Week Twenty-Seven

 

Coin of the Week: 2015 U.S. Marshalls Commemorative Half Dollar

This coin is not even on the market yet, but production has started. The obverse features two U.S. Marshalls while the reverse shows Lady Justice holding a set of scales, next to a lot of other law-and-order related things like the Constitution. This coin will be available in early 2015. It is made of the standard clad half-dollar composition. Can’t wait!

 

Wonderful World: 1913 Napoleon Defeat Silver 2 Mark Prussian Commemorative Coin

This coin was struck in the Germany state of Prussia in 1913 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Prussia joining the fight against Napoleon Bonaparte’s European conquest. It is one of my personal favorite German coins, struck just before WWI. The reverse eagle is one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen, and the obverse battalion scene is super cool.

 

 

Today’s is a short post. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, feel free to put them in the box below!

Week Twenty-Six

Coin of the Week: Lafayette Silver Dollar
Struck in 1900 (most of them were really struck in 1899), the Lafayette Silver Dollar was the only silver dollar (though not the only dollar coin) in the early commemorative years (1892-1953). It features busts of the Marquee de Lafayette, who helped us win the revolutionary war, and George Washington, obviously the less famous of the two (roll eyes here). Interesting note: Charles E. Barber modeled the bust of Washington on the same bust that the Washington Quarter was modeled on. The reverse shows Lafayette on horseback. The pieces were struck to help fund a statue of Lafayette being built in Paris. 36,000 of the authorized 50,000 coins struck were sold. Today, these coins are extremely expensive, climbing into the ten-thousands when offered for sale.

Pay the Bills: 1896 Educational Series
Out west was a great place to be in the 1890’s…. if you didn’t want a proper education.
That line just about summed up the feelings about the wild west in big cities on the east coast. The people who live there must be uneducated slobs (I would have resented this. I live in the wild west). So how can we make them smarter, more refined, more appreciative of art?
Well, what things do they even use over there?
Guns!
Oh, wait. If we educate them via guns, then that might put the wrong idea into their heads. Sighhhh…
Cows!
Okay, really? Who wants to see art on cows? They give milk, not education.
Cash!
Hey, you might be on to something there… what if we put fancy designs on money? That’ll get those people to appreciate it!
And so the Educational Series was born. They are 1896 1,2, and 5 dollar bills with absolutely beautiful designs. And here they are: (Sorry for the low resolution pics)

Week Twenty-Five

 

Coin of the Week: Britannia Bullion Coins

One of the many bullion coin programs in the world, the Britannia is a classic. Why? Because of the popular image of Britannia that graces the reverse of the coins, and the ever changing image of Britannia as well.

The program has been going on since 1997. The silver coins bear a face value of 2 Pounds, while the gold ones bear a 100 Pounds. Here are some of the more famous designs from this popular series.

Several fractional gold and silver pieces have also appeared on the market.

 

Rooting Through the Lost Art: South Carolina and New Hampshire State Quarters

New Hampshire Original:

Proposed:

South Carolina Original:

Proposed: