ULTRA-LOW MINTAGE & LOW MINTAGE
COINS
These issues have very
limited mintages, of anywhere from 2500 pieces to just 5
pieces, making them extremely difficult to find. With our
long-time connections in the coin business, we can offer these
extraordinarily rare coins at very reasonable prices. 
SHORT-LIVED
REPUBLIC
OF ROSE ISLAND
The
Republic of Rose Island (Respubliko de la Insulo de la Rozoj) was a
short-lived micronation located a man-made platform in international
waters in Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy. The project
was begun in 1958 Italian engineer Giorgio Rosa. On May 1,
1968 Rosa declared it an independent nation with himself as
president. 55 Days later the Italy invaded and took control
of the platform and set up a blockade. Italy found it
impossible to dismantle the well-constructed platform so attempted to
bomb it - twice without success. It was finally toppled by a
storm in February 1969. This unofficial 2024 4000 Mils of the
Republic of Rose Island depicts a bouquet of roses on the obverse and a
sailing yacht approaching the platform on the reverse. The
silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 150 pieces.
Item
ROSE ROSE ISLAND 4000 MILS 2024 PROOF $24.00
SAILING
SHIP ON MARTIN GARCIA COIN
Martin
Garcia is an island located at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata between
Argentina and Uruguay. It is named after the storekeeper of the Juan
Diaz de Solis expedition who was buried on the island. Due to
its strategic location ownership of the island was disputed between
Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. There have been a number of battles for
control of the island between various groups. Argentina used it as a
penal colony. In 1973 Argentina and Uruguay agreed to divide
the island, with the northern portion, called Timoteo Domínguez Islands
going to Uruguay, the southern portion called Martin Garcia going to
Argentina, with the stipulation that the island would be a natural
reserve. The silver-plated Proof 2024 Martin Garcia 5000 Peso
coin depicts an early 19th century sailing ship. The coat of arms is on
the obverse. The unofficial issue has a mintage of only 150
pieces.
Item
MARTIN MARTIN GARCIA 5000 PESO 2024 PROOF $24.00
SHARK,
RAY & SAILING SHIP ON GEYSER REEF COIN
Geyser Reef (Banc du Geyser) is
dangerous, low reef in the Mozambique Channel about 78 miles (125km)
northeast of Mayotte. France, Comoros and Madagascar all
claim the reef, though it is presently under French control.
It was first known to Arab sailors about 700AD and has been shown on
some navigation charts since about 800AD. It got its present
name when the British ship HMS Geysir ran aground on the reef on
December 23, 1678. The ship is depicted on the reverse of this
unofficial triangular 2024 Geyser 5000 Francs. The obverse
depicts both a whale shark, manta ray. The silver-plated
Proof coin has a mintage of 125 pieces.
Item
GEYSER GEYSER REEF 5000 FRANCS 2024 PROOF $24.00
GIANT TORTOISE ON TRIANGULAR
FARQUHAR COIN
A
Seychelles Giant Tortoise is featured on both sides of this unofficial
2024 triangular 500 Rupees from Farquhar. The Tortoise can
live for over 200 years, but was thought to have gone extinct by the
1840's due to overhunting by sailors. They were recently
rediscovered. Farquhar is a group of small islands in the
Indian Ocean that belong to Seychelles. There are about 20
inhabitants, a small hotel and an airstrip. They were named after
Robert Townsend Farquhar who was the British governor of Mauritius from
1811 until 1823. The 36mm silver-plated Proof coin has a
mintage of only 130 pieces.
Item
FARQUHAR FARQUHAR 500 RUPEES 2024 PROOF $24.00
CROCODILE
AND SCREAMING EAGLE ON LIKOMA COIN
Likoma
is an island in Lake Malawi a short distance from Mozambique and
surrounded by Mozambican territorial waters. In 1880 the
Universities' Mission to Central Africa established their headquarters
on the island at the request of David Livingstone. In the
early 20th century, they built St. Peter's Cathedral on the island
which is modeled after Westminster Abbey and measures 100 by 30 meters
(328 x 98 feet). At the end of World War II, the island was
awarded to British East Africa rather than Portuguese Mozambique due to
the presence of the British missionaries. It is now an
exclave of Malawi. The obverse of the six-sided silver-plated
coin feature a screaming eagle and the arms of Malawi. A
crocodile is on the reverse. This unofficial 2024 Likoma 2000
Kwacha has a mintage of just 125 pieces.
Item
LIKOMA LIKOMA 2000 KWACHA 2024 PROOF $24.00
GUANACO
ON LA ROIJA COIN
A
mother and young Guanaco are featured on this unofficial 2 Bocades coin
of La Roija. The Guanaco is closely related to the llama but
are smaller and slenderer. The obverse of the coin features a
Puma and the arms of La Rioja. La Rioja is located in Andes
foothills in western Argentina. It has tended to be a
politically restive region. It gained independence from Spain in 1820
but did not join the Argentine Confederation until 1850. The 37mm,
silver-plated, five-sided coin is Proof and has a mintage of just 120
pieces.
Item
ROIJA LA ROIJA 2 BOCADES 2024 PROOF $24.00
VITEBSK
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC FEATURES LENIN
Vitebsk
is the northern region of Belarus, bordering Russia, Latvia and
Lithuania. Recently Russia has been circulating the idea of creating
the Vitebsk People's Republic, which would be a puppet state of Moscow
rather than part of Belarus. Shortly there after an
unofficial coin for the Vitebsk People's Republic was issued by a
Russian coin dealer. The 2020 dated 20 Rubles commemorates
the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Lenin. One side of the
silver-plated Proof coin depicts the bust of Lenin. The other
side depicts the coat of arms in red and gold. The
odd-shaped coin measures 40x30mm and has a mintage of only 140 pieces.
Item
VITEBSK
VITEBSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC 20 RUBLES 2020 PROOF $22.00
OIL
ROCKS COIN DEPICTS UNIQUE "FLYING SHIP"
Oil
Rocks, known as Neft Dashlari in Azerbaijan, is a city built on a
series of platforms over the Caspian Sea. The first oil well
in complex was drilled in 1949. Soon an entire functioning
city was built over the Caspian Sea as oil production
expanded. At its peak in the 1960's the city housed some 5000
workers and included nine-story living quarters, hotels, parks with
trees, a restaurant, movie theater, soccer pitch, and hospital
connected by some 190 miles (300km) of streets built on piles or
landfill. Control of Oil Rocks passed to Azerbaijan after the
collapse of the Soviet Union. Since then, oil production has
declined and portions of the city has fallen into disrepair or
collapsed, though it is estimated there is as much as 178 million
barrels (30 million tons) of recoverable oil remain. The
obverse coin depicts a helicopter landing on one of the city's
platforms. The reverse depicts the Lun Ekranoplan.
The Lun is the world's only Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV) to be deployed
as a warship. It resembles an airplane but can only fly up to
about 13 feet (4m) off the surface of the water. The plan was to create
an attack/transport ship that had the speed of an airplane.
Its eight jet engines gave it a top speed of 297 knots (340mph,
550kph). The 242 foot long vessel (73.8m) carried a crew of
15. Its weapons included six guided missile launchers and two 23mm
cannons. Only one was ever completed which entered service in
the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was soon discovered that the Lun
was unable to operate in rough seas. After the collapse of
the Soviet Union it was abandoned. An attempt to tow it to a
museum in 2020 resulted it in it getting stuck on a sandy beach, where
at last reports, it remains today. The unofficial,
odd-shaped, 42mm, silver-plated, Proof 2023 Naft Dashlari 500 Manat has
a mintage of only 125 pieces.
Item
NEFT OIL ROCKS (NEFT DASHLARI) 500 MANAT 2023 PROOF
$24.00
SENTOSA
COIN DEPICTS CONCORDE
Sentosa,
originally known as Blakang Mati, is located off the southern coast of
Singapore. Fortifications to protect Singapore were built on
the island in the 19th century. In the 1970's the island was
renamed Sentosa and turned into a resort. Today it houses 14
hotels, 2 golf courses, a theme park, casino and a sheltered
beach. It attracts more than 20 million visitors a
year. The obverse of this unofficial 2023 Sentosa 50 Dollar
coin depicts the Singapore coat of arms and Merlion with the name
Sentosa in English, Tamil and Chinese. The reverse depicts a
Concorde landing in Singapore with the Marina Bay Sands Resort in the
background. The Concorde was a supersonic airplane that
served Singapore between 1977 and 1980. The Concorde ceased
all operations in 2003. The Marina Bay Sands Resort was not
built until 2010. The 39mm silver plated brass coin
has a mintage of 125 pieces.
Item
SENTOSA SENTOSA 50 DOLLARS 2023 PROOF
$24.00
RHINOS FROM REHOBOTH
Rhinoceros
are featured on both the obverse and reverse of this odd-shaped coin of
the Free Republic of Rehoboth. The Free Republic of Rehoboth
was first founded in 1868 by a group of Basters who left British-ruled
Cape Colony. The Basters are of mixed African, European and
Asian ancestry. Their territory was incorporated into
South-West Africa, which later became Namibia. On March 20,
1990 they again declared independence. A day later Namibia
became independent from South Africa and soon confiscated all their
territory. The unofficial 2023 coin is denominated 250
Rehoboth Dollars. The silver-plated coin is 42mm, has a
mintage of only 125 pieces and is Proof.
