DEAD NATIONS

COINS FROM NATIONS THAT NO LONGER EXIST

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SCARCE BANKNOTE FROM SHORT-LIVED BIAFRA

After years of persecution by the Muslim majority who controlled Nigeria, the oil-rich and heavily Christian south-eastern portion of the country declared itself the independent Republic of Biafra in May, 1967. The independence was to be short-lived however. After over two years of bloody civil war, in which as many as two million people died, Biafra was forced to surrender to Nigeria in January of 1970.  In 1968 Biafra contracted to have banknotes printed by Casa de Moeda in Portugal.  The undated 1 Pound note is green and features a small palm tree on the front and the Biafran arms on the back.

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THE GIRAY KHANS OF CRIMEA

The Giray Khans ruled Crimea and adjacent regions from 1427 until 1783. The Giray's broke away from the Golden Horde and claimed the right to rule the region as decendents of Ghenghis Khan. Their economy was largely based on slave trading.  In a process known as harvesting the steppe, raiding parties would go out, capture and enslave Russian, Ukranian and Polish Christian peasants.  Most of the slaves would then be sold in the Ottoman Empire.  The Khan was paid 10% to 20% of the value of each slave sold.  In 1783 Russia annexed the khanate.  This was in violation of a treaty signed in 1774 in which Russia guaranteed non-interference in the affairs of the khanate.  These billon akces of the Giray Khans are crude and poorly struck.

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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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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 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).  Most of the workers and farmers that I know do not like the idea of being led by a bunch of  intelligentsia who have little idea of what life is like in "the real world".  Perhaps that is a clue as to why so many wanted to escape from East Germany and why it later collapsed.  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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EAST GERMANY'S 20th ANNIVERSARY  

East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic or DDR, issued this 5 Mark coin in 1969 to commemorate its 20th anniversary. It was formed in 1949 from the Soviet occupied portion of Germany following World War II.  The design is simple, with legends "XX JAHRE DDR",  date and denomination on one side and the East German emblem on the other.  The coin is struck in a nickel-bronze alloy.

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EAST GERMAN 5 MARK COMMEMORATIVES

East Germany issued an annual series of popular and well struck non-circulating copper-nickel 5 Mark commemorative coins honoring famous Germans and their achievements. The 29mm coin feature the emblem of the German Democratic Republic on the obverse.  The denomination is repeated on the lettered edges of the coins.  The 125th anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen commemorated this 1970 issue which depicts his X-ray tube.  He was awarded the inaugural Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901 for his discovery of X-rays.  The 1971 issue marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of Johannes Kepler.  The design reflects Kepler's theories regarding heliocentric planetary motions. The 75th anniversary of the death of composer Johannes Brahms is the theme of the 1972 issue.  The design features musical notes.  The 100th anniversary of the death of physicist Philipp Reis is honored on the 1974 issue.  Reis invented a telephone in 1861, pre-dating Alexander Graham Bell's telephone by more than a decade.  However, Reis's telephone was delicate, tricky and produced inconsistent results.  An image of his telephone apparatus appears on the coin.  The 200th Anniversary of the birth of military officer Ferdinand von Schill is commemorated on the 1976 issue.  In 1809 he led an unsuccessful revolt to liberate the portions of Germany that were controlled by Napoleon.  The coin features his sword and military hat.   The 125th anniversary of the death of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, the father of German gymnastics, is on the 1977 issue.  His portrait appears on the coin.

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SCARCE, FINAL BANKNOTES OF EAST GERMAN NOTES  

These scarce 200 and 500 Mark East German notes are rarely seen in any collections. They are the highest denominations ever printed by East Germany and were some of the last banknotes ever printed by East Germany. The notes were dated 1985, however the East German government collapsed before the notes were released into circulation. After the collapse of East Germany the notes were put into storage in old Nazi bunkers. A very limited number of notes were "liberated" from a bunker by teenagers who found a hidden entrance to the bunker, before the German government destroyed all of the remaining notes. The front of 200 Mark note features a family standing in front of a government apartment complex. The back pictures a group of young school children and their teacher.  The 500 Mark pictures the East German Arms and the Staatsrat building in Berlin. 

