- |
20 |
|
5 Lepta |
2 |
0.018 |
17 |
||
|
10 Lepta |
Copper .750 |
.005 |
3 |
0.018 |
19 |
|
20 Lepta |
Nickel .250 |
.005 |
4 |
0.018 |
21 |
|
50 Lepta |
2.5 |
0.007 |
18 |
||
|
1 Drachmae |
Silver .835 |
.003 |
5-0 |
0.005 |
23 |
|
2 Drachmae |
10.0 |
0.005 |
27 |
||
|
5 Drachmae |
Silver .900 |
.002 |
25.0 |
0.003 |
37 |
|
10 Drachmae |
3.22580 |
0.002 |
19 |
||
|
20 Drachmae |
Gold .900 |
.002 |
6.45161 |
0.002 |
21 |
One reference source made note that Russell Rulau, Editor of World Coins Magazine stated that he had seen a coin of Crete dated 1899 and that author knows of no such coins.
I personally contacted Mr. Rulau who was so kind as to make the fol- lowing information available:
"The coin of Crete dated 1899 was a one Lepton of exactly the same type as Y-l in Yeoman's brown book, bearing the Paris (A) mintmark and without the word ESSAI or any mark to distinguish it as a pattern. The piece was in my collection from about 1950 until I sold it, as part of a large lot of coins, to Dwight Safford of San Diego, California about 1961. It was a fine to very fine condition coin, showing considerable circulation.
I had found it in a box of coins in a dealer's coin shop."
Mr. Safford was at that time a coin dealer who had a shop in downtown San Diego, California. This coupled with the fact that the lot was sold in 1961 would lead to the presumption that the piece has since been sold possible one or more times. I would like to contact any- one who might have any information as to the whereabouts of this, or any, one Lepton 1899 issue.
Below is a listing of the coins of Crete. For alloy, weight and measure, please consult the table above.
1 Lepton 1900-01 (Y-l), Copper
Obverse: KPHTlKB ne^VlTflA /center large crown with engravers name
A. BoPPeA , below, date between mint marks (Cornucopia and torch.
Reverse: Value ^AErfToN mintmark A below, within a wreath.
Edge : Plain
1900 289, 283 Scarce
1901 1, 710, 717 Common
90
2 Lepta 1900-01 (Y-2), Copper
Obverse, reverse and edge:
As 1 Lepton except value
Z/AEnTA
1900 793, 079 Available
1901 706,922 Available
3 Lepta 1900 (Y-3)> Copper-Nickel
Obverse, reverse and edge: As 1 Lepton except value
1900 k, 000, 000 Common
10 Lepta 1900 (Y-4), Copper-Nickel
Obverse, reverse and edge: As 1 Lepton except value
1900 2, 000, 000 Common
5“/AenTA
10
yAenT*
20 Lepta 1900 (Y-5), Copper-Nickel
Obverse, reverse and edge: As 1 Lepton except value ZoJa EnTA
1900 1, 250, 000 Common
30 Lepta 1901 (Y-6), Silver
Obverse : nf’trKH'V rEilPnotTHE ‘EMA&OE ynAToE AP tAoE THE EN KPHTH
head of Prince George facing right, below truncation engraver's initials A.B., below date 1901
Reverse: KPKTlKH — nOAlTBlA / crowned Cretan arms / below ,5b AErfTA
value between mintmarks
Edge : Reeded
1901
600, 000
Available
1 Drachmae 1901 (Y-7)j Silver
Obverse : nPiCKrtSf raiPrvoi the eaaaaoe ynAToZ apmoltue en kphth
head of Prince George right, below truncation engraver's name A- SoPPEA and date 1901
Reverse: KPHTlKH —— tlOAlTE V A /center, crowned Cretan arms
supported by two wild men on crowned mantle/below value
\ APAtfMH between mintmarks.
Edge : Reeded
1901 500, 000 Available
2 Drachmae 1901 (Y-8), Silver
Obverse, reverse and edge: As 1 Drachmae except value Z APAXJAAl
1901
175, 000
Available
5 Drachmae 1901 (Y-9), Silver
Obverse, reverse and edge: As 1 Drachmae except value .S APfty MAI
1901 150,000 Available
In the use of the term "Available" these coins are not exactly scarce nor are they quite common.
Coins found in the higher grades command a higher price as it has been noted before that the Cretan issues not only circulated for a considerable period of time, but also circulated freely alongside Greek coins in Greece. Well preserved specimens are scarce.
GREECE
5 DRACHMAE 1930
by Dolores H. Davis
While doing some research on the coinage of the Balkan countries, I ran across some old notes regarding how to distinguish between the strikes of Royal Mint, London and those of Brussels mint of the Greek 5 Drachmae 1930.
"The Brussels strike is distinguished from the London strike by the addition of a dot on another berry in the second group from the top on the left-hand side of the coin. "
After carefully checking some 130 pieces at my disposal I find this statement to be most correct. Of the entire amount checked, there were 124 London strikes and only 6 Brussels strikes.