Item
REHBOTH REHBOTH 250 DOLLARS 2023 PROOF
$24.00
KINGDOM
OF KABUTO COIN FEATURES BISON
The
Kingdom of Kabuto is a micronation that was proclaimed in
2016. It claims previously unclaimed waters in the Dixon
Strait between Alaska and British Columbia and enclaves within Poland
and Croatia. This unofficial 2023 7 Buto coin of Kabuto
depicts a European Bison and calf on one side and the national emblem
on the other. The inscriptions are in Polish, which along
with English is one of the official languages of the Kingdom. The
eight-sided silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 125 pieces.
Item
KABUTO KINGDOM OF KABUTO 7 BUTO 2023 PROOF
$24.00
GRASSHOPPER ON COIN OF
LAJTABANSAG
Lajtabansag
existed as an independent state between October 4 and November 10,
1921. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in
World War I the Treaty of Trinon assigned the territory to Austria,
which many inhabitants did not want. Leaders in the territory
declared independence and formed an army of former soldiers, students
and peasants that managed to hold off the Austrian army.
Lajtabansag extracted “customs duties” from trains passing through the
region by confiscating goods. The result was not acceptable
to either Austria or Hungary. After high level negotiations,
a plebiscite was held, which resulted in the city of Sopron becoming
part of Hungary while other territory of Burgenland going to
Austria. The obverse of this unofficial 2023
Lajtabansag 10,000 Korona includes the national emblem. The
reverse depicts a grasshopper. The five-sided 37mm
silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 140 pieces.
Item
LAJTABANSAG LAJTABANSAG 10,000 KORONA 2023 PROOF
$24.00
CHOCOLATE
FROG ON REPUBLIC OF WEST PAPUA COIN
The
Republic of West Papua is an unrecognized state consisting of the
Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea. The Dutch
retained possession of the west New Guinea after the independence of
Indonesia in 1949, with the expectation that it would eventually become
an independent nation. Instead, Indonesia took over the
territory in 1963 against the will of much of the indigenous
population. The Republic of West Papua is the
provisional government that is fighting for the independence of West
Papua.. This unofficial 2023 40 Basan coin of the Republic of
West New Guinea depicts the West Papua coat of arms on the obverse. The
reverse depicts a native Chocolate Frog, (Litoria mira) which was
discovered in 2016. The six-sided, 39mm, silver-plated Proof coin has a
mintage of only 135 pieces.
Item
W.PAPUA REPUBLIC OF WEST PAPUA 40 BASAN 2023 PROOF
$24.00
GAZA COIN
FEATURES PALESTINIAN WITH ASSAULT WEAPON
A
Palestinian with a high-powered assault weapon is featured on
this unofficial 2019
rectangular 5 Pound coin issued for the Gaza Strip. The emblem of
Palestine is on the obverse. The Gaza Strip is about a
territory
about 25 miles (41km) long and 4 to 8 miles (6 to 12 km.) wide that
borders Israel and Egypt and is the home of some 1.9 million
Palestinians. Since 2007 Gaza has been a de-facto
self-governing
entity ruled by Hamas, a fundamentalist Islamic organization.
It
recently attacked Israel, and Israel retaliated bringing destruction to
much of this small territory. The 40mm x 25mm rectangular silver plated
Proof coin has a mintage of only 242 pieces.
Item
GAZA GAZA STRIP 5 POUNDS 2019 PROOF $24.00
Also see:
MODERN
PALESTINE BI-METALLIC PATTERN COIN: 1 Dinar 2010 Br.X10
BRITISH PALESTINE 1 MIL COINS
ORANGE
FREE STATE HONORS J.R.R. TOLKIEN
Orange Free State was an independent republic in what is now South
Africa. It was settled in the 1830's by Dutch colonists (Boers) fleeing
after the English took control of Cape Colony. It became a
province in South African in 1902 after its defeat in the Second Boer
War. Renowned author J.R.R. Tolkien was born in Bloemfontein,
Orange Free State in 1892. These unofficial 2022
dated coins of Orange Free State were struck to commemorate the 130th
anniversary of his birth and the 85th anniversary of the first
publishing of The Hobbit. The obverse of the 100 Rand
features his portrait and signature and the Orange Free State coat of
arms. The reverse depicts Bard the Bowman and Bilbo the
Hobbit. The six-sided silver-plated Proof coin is 39mm and
has a mintage of 145 pieces. The eight-sided 500
Rand features Sauron, cave troll, Azog the defiler and a multi-colored
Eye of Sauron on the obverse. The reverse includes
multi-color images of Frodo Baggins, the wizard Gandolf and the Eye of
Sauron. Gimli, the dwarf warrior is in the
background. The 38mm silver-plated coin has a mintage of 150
pieces.
Item
ORANGE-100R ORANGE FREE STATE 100 RAND 2022
TOLKIEN PROOF $22.00
Item
ORANGE-500R ORANGE FREE STATE 500 RAND 2022
LORD OF THE RINGS PROOF
$25.00
TRIBAL COINS OF
GHANA
This fascinating series of coins has been issued by a firm in
Spain. High relief coins are being issued for many of the
traditional kingdoms and tribes of Ghana. The Kings or Chiefs of
the Kingdoms or Tribes have authorized each of the issues. The
coins are not intended to circulated, but rather to be sold to
raise funds for projects that benefit the Kingdoms and Tribes. The
coin have a mintage of only 1000 pieces each. The King or Chief
appears on the one side of the coins and items of significance to
the tribe, the name of the tribe and the denomination appear on the
other. The brass Eduola issue is denominated 1 Edo and features a
traditional spear and shield. A traditional drum is
on the bronze 1 Eche coin of
the
Naajeri Tribe. The coins are all 38mm in diameter, are dated 2008
and are Uncirculated with a matte finish.
Item
EDOULA
EDOULA BRASS 1 EDO 2008 UNC. $19.95
Item
NAAJERI
NAAJERI BRONZE 1 ECHE 2008 UNC $19.95
REPUBLIC
OF SOUTH MOLUCCAS DEPICTS CASSOWARY
The
Republic of South Moluccas , (Indonian: Republik Maluku Selatan) is a
government in exile that claims the islands of Ambon, Buru, and Seram
in the Indonesian province of Maluku. Indonesia gained
independence from Indonesia in December 1949. In April 1950
the heavily Christian South Maluku declared independence from mostly
Muslim Indonesia. The revolt was largely put down by the
Indonesian army by November 1950, though fighting continued until
1963. Thousands of Moluccans and the South Moluccan
government went into exile in The Netherlands. The
unofficial Republic of South Moluccas 2023 5000 Rupiah coin depicts the
head of a Cassowary bird, the national emblem and a cross on the
obverse. The reverse features a standing Cassowary.
It is a large, flightless bird that inhabits the
islands.
It
can grow to 6 feet (2m) tall and weigh over 150 pounds
(70kg). The 23mm, silver plated brass coin has a scalloped
edge and a mintage of only 120 pieces.
Item
MALUKU SOUTH MOLUCCAS 5000 RUPIAH 2023 PROOF
$22.00
RABBIT
ON COIN OF NORTHERN EPIRUS
Autonomous
Republic of Northern Epirus was proclaimed on February 28, 1914 by
Greeks who did not want to be incorporated into the recently created
Principality of Albania, whose boundaries were drawn by the Great
European Powers. After the outbreak of World War I in July
1914 Greek forces occupied the area and tried to incorporate it into
Greece, until they were driven out by French and Italian forces in
1916. With the support of Italy, in 1921 the area was
formally ceded to Albania though calls for independence or union with
Greece have continued since then. This unofficial 10 Drachmas
coin of Northern Epirus features the Northern Epirus national emblem on
the obverse and a rabbit on the reverse. The six-sided 39mm
silver-plated brass coin has a mintage of just 125 pieces.
Item
EPIRUS NORTHERN EPIRUS 10 DRACHMAS 2023
PROOF $22.00
RAILROAD HONORED
ON GRAUBUNDEN
COIN
The Albulian Railway is commemorated on
this unofficial 2023 10 Franc coin for the Swiss canton of
Graubunden. The obverse features the coat of arms of
Graubunden and two women, one personifying the canton of Graubunden and
the other is Helvetia personifying Switzerland. The reverse
depicts a steam engine and the Landwasser viaduct on the
railway. The construction of the railroad began in 1898, it
was opened in 1903 and since 2008 has been a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The odd-shaped coin is 42 x 21mm. The silver
plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 120 pieces.
