COINS &
CURRENCY
OF WORLD WAR II
A selection of money associated
with
World War 2
NAZI
GERMANY SILVER COINS
These four silver coins serve as a memento of the horrors of the Third
Reich. The 2 Reichsmark was issued from 1936 to 1939. It pictures Paul
von Hindenburg on one side and an eagle holding a wreathed swastika on
the other. It is 25mm in diameter and contains .1607 troy ounces of
silver. Nazi Germany used three different designs on their
regular
issue 5 Reichsmark coins. The first pictured the Potsdam Military
Church, also called the Potsdam Garrison Church, on one side and an
eagle and two small swastikas on the other. It was struck only from
1934 to 1935. The Church was built by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I
between 1730 and 1735. Adolf Hitler was sworn in a Chancellor of
Germany by Paul von Hindenburg at the Church in 1933. It burned down in
the fires caused by the Allied bombing in 1945. The second type was
struck during only during the last part of 1935 and the first part of
1936. It pictured Paul von Hindenburg on one side and an eagle on the
other. Starting in 1936 the Eagle reverse was replaced with an eagle
holding a wreathed swastika, similar to the 2 Reichsmark. The Eagle and
Swastika 5 Reichsmark was struck from 1936 to 1939. The silver 5
Reichsmark coins are each 29mm in diameter and contains .4016 troy
ounces of silver. Because of the war, no Nazi silver coins were struck
after 1939. Coins grade Very Fine.
Item
DE-93 NAZI GERMANY SILVER 2 REICHSMARK
HINDENBURG/SWASTIKA
1936-39 KM93 VF
$13.00
Item DE-93x5 5 of
the above NAZI
SILVER 2 REICHSMARK HINDENBURG/SWASTIKA 1936-39 KM93 VF $59.00
Item
DE-83 NAZI
GERMANY SILVER 5 REICHSMARK MILITARY CHURCH
1934-35 KM83 VF
$25.00
Item DE-83x3 3 of the
NAZI
GERMANY SILVER 5
REICHSMARK MILITARY CHURCH 1934-35 KM83 VF $69.00
Item
DE-86 NAZI
GERMANY SILVER 5 REICHSMARK HINDENBURG/EAGLE
1935-36 KM86 VF
$22.00
Item DE-86x5 5 of the
NAZI
GERMANY SILVER 5
REICHSMARK HINDENBURG/EAGLE 1935-36 KM86 VF $105.00
Item
DE-94 NAZI
GERMANY SILVER 5 REICHSMARK
HINDENBURG/SWASTIKA
1936-39 KM94 VF $29.00
Item DE-94x5 5 of the
NAZI
GERMANY SILVER 5 REICHSMARK HINDENBURG/SWASTIKA 1936-39 KM94 VF $129.00
Item
DE-SSET4 SET OF ABOVE 4 NAZI GERMAN SILVER
COINS $85.00
Item DE-SSET4x5 5
SETS
OF
ABOVE 4 NAZI GERMAN SILVER COINS
$410.00
NAZI
GERMAN 8 COIN SET
This set consists of the eight lower denominations of Nazi German coins
each showing the eagle and swastika. The 1937-1939 issues include the
1, 2, 5 and 10 Reichspfennig made from copper or aluminum-bronze
alloys. In 1939 an aluminum 50 Reichspfennig with the Eagle and
Swastika was introduced, and was
produced until 1944. In 1940 the 1, 5 and 10 Reichspfennig
were switched to zinc and the 2 Reichspfennig was discontinued due to
the war. All eight coins grade VF or better, though the zinc coins may
show some spots as zinc spots very easily. The coins all feature the
denomination on one side and an eagle holding a swastika on the other.
Item
DE-NAZISET8 NAZI GERMAN 8 COIN SET 1- 50
REICHSPFENNIG, 1937-1944 $22.00
Item
DE-NAZISET8x3 3 Sets of NAZI GERMAN 8 COIN
SET 1- 50
REICHSPFENNIG, 1937-1944 $59.00
NAZI
GERMAN 14 COIN
SET
This 14 coin set includes the regular issue coins of Nazi
Germany listed above. Included are the following coins: The bronze 1
and 2
Reichspfennig issued from 1936 to 1940 with an eagle and swastika. The
aluminum-bronze (brass) 5 and 10 Reichspfennig issued from 1936 to 1939
with an eagle and swastika. The aluminum 50 Reichspfennig
picturing an eagle, which was dated only one year, 1935. The nickel 1
Reichsmark with an eagle which was issued from 1933 to 1939. Because
nickel was a critical war material, most were melted during the
War. The silver 5 Reichmark issued in 1934 and 1935 pictures
the Potsdam Garrison Church where Hitler was sworn into office on one
side and an eagle and two small swastikas on the other. Paul
von Hindenburg and an Eagle are on the silver 5 Reichsmark dated 1935
and 1936. The silver 2 Reichsmark and 5 Reichsmark
dating from 1936 to 1939 pictures Hindenburg on one side and an eagle
holding a swastika during the other. Because of
World War II, the only coins issued after 1940 were the zinc 1, 5 and
10 Reichspfennig, which depict an eagle holding a swastika. The coins
grade Very Fine or better, though the zinc coins may have
some spots. Because of the difficulty in obtaining all 14 coins at one
time, I rarely am able to offer this historic set.
(Note: this set includes the coins from Nazi set of 4 silver
coins and the Nazi 8 coin set listed above, plus the aluminum 1935 50
Reichspfennig which was issued that single year, and the scarce nickel
1 Reichsmark)
Item
DE-NAZISET14 NAZI GERMAN 14 COIN SET 1
REICHSPFENNIG - 5 REICHSMARK 1933-44 $125.00
NAZI GERMAN
CURRENCY
The following notes were used in Nazi Germany throughout World War II
and remained legal tender until 1948. The notes bear two
dates: the date the note was first authorized, and the date the issuing
bank was authorized to issue currency. Unlike coins, the date is not
the year the note was printed. These Reichsbank notes were
supposedly backed by gold.