In the London strikes the second group of berries on the outer part of the wreath on the left side of the coin has a dot in the topmost of the two berries whereas the lower berry has none. On the Brussels strike both berries have a dot ( see illustration below) .
London
iWc
London : 23, 500, 000
'SrusseL? S+fiW c.
The 5 Drachmae issue was inspired from the earlier issues of the Capodistrias era. They are from the designs of Michael Axelos which were engraved by Kruger Gray in London. They bear the artist's initials MA. Struck of -991 fine nickel, 10 gr. , 30nnn*
92
A TOP AUCTION OF NORWEGIAN COINS 18 14-1972
by B. F. Brekke
It is in Norway like in many other countries, the collectors that have appeared on the scene during the last 10 years, have concentrated on the modem coins of the country. For Norway, this means King Oscar II (1873-1905) and Haakon VII (1905-1958). From Olav V (1958- ) only the 2 Ore 1968 is rare, having been minted only for sets (3400 specimens).
However, as many begin to see the limits of these series, they naturally start looking backwards in time, and the next period that comes to mind then is the so-called "Swedish" period l8l4— 1905- Due to the scarcity of the older coins, this period is now very popular both in Norway and Sweden, and the result is that prices are rising swiftly. This could be seen on the recent auction in Stockholm held by the Swedish coin dealer B. Ahlstrom Mynthandel, Stockholm, where the famous collection of Mr. C. 0. Algard, Stockholm, came up for sale.
This collection is the best one that has been sold since the Grimsgaard auction in Copenhagen in 1889, containing most of the top rarities of the series and many coins in first class condition.
This period is called the "Bemadotte" era after General Bemadotte, one of Napoleon's top men, who became king of Sweden when the old Swedish king Charles XIII died in l8l8. Norway, which was under Danish domination since 400 years, had sided with Napoleon, and was given to Sweden by the Great Powers after the Napoleonic Wars. Norway tried to become independent during l8l4, rallying around a Danish prince, no coins were then minted, but a series of banknotes were printed, but to no avail. A "personal union" was arranged with Sweden, but all Norwegian coins were still minted at Kongsberg and the text was in the Norwegian language. The old values were kept on:
1 Speciedaler = 120 Skillings l/2 " = 60 Skillings
2k Skillings 12 "
8 4- 2
2 Skillings in copper 1 Skilling in copper
W2 *t ft ft
of Scandinavia changed over from the Speciedaler and to the Krone and ore (l Krone = 100 ore).
minted during the short reign of Charles XIII, a sil- ver 8 skilling and a copper skilling, both quite common and worth re- spectively today $15 • and $6. in very fine condition. They are not too easy to find in flawless condition, and would then cost much more.
95
In 1873 the whole skilling currency
Only 2 coins were
King Charles XIV John (in Norwegian Carl XIV Johan) reigned until l844 and minted many fine coins. The Algard collection was nearly complete and a listing of the auction results will give a good picture of the situation today:
1 Speciedaler
1819 AU 1821 EF
1823 AU
1824 EF
182 V 1
1826 EF
1826 w/M
1827
1827/6 AU 1829 vf/ef
|
$340.00 |
1829/7 EF |
$440.00 |
|
205.00 |
1830 vf/ef |
230.00 |
|
1000.00 |
1831 EF |
330.00 |
|
200.00 |
1832 EF |
310.00 |
|
Missing |
1833 |
Missing |
|
300.00 |
1834 EF |
210.00 |
|
Missing |
1835 EF |
180.00 |
|
Missing |
1835 W/star |
505.00 |
|
350.00 |
1836 vf/ef |
190.00 |
|
330.00 |
1844 BU |
470.00 |
Here, the 1833 and the 1826 with the "M" on the neck are the top rar- ities, missing in all collections, the author knows of only one 1833 in a private collection, the others are scarce, but not unobtainable with time. The overdate 1829/7 was unknown to the author, who bought it, and it must be very rare indeed. The most unexpected high price was reached by the 1844, but then it was an uncommonly beautiful specimen. The star on the 1835 was placed there by a mintmaster who wanted his coins to be different from those of his successor, it is much rarer than the one without the star.
1/2
Speciedaler
1819 VF 1821 EF
1823 1823/1
1824
1824/1 EF
1827 EF 1827/6 1829 I83O
|
$ 82.00 |
1831 EF |
$280.00 |
|
96.00 |
1832 VF |
200.00 |
|
Missing |
1833 |
Missing |
|
240.00 |
1834 EF |
148.00 |
|
Missing |
1834/9 F |
77.00 |
|
122.00 |
1835 AU |
300.00 |
|
150.00 |
1835 w/star |
Missing |
|
Missing |
1836 EF |
200.00 |
|
Missing Missing |
1844 EF |
72.00 |
The rarest l/2 speciedalers are the 1835 w/star, the 1830 and the 1833, the first one by far leading the pack. Only 3 specimens are supposed to be known. The 1834/9 is supposed to have been minted in only 44 specimens and reached over $100.00 back in 1963 at the Rosholm auction by Henry Christensen. Mr. Algard had to make do with a specimen in Fine. The other missing coins are scarce, but again, not unobtainable.
