DEAD NATIONS
COINS FROM NATIONS THAT NO LONGER EXIST
UNCIRCULATED 1/2
CENT OF THE WHITE
RAJAH OF SARAWAK
Sarawak
was a privately-owned nation ruled by the Brooke family. The Sultan of
Brunei awarded it to the English adventurer James Brooke in 1841 for
his help in putting down a rebellion, thus he became the first "White
Rajah" of Sarawak. The throne eventually passed down to his
grand-nephew Charles Vynar Brooke in 1917. In 1933 he issued
this bronze 1/2 Cent. The coin was stuck only a single
year. The 18mm coin depicts his head on the obverse and the
denomination on the reverse. The coin was struck at the Heaton mint in
England and has a mintage of 2 Million pieces. Due to the
heavy destruction suffered during World War II, Charles ceded the
country to Great Britain in 1946. It is now part of Malaysia.
This is a scarce, high-grade coin issued by an English family that
controlled an entire Asian nation.
Item
SAR-20 SARAWAK 1/2 CENT 1933 KM20 UNC.-toned $49.75
LAST
CENT OF THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES WAS FROM PHILADELPHIA
This
1945 Netherlands East Indies cent was struck at the United States Mint
in Philadelphia. It was expected that the coins would be
needed after the liberation if the Netherlands East Indies (now
Indonesia) from the Japanese. The "P" mintmark is next to the date. The
23.5mm bronze cent has a center hole, which was an unusual production
requirement for the United States mint. The obverse depicts a
rice plant and the legends in Dutch. Indonesia gained
independence shortly after World War II, bringing an end to Dutch
rule.
Item
NEI-CENT NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES 1 CENT 1945-P
KM317 UNC.
$3.00
OLD
COIN FROM FAR OFF TIBET
Tibet is a fabled and
isolated country located
high in the Himalayas that is now controlled by China. This copper 1
Sho coin was issued from 1918 to 1928. It features a snow
lion on one side and inscriptions on the other. The
Snow Lion is a mythological animal that represents cheerfulness and
clarity of thought.
Item
TIB-SHO TIBET 1 SHO 1918-1928
Y21variety F-VF $4.00
Item
TIB-SHOx5 5 pieces of TIBET 1 SHO
1918-1928 F-VF $15.00
Item
TIB-SHOx100 100 pieces of TIBET 1 SHO
1918-1928 F-VF $225.00
SUN AND MOON TIBETAN
COINS
These copper 5 Sho coins were some of the last coins minted by Tibet
before they were invaded by China. The coin features a Snow
Lion standing in front of the mountains on one side and inscriptions on
the other. The coin comes in two major
varieties. The first, dating 1947 to 1949 features two suns,
one on either side of the tallest mountain. The second,
dating 1950 to 1953 shows a moon and the sun next to the
mountain. Both are a reminder of this fabled and isolated
nation located high in the Himalayas.
Item
TIB-5S-SS TIBET 5 SHO 1947-49, 2 SUNS, Y28.1
F-VF $10.00
Item
TIB-5S-MS TIBET 5 SHO 1950-53, MOON &
SUN, Y28a F-VF
$10.00
Item
TIB-5S-BOTH BOTH OF THE ABOVE TIBETIAN 5 SHO
COINS F-VF $18.00
MENG CHIANG
JAPANESE PUPPET BANK 
During
the 1930's Japan conquered much of Northern China. The Meng
Chiang Bank was a puppet bank established by the Japanese to provide
currency for the area between Mongolia and Manchukuo, known as Inner
Mongolia. In 1938 the Bank issued its only coin: a
copper-nickel 5 Chiao. One side of the coin features a pair of stylized
dragons and the denomination. The other side has a
floral design.