Item
GRAUBUNDEN GRAUBUNDEN 10 FRANCS 2023 PROOF $22.00
2023 HANKO COIN FEATURES POLIKARPOV I-15 BI-PLANEN
A Russian Polikarpov I-15 bi-plane
fighter is featured on this unofficial 2023 dated 50 Markka coin of
Hanko (Hango). The plane was used between 1939 and 1944 in the two wars
between Finland and the Soviet Union. The Hanko peninsula is the
southernmost point of mainland Finland and is the home of the port and
city of Hanko. During the 19th and early 20th centuries while
Finland was under Russian control, Hanko was the port of choice for
emigrants leaving Finland for a new life in North America and a popular
resort of Russian nobility. After the 1939 Winter War between
Finland and the Soviet Union, Finland was forced to lease the peninsula
to Russia for 30 years as a naval base. Finland regained
control of the peninsula in 1941 during the second Soviet-Finnish
war. The obverse of the coin depicts the heraldic
Finnish lion. The Proof silver-plated brass coin
has a mintage of only 125 pieces.
Item
HANKO HANKO 50 MARKKA 2023 PROOF
$22.00
PIGS ON BIG MAJOR CAY COIN
Big
Major Cay, also known as Pig Island, is uninhabited by humans,
however it does have a population of about two dozen swimming pigs. It
is located in the Exuma district of the Bahamas. The pigs are
a popular tourist attraction. The feral domestic pigs are not
afraid of people. They love to take to water and lay in the
sun on the beach. The pigs are fed by tourists and from
passing yachts, and if the boat gets close enough to the shore, the
pigs can jump in on their own, begging for food. Drinking
water is provided by small lakes on the island. No one is
quite sure how the non-native pigs got there. Some claim they
were left by sailors who planned to later pick them up and eat them,
but never returned. Others say they survived a shipwreck, or
were brought to the island to attract tourists.
This odd-shaped 2023 20 Dollar coin of Big Major Cay has an unusual
design, the design on the front wraps over to the back. The
design includes the Bahamas coat of arms and two pigs, half of one of
the pigs is on the front of the coin with the other half is on the
back. The unofficial silver-plated Proof coin is 39mm and has
a mintage of just 125 pieces.
Item
CAY BIG MAJOR CAY 20 DOLLARS 2023 PROOF
$22.00
TORY ISLAND COIN FEATURES RAVEN
Tory
Island (Oilean Thoraigh in Irish) is a remote island off the
northern coast of Ireland inhabited by less than 150 people.
It is about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) long and 1 kilometer (.6 miles)
wide. The northern coast is
heavily indented by bays and bays, the coasts are rather steep and
steep. Tory is mentioned in a number of Irish legends. Today
it is noted for its rugged beauty and an artist colony. This
unofficial 2023 six-sided 10 Pound coin of Tory Island features a
Celtic Cross and an Irish Harp on the obverse. The reverse
depicts a raven on the handle of a sword. Morrigan, the goddess of war
in Irish mythology would often take the form of a raven.
Morrigan would not take part in the battles, but she would be present
on the battlefield and used all her power to help one side or
another. The 39mm silver-plated brass coin has a mintage of
only 125 pieces.
Item
TORY TORY ISLAND 10 POUNDS 2023 PROOF
$22.00
BERDOO
66 CENTS - SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SECESSION COIN
In
November 2022 San Bernardino County voted to secede from the State
of California. San Bernardino, often called the "Inland
Empire", is the largest county in California. Like many
regions of California, they were fed up with the liberal big city
politicians that control California. To mark the event the
Small Forest Mint issued a copper 66 Cent coin for Berdoo.
Berdoo is what locals call San Bernardino. The historic Route 66 runs
through the county, hence the denomination of 66 cents. The
denomination is within an arrowhead shaped like the Arrowhead
Geological Monument at Arrowhead Springs. The reverse depicts
the date and a Joshua Tree which is common in desert areas of the
county, which is home to Joshua Tree National Park. The
Highway Gothic font was used on old highway signs. The
hand-struck coins are Uncirculated but may have minor dark
areas. Mintage is limited to a maximum of 200 pieces or when
the dies wear out, whichever comes first.
Item
BERDOO BERDOO 66 CENTS 2023 UNC.
$7.00
AMERICAN INDIANS
FEATURED ON LOW MINTAGE STATE 20 DOLLAR COINS
Unofficial odd-shaped state 20 Dollar coins featuring American Indians
were recently minted by a Russian coin dealer. The attractive
and artistic silver-plated coins have a mintage of only 160 pieces
each. Each coin depicts Native Americans from
tribes of that state. The six-sided 39mm Arizona coin depicts
an Elk on the obverse and Navaho dancer on the
reverse.
The Dakota issue is a five-sided, 36mm coin depicting a standing Dakota
Indian with a deer in the background. The obverse depicts the
American Eagle emblem from the flag of North Dakota. The
Delaware issue depicts two Indians armed with rifles and a war club on
one side and the Delaware coat of arms on the other. The
eight-sided coin is 40mm. The eight-sided 40mm Wyoming coin depicts the
state seal on the obverse and two Indians and their horses on the
reverse. All four coins are dated 2020.
Item
AZ-20D ARIZONA 20 DOLLARS 2020 PROOF $19.95
Item
DAKOTA-20D DAKOTA 20 DOLLARS 2020 PROOF $19.95
Item
DE-20D DELAWARE 20 DOLLARS 2020 PROOF $19.95
Item
WY-20D WYOMING 20 DOLLARS 2020 PROOF $19.95
PIEGAN
BLACKFOOT INDIAN ON MONTANA
COIN
A
dramatic image of a Piegan Indian hunting
buffalo is featured on this unofficial Montana 20 Dollar
coin. The hunter wears a buffalo head dress in order to blend
in with the heard is shooting an arrow while holding another arrow in
his mouth. The traditional Piegan homelands were divided
between the United States and Canada. Those on the United States side
became part of the Blackfoot Nation and settled on the Blackfoot
reservation in Montana. Those on the Canadian side became
part of the Piikani Nation in Alberta. The odd-shaped 2020
dated coin features a star and the Montana coat of arms on the
obverse. The silver-plated Proof coin is 40mm x 30mm
and has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Item
MONTANA MONTANA 20 DOLLARS 2020
PROOF $19.95
WARRIOR
ON COIN OF VARKANA
Varkana, also called Hyrcania is a
territory along the southeastern coast of the Caspian
Sea. The name Varkana is derived from Persian for
"Country of Wolves". It was a province in the Midian,
Akhe-menid, Seleucid and Parthian empires. In 72AD became an
independent kingdom with nominal allegiance to Parthia. This
unofficial 2022 10,000 Rials of Varkana features a fierce ancient
warrior on the reverse. A heraldic wolf is on the
obverse. The39mm, six-sided, silver-plated brass
Proof coin has a mintage of only 120 pieces.
Item
VARKANA VARKANA 10,000 RIALS 2022 PROOF $19.95
CELTIC STATE OF SCORDISK
The
Skordiski were an Iron Age Celtic tribe who were centered at at the
confluence of the Savus (Sava), Dravus (Drava), Margus (Morava) and
Danube rivers in what is now Serbia. By the second half the of the 3rd
century BC they became the most important power in the northern
Balkans. They built fortresses at Singidunum (the modern city
of Belgrade) and Taurun (the modern Zemun). At their peak they
controlled portions of present-day Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and
Romania. From 141BC they were constantly at war against
Roman-held Macedonia. Roman sources report that they had the custom of
drinking blood from hollow skulls and that they sacrificed captives to
their deities. They were defeated by the Romans in 15BC. This
unofficial 2022 5000 Dinara of the State of Scordisk features a fierce
Skordiski warrior on one side and the Serbian coat-of-arms supported by
two angels on the other. The eight-sided, 40mm, silver-plated
brass Proof coin has a mintage of only 120 pieces.
Item
SCORDISK STATE OF SCORDISK 5000 DINARA 2022
PROOF $19.95
COIN
OF FIUME
Fiume
gained autonomy for the first time in 1719 when it was proclaimed a
free port of the Holy Roman Empire. The port city was later
transferred to the Kingdom of Hungary, but given a special separate
status. After World War I its status was disputed between Italy,
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) and the Great
Powers (Great Britain, France and the United States). In 1919
it proclaimed itself the independent state of Italian Regency of
Carnaro (Reggenza Italiana del Carnaro) under a fascist government with
a plan unite with Italy. Under pressure of the Great Powers
Italy did not take control of the territory and it was proclaimed the
Free State of Fiume. Control of the city remained unstable,
with control passing between fascist, communists and nationalists until
1924 when the Treaty of Rome awarded the city to Italy.
Following World War II another attempt was made to set up an
independent free state, but instead it was incorporated into
Yugoslavia. Fiume is now the city of Rijeka in
Croatia. The obverse of the unofficial 2022 dated
200 Lire features the two-headed eagle symbol of the city, whose use
was forbidden by both the Italian and Yugoslavian
governments. The reverse features a statue of the Archangel
of Justice and the emblem of Regency of Carnaro depicting an
ouroboros. The 40mm silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of
just 130 pieces.
Item
FIUME FIUME 200 LIRE 2022 PROOF $22.00
KNIGHT ON BRITTANY COIN
Brittany
is the northwest region of France. During the Middle Ages, Brittany was
a vassal duchy of France, while maintaining almost complete
independence. Control frequently passed between England and
France during their many wars. In 1963, the Brittany
Liberation Front was created, which began the struggle for the
independence of Brittany. The obverse of the unofficial 2022
dated Brittany 100 Franc coin features the previous arms of Brittany
surrounded by the arms of the bishoprics and regions of
Brittany: Leon, Tregor, Cornuay, the Vannes Rennes, Nantes, Dol,
Malouin and Penthievre. The reverse depicts a
knight on horseback with a dog and the Tanti tower. The 39mm
silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 150 pieces.