24 Skilling
|
1819 EF |
$ 66.00 |
I83O |
Missing |
|
1823 VF |
95.00 |
1831/O VG |
$ 140.00 |
|
1824 VF |
75-00 |
1833 VG |
100.00 |
|
1825 f/vf |
85.OO |
1834 |
Missing |
|
1827 F |
72.00 |
1835 AU |
265.OO |
|
1827/6 UNC |
225 . 00 |
1836 VG |
70.00 |
The 24 skillings from 1830 on are all very rare and difficult to find in better condition. This is what forced Algard to include the 3 coins
9^
in only VG in his cabinet. The top rarity is the 1831/0 with the 1834 following. The 1831 has been known only once before, namely in the aforementioned Grimsgaard collection sold in 1889. The author bought this VG specimen and will probably never see another one. I know this is dangerous talk, rarities have a knack of turning up unexpectedly, but this is the best of my information. How difficult these coins are to find in UNC, this collection proves effectively.
The 8 skillings went in UNC for $58.00, the 1827 was missing, but there was a 1827/5 in VF at $30.00. They are not particularly rare.
However, there are some quite rare 1 skilling coins in copper:
1 Skilling
1824 VF
1824 F
1825 VG
$54.00
70.00*
50.00
* (Struck on older coin)
1827 VF 1831 vg/f
$70.00
30.00
Here the prices speak for themselves. These normal 1 skillings cost 4-5 dollars, but the above specimens are all rare, especially the 1825 and the 1824 on the broader flan, usually a Danish skilling 1771- This coin is thinner and broader than the usuual 1824.
OSCAE I 1845-1859:
There are no great rarities in this series, but I suppose that it will still be interesting to see how the main coins fared in the auction:
|
1 Speciedaler 1846 AU |
- $250.00 |
l/2 Speciedaler l846 EF |
$150.00 |
|
" 1847 |
- Missing |
" 1847 EF |
132.00 |
|
" 1848' |
- 230.00 |
" 1848 vf/ef- |
74.00 |
|
" 1849 EF |
- 180.00 |
" 1849 EF |
140.00 |
|
1850 vf/ef |
- 150.00 |
" 185O AU |
132.00 |
|
" 1855 VF |
- 134.00 |
" 1855 f/vf - |
52.00 |
|
" 1856 EF |
- 182.00 |
*( Reverse burnt.) |
|
|
" 1857 EF |
- I96.OO |
||
|
24 Skilling 1846-55 |
12 Skilling 1846-55 |
||
|
UNC |
- 100.00 |
UNC |
100.00 |
|
EF |
40.00 |
EF |
28.00 |
|
VF |
17.00 |
VF |
10.00 |
Only the l/2 Speciedaler 1855 is rather scarce in these series. When the Speciedaler 1847 is missing, it does not mean anything in this case, it can be obtained easily.
CHABLES XV 1859-1872:
Here again we meet a lot of rare, beautiful coins, but let the tables speak:
1 Speciedaler
l86l VF $186.00
1861 w/B Missing
1862 F 154.00
1864 EF 300.00
1865 UNC $450.00
1867 EF 600.00
1868 EF 350.00
1869 EF 325-00
95
The l86l with the "B" below the neck is missing in literally all private collections, 3 are supposed to be known. One or more were deposited in the ground when the Norwegian Parliament Building was built in l86l and I believe there are collectors who might sacrifice democracy to get at this coin. The "B" signifies mintmaster Bergslien whose dies were not accepted at the time. The coin is similar to the ordinary l86l, except for the "B". The 1865 was the most beautiful coin of this series that the author has seen, practically proof, but it is not so rare as 1868 and especially, 1867*
l/2 Speciedaler
l86l Missing 1862 AU $290.00
l86l w/B UNO $2600.00 1865 Missing
Most collectors never see more than the 1862, the other three coins are all rarities. The l86l with the "B" has the same history as the Speciedaler above, and I know of 3 specimens in private collections only. It was sold for $125-00 at the previously mentioned Rosholm auction in 1963, so it has increased 20-fold. The coin was bought back by Mr. Algard, as he was dissatisfied with $2500.00. He said after the sale that he expects to get $3000.00 for the coin. The 1865 is the next rarest coin, having been minted only in 350 specimens, and even the l86l is very difficult to find.
24 Skilling
1861 UNO $2400.00 1865 VP $80.00
1862 AU 280.00
There were minted only 11 or 13 specimens of the 2k skilling l86l, and
it is perhaps even rarer than the l/2 speciedaler l86l with the "B". The author knows of 2 specimens in private collections. One was found in 1964 and went for $80.00, which shows the direction. The 1862 is very rare also.
