Coin of the Week: 1996 Zimbabwe 5 Cents

Obverse (Image: Zimbabwe Soapstone Bird)

Reverse (Image: Rabbit)

For Easter, I searched through my coin collection and found this one from Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe dollar was introduced in 1980, replacing the Rhodesian dollar at a ratio of 1:1. But due to hyperinflation, with banknote denominations as high as $100 Trillion, Zimbabwe abandoned its official currency on April 12, 2009. Foreign currencies are now used for all transactions in Zimbabwe.

The 5-cent piece, like all Zimbabwe coins, featured the ancient soapstone bird on the obverse. A number of these stone bird carvings were discovered on walls and monoliths of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe, the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. Great Zimbabwe is now a national monument of the country.

The reverse depicts a rabbit, or hare. All Zimbabwe coins feature its wildlife and culture, and the 5-cent coin is no different.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter!

Coin of the Week: 2000 Kazakh 20 Tenge

Obverse (Inscription: 20 Tenge)

Reverse (Image: National Emblem of Kazakhstan)

A friend of mine requested that I post a coin from Kazakhstan for him to share with his adopted son, Peter. Luckily, I remembered that my in-laws had traveled to Kazakhstan a few years ago and brought me some coins. The only one I found in the stack of coins I still have to catalog (yes, still have lots of work to do!) was the 20 tenge.

Kazakhstan introduced the tenge on November 15, 1993 to replace the former Soviet Union's ruble. November 15 is therefore known as the "Day of National Currency of the Republic of Kazakhstan". The first coins circulated in 1993 included the 20 tenge piece.

The coin's obverse shows the denomination, an octagonal rosette at the top and national ornamentation on the bottom. The reverse of the coin depicts the national emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The circumference states the year of issue as well as "ҚАЗАҚСТАН РЕСПУБЛИКАСЫ" (Republic of Kazakhstan) in the state language. The emblem was adopted in June 1992. The center depicts the upper dome-like part of a yurt (a portable dwelling). This dome is also known as a shanyrak and is supported on each side by mythical horses with wings. The Kazakh emblem is circular in shape, a symbol of life and eternity.

The shanyrak itself is an important symbol for the Kazakh people. A very interesting summary of the yurt and shanyrak can be found here.

 

Coin of the Week: Not this week!

Sorry, I had an unexpected family emergency this weekend. Everything's fine but it got things a little off track. I'll be back with a Coin of the Week for next week.

If any one has a suggestion for a coin they'd like me to research, just let me know!

Thanks!

Coin of the Week: 2008 Martin Van Buren Presidential Dollar

Obverse (Image: Martin van Buren)

Reverse (Image: Statue of Liberty)

My son got this Martin van Buren Presidential coin last week. He kept asking me questions about this President, and though I love history (that's why I collect coins!), I didn't know too much about Van Buren. Here's a short summary about the coin and our 8th President.

In 2007, the United States began circulating $1 coins in honor of this nation's Presidents. Four Presidential coins are being issued per year through 2016. According to the US Mint, "The Presidential $1 Coin Act (Public Law 109-145) seeks to revitalize the design of United States coins and return circulating coinage to its position as an object of aesthetic beauty in its own right. Accordingly, the new Presidential $1 coins will feature larger, more dramatic artwork, as well as edge-incused inscriptions of the year of minting or issuance, 'E Pluribus Unum', 'In God We Trust' and the mint mark." (Source: US Mint)

From what I've been reading, this Act has not been as successful as the government hoped it would be.

Martin Van Buren was the 8th president of the United States. Before that, he was the 8th Vice President and 10th Secretary of State. Van Buren was the first President born an American citizen and also the first not of British descent. Dutch was his mother tongue, and he had a distinct Dutch accent when speaking English. Van Buren was a widower when he entered the White House, and due to the Panic of 1837 and the five-year depression that followed it, was only elected for one term. He's quoted as having said: "As to my presidency, the best two days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it." I'm sure a lot of Presidents can relate to this!

You can find out more about Martin van Buren here.

 

Coin of the Week: 1979 Isle of Man 10 Pence

Obverse (Image: Queen Elizabeth II)

Reverse (Image: Triskelion)

The Isle of Man (also known as Mann) is a British Crown Dependency located between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. As an independent state, the Isle of Man has its own taxes, coins, stamps and parliament. The English monarchy does not rule the island as king or queen, but rather as "Lord of Man". More about this very interesting island and its history can be read here.

Isle of Man currency is equivalent to the British Pound sterling. As a possession of the British Crown, the obverse of each coin depicts an image of Queen Elizabeth II. The 10 Pence coin has the national emblem, the triskelion, on the reverse. The triskelion is also known as "The Three Legs of Man" and was first used by King Alexander III of Scotland (one of the "Kings of Man") in his coat of arms. The symbol is believed to have come from a similar Sicilian symbol. More about various triskelions can be read here.

I'd like to conclude on a personal note. I really enjoy researching and posting the history of the countries and images on my coins. If anyone would like to send me pictures of coins they have, I'd be happy to do a post about them as well! Just send me a comment below, and we can take the conversation "off line".

 

Coin of the Week: 1982 Irish 50 Pence

Obverse (Image: Harp)

Reverse (Image: Woodcock)

Before introducing the Euro in 2002, Ireland's currency was the Irish pound, with 100 pence equaling 1 pound (after Ireland decimalized its currency in 1971). All coins featured the Irish harp on the obverse, along with Eire (the Irish word for Ireland) and the mint date. The harp is believed to be that of Brian Boru, the most powerful king of Ireland during the Early Middle Ages.

The 50 pence piece is unique in that it is a seven-sided coin. The seven sides, however, are not straight but actually curved, making the coin easy to roll. The image on the reverse is the woodcock. Despite being a small bird, the woodcock was an important game bird in Ireland. It occasionally was part of a meal for the poorest agricultural laborers as well.

I found this site on Irish coins for anyone interested. It hasn't been updated since September 2010 but still has some very good information. Enjoy!

Coin of the Week: 1986 Portugal 20 Escudos

Obverse (Image: Portuguese Coat-of-Arms)

Reverse (Image: Nautical wind-rose)

Before introducing the Euro in 2002, Portugal's currency was the escudo, with 100 centavos equaling 1 escudo. The escudo had been in use since 1910, when the Portuguese monarchy was abolished and a republic was established.

The 20 escudos coin depicts the Portuguese coat-of-arms on the obverse. The coat-of-arms was adopted in 1911 and is based on the coat-of-arms used by the Portuguese Kingdom in the middle ages. The border consists of 7 castles, representing the Moorish castles conquered by the Portuguese Kingdom during the Reconquista. In the middle, the coat-of-arms has 5 escutcheons (or shields), forming the shape of a cross. Due to the numerous changes to the coat-of-arms over the centuries, there is no official explanation why 5 escutcheons are depicted (there had been as many as 11). Some scholars interpret them as the five wounds of Jesus Christ.

Since Portugal was once a powerful seafaring nation, the reverse of the 20 escudos coin shows a nautical wind-rose, or wind-star. The wind-rose was used as a compass by ancient seafarers before the magnetic needle compass was introduced. The 16 points represented the major winds that blew around the Mediterranean Sea. North was depicted by a fleur de lis, and east was shown as a Christian cross, indicating the direction of Jerusalem from Europe.