Item
BRITTANY BRITTANY 100 FRANCS 2022 PROOF $22.00
THE
COLOSSUS OF RHODES
The
Colossus of Rhodes is featured on this unofficial 2021 500 Drachma of
Rhodes. The Colossus was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios
that was erected in 280BC at the mouth of the harbor of
Rhodes. It was some 108 feet(33m) high, approximately the
height of the Statue of Liberty from head to feet. It was one
of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It collapsed
during an earthquake in 226BC. The broken statue remained in
place until the Arab conquest of Rhodes in 653AD, and it was sold for
scrap metal. Rhodes is an island off the
coast of Turkey. In 1309, the Knights Hospitaller took over
the island and made it their headquarters until it was conquered by
Suleyman the Magnificent in 1522 after a long siege. Italy
seized the territory in 1912 and in 1947 it was united with
Greece. The obverse of the eight-sided
silver-plated brass Proof coin features the Rhodes coat of
arms. The coin has a mintage of only 145 pieces.
Item
RHODES RHODES 500 DRACHMAS 2021 PROOF $19.95
SAVAGE
ISLANDS COIN FEATURES BIRDS
The
Savage Islands, also known as the Selvagens or Salvage Islands is
an uninhabited archipelago belonging to Portugal midway between Madeira
and the Canary Islands. Since 1971 it has been a nature
reserve. This unofficial 8-sided 2022 Savage Islands 200
Escudos depicts two Pink Terns and a Madeira Lizard on one side and the
coat of arms on the other. The 40mm Proof silver-plated brass
coins have a mintage of just 145 pieces.
Item
SAVAGE SAVAGE ISLANDS 200 ESCUDOS 2022 PROOF $19.95
CASTLES AND BEETLES OF
LIECHTENSTEIN
Two unofficial 2021 Liechtenstein coins featuring historic castles of
the House of Liechtenstein and native species of beetles (or perhaps
the castles are infested with beetles) have been released.
The House of Lichtenstein was a wealthy Austrian family with extensive
holdings in central Europe. In the late 17th and early 18th
century the family purchased what is now the Principality of
Liechtenstein in order to gain the prestige and power having a seat in
the Imperial Diet (Reichstag) and being a member state of the Holy
Roman Empire. Until World War II the ruling family rarely
visited Liechtenstein, instead lived in their castles in what is now
the Czech Republic. In 1939 Nazi Germany seized their castles
and land and the family fled to Liechtenstein. Their property
was nationalized by the communists following World War II.
Today the castles are museums and are UNESCO world heritage
sites. Valtice Castle was founded in the 12th century and
extensively updated in the 17th and 18th centuries. Lednice
Castle is one of the most beautiful examples of English-Neo Gothic
architecture in the world. 100 Franc coins were made
featuring each castle. A Rhinoceros beetle is on the coin
depicting the Valtice castle. A Stag beetle is on the coin
depicting the Lednice castle. The obverse of each coin
depicts the castle's coat of arms. The eight-sided silver-plated Proof
coins have a mintage of only 160 pieces each.
Item
LI-VAITICE LIECHTENSTEIN 100 FRANCS 2021
VALTICE CASTLE - RHINO BEETLE PROOF
$22.00
Item
LI-LEDNICE LIECHTENSTEIN 100 FRANCS 2021
LEDNICE CASTLE -
STAG BEETLE PROOF
$22.00
Item
LI-BOTH BOTH OF THE ABOVE LIECHTENSTEIN
COINS (Save over $4 )
$39.75
CALIFORNIA
REPUBLIC COINS
A
movement to create California as an independent nation has been active
for some years. The movement is headed by a New Yorker living in
Russia. It appears most its funding is from Russia and social media
support from both Russia and Iran. The movement has
found little backing within the state, (though there are probably some
conservatives who would be happy to see California leave the
Union.) Recently a Russian coin dealer created two beautiful
coins for the California Republic. Both coins are denominated as 20
California Dollars and are dated 2020. They are 40mm
eight-sided, silver plated Proof coins. One depicts a Bobcat
and her kitten in Yosemite Valley. The other features Minerva
and sailing ships. The design is from the state
seal. The reverses of both coins depict a Grizzly Bear and
the words "CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC". The design comes from the California
State Flag. The Bear Flag Republic design is based on a flag
used in the 1846 revolt against Mexico. Each coin
has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Item
CAL-YOSEMITE
CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC 20 DOLLARS
2020 BOBCAT-YOSEMITE PROOF
$19.95
Item
CAL-MINERVA
CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC 20
DOLLARS 2020 MINERVA & SHIPS PROOF
$19.95
Item
CAL-BOTH
BOTH OF THE ABOVE CALIFORNIA
REPUBLIC COINS PROOF
$39.50
MINOTAUR ON 2020 CRETE COIN
In Greek mythology the Minotaur as a
creature that was part man, part bull. It was contained the
elaborate and confusing Labyrinth on Crete. The Minotaur is
featured on the reverse of this unofficial five-sided 500 Drachmai of
Crete. The obverse features the coat of arms of
Crete. The silver-plated Proof coin is 36mm and has a mintage
of just 160 pieces.
Item
CRETE
CRETE 500 DRACHMAI 2020 PROOF
$19.95
GOLIATH HERON ON COIN
OF DAHLAC
Dahlac is an archipelago of over 100
islands located in the Red Sea, only four of which are permanently
inhabited. It has a population of about 2500. In Roman times
it was
famous for its pearls. Even today it still has a small pearl diving
industry. Over the centuries it has been used as a prison and a major
conduit of trade and slaves between Africa and Arabia.
Recently it has
become a popular destination for yacht cruising and scuba
divers. It is
currently controlled by Eritrea. This unofficial six-sided
2020 50
Nafka coin of Dahlac depicts a Goliath Heron on the reverse.
The large
bird can reach up to 5 feet (152cm) and have a 7.5 foot (230cm)
wingspan. The emblem of Dahlac featuring a camel is on the
obverse.
The silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Item
DAHLAC DAHLAC
50 NAFKA 2020 PROOF $19.95
ROTUMA COIN FEATURES
NATIVE BIRD
Rotuma
is an island controlled by Fiji that is located some 400 miles (645km)
north of Fiji. It has approximately 1600 inhabitants which
have a
distinct language and culture from Fiji. In 1987 a
part-Rotuman man
named Henry Gibson proclaimed the independence of Rotuma and declared
himself king of the Republic of Rotuma. (I am not sure how
one can be
the king of a republic). The independence movement seems to
have died
out soon thereafter. In 2020 an unofficial coin was struck
for
Rotuma. The 39mm scalloped 50 Pa'atuna coin depicts a Rotuma
myzomela
bird (Myzomela chermesina). The other side depicts the arms
of Rotuma.
The Proof coin has a mintage of just 160 pieces.
Item
ROTUMA ROTUMA
50 PA'ATUNA 2020 PROOF
$19.95
PIEGAN
BLACKFOOT INDIAN ON MONTANA
COIN
A
dramatic image of a Piegan Indian hunting
buffalo is featured on this unofficial Montana 20 Dollar
coin. The hunter wears a buffalo head dress in order to blend
in with the heard is shooting an arrow while holding another arrow in
his mouth. The traditional Piegan homelands were divided
between the United States and Canada. Those on the United States side
became part of the Blackfoot Nation and settled on the Blackfoot
reservation in Montana. Those on the Canadian side became
part of the Piikani Nation in Alberta. The odd-shaped 2020
dated coin features a star and the Montana coat of arms on the
obverse. The silver-plated Proof coin is 40mm x 30mm
and has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Item
MONTANA MONTANA 20 DOLLARS 2020
PROOF $19.95
Also see:
INDIANS FEATURED ON 2020 LOW MINTAGE 20 DOLLAR
COINS OF ARIZONA, DAKOTA, DELAWARE & WYOMING
SAIPAN
HONORS WORLD WAR II BATTLE
Saipan
is now part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands. In World War II it was the site of one of the
bloodiest and most strategic battles in the Pacific. Saipan
was Japanese territory and one of the last line of defenses before the
homeland. An estimated 29,000 Japanese soldiers and 20,000 civilians
died trying to defend the island. 3,426 Americans died and 10,364 were
wounded. The loss of Saipan was a major blow to Japan.
American B-29 bombers were now within striking range of mainland Japan
and the Philippines. The obverse unofficial 2019 Saipan 5
Dollar coin depicts the emblem of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands. The reverse features a Marine in front of a waving
American flag and the dates of the Battle of
Saipan. The 40mm eight-sided silver-plated Proof
coin has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Item
SAIPAN SAIPAN 5 DOLLARS 2019 PROOF
$22.00
VERY RARE ODD DENOMINATION
ARAUCANIA-PATAGONIA COIN
The Kingdom of Araucania-Patagonia was founded in 1860 when
French adventurer Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, was elected King by the
indigenous Mapuche. The Mapuche hoped he would assist in their
struggle to retain their independence in the face of military and
economic encroachment by Chile and Argentina. He claimed a large
territory covering the parts of Chile and southern Argentina. The
country never received diplomatic recognition. He died penniless in
France in 1878. Since then the throne of Araucania-Patagonia has been
passed down, In 1952
Philippe
Paul Alexandre Henri Boiry took the throne of Arucania-Patagonia with
the title Prince Phillipe. He died in 2014 at age 87.