12 Skilling
1861 EF $350.00 1865 EF $62.00
1862 Missing
Both the l86l and the 1862 are very rare, but it is only two years back that the l86l in UNO was sold at $75*00 at an auction, so one might say the price-climate is explosive, and there is no end in sight.
OSCAR II 1872-1905:
This series is still the most popular one among collectors, and top specimens are going higher and higher. The auction made records in several instances:
l/2 Speciedaler 1873 EF (scratch) $1400.00 12 Skilling 1873 AU 72.00
20 Kroner Gold 1874 EF 117-00
" 1875 EF 106.00
" 1883 EF 1140.00
" 1879 UNC 122.00
" 1876-1900 EF 100.00
96
|
10 Kroner |
1874 |
vf/ef |
- |
$225.00 |
|
1! |
1877 |
UNO |
- |
260.00 |
|
II |
1902 |
vf/ef |
- |
120.00 |
|
2 Kroner |
1878 |
AU |
_ |
64.00 |
|
II |
1885 |
EF |
- |
250.00 |
|
II |
1887 |
VG |
- |
70.00 |
|
II |
1888 |
VG |
- |
58.00 |
|
II |
1890 |
AU |
- |
60.00 |
|
II |
1892 |
AU |
- |
84.00 |
|
II |
1898 |
F |
- |
14.00 |
|
II |
1900 |
EF |
- |
38.00 |
|
II |
1902 |
AU |
- |
42.00 |
|
II |
1904 |
VF |
- |
13.00 |
|
1 Krone |
1877 |
AU |
_ |
76.00 |
|
II |
1877 |
vf/ef |
- |
15.00 |
|
"1878-79-81 |
vg/f |
- |
18.00 |
|
|
II |
1882 |
VF |
- |
22.00 |
|
It |
1890 |
EF |
- |
28.00 |
|
II |
1893 |
UNO |
- |
90.00 |
|
The great |
rarities are |
the l/2 |
|
50 Ore |
1885 |
UNO - |
$80.00 |
|
II |
1889 |
EF - |
26.00 |
|
II |
1900 |
VF/EF' |
- 14.00 |
|
25 Ore |
1876 |
AU - |
34.00 |
|
II |
1896 |
vf/ef ■ |
- i4.oo |
|
II |
1901 |
UNO - |
28.00 |
|
10 Ore |
1875 |
AU - |
34.00 |
|
II |
1877 |
vg/f- |
29.00 |
|
II |
1901 |
UNC - |
20.00 |
|
5-2-1 Ore |
in UNO |
L2. 00/25 |
|
|
1 Ore |
1885 |
vg/f- |
50.00 |
speciedaler 1873 and the 20 Kroner Gold
1883, and they both broke all records. There are probably about 10 to
15 known of the l/2 speciedaler and 10 known of the 20 Kroner. With
the amount of collectors there are looking in vain for them, they are bound to be expensive. Where they go from here is anybody's guess.
The 10 Kroner Gold 1874 is on the way up, and so are the rare 2 Kroner pieces 1885, 1887 and 1888 in superior condition. In these coins condition is everything as in the whole silver series. People fight over the few uncirculated specimens that are left around, be- cause every collector is becoming more and more condition-conscious.
HAAKON VII 1903-38:
In this series condition is even more important, and here good coins are still available. It is therefore surprising that there were not more UNO coins in this great collection. It testifies to the fact that these are slowly disappearing from the market. It would be too much to specify all the material sold, so I shall stick to the better types:
|
20 Kroner |
1910 EF |
- $ 90.00 |
1 Krone |
1908 EF |
- $ 32.00* |
|
*( Hammers on small square) |
|||||
|
10 Kroner |
1910 AU |
- 102.00 |
II |
1908 VF |
7.00 |
|
1906 EF |
II |
1910-17 VF |
- 5/15-00 |
||
|
2 Kroner |
24.00 |
||||
|
II |
1907 vf/ef - 26.00 |
50 Ore |
1909 UNO |
16.00 |
|
|
It |
1907 EF |
"Guns" |
II |
1945 VF Zinc |
- 115.00 |
|
- 118.00 |
|||||
|
II |
1914 EF |
(Y54) |
25 Ore |
1922 AU |
10.00* |
|
10.00 |
II |
1923 EF |
17.00* |
||
|
It |
1909 EF |
- 620.00* |
*(No Hole) |
||
|
*( Pattern) |
10 Ore |
8.00 |
|||
|
" 1915-17 AU |
- 15/25.00 |
1909 UNO |
|||
|
Mint Sets 1958-67 UNO - |
$13.00 |
||||
|
" " 1968 |
UNO - |
112.00 |
97
The outstanding rarity here is the 2 Kroner 1909. This denomination was supposedly not minted this year, hut a few trial strikes seem to have been made, 4 are known in private hands. The type is the usual 1908-17. This specimen comes originally from the famous Reuterschiold collection bought by Mr. Algard. The rare 10 ore 1908 was missing but the also quite rare 50 ore in zince 1945 went at a new record price.