Item
MENG-5C MENG CHIANG BANK 5 CHIAO 1938 (KM521)
VF-XF $12.00
UNUSUAL FIBER
COINS FROM WWII JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF CHINA
Manchukuo was a Japanese puppet state carved out of Northeastern China
prior to World War II. Due to a severe metal shortage towards
the end of the war, it issued these unusual 1 Fen and 5 Fen coins
struck in a thick, red material rather than metal. The coins are dated
in the year of the reign of Emperor Kang Te of
Manchukuo. Kang Te was formerly known as Pu Yi, who
was the last Emperor of China until he was deposed in 1911. The
Japanese used him as the figurehead leader for Manchukuo. The
1 Fen struck only a single year; 1945. The 5 Fen was struck
in 1944 and 1945. Because the material used was relatively
soft, the
coins show considerable wear. These historic World War II coins are
some of the few circulating non-metallic coins of the 20th century.
Item
MAN-5F MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a AG-G $5.00
Item
MAN-1F MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
AG-G $5.00
OLD
COINS OF PORTUGUESE INDIA
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first visited India in 1498. Portugal
soon became the first European nation to establish colonies in India,
and for many years enjoyed a profitable monopoly on European trade with
India. With the coming of the British and Dutch in the 17th
century, Portuguese power declined. We are pleased to offer the
following older coins of Portuguese India. The copper 1/8
Tanga of Portuguese Luiz I was struck only 3 years: 1881,1884 and
1886. The king is pictured on the obverse and a crown and
denomination on the reverse. From King Carlos I we
offer the bronze 1/8 Tanga and 1/2 Tanga. Both coins have the
same design with the king on the obverse and the Portuguese arms on
the reverse. The coins were struck only two years; 1901 and 1903 and
the dates are in roman numerals.
Item
IN-PORT-307 PORTUGUESE INDIA 1/8 TANGA
1881-86 LUIZ I KM307(KM7) G-VG out
Item
IN-PORT-14 PORTUGUESE INDIA 1/8 TANGA
1901,1903 CARLOS I KM14 VG
$5.00
Item
IN-PORT-16 PORTUGUESE INDIA 1/2 TANGA
1901,1903 CARLOS I KM16 F
$9.00
SCARCE COIN OF DEMAK
SULTANATE
The
Demak Sultanate was founded about 1475 by Sultan Pangeran al Patah,
also known as Raden Patah. He was of Javanese nobility and his mother
may have been a Chinese princess who had been exiled from China.
His Sultanate was the first Muslim state in Java.
He quickly expanded his Sultanate to include most of the
northern coast of Java and southern Sumatra. This was
an important step in bringing Islam to what is now Indonesia.
The Sultan ruled until his death in 1518. The Sultanate
lasted about another 30 years, until it collapsed in a dynastic
feud. The Sultanate prospered through trade in spices, rice
and its control over Javanese trading ports. This
Pitis of Sultan Pangeran al Patah is one of the few
affordable coins of the Demak Sultanate. The uniface tin coin
is approximately 19mm to 20mm in diameter and grades Very Fine.
Item
DEMAK
DEMAK SULTANATE, TIN PITIS, PANGERAN AL PATAH 1475-1518 VF $19.50
TIN PITIS FROM THE
SULTANATE OF
PALEMBANG
Palembang
is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia. It is located on
the Musi river on the island of Sumatra. The Sultanate of
Palembang was established in the early 17th century by Javanese nobles
fleeing from dynastic intrigues after the collapse of the Sultanate of
Demak. It soon
became the
one of the greatest agricultural and trade centers in the Malay
area. It controlled much of the lucrative spice trade – until
it was taken over by the Dutch in 1821. This uniface tin 1 Pitis was
issued by Sultan Muhammad Bahauddin. It is dated AH1203,
which is 1789AD.
Item
PALEMBANG PALEMBANG TIN PITIS, AH1203=1789
Robinson #9, Millies 192 Fine $5.00
ONLY COIN OF
TONKIN
Tonkin
was a French protectorate, that later
became part of North Vietnam. Tonkin issued only a single
coin, a zinc 1/600 Piastre, (1/6 cent) dated 1905.
The coin, commonly called a Sapeque, was intended to replace the widely
used Annamese cash coins in circulation. It was struck in the
style of a cash coin: round with a square hole. One side of
the coin had Chinese legends, the other had French legends.
