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This Siamese (Thai) silver Salung (1/4 Baht) of King Rama VI (Vajiravudh) features the king on the obverse and Erawan, the mythological three-headed elephant, on the reverse. The King had a difficult time following up on the successful modernization reforms of his father King Chulalongkorn (Rama V).  His "Westernization" reforms included founding the first University in Thailand, introduction of Scouting in Thailand, introducing compulsory education, and having Thai's adopt last names (Previously only first names were used). Being a gifted writer he even invented last names for his citizens. 

URUGUAY HONORS THEIR GAUCHO HEROES WITH A SILVER COIN

The Gaucho is the South American cowboy.  Uruguay struck this silver 10 Peso coin in 1961 to honor the Gauchos who helped Uruguay obtain its independence from Spain 150 years earlier.  The Brilliant Uncirculated coin is 33mm in diameter, is struck .900 fine silver and contains .3617 troy ounces of silver.   The obverse pictures M. G. Rizello wearing a hat.  The reverse features the denomination within a wreath.

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EGYPT DIVERTS THE NILE

When it was built, the Aswan High Dam (As-Sadd al-Ali Dam) was one of the world's largest dams. It is 7,027 feet (2,142 m) long.  It controls flooding of the Nile delta, provides a substantial portion of Egypt's electrical output, and provides irrigation water to thousands of farmers.  The project, started in 1960, took over a decade to complete.  In 1964, to celebrate the completion of the first stage of the massive project,  Egypt issued this silver 50 Piastre coin commemorating the "Diversion of the Nile". The dam is shown on one side and and the denomination and date in Arabic on the other.  The 20 gram silver coin is struck in .720 fine silver and contains .4630 troy ounces of silver.  It has a mintage of 250,000 pieces.

Also See:
EGYPTIAN COIN SET
ATTRACTIVE COINS FROM EGYPT
INEXPENSIVE UNCIRCULATED 19th CENTURY COIN OF OTTOMAN EGYPT

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SILVER COINS FROM THE GRAND DUCHY OF FINLAND

From 1809 to 1917 Finland was ruled by Czarist Russia, who called the country the Grand Duchy of Finland.  Finland however had its own coinage. We offer a silver 25 Pennia and silver 50 Pennia from this period of Russian domination.  The coins date from the early 1900’s to 1916 and grade XF.  The denomination is on one side of the coin and the crowned Czarist double-headed eagle is on the other. The coins were struck by the Helsinki mint. An S, for mintmaster, Isac Sundell is below the eagle.  Sundell, was quite a survivor.  He managed to hold his office for 35 years, through WWI, Finland's War of Independence, and WWII.

SILVER COINS FROM FINLAND’S CIVIL WAR

Finland was a Russian possession from 1809 until 1917.  The collapse of the Czarist government in March of 1917 created the opportunity for Finland to demand their independence.  Fighting broke out between various pro-Russian and anti-Russian factions. These two silver coins, a silver 25 and 50 Pennia, were issued in mid 1917.  The Provisional Russian Government of Alexander Kerenski issued them for the pro-Russian forces fighting in Finland.  The design is similar to the previous Czarist issues, however the Czarist crown was removed from the eagle.  In November 1917 the Bolsheviks took over Russia, and on December 6, 1917 Finland declared its independence, thus ending this short-lived series. The coins saw very little use, therefore show little or no signs of circulation. Considering the age, grade and history of the coins, the price for them seems remarkably low.

FOR OTHER COINS OF FINLAND PLEASE SEE:
ATTRACTIVE OFFICIAL 1994 FINLAND MINT SET
FINLAND EURO SETS & 2 EURO COINS ON OUR EURO PAGE

SILVER COIN CELEBRATES KUWAIT'S 15th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

Kuwait issued this silver 2 Dinars coin in 1976 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of their independence from Great Britain.  Pictured on the obverse are Abdullah ibn Salim, who was Emir at the time of independence, and his half-brother, Sabah Ibn Salim, who succeeded him and was Emir at the time the coin was struck. The reverse pictures an oil well, the main source of wealth of the country, a dhow, the traditional sailing boat used in Kuwait and throughout the region, and an old fort.  The 38.5mm coin has a mintage of only 70,000 pieces and is Uncirculated.

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UNITED STATES SILVER PESO FOR THE PHILIPPINES

The United States gained the Philippines in 1898 as a result of the Spanish-American War.  To provide for the commerce in the new colony, the San Francisco Mint struck these attractive silver Pesos.  One side of the coin has the United States arms with an eagle; the other shows a woman in front of a volcano.  The coins date from 1907 or 1908.  This is an excellent opportunity to get one of these historic silver coins from America's brief colonial empire.

ALSO SEE:
UNUSUAL PHILIPPINE NOTES
PHILIPPINE PEOPLE POWER COIN
THE LAST JAPANESE INVASION NOTE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

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FIRST SILVER COIN FROM MACAO  

Portugal established Macao at the mouth of the Pearl River on the coast of China in 1557.  Serving as a trading center to both China and Japan, at one time it was one of the wealthiest cities in Asia.  The gradual silting up of its harbor and the rise of Hong Kong across the river caused the territory to go into a long decline.  It was saved only by the legalization of gambling.  After over 400 years as a Portuguese possession, Macao was returned to China in 1999.  This large, old, Uncirculated 1952 silver 5 Pataca is one of the first silver coins ever struck for Macao.  One side bears the arms of Macao, the other has the Portuguese arms.

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MACAO SILVER COIN COMMEMORATES BRIDGE 

Macao issued its first commemorative coin in 1974.  The silver 20 Pataca coin commemorates the opening of the Ponte Macau-Taipa Bridge, connecting the Island of Taipa with the mainland of Macao.  The 35mm coin pictures the bridge soaring over a Chinese Junk on one side and the Macao arms on the other.  The bridge helped spur development of the former Portuguese colony.  The increased traffic caused a second span to be built in 1994, and another third bridge linking Macao and Taipa was recently opened.   The coin is Uncirculated, though may have minor bag marks.

FOR OTHER PORTUGUESE COLONIAL COINS PLEASE SEE:

OFFICIAL MACAO S.A.R. 1999 7 COIN MINT SET
PORTUGUESE MOZAMBIQUE
PORTUGUESE TIMOR
PORTUGUESE INDIA