UNUSUAL COINS & NOTES
What strange coins will they come up with next?
Odd shapes, odd sizes, unusual metals, embedded objects, design errors
and other
unusual stuff.
WORLD'S
THINNEST, BIGGEST, OPTICAL ILLUSION COINS FROM CHAD
The world's thinnest, biggest optical illusion coins were recently
produced for the African nation of Chad. The 2023 dated 200
Franc coins are only 0.15 mm (0.006 inch) thick yet are 30mm in
diameter. The coins weigh just 1 gram and are made from .999
silver. They come in a protective display case with
Certificate of Authenticity. They are made with high quality,
non-digital printing. One design features "The Black Hole",
the other. "The Illusion Room". Maximum
mintage of each is only 999 pieces. The coins all have a
common obverse that includes the Chad coat of arms, denomination and
date.
Item
TD-HOLE-PF CHAD 200 FRANCS 2023 BLACK HOLE,
SILVER PROOF
$39.75
Item
TD-ROOM-PF CHAD 200 FRANCS 2023 ILLUSION ROOM,
SILVER PROOF sold out
Click Here for
YouTube video produced by the mint depicting the Black Hole coins
SAILBOAT ON
ODD-SHAPED
COIN OF ISLAS DESVENTURADAS
The
Islas Desventuradas are four remote islands belonging to Chile that are
530 miles (850 km.) off the coast of Chile. The
name translates as the "Unlucky Islands". The only
inhabitants is a garrison of the Chilean Navy located on Isla San
Felix. A 6,600 foot (2000m.) runway runs the entire length of
the island. The unofficial 2023 5000 Pesos of Islas
Desventuradas depicts a nereid (sea nymph) riding hippocampus and the
coat of arms on the obverse. A sailboat is on the
reverse. The, unofficial silver-plated Proof coin has a
mintage of just 145 pieces.
Item
DESVENTURADAS DESVENTURADAS 5000 PESOS 2023
PROOF $24.00
GERMAN POLYMER RING
5 EURO COINS
Germany
introduced an innovative new coinage technique with their polymer ring
5 Euro coins. The coins have copper-nickel outer ring and center
separated by a colored polymer plastic ring. The polymer ring
is supposed to make the coins almost counterfeit proof. Due
to the difficulty and expense of minting these coins, thus far it has
only been used on a few high value coins. Germany introduced
the technology on circulating 5 Euro coins featuring the earth's
climate zones. The coins did not circulate widely
as most were quickly snapped up by the public and collectors due to
their unique construction. The subtropical climate
zone is featured on the 2018 coin. It depicts herd of goats
under the shade of a tree and a barren landscape and has an orange
polymer ring. The 2019 issue features the temperate climate
zone and depicts a rabbit sitting on farmland with forest in the
background. I doubt the farmer is happy about a rabbit eating
his crops. It has a green polymer ring. The
obverses include the German eagle, date mintmark, denomination and the
12 stars of the European Union
Item
DE-5E-18ST GERMANY 5 EURO 2018-G SUBTROPICAL
ZONE UNC. $12.50
Item
DE-5E-19TM GERMANY 5 EURO 2018-F TEMPERATE
ZONE UNC. $12.50
GOLDBACK NOTES
Goldback Aurum notes are a voluntary local currency made of 24 karat
gold! Each wafer-thin note is coated with a protective plastic coating
so it can be circulated without the gold tearing. They are issued in
increments of 1/1000 troy ounce of gold in order to allow for small
purchases. Each 1 Goldback note contains 1/1000 troy ounce of gold and
measures 66x117mm. The notes are printed on one side only,
with intricate multi-color allegorical 19th century style
designs. In 2023 South Dakota became the fifth state to have
a Goldback note. The 2023 South Dakota note depicts Pax or Peace as a
Lakota Sioux woman in traditional regalia performing the hoop
dance. Also in the design is Bear Butte, a sacred mountain
also known as Mato Paha, an eagle, buffalo, wolf, a traditional Cancega
drum and a Prairie Crocus. Also available are the
2023 issues from Wyoming, New Hampshire, Utah and Nevada and
a few prior year issues. The designs for each state are
unchanged year to year.