The coin proved to be unpopular with the Vietnamese and most never
entered circulation. The coin is Uncirculated, however it will have
some spots as is typical of zinc coins.
Item
TONKIN TONKIN 1/600 PIASTRE 1905,
KM1
UNC.-spots $29.75
SOUTH
VIETNAM 1968 20 DONG FAO COIN
In 1968 South Vietnam issued this
unusual 12-sided coin as part of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization's (FAO) coin program. One side
depicts a female farmer with a sheaf of rice in a rice paddy.
The legend "CHIEN-DICH THE-GIOI CHONG NAN DOI" translates as "World
campaign against hunger". The other side features the
denomination. It was the highest denomination
released into circulatoin by South Vietnam before it fell to the
communists in
1975. The nickel-clad steel coin was struck at the Hamburg
mint and has a mintage of 500,000 pieces. It is an attractive
coin from a fallen nation.
Item
SVN-20D SOUTH VIETNAM 20 DONG FAO 1968 KM11
BU
$7.00
UNCIRCULATED
1927 PALESTINE
COINS
This
set includes the first coins issued by the British Mandate of Palestine
in Uncirculated condition.
Great
Britain gained control of Palestine from the
Ottoman Empire after
World War I. It
issued its first coins for Palestine in 1927, including these
1 and 2 Mils
coins. Both coins are bronze and have similar designs. In
order to satisfy the Jews and Arabs in the territory, as well as their
British rulers, the coins have their legends in three different
languages, Arabic, English and Hebrew and the date in both the AD and
AH calendar. An olive branch, representing peace, is on the
reverses of both coins. In 1948 the Mandate was dissolved
with most of the territory going to the newly declared
State of Israel.
The 1
Mil is 21mm and the 2 Mils is 28mm. Both coins still retain
most of their original bright mint luster.
Item
PS-SET2U PALESTINE 1 & 2 MILS 1927 KM1
&
2 UNC.
$55.00
SCARCE
SILVER
COIN OF THE KATHIRI STATE OF SEIYUN AND TARIM
The
Kathiri Sultans controlled the towns of Seiyun and Tarim in what is
now Yemen. After losing much of their territory to rival tribes they
agreed to become a British Protectorate. Seiyun was the capital, and
Tarim is a major center of Islamic learning. In 1897 they had
this silver 12 Khumsi coins struck at the Heaton Mint for their
territory. The coin is all in Arabic, except for the Heaton
mintmark and are dated AH1315. 12 Khumsi was
equivalent to
1/10 Riyal. The coin is 18mm in diameter. It is a rarely seen coin from
a now forgotten nation.
Item
SEIYUN-12K
KATHIRI STATE OF SEIYUN & TARIM 12
KHUMSI AH1315=1897AD KM216 F-VF
$45.00
BRITISH EAST
AFRICAN COIN FROM
THE SHORT REIGN OF EDWARD VIII
Edward
VIII reigned for less than a year in 1936, before he renounced the
throne in order that he could marry Mrs. Wallace Simpson, an American
divorcee. This bronze 10 Cents from British East Africa is
one of the few coins that were issued in the name of Edward VIII during
his brief reign. One side of the 30mm coin shows four elephant
tusks. The other shows the imperial crown and the name of the
monarch. The coin has a center hole to make it easy for
natives to carry it on a string and to make it easily distinguishable
from other coins. British East Africa is now the independent
nations of
Uganda,
Kenya,
Tanzania and
Somaliland.
Item
E.AF-ED8 EAST AFRICA 10 CENTS 1936
EDWARD VIII
KM14 Fine-VF
$3.00
KATANGA
COIN FEATURES TRADITIONAL FORM OF WEALTH
A bloody
civil war broke out in the
Belgian
Congo upon it gaining independence from Belgium in
1960. Katanga, a mineral rich province in the south, declared
itself independent from the rest of the
Congo.
Various factions were
supported by the United States and the Soviet Union, while the United
Nations tried to negotiate a truce. This Uncirculated 1961 1
Franc 1961 was issued only a single year. Shortly thereafter
Katanga was
forcibly reunited with the Congo. The coin displays the
country's traditional form of money, the Katanga Cross, on one side of
the coins. A bunch of bananas is shown on the other.