100 REICHSMARK
FEATURES SWASTIKA
The 1935 100 Reichsmark features a large swastika underprint at the
center. To the right is Justus von Liebig, a 19th century German
chemist who is called the "Father of the Fertilizer Industry" for his
discovery of
nitrogen as an essential plant nutrient. The back depicts
allegorical figures. The note was the highest denomination in general
circulation. It was about half a month's pay for a skilled
laborer.
Item
PM-DE-NAZI100RMKC GERMANY 100
REICHSMARK NOTE 1935
P183 Fine-VF
$20.00
Reduced
size images
The 20 Reichsmark note
dated 1929 portrays Ernst Werner
Siemens, the 19th century
German industralist and inventor who founded the Siemens A.G. which has
expanded into a multi-national company producing a wide range products.
The back features
children holding tools and a worker carrying a
hammer. It has a watermark of Siemans at the left
and
an embosed seal near the lower left corner. The note
continued in circulation throughout World War II.
Item
PM-DE-NAZI20RMK-29C GERMANY 20 REICHSMARK NOTE
1929
P181 F-VF $4.00
NAZI GERMAN 20 REICHSMARK NOTE
FEATURES AUSTRIAN MAIDEN
In 1939 a new 20 Reichsmark note was introduced, with a design adopted
from an unissued Austrian note. Austria had been forcibly
incorporated into the Third Reich the previous year. The
front depicts a young woman holding edelweiss, There is also
a small eagle and swastika and a large swastika underprint.
The back pictures the Dachstein Glacier on Lake Gosausee in Austria.
To the left is a man holding an ax. To the right is
a man sowing
seeds. The watermark depicts the young maiden.
Item
PM-DE-NAZI20RMK-39U GERMANY 20 REICHSMARK NOTE
1939
P185 AU-UNC. $55.00
NAZI GERMAN 5 REICHMARK
NOTE FEATURES HITLER YOUTH 
Reduced
size image
Nazi Germany introduced this 5 Reichmark note in 1942 to replace the
silver 5 Reichsmark coins
which
were discontinued in 1939. The front of the note features a
German young
man, along with a small eagle and swastika. The back depicts a woman
with a sickle and a man with a wood plane, representing farming and
industry. Between them is a vignette of the
Brunswick Cathedral and the Brunswick Lion statue. The Lion
was commissioned by Henry the Lion about 1166AD. The statue
is the oldest, preserved large sculpture
from the Middle Ages north of the Alps. The note measures 140x70mm and
is brown. The left side features a watermark of the numeral
"5". We offer the note in both circulated and Uncirculated
condition.
Item
PM-DE-NAZI5RMKC NAZI GERMANY 5 REICHSMARK
NOTE,
1942 P186 F-VF. $12.00
Item
PM-DE-NAZI5RMKCX3 3 of the above NAZI GERMANY 5 REICHSMARK
NOTE,
1942 F-VF. $29.00
Item
PM-DE-NAZI5RMKU NAZI GERMANY 5 REICHSMARK
NOTE,
1942 P186 AU-UNC. $30.00
WORLD WAR II
GERMAN
MILITARY CURRENCY
Wehrmacht military currency was used by Nazi Germany to pay its troops
during the final months of World War II. The notes are dated
September 15, 1944. Soldiers were paid in military scrip while in
transit. When a soldier arrived at his post the notes could be
converted to the local currency or occupation notes. The notes all have
similar designs. The front includes a small Eagle holding a Swastika
and the inscription "VERRECHNUNGSSEN FUR DIE DEUTSCHE WEHRMACHT"
(Clearing notes for German Armed Forces) The back of the note includes
regulations and instructions on how to use the notes.They are
interesting and historic pieces of World War II military history.
Item
PM-DE-MILIT10M GERMAN MILITARY 10
REICHSMARK NOTE 1944
PM40 AU-UNC. $20.00
FIRST
COIN OF FASCIST ITALY
Benito Mussolini and the Fascist came
into power in their March on Roma and coup d'état in October
1922. The following year Italy introduced this nickel 29.1mm
2 Lire coin. The obverse features a bare headed King Victor
Emmanuel III in a military uniform. A large fasces with an ax
adorned with a lion's head is on the reverse, indicating the power
behind the throne. Though the King remained nominally the
head of state, Mussolini controlled the government. Over the
next few years, he abolished the parliament, crushed any opposition and
created a totalitarian state. When this coin was
issued the
2 Lire was legally defined as a silver coin. To get around
the legalism the legend on the reverse states "BVONO DA LIRE 2" which
translates as "GOOD FOR 2 LIRE".
Item
IT-2L FASCIST ITALY 2 LIRE 1923-25 KM63 Fine $3.00
FASCIST ITALY COIN
SET
This
5-coin World War II era set from Fascist Italy includes the 5, 10, 20,
50 Centesimi and 1 Lira dating from 1936 to 1943. The obverse of the
coins depict King Victor Emmanuel III portrayed as a Roman
Emperor. Though the King was on the front of the coins,
Mussolini wanted to remind the citizens that his National Fascist Party
was the power behind the throne. The reverses of
all the
coins incorporate Roman fasces into the design. The 5 and 10
Centesimi are copper or aluminum-bronze. The other coins are
stainless steel. Production of the coins ceased in 1943 after
Victor Emanuel dismissed Mussolini and signed an armistice with the
Allies.
