ODD & CURIOUS MONEY
ANCIENT OLBIA
DOLPHIN COIN
Olbia
was a Greek city on the Black
Sea in what is now Ukraine. Between the 5th and 3rd century
BC it issued these unusual bronze dolphin shaped coins. Dolphins were
common in the region and were considered sacred. The crudely
cast coins vary in size, from about 18mm to 26mm and lack
tails. This coin was minted without inscriptions. They are
one of the most unusual ancient coins
available, yet are remarkably affordable.
Item OBLIA
OLBIA "DOLPHIN" COIN, circa 5th-3rd
Century BC, crude $25.00
ANCIENT GHOST HEAD COIN OF CHINA
The
Ghost-Head Money, also known as Ant Nose Money are an early form of
coins minted by the State of Chu during China's Warring States
period,
between about 400 and 220BC. Chu was roughly situated in the area
around the Han and Yangtze rivers in eastern China. The
bronze,
oblong, uniface coins are about 16 to 20mm long. It is
believed that
they were developed as a substitute for using Cowrie shells as
money.
The character "chin" inscribed on the coin resembles the face of a
ghost.
Item
CN-GHOST CHINA GHOST-HEAD MONEY, circa
400-220BC
F-VF $25.00
RARE, OLD WOODEN
MONEY FROM MEXICO
This
wooden Hacienda token was issued by the Trancoso Hacienda in the 19th
century. The Trancoso was one of the largest and most
important haciendas in Zacatecas state of Mexico. It was founded with
Spanish land grants between 1670 and 1680 as a cattle ranch.
It covered over 55 square miles (145 sq.km.). In the 19th
century it became one of the largest wool exporters in Latin America.
Like many haciendas of that era it a was engaged in wide range
enterprises including growing grain, animal husbandry, a distillery and
a church. It fell on hard times after the 1910-1920 Mexican
Revolution, resulting in violent conflicts between the owners and
peasants. Eventually the land was expropriated and much of it given to
families who lived on the Hacienda. Today the municipality of
Trancoso oversees what was the hacienda. The church
and the grand buildings that were part of the hacienda still stand,
though many have been vandalized in recent years. Most
hacienda tokens are metal. This unusual piece was made of Mesquite
wood. It is about 26 to 28mm. One side is branded with
Trancoso Hacienda's brand, the other side is blank.As was common for
Hacienda tokens, it was denominated for a unit of
work. This was for sheering one sheep. Like many hacienda
tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money. Like many hacienda tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money.
Item
MX-TRANCOSO TRANCOSO WOODEN
HACIENDA TOKEN, VF
$24.00
AFRICAN
COINS
FEATURE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN MONEY 
Six member nations of the African Development Bank issued a
series of coins, each of which features a form of traditional money
used
in the member nation. Each coin bears the denomination of
1500
CFA Francs. The coins are 27mm nickel-plated steel and are dated
2005. One side features an
Elephant’s head and a map of Africa while the other features a form of
traditional
money. The Cameroon issue features a Mambila. Three pieces of
Spear
Money is shown on the coin of the Central African Republic. A
Manilla
is shown on the Chad issue. A Katanga Cross is on the coin
from
the
Congo Republic. A pair of Cowrie shells is on the Equatorial
Guinea
coin. The Gabon coin shows a piece of Throwing Knife
Money. Each coin has a mintage of only 2005 pieces!
Individually
they are interesting coins. As a
set they display the
wide range of items used for money in Africa prior to the introduction
of
coins and currency.
Item
CM-PRIM CAMEROON 1500 FRANCS 2005 Mambila
Br.X26 Unc. $9.50
Item
CF-PRIM CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 1500 Francs
2005 Spear Money Br.X12
Unc. $9.50
Item
TD-PRIM CHAD 1500 Francs 2005
Manilla Br.X19
Unc.$17.50
Item
CG-PRIM CONGO REPUBLIC 1500 Francs 2005
Katanga Cross Br.X46 Unc.
$9.50
Item
GQ-PRIM EQUATORIAL GUINEA 1500 Francs 2005
Cowries Br.X124 Unc.
$9.50
Item
GA-PRIM GABON 1500 Francs 2005 Throwing knife
Money Br.X16
Unc. $9.50
Item
AFRICA-PRIM SET OF ABOVE 6 AFRICAN COINS
PICTURING PRIMITIVE MONEY Unc.
$59.00
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Olbia
was a Greek city on the Black
Sea in what is now Ukraine. Between the 5th and 3rd century
BC it issued these unusual bronze dolphin shaped coins. Dolphins were
common in the region and were considered sacred. The crudely
cast coins vary in size, from about 18mm to 26mm and lack
tails. This coin was minted without inscriptions. They are
one of the most unusual ancient coins
available, yet are remarkably affordable. 
The
Ghost-Head Money, also known as Ant Nose Money are an early form of
coins minted by the State of Chu during China's Warring States
period,
between about 400 and 220BC. Chu was roughly situated in the area
around the Han and Yangtze rivers in eastern China. The
bronze,
oblong, uniface coins are about 16 to 20mm long. It is
believed that
they were developed as a substitute for using Cowrie shells as
money.
The character "chin" inscribed on the coin resembles the face of a
ghost.
This
wooden Hacienda token was issued by the Trancoso Hacienda in the 19th
century. The Trancoso was one of the largest and most
important haciendas in Zacatecas state of Mexico. It was founded with
Spanish land grants between 1670 and 1680 as a cattle ranch.
It covered over 55 square miles (145 sq.km.). In the 19th
century it became one of the largest wool exporters in Latin America.
Like many haciendas of that era it a was engaged in wide range
enterprises including growing grain, animal husbandry, a distillery and
a church. It fell on hard times after the 1910-1920 Mexican
Revolution, resulting in violent conflicts between the owners and
peasants. Eventually the land was expropriated and much of it given to
families who lived on the Hacienda. Today the municipality of
Trancoso oversees what was the hacienda. The church
and the grand buildings that were part of the hacienda still stand,
though many have been vandalized in recent years. Most
hacienda tokens are metal. This unusual piece was made of Mesquite
wood. It is about 26 to 28mm. One side is branded with
Trancoso Hacienda's brand, the other side is blank.As was common for
Hacienda tokens, it was denominated for a unit of
work. This was for sheering one sheep. Like many hacienda
tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money. Like many hacienda tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money.
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