Item
KAT-1& KATANGA 1 FRANC
KM1 1961 UNC. $5.00
THE
SHORT-LIVED
GERMAN-AUSTRIA REPUBLIC
Reduced
size images
German-Austria (Deutsch-Osterreich) was a short-lived
republic
that was created after World War I after the collapse of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. It claimed sovereignty over the
German
speaking portions of the former Hapsburg Empire. Not seeing
itself as a viable nation, having lost the agricultural lands of
Hungary and the industrial areas of Bohemia (Czechoslovakia) it planned
to join Germany as part of the Weimar Republic. However, treaties
forced upon Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire following their
defeat prevented this. The Treaty of Versailles prohibited
its
unification with Germany, and the Treaty of Saint Germain prohibited
it from calling itself German-Austria. The modern Republic of
Austria was then created out of the central core of German-Austria,
with other areas claimed by German-Austria becoming parts of
Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Italy. In a rush to
get needed currency into circulation for this new nation
banknotes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire were overprinted “
DEUTSCH-OSTERREICH".
The notes were issued from 1919 to 1922, though they still had their
original issue date. The red 1 Krone dated 1916 has the denomination
written in 8 different languages! It measures 113 x 68 mm. The notes were replaced with Austrian
currency in 1922 and demonetized in 1924.
Item PM-AT-1K
GERMAN-AUSTRIA 1 KRONE BANKNOTE (1919) P49 Fine $3.00
COIN OF THE NAZI
PUPPET
STATE OF
BOHEMIA & MORAVIA
The
Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia
in 1938, incorporating part of it into
Germany. In the western portion of what remained they created
a puppet state called the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. From
Bohemia and Moravia we offer the zinc 1 Korun coin that was struck from
1941
until 1944. One side depicts the Bohemian lion. The
other has Linden branches, the date and the denomination.
Item
BOH-1K BOHEMIA & MORAVIA 1 KORUN
COIN, KM4 VF $6.00
FIRST COINS OF
EAST GERMANY
East Germany issued its first coins in 1948 while it was still under
the occupation of the Soviet Army. The coins consisted of the
aluminum 1, 5 and 10 Pfennig. The coins featured an ear of
grain and a cogwheel, which symbolized a communist "Workers' and
Farmers' state". The denomination was on the other
side. In 1950 an aluminum-bronze 50 Pfennig was also
minted. It pictured smoky factories spewing out pollution and
an old plow. In 1952 a new series of aluminum 1, 5 and 10 Pfennig coins
was introduced. The obverse showing the denomination was
basically unchanged, however the new reverse designs featured a
compass, hammer and two ears of grain. The compass
represented the intelligentsia, who were supposed to be leading the
workers (hammer) and farmers (grain). The new designs were issued only
two years: 1952 and 1953. After the reunification of Germany,
the East German coins were withdrawn from circulation and melted.
Item
EGER-SET4 EAST GERMANY 4 COIN SET 1 - 50
PFENNIG 1948-50 VF out
Item
EGER-SET3 EAST GERMANY 3 COIN SET 1 - 10
PFENNIG 1952-53 VF-XF $5.00
FEDERAL PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
YUGOSLAVIA
Following World War II, Yugoslavia
changed its name to The Federal People’s Republic of
Yugoslavia. The communist nation, under the control of Josip
Tito, steered an independent course from the Soviet Union. It
issued one series of coins before changing its name to the Socialist
Federal Republic in 1963. Starting in 1991 the country
completely collapsed into the indepedent nations of
Serbia,
Slovenia, Croatia,
Macedonia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina,
and
Montenegro. The coins
include the aluminum 50 Para, 1, 2 and 5
Dinars dated 1953 and the attractive aluminum-bronze 10, 20 and 50
Dinars dated 1955. The coin features the emblem of Yugoslavia
on the obverse of each coin. All coins are Uncirculated.