Item
IT-FASCIST5 FASCIST ITALY 5 COIN SET 5
CENTESIMI - 1 LIRA 1936-43 VF-AU
$12.00
FIRST BANKNOTE
OF
NAZI OCCUPIED SERBIA
The first banknotes issued by the Germans after invading 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.
Item
PM-RS-OVPT-100D NAZI SERBIA 100 DINARA 1941
OVERPRINTED NOTE P23 Fine
$5.00
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.
Item
PM-RS-500D-41 NAZI SERBIA 500 DINARA BANKNOTE
1941 P27 Fine $5.00
WORLD WAR II COINS OF
VICHY FRANCE
Vichy
France was the collaborationist government set up by the Germans after
France was defeated by Germany in World War II. Its
administrative capital was in the town of Vichy. Though it
nominally ruled France, in reality it only controlled the south-eastern
portion of the country, while Germany controlled the rest. This three
coin set includes the 50 Centimes, 1 and 2 Francs of Vichy
France, also known as “Etat Francais” or French State. The
three aluminum coins were struck in Nazi occupied Paris. They
circulated in both the German occupied and Vichy controlled portions of
France. One side of the coin features a double-headed axe
flanked by grain. The other side has the denomination flanked
by oak leaves and the legend “TRAVAIL, FAMILLE, PATRIE”
(“work, family, fatherland”). The legend replaced the
traditional motto of the French Republic “liberty, equality,
fraternity”. The coins date from 1942 to 1944.
Item
FR-VICHY3 VICHY FRANCE 50 CENTIMES, 1
& 2 FRANCS 1942-44 VF
$4.50
COIN OF THE NAZI
PUPPET
STATE OF
BOHEMIA & MORAVIA
Nazi Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938, splitting the
country in three. In one portion they created a puppet state
called the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Coins were
minted only from 1941 to 1944. The coins all feature the Bohemian Lion
on the obverse. The 1 Korun has the denomination and linden
branches on the reverse. The 20 Haleru has wheat ears, a
sickle and the denomination on the reverse. The coins were
minted
in the Lysa nad Labem Metal Furniture Factory. The coins are
zinc, so may have some white spots. It is an historic set
from a nation that existed briefly during World War II.
Item
BOH-1K BOHEMIA & MORAVIA 1 KORUN
COIN, 1941-44 KM4 VF-spots $6.00
LAST COIN OF THE
KINGDOM OF YUGOSLAVIA
This
1938 10 Dinara is
one of the last coins of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The
obverse of the 23mm nickel coin depicts the head of young King Peter
II. The reverse has the royal crown, denomination and date
within a wreath. Peter became king in 1934 at age 11 upon the
assassination of his father, King Alexander I. Though he was
opposed to Nazi Germany, his regent signed a pact that allied
Yugoslavia with the Nazis in 1941. Two days later a British
supported coup overthrew the regency and proclaimed the 17 year old
Peter to be of age and in control of Yugoslavia. Hitler
responded by attacking and quickly
conquering Yugoslavia.
Peter
escaped
by climbing down a drainpipe. Hitler's attack of Yugoslavia diverted
the German army and delayed Operation Barbarossa, the Nazi invasion of
Russia by six weeks. The delay
contributed to Germany's defeat due to
the harsh Russian winter. Peter was never able to return
to his homeland. He made his way to London, then after the war lived in
the United States, eventually working in a Los Angeles Savings and Loan
before he died in Denver in 1970.
Item
YU-10D38 YUGOSLAVIA 10 DINARA 1938 KM22 XF-AU
$4.00
WORLD
WAR II COIN OF SPAIN
Though
Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalists received heavy
assistance
from Hitler during the Spanish Civil War and the two were ideologically
similar, Spain never officially joined the Axis powers in World War
II. Spain provided volunteers to fight against Russia, but
insisted they not be used on the western front. Negotiations between
Hitler and Franco concerning Spain formally entering the war did not go
well, with Hitler reportedly saying "I prefer to have three or four
of
my own teeth pulled out than to speak to that man
again!". This 1944 21mm
aluminum-bronze Spanish 1
Peseta depicts coat of arms of Spain on the obverse. The
reverse features the historical symbols of Spain around the
denomination: a pomegranate for Granada, four pallets for
Aragon, a castle of Castile, a lion for Leon, chains for Navarre and a
bundle of arrows for the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabella) who
united the country.
Item
ES-1P SPAIN 1 PESETA 1944 KM767 F-VF
$3.00
WWII
BELGIAN COIN STRUCK ON U.S. WAR CENT BLANK
In
1944, in order to provide new coins for the newly liberated Belgium,
and use up the excess blanks left over when the unpopular 1943 steel
cent was discontinued, the US mint struck the new Belgium 2 Franc coin
on unused steel cent blanks. The coins were struck for one
year
only, perhaps because the Belgians disliked the coins as much as the
Americans did.
Item
BE-2F BELGIUM 2 FRANC 1944 ON US WAR CENT
BLANK KM133 VF-XF
$3.00
Item
US-STEEL UNITED STATES 1943 STEEL CENT, VF $1.00
FIRST POST-WORLD
WAR II COIN OF
LUXEMBOURG
Before
World War II Luxembourg was a neutral nation. In 1939 Adolf
Hitler promised to respect Luxembourg's sovereignty, however on May 9,
1940 Germany invaded. The Luxembourg army of 425 soldiers and
13 officers were no match against the powerful German Wehrmacht and
the country fell within hours. A forceful campaign of Germanization was
begun and in 1942 Luxembourg was officially made part of
Germany. This 1946 1 Franc was one of the first coins issued
by Luxembourg after Germany's defeat in 1945. The design of
the 23mm copper-nickel coin is similar to that of the pre-war 1
Franc. The obverse features a bare-chested steelworker poking
at flames (occupational safety regulations were much looser then), in
the background smoke rises from smokestacks (pollution laws were also
much looser). The reverse features the crowned monogram of
Grand Duchess Charlotte.