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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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THE DEMISE OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as the Republic of Artsakh, was a Christian Armenian enclave within Muslim Azerbaijan.  It is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.  With the backing of Armenia, it declared itself independent in 1992.  Russia helped maintain its de facto independence - until Azerbaijan forces took over the territory in September 2023.  Russia was tied up with its invasion of Ukraine so was unable to protect Nagorno-Karabakh.  Most of the population fled to Armenia and the republic was officially dissolved.  This attractive six-coin set of Nagorno-Karabakh is dated 2004 and features native wildlife and cultural icons.  The two aluminum 50 Luma coins feature a horse and a leaping antelope.  The three aluminum 1 Luma depicts a wildcat, a pheasant and St. Gregory the Illuminator, the nation's Patron Saint.  The aluminum-bronze 5 Dram coins features the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.  The arms of Nagorno-Karabakh is on the reverse of the coins.  Nagorno-Karabakh issued only two banknotes: a 2 Dram and a 10 Dram note dated 2004.  The front of the red 2 Dram includes the Gandzasar Cathedral and St. Gregory the Illuminator.  The back includes an historic crucifix and an picture of St. John baptizing Jesus that is in the Cathedral.  The front of the green 10 Dram includes Jesus holding the gospel and the Dadivank Monastery.  The back pictures the Hudaferin bridge, a wine barrel and a Karabakh carpet.  

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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. 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. 

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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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TRI-LINGUAL COIN OF BRITISH PALESTINE

Great Britain gained control of Palestine from the Ottoman Empire after World War I.  It did not issue its first coins for Palestine until 1927.   In order to satisfy the Jews and Arabs in the territory, as well as their British rulers, the bronze 1 Mil 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 reverse.  In 1948 the British Mandate of Palestine was dissolved and most of the territory became the newly declared State of Israel.  Britain only sporadically minted the 1 Mil coin for Palestine: 1927, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1940 (rare), 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946 and 1947 (very rare - all but 5 melted).   

Also see:

MODERN PALESTINE BI-METALLIC PATTERN COIN: 1 Dinar 2010 Br.X10

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LAST COINS OF PORTUGUESE INDIA

In 1505 Portugal became the first European nation to establish colonies in India. With the coming of the British and Dutch in the 17th century, Portuguese power declined, until all that was left were three minor outposts on the west coast of India.  In 1961, after years of preaching non-aggression, the Indian armed forces invaded these last remaining outposts and forcibly annexed them. We offer some of the last coins of Portuguese India.  The 1959 1 and 3 Escudos were the last of those denominations produced for Portuguese India.  They both have similar designs, with the arms of Portuguese India on one side and the arms of Portugal on the other.  Both are copper-nickel.  Though the coins show minimal or no circulation, but have slightly flattened rims.  After their invasion, India attempted to roller flatten Portuguese Indian coins so they could not be redeemed.  Someone was either not doing their job or was paid to look the other way, as these coins show only the very slightest flattening of the rims.

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KISSING GIRAFFES AND DANCING ELEPHANTS FROM RHODESIA & NYASALAND

Great Britain issued a joint coinage for their African colonies of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which are now the independent countries of Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe.   The 1958  Rhodesian and Nysaland bronze Half Penny depicts a pair of giraffes which appear to be kissing.  The bronze 1962 penny a pair of elephants that appear to be dancing!  Both coins are made with a center hole.   The reverses have the name of the colonies, denomination and date.

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LION ON SCARCE, SHORT-LIVED COIN OF 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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COMPLETE SET OF SCARCE SAARLAND COINS

Saar is an important center for coal mining and heavy industry located in Germany along the French border.  Most of its citizens are of German ancestry.  Following World War II, France occupied the region and tried to establish Saarland as a separate nation in an effort to cripple Germany's industrial base.  France assumed control of its foreign affairs and even issued coins for Saarland.  The coins were struck at the Paris mint and were the same size and composition as the contemporary French coins. Soon after the coins were issued, Saarland voted to reunite with Germany, bringing an end to brief coin issue. We are pleased to offer a complete set of the only four coins ever issued by Saarland.  The set includes the 1954 aluminum-bronze 10, 20 and 50 Franken and the 1955 copper-nickel 100 Franken.  The aluminum-bronze 10, 20 and 50 Franken feature a stylized factory spewing out pollution and the Saarland arms on the obverse.  The copper-nickel 100 Franken has the arms within a circle.  The reverses of all the coins have the denomination in German and the date.  Perhaps it should have been a clue to the French when they had to put the legends in German that Saarland would not remain under French control.

