ODD & CURIOUS MONEY
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-5F45 MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a
G-VG $7.00
Item
MAN-1F45 MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
G-VG $7.00
RARE, OLD WOODEN
MONEY FROM MEXICO
This
wooden Hacienda token was issued by the Trancoso Hacienda in the 19th
century. The Trancoso was one of the largest and most
important haciendas in Zacatecas state of Mexico. It was founded with
Spanish land grants between 1670 and 1680 as a cattle ranch.
It covered over 55 square miles (145 sq.km.). In the 19th
century it became one of the largest wool exporters in Latin America.
Like many haciendas of that era it a was engaged in wide range
enterprises including growing grain, animal husbandry, a distillery and
a church. It fell on hard times after the 1910-1920 Mexican
Revolution, resulting in violent conflicts between the owners and
peasants. Eventually the land was expropriated and much of it given to
families who lived on the Hacienda. Today the municipality of
Trancoso oversees what was the hacienda. The church
and the grand buildings that were part of the hacienda still stand,
though many have been vandalized in recent years. Most
hacienda tokens are metal. This unusual piece was made of Mesquite
wood. It is about 26 to 28mm. One side is branded with
Trancoso Hacienda's brand, the other side is blank.As was common for
Hacienda tokens, it was denominated for a unit of
work. This was for sheering one sheep. Like many hacienda
tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money. Like many hacienda tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money.
Item
MX-TRANCOSO TRANCOSO WOODEN
HACIENDA TOKEN, VF
$24.00
WORLD WAR I RUSSIAN POSTAGE
STAMP MONEY
Russia faced a severe coin shortage during World War
I. In 1915, in order to provide for much needed
small change, the government created this emergency issue of postage
stamp notes. The postage stamp notes were printed on thin
cardboard using the designs of stamps issued in 1913 to commemorate the
300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The back had the
imperial Russian eagle and text indicting that the stamp money should
be accepted the same as silver or copper coins. The brown 15
Kopeck features Czar Nicholas I, who reigned from 1825 to 1855. It is 24 x 13mm and has perforated edges.
Just two years after the czarist postage stamp notes were issued the
Czar Nicholas II was deposed and murdered by the Bolsheviks, bringing
and end to the rule of the Romanov dynasty.
Item
PM-RU-15K-STMP RUSSIA 15 KOPECK POSTAGE
STAMP CURRENCY (1915) P22 AU-UNC. $5.00
THE
COIN WITH A SOUL!
The "Kissie Penny" or "Gizzie Iron" are twisted iron rods, about 10
inches (18 to 24cm) long, that were used for money in Liberia
and Sierra Leone from the 19
th to the mid 20
th
century. They were said to contain a soul. If the Kissie were broken,
the soul would escape and it would be valueless. Of course, the local
"witch doctor" could restore the soul, for a small fee. A
bunch of bananas might cost 2 Kissies, a cow 2000 Kissies, or a bride
4000 Kissies.
Item
KISSIE WEST AFRICAN KISSIE PENNY $7.50
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
ALSO SEE:
ZIMBABWE PETROL RATION
COUPONS USED FOR MONEY
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This
wooden Hacienda token was issued by the Trancoso Hacienda in the 19th
century. The Trancoso was one of the largest and most
important haciendas in Zacatecas state of Mexico. It was founded with
Spanish land grants between 1670 and 1680 as a cattle ranch.
It covered over 55 square miles (145 sq.km.). In the 19th
century it became one of the largest wool exporters in Latin America.
Like many haciendas of that era it a was engaged in wide range
enterprises including growing grain, animal husbandry, a distillery and
a church. It fell on hard times after the 1910-1920 Mexican
Revolution, resulting in violent conflicts between the owners and
peasants. Eventually the land was expropriated and much of it given to
families who lived on the Hacienda. Today the municipality of
Trancoso oversees what was the hacienda. The church
and the grand buildings that were part of the hacienda still stand,
though many have been vandalized in recent years. Most
hacienda tokens are metal. This unusual piece was made of Mesquite
wood. It is about 26 to 28mm. One side is branded with
Trancoso Hacienda's brand, the other side is blank.As was common for
Hacienda tokens, it was denominated for a unit of
work. This was for sheering one sheep. Like many hacienda
tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money. Like many hacienda tokens, it
circulated as money in the area. It is an unusual and
historic piece of money.
Russia faced a severe coin shortage during World War
I. In 1915, in order to provide for much needed
small change, the government created this emergency issue of postage
stamp notes. The postage stamp notes were printed on thin
cardboard using the designs of stamps issued in 1913 to commemorate the
300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. The back had the
imperial Russian eagle and text indicting that the stamp money should
be accepted the same as silver or copper coins. The brown 15
Kopeck features Czar Nicholas I, who reigned from 1825 to 1855. It is 24 x 13mm and has perforated edges.
Just two years after the czarist postage stamp notes were issued the
Czar Nicholas II was deposed and murdered by the Bolsheviks, bringing
and end to the rule of the Romanov dynasty.