This auction was quite an event for the period l8l4 and up, and it will surely be a long time before another like it comes up. The material has fallen like water on parched ground and we shall surely see increased interest for the period.
If we go further back in Norwegian history, we come to the so-called "Danish" period from about 14-00 to l8l4. During these ca. 400 years Norway was little more than a province under Denmark, but coins were struck in Norway for circulation there. Mints were Christiania (now Oslo) 1628-95 and Kongsberg 1686 and since. There was also a short period 1545-46 when a few coins were struck at a convent Gimsoy in the south of Norway, and this small series is the rarest of them all.
The coins of this period are well described in works by Holger Hede, Copenhagen, and Curator Ronning of the Oslo Coin Cabinet. The author has also published a book on the coins since 1485, this work with the prices of 1969, you can multiply them with two and three today. There are known only three important Norwegian collections sold by auctions in Copenhagen in 1851 (Mohr), 1889 (Grimsgaard) and Bjornstad in 1954. Most of the material is in Danish hands even now although a few Nor- wegians are building fine collections of dates, mintmarks and varieties Many more are trying to assemble type collections, but the going is hard as Norwegian mintages were small and few collectors like to sell today. There were fine auctions in 1959* 1961, 1965 and 1966 when collectors died, but today the material is very scarce.
We can go even further back, as the first Norwegian coins were struck around the year 1000, and the first larger mintings took place from 1066. The Norwegian King Magnus the Good minted a lot, but only in Denmark, which for 5 years was the dominion of Norway ( 1042-47 ) •
The last coin of the old Norwegian dynasty was a bracteate struck by Queen Margareta for her son Olav who died in 1587. All coins from this period are very scarce, but of course extremely interesting. A book on them will probably come out next year. The authority today is a work from 1865.
I hope that this article will find interesting readers, and the author is only too happy to answer questions from collectors whatever facet of the hobby they relate to.
THE 25 WORLD
MOST POPULAR SILVER CROWNS
by William B. Slate
In 1964 there appeared a list of the "WORLD'S TOP TEN CROWNS" (Bob Berman list published in "Coin World" Newspaper) and in 1968 ( "World Coins Magazine", February 1968) a list of the three most beautiful
98
crowns. To keep with this four year interval, it was decided in December 1970 to research world crowns and prepare another list in 1972. So as not to infringe upon the integrity of the previously mentioned lists, it was decided to research the popularity of the popular silver crowns. In researching popularity I was not limiting myself to rarity or beauty, but rather to what individuals, collect- ors and dealers considered to be their most popular. To achieve fair and international response, my request for the most popular world silver crowns was carried in the Reader Reaction section of "World Coins Magazine", Jan. 1971, P- 40 and Apr. 1971, p. 444. In addition to this request, I also requested lists through personal correspon- dence. The final result was response from all over the United States, twelve foreign countries and a total of 210 different crowns being nominated.
Today the hobby of numismatics is being infiltrated with many degrad- ing items such as counterfeits, restrikes and crowns described as "Legal Tender Coinage" or "Legal By Decree". Many collectors will agree that the last two classifications are no more than junk and by normal standards cannot even be considered as coins or crowns. In the author's opinion, as well as many other collectors, a coin is something that can be found in circulation in the country of origin as coinage of the realm, is found in less than uncirculated or proof and is accepted by the occupants of said country as a circulating medium. The items with the classification of "Legal Tender" or "Legal By Decree" should only be allowed the classification of medals which they really are. It is agreed that most of these items are indeed beautiful works of medallic art. I would like to see an honest answer as to the questions of how these "Legal" items can be considered as coins when they are pure silver, issued only through private mints or their outlets at prices way above their intrinsic value and also why they do not circulate as an exchange medium. I am in complete agreement with Mr. R. S. Yeoman and his idea of list- ing these junk items as controversial recent issues.
While conducting this research, I knew that I was leaving myself open for nominations of these so-called fantasy crowns. I am pleased to report that of the crowns nominated there were only two in this category. Even with all this fancy advertisement for these junk items, the true crown collectors do not seem to care to collect them.
The 1964 list of the World Top Ten Crowns was prepared by Mr. Bob Berman and the following is that list in order.
