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.
ODD
CUBE COIN FROM SOMALIA
This weird cube shaped 1 Dollar coin was issued for the Somali Republic
in 2008. The silver-plated copper-nickel coin is 22mm on each
side, weighs a hefty 66 grams (2.3 ounces) and has the Somali coat of
arms, date and denomination on one of its faces. It has a
reported mintage of only 500 pieces.
Item
SO-CUBE SOMALIA 1 DOLLAR 2008 CUBE UNC.
$12.00
WORLD'S
THINNEST, BIGGEST, SILVER 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". Each design come in two
versions: gold plated and silver Proof. 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-GOLD CHAD 200 FRANCS 2023 BLACK
HOLE, GOLD PLATED
$39.75
Item
TD-HOLE-PF CHAD 200 FRANCS 2023 BLACK HOLE,
SILVER PROOF
$39.75
Item
TD-ROOM-GOLD CHAD 200 FRANCS 2023 ILLUSION
ROOM, GOLD PLATED out
Item
TD-ROOM-PF CHAD 200 FRANCS 2023 ILLUSION ROOM,
SILVER PROOF
$39.75
Click Here for
YouTube video produced by the mint depicting the Illusion Room coins
Click Here for
YouTube video produced by the mint depicting the Black Hole coins
UNUSUAL FIBER
COIN 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 this unusual 5 Fen coin
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 5 Fen was
struck
was struck only two years: 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
AG-G $5.00
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
PORCELAIN COINS FROM SAXONY,
GERMANY
These red porcelain coins were made for the German state of Saxony in
1921 by the famous Meissen Porcelain Manufactory.
Each coin bears the Meissen crossed swords trademark. At the time
Germany was undergoing major economic upheavals following its defeat in
World War I, resulting in severe coin shortages. Many towns
and companies issued their own coins and currency, called
notgeld. Porcelain coins are one of the most unusual forms of
notgeld. The 20 Pfennig features grains and a sickle. The 2 Mark
pictures an eagle. The denomination is on the reverse. They
are some of the least expensive Meissen porcelain available.
Item
SAXONY-20PF SAXONY 20 PFENNIG 1921 RED
PORCELAIN UNC.
$9.75
Item
SAXONY-2M SAXONY 2 MARK 1921 RED PORCELAIN
UNC. OUT
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
MAJOR
BRITISH WRONG
PLANCHET ERRORS
These
British 2 Pence coins were struck on 1 Pence blanks! The coins are
copper-plated steel and weigh 3.56 grams, which corresponds to the 1
Pence. The coins are slightly out of round and the edges are a bit
irregular as is expected on a wrong planchet error. Most likely the 1
Pence blanks got stuck in some minting equipment or bins and did not
shake loose until after production had been changed to 2
Pence. The coins appear to have been struck between 1992 and
about 2001. As might be expected, each piece is different
depending exactly how the dies hit the undersized
planchet. Most pieces have the date struck off the
planchet.
Item
GB-ERROR
GREAT BRITAIN 2 PENCE ON 1 PENCE AU $50.00
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
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
TRANSNISTRIA
ISSUES WORLD'S FIRST CIRCULATING PLASTIC COINS
In August 2014 Transnistria (Trans-dniester, Transdniestra,
etc.) released the first circulating plastic coins issued by
a national government. Each of the four composite plastic
coins is a different color and a different
shape. The coins issued are the round
yellow-brown 1 Ruble depicting General Alexander Suvorov. The
square green 3 Rubles portrays F. P. De Volan. The blue 5
Rubles is five-sided and depicts Count Pyotr Rumyantsev.
Russian Empress Catherine the Great is on the six-sided pink 10 Rubles.
The logo of the Trans-Dniester Republican Bank and the date is repeated
across the reverse of each of the coins. The coins are 26mm
to 28mm in diameter luminance when exposed to infrared or ultraviolet
rays. It is an interesting and highly unusual coin
set.
Item
TRNS-PLASTIC TRANSDNIESTRA SET OF 4 COMPOSITE
PLASTIC COINS, 1 - 10 RUBLES 2014 UNC. $6.00
Also
See:
MULTI-COLOR COINS
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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 this unusual 5 Fen coin
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 5 Fen was
struck
was struck only two years: 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.
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. 
These
British 2 Pence coins were struck on 1 Pence blanks! The coins are
copper-plated steel and weigh 3.56 grams, which corresponds to the 1
Pence. The coins are slightly out of round and the edges are a bit
irregular as is expected on a wrong planchet error. Most likely the 1
Pence blanks got stuck in some minting equipment or bins and did not
shake loose until after production had been changed to 2
Pence. The coins appear to have been struck between 1992 and
about 2001. As might be expected, each piece is different
depending exactly how the dies hit the undersized
planchet. Most pieces have the date struck off the
planchet. 
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.
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.