Item
LU-1F LUXEMBOURG 1 FRANC 1946 KM46.1 BU $3.00
Item
LU-1Fx10 10 of the above LUXEMBOURG 1 FRANC
1946 KM46.1 BU $12.50
JAPANESE
MILITARY CURRENCY
FOR CHINA
Japan issued Military Currency starting in 1938 for use in
the areas of China that they occupied. Because civilians were forced to
accept the Military Yen, which was not backed and could not be
exchanged into Japanese Yen, it cost the Japanese government virtually
nothing to purchase whatever they wanted. This 5 Yen note
used a
modified version of the homeland 5 Yen note. The note lacked
the
text that translated as "Bank of Japan Convertible Silver Note".
Instead it had a bright red 4 character overprint that
translates
as "Military Note".
Item
PM-CN-5Y-OVPT2 5 YEN JAPANESE MILITARY NOTE
FOR
CHINA ON MODIFIED JAPANESE NOTE PM25 F
$3.00
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-5F MANCHUKUO 5 FEN 1944-45 YA13a
AG-G $7.00
Item
MAN-1F MANCHUKUO 1 FEN 1945 Y13a
AG-G $7.00
JAPANESE
INVASION MONEY
As Japanese forces conquered Burma, Malaya and the
Philippines in World War II they introduced their own
currency. Anyone found with any other type of currency was
subject to severe punishment. As English was the official
language of these three colonies, the notes were printed in English and
were denominated in the currency that had been in
circulation. The notes were only labeled “THE JAPANESE
GOVERNMENT” without mentioning the colony. The red 10 Rupee
note for Burma depict the Ananda Temple in Bagan. The dark
blue and yellow 10 Dollar note for Malaya bananas, breadfruit and
coconuts and a ship steaming in the horizon on the
back. The black and light blue Philippine 10 Pesos
note depicts a banana plantation.
Item
PM-JIM3 JAPANESE INVASION MONEY: BURMA 10
RUPEE, MALAYA $10 &
PHILIPPINES 10 PESOS VF-AU
$4.00
Item
PM-JIM3x10 10 SETS OF THE ABOVE THREE
JAPANESE INVASION MONEY VF-AU
$22.50
WWII
SILVER FLORIN
FROM AUSTRALIA
Australia
entered World War II with an ill-prepared, understaffed military with
aging equipment. After Britain’s declaration of war on
Germany in 1939 Australia sent much of its military to Europe and North
Africa. In 1941 and 1942 Australia suffered major losses in
the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore, where it had much of its
remaining forces stationed, leaving it vunerable to a Japanese
invasion. It brought home much of its European forces for to
fight the War in the Pacific. From 1942 until early 1944,
Australia made up a majority of Allied strength in much of the fighting
in the South West Pacific theatre. Towards the end of the war
the size of the Australian military was reduced in order to release
manpower for war-related industries which were important to supplying
Britain and the US forces in the Pacific. During the war
almost a million U.S. personnel passed through Australia. The
war contributed to major changes in the Australia’s economy, military
and foreign policy and accelerated the process of
industrialization. This Australian 1944 sterling silver
Florin (2 Shillings) depicts King George VI on the obverse and the arms
of Australia on the reverse. The 28.5mm coin was struck at
the Melbourne mint and contains .3364 troy ounces of silver.
Item
AU-FL44 AUSTRALIA 1 FLORIN 1944 (Melbourne)
KM40 VF-XF $16.00
WWII
CANADA TOMBAC 1942 BEAVER
AND 1943 VICTORY 5 CENTS
During
1942, because nickel was needed for the war effort, Canada replaced the
nickel 5 cent coin with one made of a brass alloy called Tombac. The
new coins were 12-sided, making them even more distinctive. The new
coins kept the beaver reverse and King George VI that
was on the previous coins. The coins were struck only a single year. On
January 1, 1943 Canada released a new design for their 5-cent coin to
promote the war effort of World War II. The reverse featured a large
"V" behind a burning torch. The V both stood for Victory and
the denomination in Roman numerals). Even though the coin is
not made of nickel, it is often referred to as Canada's V
Nickel. Around the edge is the inscription in Morse code
which reads "WE WIN WHEN
WE WORK WILLINGLY". Like the 1942 issue, the
coin is made of Tombac and depictes King George VI on the
obverse. It too was struck only a single year. In
1944 the Tombac allow was replaced with chrome-plated steel.
Item
CA-5C-42T CANADA 5 CENTS 1942 KM39 TOMBAC -
BEAVER,
VF-XF $2.50
Item
CA-5C-43 CANADA 5 CENTS 1943 KM40 VICTORY,
VF-XF $2.50
CANADA 2020 WORLD
WAR II VICTORY
2 DOLLAR COIN
Canada
commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II
with this multi-color 2020 2 Dollar coin.
The coins have similar reverse designs which were adapted from Canada's World War II era Victory 5 cent
coins. The designs feature a torch and a large "V"
in the center. On the outer ring is the inscription "WE WIN WHEN WE
WORK WILLINGLY" in Morse code and the words Victory and
Remember are in
English and French. At the top are two shifting images of a
maple leaf within the line pattern. The obverse depicts the
portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Item
CA-2D-COL-VICT CANADA COLOR 2 DOLLARS 2020
WWII UNC.