|
1. |
New Zealand |
y6 |
One Crown |
1935 |
Waitangi |
|
2. |
Comoro Islands |
Y3 |
5 Francs |
I89O |
|
|
3- |
German New Guinea |
Y7 |
5 Marks |
1894 |
Bird of Paradise |
|
4. |
Great Britain |
Yll |
One Crown |
1847 |
Gothic |
|
5- |
China |
Y428 |
One Yuan |
1928 |
Automobile |
|
6. |
German East Africa |
Y5 |
2 Rupien |
1893-94 |
|
|
7- |
Zanzibar |
Y5 |
One Ryal |
1002 |
|
|
8. |
Korea |
y8 |
5 Yang |
1892 |
|
|
9. |
Guatemala |
yio4 |
One Quetzal |
1925 |
Quetzal |
|
10. |
Brazil |
Yll |
4000 Reis |
1900 |
Cabral |
99
Four years later In 1968 there appeared an article by Julius Weiss entitled "Hungary 1938 Named Prettiest Crown", World Coins, Feb. 1968. The following is a list of the three most beautiful:
|
1. |
Hungary |
Y48 |
5 Pengo |
1938 |
St. Stephan |
|
2. |
Mexico |
y66 |
5 Peso |
1950 |
Railroad |
|
3- |
Greece |
y47 |
30 Drachmai |
1963 |
Five Kings |
Since those two lists have appeared, I have noticed a new awareness in numismatic circules of referring to specific crowns in an abbreviated sense. This abbreviated sense seems to be an indication of popularity. This popularity stems from the fact that the collector does not have to remember the catalogue number, date or value. In short, the col- lector can recall crowns by specific names. A few of these crowns are the Mexican Railroad, Bird of Paradise, Maria Theresa, Birds Over Junk., Gothic, Waitangi and the Montevideo. Popularity can also be based upon one or two date types because of the fact of supply and demand for some of the smaller countries. In the research I found that popu- larity was not limited to strictly inexpensive crowns. Quite a few lists that were sent in had at least four crowns that list about two hundred dollars ($200.00) while others only had one or two in this high range and the remainder were in the range of less than twenty- five dollars ($25 .00).
My research has been limited to the silver crowns because I feel that the era of true silver composition crowns, -720 to .900 fine, is coming to an end. The research has now been tabulated and those crowns that were nominated as first choice on the individual lists received ten points and in descending order to the tenth place crown which received one point. Although my request was for the most popular ten silver crowns, my tabulated results have been expanded into a list of the World's Most Popular 25 Silver Crowns.
In itemizing the list it appears that crown collectors limit the size of crowns to around an average of 37nim. A further breakdown shows 19 crowns with an abbreviated name, 17 one date types, 3 that are two date types, 2 from the most beautiful list, 5 from the top ten list and 7 that list above one hundred dollars ($100.00).
The most popular world silver crown by this survey is the Mexico 5 Peso 1950- This crown was designed by Manuel L. Negrete and is 40mm in size with a .720 fine silver composition. Mintage figures show 1,000,000 issued and Elizondo's 2nd. edition places the value at $15-00 in un- circulated condition. This crown is called the Mexican Railroad Peso or Mexican Railroad because it commemor- ates the completion in 1950 of the re-gauging and extension of the Southeast Railroad between Mexico City and Vera Cruz. Reverse design, per Elizondo definition shows a view of an old locomotive below a rising sun. Symbolically the sun is supposed to show a bright future. The inscription on the reverse means "Inauguration of the Railroad of the Southeast".
Obverse design shows the traditional Mexican Eagle and Serpent with
100
the denomination and date. Around the edge is the incused inscription which translates to "Commerce-Agriculture-Industry". This crown was the runner-up in the 1968 beauty list and it is very pretty in perfect condition but it also wears fast and the locomotive detail is soon lost.
The following list shows the top twenty-five silver crowns in the order of their finish on the survey. I realize that there will be many collectors and dealers who will disagree with this list and for those I can only ask where is your list. There were many personal requests sent out to dealers and collectors and for those who contrib- uted, my sincere thanks for helping in the study of numismatics.
Since this survey has taken one year to complete and the fact that the survey request was carried twice in the Reader Reaction section of World Coins Magazine, it would appear that this list is fair and just.
