Coin of the Week: 2001 Korean 500 Won

Obverse (Image: Red-crowned Crane)

Reverse (Image: Denomination)

South Korea's currency is the won, a currency which has been in use for thousands of years. Today's Korean won was introduced in 1962, with 500 won coins entering circulation in 1982. 

Like all of South Korea's coins, the 500 won has the year of issue, denomination and bank title on the reverse. The obverse depicts the red-crowned crane. This crane is one of the rarest cranes in the world and is a symbol of good luck and longevity in many parts of Asia. The red-crowned crane has an estimated population of 1,500 remaining in the wild, with about 1/3 of them migrating to the Korean peninsula in the winter. Interestingly enough, the sanctuary that this crane depends on is in the Korean DMZ and Civilian Controlled Zone. The red-crowned crane is protected as a National Monument in South Korea.

If you're interested in more information about red-crowned cranes, visit the Smithsonian's National Zoo. For conservation efforts, visit the International Crane Foundation.

 

Coin of the Week: 1977 Solomon Islands 1 Dollar

Obverse (Image: Queen Elizabeth II)

Reverse (Image: Traditional Wood Carving)

Like other islands in the Pacific, the indigenous people of the Solomon Islands bartered or used items of value such as cowrie shells and whale teeth as currency. Coins began to replace these items when Europeans started colonizing this nation consisting of almost 1,000 islands. The Solomon Islands introduced its own currency in 1977, one year after achieving self-government. The islands became an independent nation in 1978 and are now a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The currency of the Solomon Islands is the dollar, with one dollar divided into 100 cents.

The seven-sided 1 dollar coin depicts Queen Elizabeth II, the Monarch of the Solomon Islands and head of state, on the obverse. The reverse depicts a native wood carving called the nguzu nguzu.  The figurehead was attached to a canoe's prow and was thought to give supernatural protection. The nguzu nguzu on the 1 dollar is typical, depicting a figure with a large head, small arms and circular ear ornaments. You can get more information and see an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art here.

Coin of the Week: 1974 Denmark 5 Kroner

Obverse (Image: Queen Margrethe II)

Reverse (Image: Crowned Shield)

Denmark has a long history of minting, with coins appearing as early as AD 825. Danish coinage was decimalized in 1874, with 1 krone = 100 øre. Although part of the European Union, Denmark has not adapted the Euro. Instead, the krone is pegged to the Euro through the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM).

The obverse of the 5 kroner has a depiction of Queen Margrethe II. She inherited the Danish crown from her father in 1972, thanks to a 1953 referendum repealing the laws that prohibited women from inheriting the throne. The reverse depicts the royal coat of arms, a shield divided into four quarters by a cross derived from the Danish flag, the Dannebrog. The first and fourth quarters represent Denmark, with three crowned lions accompanied by nine hearts. The second quarter represents a former Danish province, Schleswig, with two lions. The third quarter consists of three symbols: the three crowns at the top represent the Kalmar Union (that united Denmark, Sweden and Norway), the ram symbolizes the Faroe Islands and the polar bear represents Greenland. The crest at the top is the crown of King Christian V of Denmark.

Here's an interesting note regarding the "S" and "B" on the bottom of the obverse with a heart in between. The heart is a national symbol of Denmark, the "S" is the initial of the mint master at the time, Vagn Sorensen, and the "B" is the initial of the moneyer at the time, Frode Bahnsen. 

Coin of the Week: 1999 Botswana 25 Thebe

Obverse (Image: Botswana Coat of Arms)

Reverse (Image: Zebu Bull)

The Republic of Botswana is a country in southern Africa. It won its independence from Great Britain in 1966. Botswana introduced its currency, the pula, in 1976, replacing the South African rand. The pula is subdivided into 100 thebe. An interesting fact is that pula means "rain" and can also mean "blessing", since rain is rare in Botswana. The word thebe means "shield".

The seven-sided 25 thebe has the coat of arms of Botswana on the obverse. According to Ralf Hartemink's website:

The shape of the shield is rather strange, as it is a shape used in East Africa and not by the Tswana tribes. The cog wheels
symbolize mining and industry in the country. The waves symbolize the (few) rivers in the country and the importance of water.
The bull's head symbolizes the importance of cattle herding for the economy of the country.

The supporters are two zebra, which are common among the wildlife in Botswana. The supporters hold an elephant's tusk, as a
symbol for the former ivory trade, and an ear of sorghum, the main local crop.

The reverse has a depiction of a zebu bull. These cattle originated in south Asia but were imported into Africa over many hundreds of years. More about the zebu can be read here. 

Coin of the Week: 1977 England 50 Pence

Obverse (Image: Queen Elizabeth II)

Reverse (Image: Britannia)

To celebrate the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince Williams, I decided to post one of my English coins. England has a long history of minting coins, with the first mint established in AD 287. Coins have been continuously minted for over 1,100 years, with the London Mint (now Royal Mint) established in AD 886. The English monetary system used to consist of farthings, shillings, florins, sovereigns and guineas, making it very confusing for anyone who wasn't English. The government decimalized the monetary system in 1971 and introduced new pence coins (100 new pence = 1 pound).

The seven-sided 50 pence coin, like all English coins, features the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse as required by law. The reverse features Britannia, the female personification of England and ancient term for Great Britain. Coins from as early as AD 138 have been found with Britannia depicted on them. More information on the origins of Britannia can be found here.

There's also a piece "Rule, Britannia" which I'm including here for any interested in the music: Rule Britannia.