$7.00
WORLD WAR II
CANADIAN MEAT
RATION TOKEN
Meat
was rationed in Canada during World War II. Families received
a ration booklet which allowed them to purchase a limited quantity of
rationed goods, including tea, coffee, sugar, butter, booze and meat
each week. Each weekly meat ration coupon was good for 2
pounds of meat. The problem was that many did not have
refrigeration at home, so they would either forfeit the whole coupon
for a lesser amount of meat, or buy their full amount and risk it going
bad before it could be used. In 1945 the Canadian government
finally wised up and issued meat ration tokens that were good for a
lesser quantity of meat. Each token was worth 1/8 of a meat ration
coupon (1/4 pound of meat), so if someone bought less than their full
ration of meat the tokens could be given out to be used
later. If one bought half their weekly ration of meat, they
would receive four tokens for later use. The 22mm blue token
is struck on a heavy blue cardboard with a center hole. Both sides have
the same design with the words "CANADA
- RATION MEAT - VIANDE" and two
maple leaves.
Item
CA-MEAT
CANADA WWII MEAT RATION TOKEN, UNC.
$3.00
Item
CA-MEATx10
10 of the above CANADA WWII MEAT RATION TOKENS, UNC.
$9.75
WORLD WAR II
SILVER DIMES FROM
NEWFOUNDLAND
These
silver 10 cents were struck for Newfoundland during World War II. At
the time Newfoundland was in a state of political and economic
turmoil. It was without a functioning
parliament. The Newfoundland 10 Cents features King
George VI on the obverse. The denomination, date and name of
the nation are on the reverse. The until 1945 the coins were
struck in .925 (sterling) silver. The 1945 issues were struck
in .800 fine silver, the same as was used in Canada.
Item
NEWF-10C41 NEWFOUNDLAND 10 CENTS 1941-1944
KM20 VF $7.00
Item
NEWF-10C45 NEWFOUNDLAND 10 CENTS 1945
KM20a VF $7.00
UNCIRCULATED
WORLD WAR II COINS OF MEXICO
World War II was a time of prosperity
for Mexico. Its minerals were much in demand for the war
effort. Many Mexicans went to the north to work in
agriculture to cover for the shortage farm labor in the United
States. These Uncirculated 5 Centavos bronze 5 Centavos are
dated 1944 and 1945, during the height of Mexico’s
prosperity. The 25.5mm bronze coins depict Josefa Ortiz De
Dominguez, one of the hero’s of Mexico’s War of Independence. Behind
her head is the Mexico City mintmark. The other side
features Mexico’s national emblem of an eagle on a cactus eating
a snake. It is an attractive coin that is quite reasonably
priced considering it is over 70 years old and still in it’s original
mint condition.
Item
MX-5C-44 MEXICO 5 CENTAVOS 1944 KM424 UNC. $2.00
Item
MX-5C-45 MEXICO 5 CENTAVOS 1945 KM424 UNC. $2.00
Item
MX-5C-BTH BOTH OF THE ABOVE MEXICAN 5
CENTAVOS,
1944 & 1945 UNC.$3.00
WORLD WAR II
COINS OF BOLIVIA
STRUCK AT THE PHILADELPHIA MINT
This
three-coin set includes the zinc 10 and 20 Centavos and bronze 50
Centavos dated 1942. The coins were struck at the United
States mint in Philadelphia. The three coins have
similar designs. The obverses depict the Bolivian arms which
feature the Potosi mountain silver mine and an alpaca. The
reverses have a caduceus, the denomination and date. During World War
II Bolivia's mines supplied much needed tin to the Allies. Bolivia did
not declare war on Germany until 1943, by which time it was
becoming clear that the Axis powers were losing the war. Bolivia did
not send troops, ships or airplanes overseas to fight the
war.
Item
BO-WWIISET BOLIVIA 3 COIN SET 10, 20
& 50 CENTAVOS 1942 KM179a, 183 & 182a.1
XF-UNC.
$7.50
GENERAL MacARTHUR MEMORIAL
MEDAL
This
attractive 38.9 mm medal commemorating General Douglas MacArthur was
struck shortly after his death in 1964 by Capitol Medals. The obverse
pictures the General. The reverse has two of his most famous quotes: "I shall Return" and
"Old soldiers never die;
they just fade away". The oxidized
silver-plated bronze medal comes in an envelope with a descriptive
brochure.
Item
MacARTHUR GENERAL MacARTHUR SILVER-PLATED
MEDAL $9.75
ALLIED
LEADERS OF
WORLD WAR II
Winston Churchill served
as Prime Minister of Great Britain during the
World War II years of 1940 to 1945. His speeches and radio broadcasts
helped inspire British confidence, especially during the difficult
early years of the war when Britain stood almost alone against Nazi
Germany. He was honored after his death in 1965 on the
British 5 Shillings coin (1 Crown). It was the first British
coin to portray a commoner since the 1650’s and it was the last 5
Shilling coin ever struck by Great Britain. The obverse of the 38.6mm
copper-nickel coin has Mary Gillick’s portrait of young Queen
Elizabeth. The reverse portrays a rough portrait of
Churchill.
Dwight David Eisenhower
was a five-star general in the United States
Army during World War II and served as Supreme Allied Commander in
Europe. He led the invasion of North Africa in 1942–43 and the
successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45. He
served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 to
1961. He is portrayed on the large 38.1mm copper-nickel clad
United States Dollar coin issued in 1976 to commemorae teh
bi-centennial of theUnited States and the smaller
26.5mm 2015 United States Presidential “Golden
Dollar”. The 1976 large dollar commemorates the
bi-centennial
of the United States. Below Eisenhower is the double dates
1776-1976. The reverse depicts the Liberty Bell and the Moon.