|
COUNTRY |
NO- |
VALUE |
DATE |
ABBREVIATED NAME |
MM |
|
|
1. |
MEXICO |
y66 |
5 PESOS |
1950 |
MEXICAN RAILROAD |
40 |
|
2. |
GREAT BRITAIN |
Yll |
ONE CROWN |
1847 |
GOTHIC |
38 |
|
3- |
GERMAN NEW GUINEA |
Y7 |
5 MARKS |
1894 |
BIRD OF PARADISE |
37 |
|
4. |
AUSTRIA |
Y55 |
ONE THALER |
1780 |
MARIA THERESA |
4l |
|
5- |
AUSTRIA |
Y3 |
2 VEREINS- THALER |
1857 |
AUSTRIAN RAILROAD 40 |
|
|
6. |
MEXICO |
Y54 |
5 PESOS |
1947-48 |
CUAUHTEMOC |
4o |
|
7- |
BELGIAN CONGO |
Y27 |
50 FRANCS |
1944 |
ELEPHANT |
35 |
|
8. |
MEXICO |
Y51 |
2 PESOS |
1921 |
WINGED VICTORY |
39 |
|
9- |
GERMANY |
Y70 |
5 MARKS |
1930 |
GRAF ZEPPELIN |
37 |
|
10. |
MEXICO |
Y42 |
ONE PESO |
1910-14 |
HORSEBACK PESO |
39 |
|
11. |
CANADA |
Y50 |
ONE DOLLAR |
1958 |
TOTEM POLE |
36 |
|
12. |
BERMUDA |
Y1 |
ONE CROWN |
1959 |
38 |
|
|
13- |
HUNGARY |
Y48 |
5 PENGO |
1938 |
ST. STEPHEN |
36 |
|
14. |
CANADA |
Y42 |
ONE DOLLAR |
1949 |
CABOT DOLLAR |
36 |
|
15- |
BAHAMA |
Y7 |
TWO DOLLARS |
1966 |
FLAMINGO |
4o |
|
16. |
COMORO IS. |
Y5 |
5 FRANCS |
1890 |
37 |
|
|
r— 1 |
ALBANIA |
y8 |
5 FRANKA |
1925, 1927 |
32 |
|
|
18. |
JAPAN |
y8o |
1000 YEN |
1964 |
JAPAN OLYMPIC |
35 |
|
19- |
HAWAII |
Y5 |
ONE DOLLAR |
1883 |
HAWAII DOLLAR |
37 |
|
20. |
AUSTRALIA |
Y20 |
ONE CROWN |
1937-38 |
37 |
|
|
21. |
NEW ZEALAND |
Y6 |
ONE CROWN |
1935 |
WAITANGI |
38 |
|
22. |
PANAMA |
Yi6 |
ONE BALBOA |
1931-47 |
38 |
|
|
23- |
FINLAND |
Y62 |
10 MARKKAA |
1967 |
35 |
|
|
24. |
GREAT BRITAIN |
YT1 |
ONE DOLLAR |
1895-1935 |
GREAT BRITAIN TRADE DOLLAR |
39 |
|
25- |
GUATEMALA |
Y104 ONE QUETZAL |
1925 |
QUETZAL |
39 |
101
BOOK REVIEWS
THREE BOOKS FROM WEST GERMANY
1. Christ, Karl. "Antike Numismatik, Einfuehrung und Bibliographie" (Ancient Numismatics, Introduction and Bibliography), 1972. Paper, 107 pages. DM 11,50.
2. von Ebengreuth, A. Luschin. "Allgemeine Muenzkunde und Geld- geschichte des Mittelalters und der noueren Zeit" (General Numis- matics and Monetary History of the Middle Ages and Modem Times),
1971 reprint of the 1926 edition. 533 pages with illustrations in the test. DM 34,50.
3- Friedensburg, Ferdinand. "Muenzkunde und Geldgeschichte der Einzelstaaten des Mittelalters und der neueren Zeit" (Numismatics and Monetary History of the Separate States of the Middle Ages and Modem Times), 1972 reprint of the 1926 edition. 196 pages plus 19 plates. DM 30,Q0.
All of the above are published by the Wissenschaftliche Buchgesell- schaft (Scholarly Book Society), Postfach 1129, 6 100 Darmstadt.
This non-profit organization, founded in 1949 to reprint and publish new editions of. scholarly German works destroyed in World War II, also publishes newly written books, like No. 1 above. These books are available to members at the above prices. They are the only numismatic books I found in going through the Society's 800-page catalog. It is not clear whether non-members can buy them, but members are enjoined from reselling. However, annual dues are only 7,50 DM. The Society will send information about membership to any who are interested, or I will be glad to send in the names of inter- ested persons.
As an introduction, "Antike Numismatik" is very sketchy, and more useful books for ancient coin collectors are available in English. The book does attempt to set up Ancient Numismatics as an academic - type discipline, and the bibliographical data is useful for the serious numismatist. Karl Christ, the author, is a Professor of Ancient History, and includes valuable references from archeological and historical sources as well as numismatic sources. For example,
I recently wrote an article onCarausius, and thought I had exhausted the available significant material. But in this book I find an im- portant article listed in the "British Archaeological Journal. Prof. Christ's bibliography in this small book makes no pretense of being complete, and should be used as an adjunct to other bibliographies.
Von Ebengreuth 's "General History" first appeared about 1905. This is a reprint of the second edition. In his preface to the second edition the author recognizes some confusion over the title of his work. He explains that it was not his intent to write a history of money, but to show "the historian, who is only rarely a numismatist, the advantage he can expect in attaining his special goal from occupying himself directly with coinage as a historical memorial of old monetary matters.".
With this sort of objective, a chronological arrangement should not be expected. The first eighteen pages are an introduction to
102
numismatics. The First Part (following the Introduction) -- "General Numismatics" — has in its turn three divisions: "The External
Character of Coins", "The Manufacture of Coins", and "Coins as Objects of Collecting". The Second Part — "History of Money" -- has two divisions: "Coins in Their Relation to Economics and "Coins in
Their Relationship to Law".
Since, despite the title, most of the author's examples are drawn from the coinage of the Middle Ages, this book apparently at one time was considered a basic text in medieval numismatics, and must still be considered quite valuable. Although it is well-indexed, it is not basically a reference book, but a text.
