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.

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SZECHUAN MILITARY GOVERNMENT 100 CASH COIN

Szechuan (Sichuan) was a prosperous province in south-central China. One of the triggers of the Chinese Revolution of 1911 was the central government’s attempt to nationalize the locally owned Szechuan-Hankow Railroad in order to sell it to foreign banks. The collapse of the imperial government in 1911 led to the establishment of the Great Han Szechuan Military Government in the province.  It operated with almost total independence. In 1913 the Military Government issued this copper 100 Cash coin dated Year 2 of the Republic of China. One side of this 39mm copper 100 Cash coin features the emblem of the Szechuan Military Government.  Inscriptions in Chinese are 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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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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FRENCH INDO-CHINA SILVER COIN FEATURE STATUE OF LIBERTY 

Seated Liberty, based on The Statue of Liberty, is featured on this attractive 1937 silver 10 Cents of French Indo-China.  In addition to the Statue of Liberty that France presented to the United States, France erected a smaller version in Hanoi the same year. The Hanoi statue was destroyed in 1945 by supporters of Ho Chi Minh.  The reverse of the coin includes the denomination and silver content of the coins.  The 10 Centimes contains 2.7 grams of .680 fine silver.  The attractive coin was designed by famed French sculptor and medalist Jean Auguste Barre.  French Indo-China later became the independent nations of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. 

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WORLD WAR II COIN OF FRENCH INDO-CHINA  

Hanoi, the capital of French Indo-China  (now Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) fell to the Japanese on December 7, 1941, the same day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor.  The Japanese withdraw and melted the Annamese copper and brass cash coins in circulation in order to use their metal in the war effort. The cash coins were valued 1/5 to 1/6 of a cent and were widely used for small transactions. To replace them the Osaka mint in Japan struck a zinc 1/4 cent coin for French Indo-China in 1942. The coins bore the Vichy Government legend of "Etat Francais". We are pleased to offer you this historic World War II coin of French Indo-China.  

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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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LAST BANKNOTE OF SOUTH VIETNAM

These undated 100 Dong banknote of South Vietnam was released in 1972, three years before the country fell to the communist North Vietnam.  IT was one of the last currency issued by South Vietnam.  The front depicts Independence Palace in Saigon, now known as Reunification Palace.  The Palace served as the home for the President of South Vietnam.  It was built on the site of the old Norodom Palace, which was heavily damaged in 1962 when it was bombed by South Vietnamese Air Force pilots attempting to assassinate President Ngo Dinh Diem.  On April 30, 1975 a North Vietnamese tank crashed through the gates of the palace, bringing an end to the Vietnam War.  The 100 Dong depicts a farmer and two water buffalo on the back and meausres 149 x 72mm. The note has a watermark of the head of a young woman.

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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 WEST AFRICA 1/10 PENNY OF GEORGE V 

British West Africa was a currency union for Britain’s colonies in western Africa, including Nigeria, Gambia, Gold Coast (now Ghana) and Sierra Leone.  The 1/10 Penny is a 20.5mm copper-nickel coin with a large center hole.  The hole is supposedly to make it easy for natives without pockets to carry coins on a string. One side has the royal crown, name of the monarch in Latin and the denomination spelled out in words in English and Arabic.  The other side features a hexagram similar to the Star of David and the name of the territory. We have the 1/10 Penny of George V dated 1932.  The coins was struck at the British Royal Mint and is Uncirculated.

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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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EAST AFRICA COINS FEATURES LION

A walking lion is featured on these two coins of East Africa. East Africa was a currency board for the British colonies in East Africa that later became the independent nations of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Somaliland.  The 21mm copper-nickel 50 Cent (Half Shilling) and 27.8mm copper-nickel 1 Shilling both feature the same design.  British King George VI is on the obverse.  The coins date from 1948 to 1950

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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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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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ELEPHANT COIN FROM ITALIAN TRUST TERRITORY OF SOMALIA  

From 1950 to 1960 Italy administered the United Nations Trust Territory of Somalia. It consisted of the former Italian Somaliland, which is now the southern and eastern portions of the Federal Republic of Somalia.  This 25mm copper 5 Centesimi was minted in 1950 for use in the territory.  The obverse features an elephant head.  The reverse has the date, denomination and mint name “ROMA” in unusually large letters for a mint mark.

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COIN OF FRENCH SOMALILAND

French Somaliland was a French colony at the mouth of the Red Sea.  France acquired the territory in the 1880’s.  In 1977 it became the independent nation of Djibouti. The territory was an important refueling and transshipment port and is the home of important military bases due to its strategic location. It serves as the main port for landlocked Ethiopia. This 1959 aluminum French Somaliland 1 Franc features the Lyre Antelope on the reverse. Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic is on the obverse.  The coin has a mintage of just 200,000 pieces.

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WORLD WAR I SILVER COIN OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF FINLAND

This silver 25 Pennia struck by Finland was struck during World War I.  From 1809 to 1917 Finland was called the Grand Duchy of Finland.  The title Grand Duke of Finland was held by the Czar of Russia,  Though ruled by Russia, Finland  had a high degree of autonomy and its own coinage.  This 16mm silver coin is dated from 1915 to 1917.  It has the denomination and date is on the reverse.  The obverse features the crowned Czarist double-headed eagle with the arms of Finland on its breast. The coin was struck by the Helsinki mint. An "S", for mintmaster, Isac Sundell is below the eagle.  Sundell, was quite a survivor.  He managed to hold his office for 35 years, from 1912 to 1947 through World War I, Finland's War of Independence, and World War II.

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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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SHORT LIVED COINS OF SAARLAND

Saar is an important region for coal mining and heavy industry located on the border of Germany and France. 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 even issued coins for Saarland in an effort to encourage its independence.  . It did not work.  In 1955 Saar voted against becoming an independent nation and in 1957 it became part of West Germany.  The aluminum-bronze 10 and 20 Franken are dated 1954 and feature a feature a stylized factory spewing out pollution and the arms of Saarland on the obverse. The 1955 copper-nickel 100 Franken has the arms of Saarland within a circle on the obverse.  The reverses of all the coins have the denomination in German and the date. The coins were made only a single year.

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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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Joel Anderson
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USA

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Email: orders@joelscoins.com

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