Araucania-Patagonia issued this 87 Pesos coin in 2014 to honor Prince
Phillppe. The Prince appears on the obverse Unfortunately there was
an engraving error on the reverse of the initial batch of coins. The reverse bears the
inscription in Spanish "To
the memory of Prince Felipe / 1921 * 2014". The
correct date of his birth is 1927, not 1921. Only 25 pieces of the
38.2 copper-nickel coins were struck before the error was discovered
and a new die prepared, making it extraordinarily rare. The coin has
a matte finish. Item
AP-87ERR ARAUCANIA-PATAGONIA 87 PESOS 2014
ERROR DATE COIN, MATTE UNC.
$85.00
VERY
RARE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL UNION ORDER PRESENTATION COINS
The Russian Imperial Union Order was founded in Paris in 1929 by a
group of Russian exiles in order to promote the legitimate line of the
Russian Czar and re-establish Russia as a monarchy. In 1979
it struck a 1 Ruble to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the
organization. The obverse depicts the emblem of the order: the Czarist
eagle with a sword. The inscriptions translate as: "
Russian Imperial
Union-Order", "
For the Faith, the Czar and the
Fatherland",
"
1929-1989",
"
60 years of struggle"
and "
We are Russian, God
is with
us". The reverse depicts the portrait of Czar Nicholas II
with
inscriptions: "
1894-1917"
(the dates of his reign), "
Only
National
Assembly will choose the worthy successor" and the
denomination
"
Ruble".
The coins are 38.25mm in diameters. Examples struck
in copper, silver and gold were sold to supporters and the public as a
fundraiser. In addition 60 pieces were struck in
copper-nickel with an antiqued finish and 28 Essais were struck in
antiqued bronze for presentation purposes. The Essai features the
czarist eagle obverse on one side and the word Essai in Russian on the
other. These rare presentation coins have not been
available to the public until now.
Item
RIUO-1R RUSSIAN IMPERIAL UNION ORDER 1 RUBLE
1989
Copper-Nickel out
Item
RIUO-ESSAI RUSSIAN IMPERIAL UNION ORDER
ESSAI 1989, Bronze $80.00
COLUMBUS ON ST. CROIX,
VIRGIN ISLANDS DOLLAR
Christopher
Columbus and one of his ships is depicted on this unofficial 2015 dated
1 Dollar coin from St. Croix. Columbus landed on the island
in November 1493 and was attacked by the native Caribs
(Kalinagos). Over the years ownership of the island passed
between Spain, the Netherlands, the Knights of Malta, Great Britain,
France and Denmark. Denmark sold it, along with St. Thomas
and St. John to the United States in 1916, during World War
I. Today it is part of the United States Virgin
Islands. The obverse of the coin features
a Bananaquit bird, the state bird of the U.S. Virgin Islands, perched
on the letters “SC”. Below is the original Spanish name for
the Virgin Islands. The 40mm Proof coin is struck
on silver plated brass and has a mintage of just 250 pieces.
Item
CROIX ST. CROIX 1 DOLLAR 2015, COLUMBUS PROOF
$22.00
CARIB INDIANS ON ST.
JOHN, VIRGIN
ISLANDS DOLLAR
Saint
John is the smallest of the three main United States Virgin
Islands. Approximately 60% is a National Park. This
unofficial 2015 1 Dollar coin of St. John depicts two native Island
Caribs on the reverse. In the 18th Century Denmark
established sugar plantations on the island and enslaved the Caribs to
work on the plantations. The native population was quickly
decimated by diseases. In 1917 Denmark sold the islands to
the United States. The obverse features a Bananaquit bird,
the state bird of the U.S. Virgin Islands, perched on the letters
“SJ”. Below is the original Spanish name for the Virgin
Islands: Islas Santa Ursla Y Once Mil Virgenes (Islands of St. Ursla
and Eleven Thousand Virgins). The 40mm Proof coin is struck on silver
plated brass and has a mintage of only 250 pieces.
Item
JOHN ST. JOHN 1 DOLLAR 2015, CARIBS
PROOF
$22.00
SCARCE BI-METALLIC
AFRICAN PRESIDENT COINS WITH MINTAGES OF ONLY 500 PIECES!
These bi-metallic 6000 CFA Franc coins have a mintage of only 500
pieces each, yet are still reasonably priced. The 28.4mm coins have a
copper-nickel center in a brass ring. The coins are dated 2003 and
feature a portrait of the President and a map of their country on the
obverse. A map of Africa and elephant’s head is on the
reverse. The Benin issue depicts President Mathieu
Kerekou. Unlike most African Presidents, in 2006 he actually
retired when his term was up. President Paul Biya is on the
Cameroon coin. He has been President since 1982. The coin
catalogs for $80.00. The Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivorie) depicts
President Laurent Gbagbo. He was President from 2000 until
2011, when he was arrested and extradited to the International Criminal
Court.
Item
BJ-PRES BENIN 6000 FRANCS 2003 Br.X41
PRES.KEREKOU (Mintage 500) UNC.
$29.50
Item
CM-PRES CAMEROON 6000 FRANCS 2003 Br.X27
PRES. BIYA (Mintage 500) UNC.
$29.50
Item
CI-PRES IVORY COAST 6000 FRANCS 2003 Br.X7
PRES. GBAGBO (Mintage 500) UNC.
$29.50
TOPLESS WOMAN ON
LOW MINTAGE BIMETALLIC TOGO COIN 
This scarce unofficial bi-metallic 6000 Francs coin of Togo features a
topless Guin woman. The Guin are one of the major tribes in
Togo. The reverse features the head of an elephant and a map
of northern Africa. From the 16th to 18th Centuries Togo was
a major slave trading center, thus earning the name "Slave
Coast". It was claimed by Germany in 1884, transferred to
France after World War I, and became independent in 1960. The 2003
dated coin is 28mm in diameter, has a mintage of only 1,200 pieces and
a catalog value of $35.00
Item
TG-GUIN TOGO
6000 FRANCS 2003 GUIN WOMAN
BIMETAL Br.X 21 UNC $15.00
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
MULTI-CURRENCY
COIN FROM BENIN
This
unusual coin of Benin is denominated in
three different currencies! The coin is denominated in the
local currency: 1500 CFA Francs, a common currency used by a number of
African nations that were once French colonies. More unusual
is that the coin is also denominated as 2.30 Euros and 3.45 Swiss
Francs. The 2005 coin was issued to honor (and sell at) the
2005 coin fairs in Basel, Switzerland and Piacenza, Italy. The coin
features a map of Europe highlighting the 25 members of the European
Union plus Switzerland one one side, and a map of Africa on the
other. The coin has a mintage of only 2005 pieces.
Item
BJ-EU BENIN
1500 FRANCS, 2.30 EUROS, 3.45
SWISS FRANCS, 2005 Br.X44 (Mintage 2005 pices) UNC. $8.50
COINS OF
WIKINGLAND
The Principality of Wikingland was founded in 1977 by Swedish resident
Reinhold Wendling, who called himself Prince Reinhold I. His
plan was to create a libertarian state on man-made islands in the North
Sea or Baltic Sea, by adding landfill to shallow sandbanks, raising
them above sea level. The capital, Vahalla, would be covered
by a giant Plexiglas dome in order to assure pleasant weather all year
around. The plan never got very far, probably due to its
enormous expense. However Wikingland did issue coins, stamps
and passports. The following coins of Wikingland date from
the 1980’s and 1990’s. They have a common obverse which has the
Prince’s title, a large “R1” for Reinhold I and the denomination: 10
Wiking Mark. All are 38.6mm in diameter, struck in
nickel-silver with an antique finish and have a reeded edge.
The 1993 issue depicts Thor’s hammer and is struck in
high relief. It has a mintage of only 300 pieces. The regular
1994 issues feature a stylized Yggdrasil and the 24 runes of the Elder
Futhark alphabet. In Norse mythology the Yggdrasil is the
Tree of Life that binds heaven, earth and hell together.
Elder Futhark is the oldest form of Runic. It was used
between about the 2nd and 8th Centuries. There are two
versions of the coin, one with the date Runic Year 2244 to the right of
the Yggdrasil. It has a mintage of just 250 pieces.
There is also an error version without the date. Only 44 pieces of the
error version were struck. The 1995 issue depicts the 28
runes of Anglo-Saxon Futhorc, which was the first alphabet of the
English language. It is dated Runic Year
2245. The 1996 issue depicts a stylized Viking ship
and the 16 runes of Younger Futhark, also called Danish Furthark or
Norse Furthark. It was use during most of the Viking period,
from about the 8th to 12th Centuries. With the
Christianization of Scandinavia it was gradually replaced by the Latin
alphabet. The coin is not dated. It has a mintage
of 250 pieces. It is a fascinating series coins for a new,
yet to be built Scandinavian society using elements from the old Viking
society.