The third volume, with a title quite similar to the previous one, does move from medieval to modem times. The individual chapters give a brief history of the coinage of particular European countries and regions. In the First Part, on the Middle Ages, three chapters are devoted to Germany: "The Germanic States of the Mass Migrations",
"The Carolingian State" and "Germany". In the Second Part, on Modem Times, another chapter is devoted to Germany. The Third Part, very short, is devoted to "Coinage Outside Europe". There is a list of the "Most Important Literature" for each chapter.
Someone who reads German easily and wants to read a general survey will find this book interesting. The specialist will find little of value in it.
All three books are well-printed and beautifully bound, in the best German book tradition.
Reviewed by Ralph S. Walker
ooooo
"Notgeld Newsletter Vol. I", Dwight L. Musser, Editor, mimeographed, paper cover, 1 6 pages. Published by Pinecrest Sales Co., Box 305,
Ridge Manor, Fla. 33525* $1*25 Postpaid:
Editor Musser has taken the first four issues of "Notgeld Newsletter" and bound them together with some other information to make a con- venient reference booklet.
Contents of the reference include:
Notgeld Background - How it all got started.
Bibliography of JEMS articles on notgeld.
Notgeld classification system.
Topical listings - Witches; The Colonials; and Americana.
A detailed study of one notgeld series including translations and illustrations.
Bibliography of Dr. Keller's notgeld catalogs.
A chart showing quantities issued of various types of notgeld.
Notgeld briefs: facts, news, comments.
A chart showing how to read the old German alphabet as used on many notgeld issues.
A listing of German words frequently found on notgeld with their English translations.
(From information submitted by Dwight Musser) 103
fHEiMiEia N©03(SiE
Dr. H. M. J. van Vuuren, P. Q. Box 17853, Hillbrow, Tvl. , South Africa: I would like to correspond or trade with NI members inter-
ested in my collecting interest of coins and banknotes of South Africa, Rhodesia, Zambia, Malawi and Portuguese Colonies.
Bruce Smith, 8829 Santa Bella, Hazelwood, Mo. 63042: WANTED: Eduard
Kann's "Currencies of China", 2nd Edition 1927 (Shanghai ) . WANTED : Photo or rubbing of any unlisted Ch’ing Dynasty (1644-1912) cash coin.
Frank Orlowski, Box 124, Austin, Minn. 35912: I need assistance from
the membership in attribution and history of the following coins. Although I have a copy of Gumowski I cannot find the Swedish coins for Poland listed. Those of Sigismund III are listed. However, those of Christina and Gustav Adolf (as rulers of Sweden) are not listed. I have various solidi of both Christina and Gustav from the 1600 's. They are from Elbing, Livonia, and Riga. I'm especially interested in attributing the three varieties of a solidi I have from Riga of Christina, all dated 164,5. The varieties are as follows:
No. 1 -- "-CIRIGEN 43"; No. 2 -- "*CIVI*RIGE 43"; No. 3 -- "*CIvi*R* IGE-43- " (Differences in legend). Also have two varieties of Gustav as follows in legend: No. 1 -- "GUSTADO • C IVI • REGENS IS " and No. 2
GUSTA:AD0 *CIVI*RIGENSIS* 25 : " • If there are any references on these coins I would appreciate hearing from the membership, as any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Milt Blackburn, P. Q. Box 80l4, Station "L", Vancouver 14, B-C., Can- WANTED -- British Honduras 1965 and 1966 25 cents and 50 cents in strict BU. Also other B.H. coins and most Craig numbers of Egypt, Tunis and Morocco wanted.
Glen Kunzman, 63-IOO Baylor Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 3K1, Canada: Information and/ or references needed on the tiny silver chuckram (chakram) coins of Travancore, India. The most common are cataloged as Craig Cll and Yeoman YA6(?). Will buy, trade or borrow these or similar issues to use as the basis for a descriptive article. Thanks.
W. B. Slate, 1244 Kimberly Circle No. C, Rock Springs, Wyoming 829OI: The increasing growth of Topical Collecting of World Coins has created a heed for national organization. I am in the process of trying to get the approval of the ANA Board of Governors for such an award at the annual ANA Convention. Donations or pledges are requested to build a $1, 000.00 trust fund where the interest bearing captial would pay for the annual award. Donations would be kept in a special account until the 1974 ANA convention or at which time the plan is disapproved. Members can also help this plan by writing to their ANA Representative or ANA Governor and request support of the plan at the next ANA Board of Governors meeting, Boston ANA Convention. Please send donations or pledges to me at the above address.
L. Donald Koontz, 5815 So. Huron St., Littleton, Colo. 80120: Can
anyone offer information on Austria, Y-B7, 5 Groschen Zinc, 1951, struck over either Germany Y-B92 1944 or Y-99 1947? Date and mint mark are not at all certain, nor is the central design of the obverse; all the letters and numerals are readable except last digit of date.
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