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FIRST BANKNOTE OF NAZI OCCUPIED SERBIA 

The first banknotes issued by the Germans after invaiding Serbia were made by overprinting Yugoslavian banknotes they found in the vaults of the central bank. Perhaps it is telling that the Nazi's would put their ugly brown overprint on what was then one of the world's prettiest banknotes. This 100 Dinar note dated May 1, 1941, less than a month after the Nazi invasion began. It is overprinted on the 1929 Yugoslavia 100 Dinar banknotes. The front depicts young woman holding a sword. The back features a young man with a large garland of fruit.

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ATTRACTIVE BANKNOTE OF NAZI GERMAN OCCUPIED SERBIA 

On April 6, 1941 Axis Forces under Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia.  They promptly conquered and divided the nation along ethnic lines.  Serbia was placed under the control of the German military.   Serbia issued some beautiful, multi-color banknotes while under Nazi German control. The notes were printed by the Serbian Institute for Manufacturing Banknotes and Coins in Belgrade. The 500 Dinar dated November 11, 1941 depicts a woman with gold coin jewelry on the front and a bricklayer on the back.  They are impressive, large size, colorful notes from a time when Serbia was under Nazi German occupation.

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LAST BANKNOTE OF NAZI OCCUPIED SERBIA

The 100 Dinar note dated January 1, 1943 was the last note issued by Nazi German occupied Serbia before it was liberated in 1944. The front depicts Saint Sava. Sava, known as the Enlightener, was a 13th century Serbian prince and monk who is considered one of the most important figures in Serbian history. The back depicts a cornucopia spilling out fruit and a farmer with a pair of oxen. The note has a watermark of a woman's head. It measures 165 x 84mm.

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COINS OF NAZI OCCUPIED SERBIA

On April 6, 1941 Nazi German forces invaded Yugoslavia. The country was quickly conquered and divided along ethnic lines. Serbia was directly controlled by the German military.  Only four coins were ever struck for German occupied Serbia: the 1942 50 Para, 1 and 2 Dinars and the 1943 10 Dinars.  All four coins have similar designs with the denomination and date on one side and the Serbian arms without the royal crown on the other.

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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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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 was struck at the Paris Mint. It was unpopular with the Vietnamese and most never entered circulation. The coin is technically Uncirculated, however it will have some spots as is typical of older zinc coins.

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DICTATOR ON FIRST SOUTH VIETNAM DONG

This 1960 1 Dong coin was one of the first coins issued after the formal establishment of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) in 1954.  The copper-nickel coin pictures Ngo Dinh Diem, the autocratic and corrupt ruler of South Vietnam who was assassinated in 1963.  The reverse of pictures bamboo. 

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LOBSTER ON COIN OF SHORT-LIVED PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YEMEN 

The People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, also known as S out h Yemen or Democratic Yemen, gained independence from Great Britain after the withdrawal of the British and the collapse of the Federation of S out h Arabia in 1967. Over the years its relations with the Yemen Arab Republic, or North Yemen fluctuated between war and peace.  The two nations fought a war in 1972, but were peacefully united in 1990 after Democratic Yemen lost support from communist nations due to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Peace was not lasting however, a civil war between factions from the north and s out h broke out again in 1994.  Peace was temporarily achieved with an election in 1999, however the country continued to suffer from instability as various tribal factions. Since 2012 Yemen has been engaged in another ongoing civil war, with factions in the S out h supported by Saudi Arabia and factions in the north supported by Iran.  This 23mm aluminum 5 Fils coin of Democratic Yemen features a spiny Lobster.  The coins is dated in Arabic numerals 1973AD and AH1373. 

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YUGOSLAVIA FAO COIN SET

Yugoslavia issued four coins in the 1970’s as part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations (FAO) coin program. Many nations struck coins as part of the program in order to raise awareness for the need to increase food production and to raise funds for FAO projects. In 1970 Yugoslavia issued 2 and 5 Dinara coins as part of the program, and in 1976 1 and 10 Dinara FAO coins were issued.  All four coins are copper-nickel and have similar designs. The Yugoslav coat of arms and the name of the country in Cyrillic, and Latin scripts is on the obverse.  The reverse includes the denomination, date, the inscription “FIAT PANIS” (the FAO motto which is Latin for Let there be Bread) and “FAO” and wheat stalks.

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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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