The Eisenhower Presidential dollar features the Statue of Liberty on
the reverse. The date, mintmark and legends are on the edge
of the coin. The Eisenhower Presidential Dollar was not
released into circulation but was only available from the mint at a
premium. Despite the coins coming directly from the original
mint bags,
most
coins have nicks or bagmarks. The large coins are some of
the least
expensive crown-sized coins available, and honor two great leaders of
World War II.
Item
GB-CHURCH GREAT BRITAIN 1 CROWN 1965 WINSTON
CHURCHILL KM910 AU-UNC. $3.50
Item
US-BICENT UNITED STATES 1976 BICENTENNIAL
EISENHOWER DOLLAR UNC.
$3.50
Item
US-SMALLIKE UNITED STATES 1 DOLLAR 2015-P
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
UNC-nicks $3.00
FRENCH SILVER 10
EURO HONORS
CHARLES DE GAULLE
France
honored Charles de Gaulle on this silver 2020 10 Euro
coin. The coin commemorates both the 50th anniversary of his
death in 1970 and the 80th anniversary of his Appeal of 18 June, which
was an appeal launched by de Gaulle on June 18, 1940 from the BBC
studios in London that established the French Resistance against Nazi
Germany. He later served as the President of the French
Republic from 1959 to 1969. The coin depicts images
of him both as President of France in the 1960's and as a General in
World War II. The reverse includes the denomination
within oak and laurel branches, the date, and a series of lines
representing France's hexagonal shape. The 31mm coin is
struck in .333 fine silver and comes in a descriptive folder written in
both French and English.
Item
FR-DEGAULLE FRANCE 10 EURO 2020 CHARLES
DEGAULLE BU $25.00
TAIWAN
CELEBRATES
LIBERATION FROM JAPAN
After
several unsuccessful attempts to gain control of Taiwan (Formosa),
Japan took the island from China in 1895 as a result of China's defeat
in the First Sino-Japanese War. Upon Japan's defeat in 1945
in World War II, China regained control of Taiwan. In 1995
the Republic of China, (now commonly called Taiwan), commemorated the
50th Anniversary of its liberation from Japan. The 26mm
copper-nickel 10 Yuan coin features a map of Taiwan and the dates 1945
1995.
Item
TAIWAN-LIB CHINA-TAIWAN 10 YUAN 1995
LIBERATION Y555 UNC. $3.50
PORTUGUESE TIMOR
HONORS WORLD WAR
II HERO
Portuguese Timor, now the independent nation of East Timor, honored
their World War II hero Dom Aleixo Corte-Real on this 1967 20 Escudos
note. A vignette and watermark of him wearing an impressive
feather crown appears on the front of the note. He is the only native
to be honored on a banknote of Portuguese Timor and one of the only
World War II heroes to be honored on a banknote anywhere. Aleixo
Corte-Real, also known as Dom Aleixo Timorese was born in
1886. In 1912 he became the Liurai (chief) of the region of
Ainaro. He was a strong supporter of the Portuguese rule of
Timor. The Japanese invaded Portuguese Timor in 1942, even
though Portugal was a neutral country during the war. He led
a major revolt against the Japanese until he was captured in
1943. He refused to denounce the Portuguese flag, for which
he and his family were killed by the Japanese. The
back of the note includes the Portuguese Imperial Arms and the seal of
the Banco National Ultramarino which features a sailing ship. The note
measures 135 x 75mm and has a solid security thread. Because Portuguese
Timor was a small, isolated colony its notes are
difficult to find. The note is Uncirculated, but has minor
brown stains from storage in the tropics.
Item
PM-TP-20E PORTUGUESE TIMOR 20 ESCUDOS NOTE
1967 P26a UNC.-minor stains
$5.00
WORLD
WAR II COMMEMORATIVE FROM ASCENSION ISLAND
Ascension
Island commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the start of
World War II with this copper-nickel 1 Crown. An airbase was
constructed on the island during the war for patrol
operations. The base was called "wideawake" because of a
nearby colony of noisy terns. The coin features three
soldiers with tanks and war vehicles, ships and Lancaster airplanes in
the background. Queen Elizabeth is on the obverse. The 38.6mm coin has
a maximum mintage of 10,000 pieces.
Item
ASC-WWII ASCENSION 1 CROWN 2019 WORLD WAR II
BU
$14.00
SAIPAN
HONORS WORLD WAR II BATTLE
Saipan
is now part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands. In World War II it was the site of one of the
bloodiest and most strategic battles in the Pacific. Saipan
was Japanese territory and one of the last line of defenses before the
homeland. An estimated 29,000 Japanese soldiers and 20,000 civilians
died trying to defend the island. 3,426 Americans died and 10,364 were
wounded. The loss of Saipan was a major blow to Japan. American B-29
bombers were now within striking range of mainland Japan
and the Philippines. The obverse unofficial 2019 Saipan 5
Dollar coin depicts the emblem of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands. The reverse features a Marine in front of a waving
American flag and the dates of the Battle of
Saipan. The 40mm eight-sided silver-plated Proof
coin has a mintage of only 160 pieces.
Item
SAIPAN SAIPAN 5 DOLLARS 2019 PROOF
$22.00
ALSO SEE:
GERMAN COINS & CURRENCY PAGE
NAZI
COINS PAGE
JAPANESE COINS &
CURRENCY PAGE
RUSSIA
WWII CITIES OF MILITARY GLORY COINS
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Benito Mussolini and the Fascist came
into power in their March on Roma and coup d'état in October
1922. The following year Italy introduced this nickel 29.1mm
2 Lire coin. The obverse features a bare headed King Victor
Emmanuel III in a military uniform. A large fasces with an ax
adorned with a lion's head is on the reverse, indicating the power
behind the throne. Though the King remained nominally the
head of state, Mussolini controlled the government. Over the
next few years, he abolished the parliament, crushed any opposition and
created a totalitarian state. When this coin was
issued the
2 Lire was legally defined as a silver coin. To get around
the legalism the legend on the reverse states "BVONO DA LIRE 2" which
translates as "GOOD FOR 2 LIRE".