Item
YUGO-SET55 YUGOSLAVIA 7 COIN SET, 50 PARA- 50
DINARS, 1953-1955, UNC. $6.00
COINS
FROM YUGOSLAVIA'S HYPER-INFLATION
In the 1990's Yugoslavia
underwent a complete collapse as the country broke into five separate
nations and inflation soared. Prices sometimes more than doubled within
a day! To keep up with inflation Yugoslavia had to keep
introducing new coins and currency. In early 1993 more new
coins and currency were introduced, with 1 new Dinara equal to 1
Million 1992 Dinara. The new coins featured the national
emblem on one side and the denomination on the other. 1, 2, 50, 10, 50
and 100 Dinara coins were issued, however they circulated only briefly.
Due to raging inflation they were soon virtually worthless.
Item
YU-SET93 YUGOSLAVIA
6 COIN SET, 1 - 100 DINARA 1993 KM154-159 BU $5.00
ALSO SEE:
RARE
DUTCH INDIA DUIT DEPICTS KALI
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Sarawak
was a privately-owned nation ruled by the Brooke family. The Sultan of
Brunei awarded it to the English adventurer James Brooke in 1841 for
his help in putting down a rebellion, thus he became the first "White
Rajah" of Sarawak. The throne eventually passed down to his
grand-nephew Charles Vynar Brooke in 1917. In 1933 he issued
this bronze 1/2 Cent. The coin was stuck only a single
year. The 18mm coin depicts his head on the obverse and the
denomination on the reverse. The coin was struck at the Heaton mint in
England and has a mintage of 2 Million pieces. Due to the
heavy destruction suffered during World War II, Charles ceded the
country to Great Britain in 1946. It is now part of Malaysia.
This is a scarce, high-grade coin issued by an English family that
controlled an entire Asian nation.
This
1945 Netherlands East Indies cent was struck at the United States Mint
in Philadelphia. It was expected that the coins would be
needed after the liberation if the Netherlands East Indies (now
Indonesia) from the Japanese. The "P" mintmark is next to the date. The
23.5mm bronze cent has a center hole, which was an unusual production
requirement for the United States mint. The obverse depicts a
rice plant and the legends in Dutch. Indonesia gained
independence shortly after World War II, bringing an end to Dutch
rule. 
Tibet is a fabled and
isolated country located
high in the Himalayas that is now controlled by China. This copper 1
Sho coin was issued from 1918 to 1928. It features a snow
lion on one side and inscriptions on the other. The
Snow Lion is a mythological animal that represents cheerfulness and
clarity of thought.
During
the 1930's Japan conquered much of Northern China. The Meng
Chiang Bank was a puppet bank established by the Japanese to provide
currency for the area between Mongolia and Manchukuo, known as Inner
Mongolia. In 1938 the Bank issued its only coin: a
copper-nickel 5 Chiao. One side of the coin features a pair of stylized
dragons and the denomination. The other side has a
floral design. 
The
Demak Sultanate was founded about 1475 by Sultan Pangeran al Patah,
also known as Raden Patah. He was of Javanese nobility and his mother
may have been a Chinese princess who had been exiled from China.
His Sultanate was the first Muslim state in Java.
He quickly expanded his Sultanate to include most of the
northern coast of Java and southern Sumatra. This was
an important step in bringing Islam to what is now Indonesia.
The Sultan ruled until his death in 1518. The Sultanate
lasted about another 30 years, until it collapsed in a dynastic
feud. The Sultanate prospered through trade in spices, rice
and its control over Javanese trading ports. This
Pitis of Sultan Pangeran al Patah is one of the few
affordable coins of the Demak Sultanate. The uniface tin coin
is approximately 19mm to 20mm in diameter and grades Very Fine.
Palembang
is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia. It is located on
the Musi river on the island of Sumatra. The Sultanate of
Palembang was established in the early 17th century by Javanese nobles
fleeing from dynastic intrigues after the collapse of the Sultanate of Demak. It soon
became the
one of the greatest agricultural and trade centers in the Malay
area. It controlled much of the lucrative spice trade – until
it was taken over by the Dutch in 1821. This uniface tin 1 Pitis was
issued by Sultan Muhammad Bahauddin. It is dated AH1203,
which is 1789AD. 