Item
SD-1GOLD23 SOUTH DAKOTA 1 GOLDBACK NOTE 2023
UNC. $7.00
Item
WY-1GOLD23 WYOMING 1 GOLDBACK NOTE 2023
UNC. OUT
Item
NH-1GOLD23 NEW HAMPSHSIRE 1 GOLDBACK NOTE
2023 UNC. $7.00
Item
NV-1GOLD23 NEVADA 1 GOLDBACK NOTE
2023 UNC. OUT
Item
UT-1GOLD23 UTAH 1 GOLDBACK NOTE, 2023
UNC. $7.00
ITALY GOOFS ON
GEOGRAPHY
Very rarely does a country make as big of an error as Italy did when
they introduced their new bi-metallic 1000 Lire coin in 1997. The new
coin was to celebrate the growing unification of Europe by showing a
map of Europe. Unfortunately, there were many errors on the
map. The map shows the pre-unification boundaries of Germany - leaving
out East Germany. Denmark and Netherlands were shown as part
of Germany. And Luxembourg was left off completely! After
receiving diplomatic protests, Italy introduced a corrected version of
the coin.
Item
IT-1000L-ERR ITALY 1000 LIRE 1997 MAP ERROR
KM190 UNC. $4.50
Item
IT-1000L-CORR ITALY 1000 LIRE 1997 CORRECTED
MAP KM194 UNC. out
INEXPENSIVE OLD GOLD
COIN OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN 
The Gold 2 Shu (Nishu) was minted from 1860 until 1869. It was one of
the last coins issued by the once powerful Shoguns who ruled Japan
until 1867. The rectangular coin is
approximately 11.5mm x 6.5mm and struck in an alloy of 23% gold, 77%
silver. Despite being over 150 years old it is one of the
least expensive gold coins available
to collectors today.
Item
JP-AU2SHU JAPAN GOLD 2 SHU
(1860-69) VF $85.00
RECTANGULAR
GOLD COIN FROM THE MEIJI
RESTORATION OF JAPAN
This rectangular gold 2 Bu (Ni Bu)
was minted in Japan from 1867 to 1869. It was one of the first coins of
the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration overthew the highly
traditional and once powerful Shogun warlords and restored the Emperor
as the center of the Japanese government. The Meiji
restoration was also a modernization movement, that opened Japan to
western ideas. A few years after this coin was introduced, Japan
adopted western style round coins, so these coins were soon withdrawn
from circulation and many were melted. The coin
weighs approximately 3 grams and is struck in .223 fine
gold. It is an interesting and historic gold coin
that represents the end of Japan's traditional ways under the Shoguns
and the introduction of new ways under the Meiji Restoration.
Item
JP-AU2BU JAPAN GOLD 2 BU
(1867-1869)
C21d VF $125.00
RECTANGULAR SILVER COINS
OF THE SHOGUNS OF JAPAN
These
unusual rectangular silver and gold coins were some of the last
coins issued by the famous and once powerful Shoguns of Japan. The
Shoguns were the military rulers of Japan, who for hundreds of years
controlled the island nation. They were finally forced from
power in 1867 due to the pressures of modernization brought about by
the United States. Their militaristic influence continued
however, leading to World War II. The silver 1 Bu
(Ichi bu Gin) is approximately 24mm x
16mm. It was issued from 1837 until 1868. It includes an
official countermark on the reverse. The smaller silver 1 Shu
(Isshu Gin) is 14mm x 9 mm and was issued from 1853 until
1865.
The coins are some of the few rectangular coins ever used by any nation
in general circulation. The coins grade Very Fine or
better.
Item
JP-AR1BU JAPAN SILVER 1 BU (1837-68)
VF-XF $49.95
Item
JP-AR1SHU JAPAN SILVER 1 SHU (1853-65) C12
VF-XF $29.95
AN
UNUSUAL OLD JAPANESE COIN
This large oblong bronze 100 Mon coin of Japan, known as the Tempo
Tsuho, was struck from 1835 to 1870, a period of transition in Japan
from the long ruling Shoguns to the modernization of the Meiji
Restoration. The undated coin's unusual shape and large size has made
it a perennial
favorite with collectors.
Item
JP-100M JAPAN 100 MON OVAL
COIN 1835-70 C7
VF $18.00
OLD
UNCIRCULATED SQUARE COIN FROM PAKISTAN
This 1951 copper-nickel 1/2 Anna was
part of the first series of coins issued by Pakistan after gaining
independence from British India. The obverse includes the date and the
Pakistan Tughra flanked by stars and sprigs. A Tughra is a
highly stylized official signature that was developed in the Ottoman
Empire in the 14th century and appears on many Ottoman coins. The
reverse includes the crescent moon and star, which are traditional
symbols of Islam, flanked by stars and sprigs. The coin was
struck at the Lahore mint in Pakistan.