Item
WIK-93 WIKINGLAND 10 WIKING MARK 1993 THOR’S
HAMMER
$55.00
Item
WIK-94 WIKINGLAND 10 WIKING MARK YEAR
2244 (1994) WITH DATE
$45.00
Item
WIK-94E WIKINGLAND 10 WIKING MARK (1994)
WITHOUT
DATE
$55.00
Item
WIK-95 WIKINGLAND 10 WIKING MARK 2245
(1995) ANGLO-SAXON FURHOC
$45.00
Item
WIK-96 WIKINGLAND 10 WIKING MARK (1996)
YOUNGER FUTHARK
$45.00
Item
WIK-SET SET OF ALL 5 OF THE ABOVE WIKINGLAND
COINS
$220.00
SCARCE
FANTASY COIN
OF HEJAZ
This
scarce fantasy silver Hejaz 10 Piastres or ½ Riyal was made to
appear to be an early coin of Hejaz. It is dated AH1334, Year
8 (1923) and bears the legends that was struck in Mecca (“Makka
al-Mukarrama”). In reality it was struck some years ago in
the United States. The coins is technically Uncirculated,
however was given an “antiqued” finish. The 27.8mm coin has a
reeded edge. It is a scarce coin and given the popularity of
Saudi Arabian related coins, is sure to be in demand.
Item
HEJAZ10P HEJAZ 10 PIASTRES Br.X2
ANTIQUED UNC.
$55.00
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The
Republic of Rose Island (Respubliko de la Insulo de la Rozoj) was a
short-lived micronation located a man-made platform in international
waters in Adriatic Sea off the coast of Italy. The project
was begun in 1958 Italian engineer Giorgio Rosa. On May 1,
1968 Rosa declared it an independent nation with himself as
president. 55 Days later the Italy invaded and took control
of the platform and set up a blockade. Italy found it
impossible to dismantle the well-constructed platform so attempted to
bomb it - twice without success. It was finally toppled by a
storm in February 1969. This unofficial 2024 4000 Mils of the
Republic of Rose Island depicts a bouquet of roses on the obverse and a
sailing yacht approaching the platform on the reverse. The
silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 150 pieces.
Martin
Garcia is an island located at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata between
Argentina and Uruguay. It is named after the storekeeper of the Juan
Diaz de Solis expedition who was buried on the island. Due to
its strategic location ownership of the island was disputed between
Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. There have been a number of battles for
control of the island between various groups. Argentina used it as a
penal colony. In 1973 Argentina and Uruguay agreed to divide
the island, with the northern portion, called Timoteo Domínguez Islands
going to Uruguay, the southern portion called Martin Garcia going to
Argentina, with the stipulation that the island would be a natural
reserve. The silver-plated Proof 2024 Martin Garcia 5000 Peso
coin depicts an early 19th century sailing ship. The coat of arms is on
the obverse. The unofficial issue has a mintage of only 150
pieces.
Geyser Reef (Banc du Geyser) is
dangerous, low reef in the Mozambique Channel about 78 miles (125km)
northeast of Mayotte. France, Comoros and Madagascar all
claim the reef, though it is presently under French control.
It was first known to Arab sailors about 700AD and has been shown on
some navigation charts since about 800AD. It got its present
name when the British ship HMS Geysir ran aground on the reef on
December 23, 1678. The ship is depicted on the reverse of this
unofficial triangular 2024 Geyser 5000 Francs. The obverse
depicts both a whale shark, manta ray. The silver-plated
Proof coin has a mintage of 125 pieces.
A
Seychelles Giant Tortoise is featured on both sides of this unofficial
2024 triangular 500 Rupees from Farquhar. The Tortoise can
live for over 200 years, but was thought to have gone extinct by the
1840's due to overhunting by sailors. They were recently
rediscovered. Farquhar is a group of small islands in the
Indian Ocean that belong to Seychelles. There are about 20
inhabitants, a small hotel and an airstrip. They were named after
Robert Townsend Farquhar who was the British governor of Mauritius from
1811 until 1823. The 36mm silver-plated Proof coin has a
mintage of only 130 pieces.
Likoma
is an island in Lake Malawi a short distance from Mozambique and
surrounded by Mozambican territorial waters. In 1880 the
Universities' Mission to Central Africa established their headquarters
on the island at the request of David Livingstone. In the
early 20th century, they built St. Peter's Cathedral on the island
which is modeled after Westminster Abbey and measures 100 by 30 meters
(328 x 98 feet). At the end of World War II, the island was
awarded to British East Africa rather than Portuguese Mozambique due to
the presence of the British missionaries. It is now an
exclave of Malawi. The obverse of the six-sided silver-plated
coin feature a screaming eagle and the arms of Malawi. A
crocodile is on the reverse. This unofficial 2024 Likoma 2000
Kwacha has a mintage of just 125 pieces.
A
mother and young Guanaco are featured on this unofficial 2 Bocades coin
of La Roija. The Guanaco is closely related to the llama but
are smaller and slenderer. The obverse of the coin features a
Puma and the arms of La Rioja. La Rioja is located in Andes
foothills in western Argentina. It has tended to be a
politically restive region. It gained independence from Spain in 1820
but did not join the Argentine Confederation until 1850. The 37mm,
silver-plated, five-sided coin is Proof and has a mintage of just 120
pieces.
Vitebsk
is the northern region of Belarus, bordering Russia, Latvia and
Lithuania. Recently Russia has been circulating the idea of creating
the Vitebsk People's Republic, which would be a puppet state of Moscow
rather than part of Belarus. Shortly there after an
unofficial coin for the Vitebsk People's Republic was issued by a
Russian coin dealer. The 2020 dated 20 Rubles commemorates
the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Lenin. One side of the
silver-plated Proof coin depicts the bust of Lenin. The other
side depicts the coat of arms in red and gold. The
odd-shaped coin measures 40x30mm and has a mintage of only 140 pieces.
Oil
Rocks, known as Neft Dashlari in Azerbaijan, is a city built on a
series of platforms over the Caspian Sea. The first oil well
in complex was drilled in 1949. Soon an entire functioning
city was built over the Caspian Sea as oil production
expanded. At its peak in the 1960's the city housed some 5000
workers and included nine-story living quarters, hotels, parks with
trees, a restaurant, movie theater, soccer pitch, and hospital
connected by some 190 miles (300km) of streets built on piles or
landfill. Control of Oil Rocks passed to Azerbaijan after the
collapse of the Soviet Union. Since then, oil production has
declined and portions of the city has fallen into disrepair or
collapsed, though it is estimated there is as much as 178 million
barrels (30 million tons) of recoverable oil remain. The
obverse coin depicts a helicopter landing on one of the city's
platforms. The reverse depicts the Lun Ekranoplan.
The Lun is the world's only Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV) to be deployed
as a warship. It resembles an airplane but can only fly up to
about 13 feet (4m) off the surface of the water. The plan was to create
an attack/transport ship that had the speed of an airplane.
Its eight jet engines gave it a top speed of 297 knots (340mph,
550kph). The 242 foot long vessel (73.8m) carried a crew of
15. Its weapons included six guided missile launchers and two 23mm
cannons. Only one was ever completed which entered service in
the Soviet Navy in 1987. It was soon discovered that the Lun
was unable to operate in rough seas. After the collapse of
the Soviet Union it was abandoned. An attempt to tow it to a
museum in 2020 resulted it in it getting stuck on a sandy beach, where
at last reports, it remains today. The unofficial,
odd-shaped, 42mm, silver-plated, Proof 2023 Naft Dashlari 500 Manat has
a mintage of only 125 pieces. 
Sentosa,
originally known as Blakang Mati, is located off the southern coast of
Singapore. Fortifications to protect Singapore were built on
the island in the 19th century. In the 1970's the island was
renamed Sentosa and turned into a resort. Today it houses 14
hotels, 2 golf courses, a theme park, casino and a sheltered
beach. It attracts more than 20 million visitors a
year. The obverse of this unofficial 2023 Sentosa 50 Dollar
coin depicts the Singapore coat of arms and Merlion with the name
Sentosa in English, Tamil and Chinese. The reverse depicts a
Concorde landing in Singapore with the Marina Bay Sands Resort in the
background. The Concorde was a supersonic airplane that
served Singapore between 1977 and 1980. The Concorde ceased
all operations in 2003. The Marina Bay Sands Resort was not
built until 2010. The 39mm silver plated brass coin
has a mintage of 125 pieces.
Rhinoceros
are featured on both the obverse and reverse of this odd-shaped coin of
the Free Republic of Rehoboth. The Free Republic of Rehoboth
was first founded in 1868 by a group of Basters who left British-ruled
Cape Colony. The Basters are of mixed African, European and
Asian ancestry. Their territory was incorporated into
South-West Africa, which later became Namibia. On March 20,
1990 they again declared independence. A day later Namibia
became independent from South Africa and soon confiscated all their
territory. The unofficial 2023 coin is denominated 250
Rehoboth Dollars. The silver-plated coin is 42mm, has a
mintage of only 125 pieces and is Proof.