Vichy
France was the collaborationist government set up by the Germans after
France was defeated by Germany in World War II. Its
administrative capital was in the town of Vichy. Though it
nominally ruled France, in reality it only controlled the south-eastern
portion of the country, while Germany controlled the rest. This three
coin set includes the 50 Centimes, 1 and 2 Francs of Vichy
France, also known as “Etat Francais” or French State. The
three aluminum coins were struck in Nazi occupied Paris. They
circulated in both the German occupied and Vichy controlled portions of
France. One side of the coin features a double-headed axe
flanked by grain. The other side has the denomination flanked
by oak leaves and the legend “TRAVAIL, FAMILLE, PATRIE”
(“work, family, fatherland”). The legend replaced the
traditional motto of the French Republic “liberty, equality,
fraternity”. The coins date from 1942 to 1944.
This
1938 10 Dinara is
one of the last coins of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The
obverse of the 23mm nickel coin depicts the head of young King Peter
II. The reverse has the royal crown, denomination and date
within a wreath. Peter became king in 1934 at age 11 upon the
assassination of his father, King Alexander I. Though he was
opposed to Nazi Germany, his regent signed a pact that allied
Yugoslavia with the Nazis in 1941. Two days later a British
supported coup overthrew the regency and proclaimed the 17 year old
Peter to be of age and in control of Yugoslavia. Hitler
responded by attacking and quickly
conquering Yugoslavia.
Peter
escaped
by climbing down a drainpipe. Hitler's attack of Yugoslavia diverted
the German army and delayed Operation Barbarossa, the Nazi invasion of
Russia by six weeks. The delay
contributed to Germany's defeat due to
the harsh Russian winter. Peter was never able to return
to his homeland. He made his way to London, then after the war lived in
the United States, eventually working in a Los Angeles Savings and Loan
before he died in Denver in 1970. 
Though
Francisco Franco and the Spanish Nationalists received heavy
assistance
from Hitler during the Spanish Civil War and the two were ideologically
similar, Spain never officially joined the Axis powers in World War
II. Spain provided volunteers to fight against Russia, but
insisted they not be used on the western front. Negotiations between
Hitler and Franco concerning Spain formally entering the war did not go
well, with Hitler reportedly saying "I prefer to have three or four
of
my own teeth pulled out than to speak to that man
again!". This 1944 21mm
aluminum-bronze Spanish 1
Peseta depicts coat of arms of Spain on the obverse. The
reverse features the historical symbols of Spain around the
denomination: a pomegranate for Granada, four pallets for
Aragon, a castle of Castile, a lion for Leon, chains for Navarre and a
bundle of arrows for the Catholic Monarchs (Ferdinand and Isabella) who
united the country. 
In
1944, in order to provide new coins for the newly liberated Belgium,
and use up the excess blanks left over when the unpopular 1943 steel
cent was discontinued, the US mint struck the new Belgium 2 Franc coin
on unused steel cent blanks. The coins were struck for one
year
only, perhaps because the Belgians disliked the coins as much as the
Americans did.
Before
World War II Luxembourg was a neutral nation. In 1939 Adolf
Hitler promised to respect Luxembourg's sovereignty, however on May 9,
1940 Germany invaded. The Luxembourg army of 425 soldiers and
13 officers were no match against the powerful German Wehrmacht and
the country fell within hours. A forceful campaign of Germanization was
begun and in 1942 Luxembourg was officially made part of
Germany. This 1946 1 Franc was one of the first coins issued
by Luxembourg after Germany's defeat in 1945. The design of
the 23mm copper-nickel coin is similar to that of the pre-war 1
Franc. The obverse features a bare-chested steelworker poking
at flames (occupational safety regulations were much looser then), in
the background smoke rises from smokestacks (pollution laws were also
much looser). The reverse features the crowned monogram of
Grand Duchess Charlotte.
Australia
entered World War II with an ill-prepared, understaffed military with
aging equipment. After Britain’s declaration of war on
Germany in 1939 Australia sent much of its military to Europe and North
Africa. In 1941 and 1942 Australia suffered major losses in
the Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore, where it had much of its
remaining forces stationed, leaving it vunerable to a Japanese
invasion. It brought home much of its European forces for to
fight the War in the Pacific. From 1942 until early 1944,
Australia made up a majority of Allied strength in much of the fighting
in the South West Pacific theatre. Towards the end of the war
the size of the Australian military was reduced in order to release
manpower for war-related industries which were important to supplying
Britain and the US forces in the Pacific. During the war
almost a million U.S. personnel passed through Australia. The
war contributed to major changes in the Australia’s economy, military
and foreign policy and accelerated the process of
industrialization. This Australian 1944 sterling silver
Florin (2 Shillings) depicts King George VI on the obverse and the arms
of Australia on the reverse. The 28.5mm coin was struck at
the Melbourne mint and contains .3364 troy ounces of silver.