Tonkin
was a French protectorate, that later
became part of North Vietnam. Tonkin issued only a single
coin, a zinc 1/600 Piastre, (1/6 cent) dated 1905.
The coin, commonly called a Sapeque, was intended to replace the widely
used Annamese cash coins in circulation. It was struck in the
style of a cash coin: round with a square hole. One side of
the coin had Chinese legends, the other had French legends.
The coin proved to be unpopular with the Vietnamese and most never
entered circulation. The coin is Uncirculated, however it will have
some spots as is typical of zinc coins.
In 1968 South Vietnam issued this
unusual 12-sided coin as part of the United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization's (FAO) coin program. One side
depicts a female farmer with a sheaf of rice in a rice paddy.
The legend "CHIEN-DICH THE-GIOI CHONG NAN DOI" translates as "World
campaign against hunger". The other side features the
denomination. It was the highest denomination
released into circulatoin by South Vietnam before it fell to the
communists in
1975. The nickel-clad steel coin was struck at the Hamburg
mint and has a mintage of 500,000 pieces. It is an attractive
coin from a fallen nation.
This
set includes the first coins issued by the British Mandate of Palestine
in Uncirculated condition. Great
Britain gained control of Palestine from the Ottoman Empire after World War I. It
issued its first coins for Palestine in 1927, including these
1 and 2 Mils
coins. Both coins are bronze and have similar designs. In
order to satisfy the Jews and Arabs in the territory, as well as their
British rulers, the coins have their legends in three different
languages, Arabic, English and Hebrew and the date in both the AD and
AH calendar. An olive branch, representing peace, is on the
reverses of both coins. In 1948 the Mandate was dissolved
with most of the territory going to the newly declared State of Israel.
The 1
Mil is 21mm and the 2 Mils is 28mm. Both coins still retain
most of their original bright mint luster.
The
Kathiri Sultans controlled the towns of Seiyun and Tarim in what is
now Yemen. After losing much of their territory to rival tribes they
agreed to become a British Protectorate. Seiyun was the capital, and
Tarim is a major center of Islamic learning. In 1897 they had
this silver 12 Khumsi coins struck at the Heaton Mint for their
territory. The coin is all in Arabic, except for the Heaton
mintmark and are dated AH1315. 12 Khumsi was
equivalent to
1/10 Riyal. The coin is 18mm in diameter. It is a rarely seen coin from
a now forgotten nation.
Edward
VIII reigned for less than a year in 1936, before he renounced the
throne in order that he could marry Mrs. Wallace Simpson, an American
divorcee. This bronze 10 Cents from British East Africa is
one of the few coins that were issued in the name of Edward VIII during
his brief reign. One side of the 30mm coin shows four elephant
tusks. The other shows the imperial crown and the name of the
monarch. The coin has a center hole to make it easy for
natives to carry it on a string and to make it easily distinguishable
from other coins. British East Africa is now the independent
nations of Uganda,
Kenya, Tanzania and Somaliland. 
The
Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia
in 1938, incorporating part of it into
Germany. In the western portion of what remained they created
a puppet state called the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. From
Bohemia and Moravia we offer the zinc 1 Korun coin that was struck from
1941
until 1944. One side depicts the Bohemian lion. The
other has Linden branches, the date and the denomination. 
Following World War II, Yugoslavia
changed its name to The Federal People’s Republic of
Yugoslavia. The communist nation, under the control of Josip
Tito, steered an independent course from the Soviet Union. It
issued one series of coins before changing its name to the Socialist
Federal Republic in 1963. Starting in 1991 the country
completely collapsed into the indepedent nations of Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
and Montenegro. The coins
include the aluminum 50 Para, 1, 2 and 5
Dinars dated 1953 and the attractive aluminum-bronze 10, 20 and 50
Dinars dated 1955. The coin features the emblem of Yugoslavia
on the obverse of each coin. All coins are Uncirculated.