Item
PK=1/2A PAKISTAN 1/2 ANNA 1951 KM2 UNC. $3.00
THE WORLD’S FIRST
INTERACTIVE APP GAME COIN FEATURES ANGRY BIRDS
Angry
Birds is a popular, fun and addictive video game that can be played on
a wide variety of platforms. The game was first introduced in
2009. The original game and its revisions have over five
billion downloads across all platforms. Full length animated films
based on the game were released in 2016 and 2019.
In 2018 Sierra Leone released a multi-color “Angry Birds”
coin. According to Pobjoy Mint it is “the world’s first
interactive app game coin”. The design features Red and a special
Zapper code that allows you to enter the world of Angry Birds on your
mobile phone. The App allows you to interact with the characters and
permits you to take selfies with the enchanting characters.
The 38.6mm copper nickel coin is denominated 1 Dollar, has a mintage of
only 10,000 pieces and comes in a special pack. The Sierra
Leone coat of arms is on the reverse.
Item
SL-ANGRY SIERRA LEONE 1 DOLLAR 2018 ANGRY
BIRDS KM460 BU $19.95
Also
See:
MULTI-COLOR COINS
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The
Islas Desventuradas are four remote islands belonging to Chile that are
530 miles (850 km.) off the coast of Chile. The
name translates as the "Unlucky Islands". The only
inhabitants is a garrison of the Chilean Navy located on Isla San
Felix. A 6,600 foot (2000m.) runway runs the entire length of
the island. The unofficial 2023 5000 Pesos of Islas
Desventuradas depicts a nereid (sea nymph) riding hippocampus and the
coat of arms on the obverse. A sailboat is on the
reverse. The, unofficial silver-plated Proof coin has a
mintage of just 145 pieces. 
This rectangular gold 2 Bu (Ni Bu)
was minted in Japan from 1867 to 1869. It was one of the first coins of
the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji Restoration overthew the highly
traditional and once powerful Shogun warlords and restored the Emperor
as the center of the Japanese government. The Meiji
restoration was also a modernization movement, that opened Japan to
western ideas. A few years after this coin was introduced, Japan
adopted western style round coins, so these coins were soon withdrawn
from circulation and many were melted. The coin
weighs approximately 3 grams and is struck in .223 fine
gold. It is an interesting and historic gold coin
that represents the end of Japan's traditional ways under the Shoguns
and the introduction of new ways under the Meiji Restoration.
These
unusual rectangular silver and gold coins were some of the last
coins issued by the famous and once powerful Shoguns of Japan. The
Shoguns were the military rulers of Japan, who for hundreds of years
controlled the island nation. They were finally forced from
power in 1867 due to the pressures of modernization brought about by
the United States. Their militaristic influence continued
however, leading to World War II. The silver 1 Bu
(Ichi bu Gin) is approximately 24mm x
16mm. It was issued from 1837 until 1868. It includes an
official countermark on the reverse. The smaller silver 1 Shu
(Isshu Gin) is 14mm x 9 mm and was issued from 1853 until
1865.
The coins are some of the few rectangular coins ever used by any nation
in general circulation. The coins grade Very Fine or
better.
This 1951 copper-nickel 1/2 Anna was
part of the first series of coins issued by Pakistan after gaining
independence from British India. The obverse includes the date and the
Pakistan Tughra flanked by stars and sprigs. A Tughra is a
highly stylized official signature that was developed in the Ottoman
Empire in the 14th century and appears on many Ottoman coins. The
reverse includes the crescent moon and star, which are traditional
symbols of Islam, flanked by stars and sprigs. The coin was
struck at the Lahore mint in Pakistan.
Angry
Birds is a popular, fun and addictive video game that can be played on
a wide variety of platforms. The game was first introduced in
2009. The original game and its revisions have over five
billion downloads across all platforms. Full length animated films
based on the game were released in 2016 and 2019.
In 2018 Sierra Leone released a multi-color “Angry Birds”
coin. According to Pobjoy Mint it is “the world’s first
interactive app game coin”. The design features Red and a special
Zapper code that allows you to enter the world of Angry Birds on your
mobile phone. The App allows you to interact with the characters and
permits you to take selfies with the enchanting characters.
The 38.6mm copper nickel coin is denominated 1 Dollar, has a mintage of
only 10,000 pieces and comes in a special pack. The Sierra
Leone coat of arms is on the reverse.
