DEAD NATIONS

COINS FROM NATIONS THAT NO LONGER EXIST

LAST COIN OF THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES WAS STRUCK IN PHILADELPHIA

This 17mm bronze Half Cent were struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia in 1945 in preparation for the liberation of the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) from the Japanese. The coin is dated 1945 and the P mintmark is below the date. Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands shortly after World War II, making them some of the last coins ever issued for what had been a Dutch territory for over 300 years. The coin features the Dutch arms on one side. The other side has legends in Javanese and Malay.  The coin is Uncirculated, though may show some minor spotting as is common on older bronze coins.

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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.

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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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.  

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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SOUTH VIETNAM NOTE FEATURE MILITARY HERO

By 1966 the Vietnam War was not going well. Over a decade after South Vietnam declared independence, fighting was still going on with no clear victor.  Perhaps in an attempt to reflect in the glories of successful military campaigns in the past, South Vietnam issued new banknotes depicting historical Vietnamese military heroes.  The notes did not carry a date. The red 100 Dong depicts Le Van Duyet on the front and his tomb on the back. A watermark of his head is to the right. Duyet was a general who helped put down a rebellion and unify Vietnam in the early 19th century.  Later, as viceroy for the southern part of unified Vietnam he helped bring peace and prosperity to that region. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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ELEPHANT FROM THE BELGIAN CONGO 

This brass 1 Franc coin of the Belgian Congo (now the Congo Democratic Republic) features a striding elephant.  First issued in 1944, during World War II, it was also struck in 1946 and 1949.   It is 19.2mm in diameter.   The coin is always popular with coin collectors and elephant lovers.  

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LION ON SCARCE COIN OF SHORT-LIVED RWANDA-BURUNDI

After Belgian Congo gained its independence in 1960, Belgium issued a coin for what was left of its African territories: Rwanda and Burundi.   Only a single coin type was issued for the joint territory of Rwanda-Burundi: a brass 1 Franc.  This brass 1961 brass 1 Franc coin features a walking lion on one side.  The other has the names of the territories and the denomination.    In 1962 Rwanda and Burundi were both granted independence

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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.

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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 was struck from 1941 until 1944.  One side depicts the Bohemian lion.  The other has Linden branches, the date and the denomination.  

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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ALSO SEE:

FRENCH EQUATORIAL AFRICA 2 FRANCS, 1948 KM7
RARE DUTCH INDIA DUIT DEPICTS KALI

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