During
1942, because nickel was needed for the war effort, Canada replaced the
nickel 5 cent coin with one made of a brass alloy called Tombac. The
new coins were 12-sided, making them even more distinctive. The new
coins kept the beaver reverse and King George VI that
was on the previous coins. The coins were struck only a single year. On
January 1, 1943 Canada released a new design for their 5-cent coin to
promote the war effort of World War II. The reverse featured a large
"V" behind a burning torch. The V both stood for Victory and
the denomination in Roman numerals). Even though the coin is
not made of nickel, it is often referred to as Canada's V
Nickel. Around the edge is the inscription in Morse code
which reads "WE WIN WHEN
WE WORK WILLINGLY". Like the 1942 issue, the
coin is made of Tombac and depictes King George VI on the
obverse. It too was struck only a single year. In
1944 the Tombac allow was replaced with chrome-plated steel.
Meat
was rationed in Canada during World War II. Families received
a ration booklet which allowed them to purchase a limited quantity of
rationed goods, including tea, coffee, sugar, butter, booze and meat
each week. Each weekly meat ration coupon was good for 2
pounds of meat. The problem was that many did not have
refrigeration at home, so they would either forfeit the whole coupon
for a lesser amount of meat, or buy their full amount and risk it going
bad before it could be used. In 1945 the Canadian government
finally wised up and issued meat ration tokens that were good for a
lesser quantity of meat. Each token was worth 1/8 of a meat ration
coupon (1/4 pound of meat), so if someone bought less than their full
ration of meat the tokens could be given out to be used
later. If one bought half their weekly ration of meat, they
would receive four tokens for later use. The 22mm blue token
is struck on a heavy blue cardboard with a center hole. Both sides have
the same design with the words "CANADA
- RATION MEAT - VIANDE" and two
maple leaves. 
These
silver 10 cents were struck for Newfoundland during World War II. At
the time Newfoundland was in a state of political and economic
turmoil. It was without a functioning
parliament. The Newfoundland 10 Cents features King
George VI on the obverse. The denomination, date and name of
the nation are on the reverse. The until 1945 the coins were
struck in .925 (sterling) silver. The 1945 issues were struck
in .800 fine silver, the same as was used in Canada.
World War II was a time of prosperity
for Mexico. Its minerals were much in demand for the war
effort. Many Mexicans went to the north to work in
agriculture to cover for the shortage farm labor in the United
States. These Uncirculated 5 Centavos bronze 5 Centavos are
dated 1944 and 1945, during the height of Mexico’s
prosperity. The 25.5mm bronze coins depict Josefa Ortiz De
Dominguez, one of the hero’s of Mexico’s War of Independence. Behind
her head is the Mexico City mintmark. The other side
features Mexico’s national emblem of an eagle on a cactus eating
a snake. It is an attractive coin that is quite reasonably
priced considering it is over 70 years old and still in it’s original
mint condition.
This
three-coin set includes the zinc 10 and 20 Centavos and bronze 50
Centavos dated 1942. The coins were struck at the United
States mint in Philadelphia. The three coins have
similar designs. The obverses depict the Bolivian arms which
feature the Potosi mountain silver mine and an alpaca. The
reverses have a caduceus, the denomination and date. During World War
II Bolivia's mines supplied much needed tin to the Allies. Bolivia did
not declare war on Germany until 1943, by which time it was
becoming clear that the Axis powers were losing the war. Bolivia did
not send troops, ships or airplanes overseas to fight the
war.
This
attractive 38.9 mm medal commemorating General Douglas MacArthur was
struck shortly after his death in 1964 by Capitol Medals. The obverse
pictures the General. The reverse has two of his most famous quotes: "I shall Return" and
"Old soldiers never die;
they just fade away". The oxidized
silver-plated bronze medal comes in an envelope with a descriptive
brochure. 
France
honored Charles de Gaulle on this silver 2020 10 Euro
coin. The coin commemorates both the 50th anniversary of his
death in 1970 and the 80th anniversary of his Appeal of 18 June, which
was an appeal launched by de Gaulle on June 18, 1940 from the BBC
studios in London that established the French Resistance against Nazi
Germany. He later served as the President of the French
Republic from 1959 to 1969. The coin depicts images
of him both as President of France in the 1960's and as a General in
World War II. The reverse includes the denomination
within oak and laurel branches, the date, and a series of lines
representing France's hexagonal shape. The 31mm coin is
struck in .333 fine silver and comes in a descriptive folder written in
both French and English.
After
several unsuccessful attempts to gain control of Taiwan (Formosa),
Japan took the island from China in 1895 as a result of China's defeat
in the First Sino-Japanese War. Upon Japan's defeat in 1945
in World War II, China regained control of Taiwan. In 1995
the Republic of China, (now commonly called Taiwan), commemorated the
50th Anniversary of its liberation from Japan. The 26mm
copper-nickel 10 Yuan coin features a map of Taiwan and the dates 1945
1995.
Ascension
Island commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the start of
World War II with this copper-nickel 1 Crown. An airbase was
constructed on the island during the war for patrol
operations. The base was called "wideawake" because of a
nearby colony of noisy terns. The coin features three
soldiers with tanks and war vehicles, ships and Lancaster airplanes in
the background. Queen Elizabeth is on the obverse. The 38.6mm coin has
a maximum mintage of 10,000 pieces.
Saipan
is now part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands. In World War II it was the site of one of the
bloodiest and most strategic battles in the Pacific. Saipan
was Japanese territory and one of the last line of defenses before the
homeland. An estimated 29,000 Japanese soldiers and 20,000 civilians
died trying to defend the island. 3,426 Americans died and 10,364 were
wounded. The loss of Saipan was a major blow to Japan. American B-29
bombers were now within striking range of mainland Japan
and the Philippines. The obverse unofficial 2019 Saipan 5
Dollar coin depicts the emblem of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands. The reverse features a Marine in front of a waving
American flag and the dates of the Battle of
Saipan. The 40mm eight-sided silver-plated Proof
coin has a mintage of only 160 pieces. 