The
Kingdom of Kabuto is a micronation that was proclaimed in
2016. It claims previously unclaimed waters in the Dixon
Strait between Alaska and British Columbia and enclaves within Poland
and Croatia. This unofficial 2023 7 Buto coin of Kabuto
depicts a European Bison and calf on one side and the national emblem
on the other. The inscriptions are in Polish, which along
with English is one of the official languages of the Kingdom. The
eight-sided silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 125 pieces. 
Lajtabansag
existed as an independent state between October 4 and November 10,
1921. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in
World War I the Treaty of Trinon assigned the territory to Austria,
which many inhabitants did not want. Leaders in the territory
declared independence and formed an army of former soldiers, students
and peasants that managed to hold off the Austrian army.
Lajtabansag extracted “customs duties” from trains passing through the
region by confiscating goods. The result was not acceptable
to either Austria or Hungary. After high level negotiations,
a plebiscite was held, which resulted in the city of Sopron becoming
part of Hungary while other territory of Burgenland going to
Austria. The obverse of this unofficial 2023
Lajtabansag 10,000 Korona includes the national emblem. The
reverse depicts a grasshopper. The five-sided 37mm
silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 140 pieces.
The
Republic of West Papua is an unrecognized state consisting of the
Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea. The Dutch
retained possession of the west New Guinea after the independence of
Indonesia in 1949, with the expectation that it would eventually become
an independent nation. Instead, Indonesia took over the
territory in 1963 against the will of much of the indigenous
population. The Republic of West Papua is the
provisional government that is fighting for the independence of West
Papua.. This unofficial 2023 40 Basan coin of the Republic of
West New Guinea depicts the West Papua coat of arms on the obverse. The
reverse depicts a native Chocolate Frog, (Litoria mira) which was
discovered in 2016. The six-sided, 39mm, silver-plated Proof coin has a
mintage of only 135 pieces.
A
Palestinian with a high-powered assault weapon is featured on
this unofficial 2019
rectangular 5 Pound coin issued for the Gaza Strip. The emblem of
Palestine is on the obverse. The Gaza Strip is about a
territory
about 25 miles (41km) long and 4 to 8 miles (6 to 12 km.) wide that
borders Israel and Egypt and is the home of some 1.9 million
Palestinians. Since 2007 Gaza has been a de-facto
self-governing
entity ruled by Hamas, a fundamentalist Islamic organization.
It
recently attacked Israel, and Israel retaliated bringing destruction to
much of this small territory. The 40mm x 25mm rectangular silver plated
Proof coin has a mintage of only 242 pieces.
Autonomous
Republic of Northern Epirus was proclaimed on February 28, 1914 by
Greeks who did not want to be incorporated into the recently created
Principality of Albania, whose boundaries were drawn by the Great
European Powers. After the outbreak of World War I in July
1914 Greek forces occupied the area and tried to incorporate it into
Greece, until they were driven out by French and Italian forces in
1916. With the support of Italy, in 1921 the area was
formally ceded to Albania though calls for independence or union with
Greece have continued since then. This unofficial 10 Drachmas
coin of Northern Epirus features the Northern Epirus national emblem on
the obverse and a rabbit on the reverse. The six-sided 39mm
silver-plated brass coin has a mintage of just 125 pieces.
The Albulian Railway is commemorated on
this unofficial 2023 10 Franc coin for the Swiss canton of
Graubunden. The obverse features the coat of arms of
Graubunden and two women, one personifying the canton of Graubunden and
the other is Helvetia personifying Switzerland. The reverse
depicts a steam engine and the Landwasser viaduct on the
railway. The construction of the railroad began in 1898, it
was opened in 1903 and since 2008 has been a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The odd-shaped coin is 42 x 21mm. The silver
plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 120 pieces. 
A Russian Polikarpov I-15 bi-plane
fighter is featured on this unofficial 2023 dated 50 Markka coin of
Hanko (Hango). The plane was used between 1939 and 1944 in the two wars
between Finland and the Soviet Union. The Hanko peninsula is the
southernmost point of mainland Finland and is the home of the port and
city of Hanko. During the 19th and early 20th centuries while
Finland was under Russian control, Hanko was the port of choice for
emigrants leaving Finland for a new life in North America and a popular
resort of Russian nobility. After the 1939 Winter War between
Finland and the Soviet Union, Finland was forced to lease the peninsula
to Russia for 30 years as a naval base. Finland regained
control of the peninsula in 1941 during the second Soviet-Finnish
war. The obverse of the coin depicts the heraldic
Finnish lion. The Proof silver-plated brass coin
has a mintage of only 125 pieces.
Big
Major Cay, also known as Pig Island, is uninhabited by humans,
however it does have a population of about two dozen swimming pigs. It
is located in the Exuma district of the Bahamas. The pigs are
a popular tourist attraction. The feral domestic pigs are not
afraid of people. They love to take to water and lay in the
sun on the beach. The pigs are fed by tourists and from
passing yachts, and if the boat gets close enough to the shore, the
pigs can jump in on their own, begging for food. Drinking
water is provided by small lakes on the island. No one is
quite sure how the non-native pigs got there. Some claim they
were left by sailors who planned to later pick them up and eat them,
but never returned. Others say they survived a shipwreck, or
were brought to the island to attract tourists.
This odd-shaped 2023 20 Dollar coin of Big Major Cay has an unusual
design, the design on the front wraps over to the back. The
design includes the Bahamas coat of arms and two pigs, half of one of
the pigs is on the front of the coin with the other half is on the
back. The unofficial silver-plated Proof coin is 39mm and has
a mintage of just 125 pieces.
Tory
Island (Oilean Thoraigh in Irish) is a remote island off the
northern coast of Ireland inhabited by less than 150 people.
It is about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) long and 1 kilometer (.6 miles)
wide. The northern coast is
heavily indented by bays and bays, the coasts are rather steep and
steep. Tory is mentioned in a number of Irish legends. Today
it is noted for its rugged beauty and an artist colony. This
unofficial 2023 six-sided 10 Pound coin of Tory Island features a
Celtic Cross and an Irish Harp on the obverse. The reverse
depicts a raven on the handle of a sword. Morrigan, the goddess of war
in Irish mythology would often take the form of a raven.
Morrigan would not take part in the battles, but she would be present
on the battlefield and used all her power to help one side or
another. The 39mm silver-plated brass coin has a mintage of
only 125 pieces.
In
November 2022 San Bernardino County voted to secede from the State
of California. San Bernardino, often called the "Inland
Empire", is the largest county in California. Like many
regions of California, they were fed up with the liberal big city
politicians that control California. To mark the event the
Small Forest Mint issued a copper 66 Cent coin for Berdoo.
Berdoo is what locals call San Bernardino. The historic Route 66 runs
through the county, hence the denomination of 66 cents. The
denomination is within an arrowhead shaped like the Arrowhead
Geological Monument at Arrowhead Springs. The reverse depicts
the date and a Joshua Tree which is common in desert areas of the
county, which is home to Joshua Tree National Park. The
Highway Gothic font was used on old highway signs. The
hand-struck coins are Uncirculated but may have minor dark
areas. Mintage is limited to a maximum of 200 pieces or when
the dies wear out, whichever comes first.
A
dramatic image of a Piegan Indian hunting
buffalo is featured on this unofficial Montana 20 Dollar
coin. The hunter wears a buffalo head dress in order to blend
in with the heard is shooting an arrow while holding another arrow in
his mouth. The traditional Piegan homelands were divided
between the United States and Canada. Those on the United States side
became part of the Blackfoot Nation and settled on the Blackfoot
reservation in Montana. Those on the Canadian side became
part of the Piikani Nation in Alberta. The odd-shaped 2020
dated coin features a star and the Montana coat of arms on the
obverse. The silver-plated Proof coin is 40mm x 30mm
and has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Varkana, also called Hyrcania is a
territory along the southeastern coast of the Caspian
Sea. The name Varkana is derived from Persian for
"Country of Wolves". It was a province in the Midian,
Akhe-menid, Seleucid and Parthian empires. In 72AD became an
independent kingdom with nominal allegiance to Parthia. This
unofficial 2022 10,000 Rials of Varkana features a fierce ancient
warrior on the reverse. A heraldic wolf is on the
obverse. The39mm, six-sided, silver-plated brass
Proof coin has a mintage of only 120 pieces.
The
Skordiski were an Iron Age Celtic tribe who were centered at at the
confluence of the Savus (Sava), Dravus (Drava), Margus (Morava) and
Danube rivers in what is now Serbia. By the second half the of the 3rd
century BC they became the most important power in the northern
Balkans. They built fortresses at Singidunum (the modern city
of Belgrade) and Taurun (the modern Zemun). At their peak they
controlled portions of present-day Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and
Romania. From 141BC they were constantly at war against
Roman-held Macedonia. Roman sources report that they had the custom of
drinking blood from hollow skulls and that they sacrificed captives to
their deities. They were defeated by the Romans in 15BC. This
unofficial 2022 5000 Dinara of the State of Scordisk features a fierce
Skordiski warrior on one side and the Serbian coat-of-arms supported by
two angels on the other. The eight-sided, 40mm, silver-plated
brass Proof coin has a mintage of only 120 pieces.
Fiume
gained autonomy for the first time in 1719 when it was proclaimed a
free port of the Holy Roman Empire. The port city was later
transferred to the Kingdom of Hungary, but given a special separate
status. After World War I its status was disputed between Italy,
Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) and the Great
Powers (Great Britain, France and the United States). In 1919
it proclaimed itself the independent state of Italian Regency of
Carnaro (Reggenza Italiana del Carnaro) under a fascist government with
a plan unite with Italy. Under pressure of the Great Powers
Italy did not take control of the territory and it was proclaimed the
Free State of Fiume. Control of the city remained unstable,
with control passing between fascist, communists and nationalists until
1924 when the Treaty of Rome awarded the city to Italy.
Following World War II another attempt was made to set up an
independent free state, but instead it was incorporated into
Yugoslavia. Fiume is now the city of Rijeka in
Croatia. The obverse of the unofficial 2022 dated
200 Lire features the two-headed eagle symbol of the city, whose use
was forbidden by both the Italian and Yugoslavian
governments. The reverse features a statue of the Archangel
of Justice and the emblem of Regency of Carnaro depicting an
ouroboros. The 40mm silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of
just 130 pieces.
Brittany
is the northwest region of France. During the Middle Ages, Brittany was
a vassal duchy of France, while maintaining almost complete
independence. Control frequently passed between England and
France during their many wars. In 1963, the Brittany
Liberation Front was created, which began the struggle for the
independence of Brittany. The obverse of the unofficial 2022
dated Brittany 100 Franc coin features the previous arms of Brittany
surrounded by the arms of the bishoprics and regions of
Brittany: Leon, Tregor, Cornuay, the Vannes Rennes, Nantes, Dol,
Malouin and Penthievre. The reverse depicts a
knight on horseback with a dog and the Tanti tower. The 39mm
silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 150 pieces.
The
Colossus of Rhodes is featured on this unofficial 2021 500 Drachma of
Rhodes. The Colossus was a statue of the Greek sun god Helios
that was erected in 280BC at the mouth of the harbor of
Rhodes. It was some 108 feet(33m) high, approximately the
height of the Statue of Liberty from head to feet. It was one
of the seven ancient wonders of the world. It collapsed
during an earthquake in 226BC. The broken statue remained in
place until the Arab conquest of Rhodes in 653AD, and it was sold for
scrap metal. Rhodes is an island off the
coast of Turkey. In 1309, the Knights Hospitaller took over
the island and made it their headquarters until it was conquered by
Suleyman the Magnificent in 1522 after a long siege. Italy
seized the territory in 1912 and in 1947 it was united with
Greece. The obverse of the eight-sided
silver-plated brass Proof coin features the Rhodes coat of
arms. The coin has a mintage of only 145 pieces.
The
Savage Islands, also known as the Selvagens or Salvage Islands is
an uninhabited archipelago belonging to Portugal midway between Madeira
and the Canary Islands. Since 1971 it has been a nature
reserve. This unofficial 8-sided 2022 Savage Islands 200
Escudos depicts two Pink Terns and a Madeira Lizard on one side and the
coat of arms on the other. The 40mm Proof silver-plated brass
coins have a mintage of just 145 pieces.
A
movement to create California as an independent nation has been active
for some years. The movement is headed by a New Yorker living in
Russia. It appears most its funding is from Russia and social media
support from both Russia and Iran. The movement has
found little backing within the state, (though there are probably some
conservatives who would be happy to see California leave the
Union.) Recently a Russian coin dealer created two beautiful
coins for the California Republic. Both coins are denominated as 20
California Dollars and are dated 2020. They are 40mm
eight-sided, silver plated Proof coins. One depicts a Bobcat
and her kitten in Yosemite Valley. The other features Minerva
and sailing ships. The design is from the state
seal. The reverses of both coins depict a Grizzly Bear and
the words "CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC". The design comes from the California
State Flag. The Bear Flag Republic design is based on a flag
used in the 1846 revolt against Mexico. Each coin
has a mintage of only 160 pieces. 
In Greek mythology the Minotaur as a
creature that was part man, part bull. It was contained the
elaborate and confusing Labyrinth on Crete. The Minotaur is
featured on the reverse of this unofficial five-sided 500 Drachmai of
Crete. The obverse features the coat of arms of
Crete. The silver-plated Proof coin is 36mm and has a mintage
of just 160 pieces.
Dahlac is an archipelago of over 100
islands located in the Red Sea, only four of which are permanently
inhabited. It has a population of about 2500. In Roman times
it was
famous for its pearls. Even today it still has a small pearl diving
industry. Over the centuries it has been used as a prison and a major
conduit of trade and slaves between Africa and Arabia.
Recently it has
become a popular destination for yacht cruising and scuba
divers. It is
currently controlled by Eritrea. This unofficial six-sided
2020 50
Nafka coin of Dahlac depicts a Goliath Heron on the reverse.
The large
bird can reach up to 5 feet (152cm) and have a 7.5 foot (230cm)
wingspan. The emblem of Dahlac featuring a camel is on the
obverse.
The silver-plated Proof coin has a mintage of only 160 pieces. 
Rotuma
is an island controlled by Fiji that is located some 400 miles (645km)
north of Fiji. It has approximately 1600 inhabitants which
have a
distinct language and culture from Fiji. In 1987 a
part-Rotuman man
named Henry Gibson proclaimed the independence of Rotuma and declared
himself king of the Republic of Rotuma. (I am not sure how
one can be
the king of a republic). The independence movement seems to
have died
out soon thereafter. In 2020 an unofficial coin was struck
for
Rotuma. The 39mm scalloped 50 Pa'atuna coin depicts a Rotuma
myzomela
bird (Myzomela chermesina). The other side depicts the arms
of Rotuma.
The Proof coin has a mintage of just 160 pieces.
Saipan
is now part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands. In World War II it was the site of one of the
bloodiest and most strategic battles in the Pacific. Saipan
was Japanese territory and one of the last line of defenses before the
homeland. An estimated 29,000 Japanese soldiers and 20,000 civilians
died trying to defend the island. 3,426 Americans died and 10,364 were
wounded. The loss of Saipan was a major blow to Japan.
American B-29 bombers were now within striking range of mainland Japan
and the Philippines. The obverse unofficial 2019 Saipan 5
Dollar coin depicts the emblem of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands. The reverse features a Marine in front of a waving
American flag and the dates of the Battle of
Saipan. The 40mm eight-sided silver-plated Proof
coin has a mintage of only 160 pieces. 
Christopher
Columbus and one of his ships is depicted on this unofficial 2015 dated
1 Dollar coin from St. Croix. Columbus landed on the island
in November 1493 and was attacked by the native Caribs
(Kalinagos). Over the years ownership of the island passed
between Spain, the Netherlands, the Knights of Malta, Great Britain,
France and Denmark. Denmark sold it, along with St. Thomas
and St. John to the United States in 1916, during World War
I. Today it is part of the United States Virgin
Islands. The obverse of the coin features
a Bananaquit bird, the state bird of the U.S. Virgin Islands, perched
on the letters “SC”. Below is the original Spanish name for
the Virgin Islands. The 40mm Proof coin is struck
on silver plated brass and has a mintage of just 250 pieces.
Saint
John is the smallest of the three main United States Virgin
Islands. Approximately 60% is a National Park. This
unofficial 2015 1 Dollar coin of St. John depicts two native Island
Caribs on the reverse. In the 18th Century Denmark
established sugar plantations on the island and enslaved the Caribs to
work on the plantations. The native population was quickly
decimated by diseases. In 1917 Denmark sold the islands to
the United States. The obverse features a Bananaquit bird,
the state bird of the U.S. Virgin Islands, perched on the letters
“SJ”. Below is the original Spanish name for the Virgin
Islands: Islas Santa Ursla Y Once Mil Virgenes (Islands of St. Ursla
and Eleven Thousand Virgins). The 40mm Proof coin is struck on silver
plated brass and has a mintage of only 250 pieces.
This scarce unofficial bi-metallic 6000 Francs coin of Togo features a
topless Guin woman. The Guin are one of the major tribes in
Togo. The reverse features the head of an elephant and a map
of northern Africa. From the 16th to 18th Centuries Togo was
a major slave trading center, thus earning the name "Slave
Coast". It was claimed by Germany in 1884, transferred to
France after World War I, and became independent in 1960. The 2003
dated coin is 28mm in diameter, has a mintage of only 1,200 pieces and
a catalog value of $35.00
This
scarce fantasy silver Hejaz 10 Piastres or ½ Riyal was made to
appear to be an early coin of Hejaz. It is dated AH1334, Year
8 (1923) and bears the legends that was struck in Mecca (“Makka
al-Mukarrama”). In reality it was struck some years ago in
the United States. The coins is technically Uncirculated,
however was given an “antiqued” finish. The 27.8mm coin has a
reeded edge. It is a scarce coin and given the popularity of
Saudi Arabian related coins, is sure to be in demand.
