
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Switzerland

The Swiss monetary unit is
1 franken = 100 rappen (German)
1 franc = 100 centimes (French)
1 franco = 100 centesimi (Italian).
It was introduced in 1850 to replace the currency issued by the cantons, the states that the Swiss Confederation consists of. Up to 1926, Switzerland was a member of the Latin Monetary Union, which included France, Belgium and Italy. The currencies of these countries were interchangeable in an 1:1 ratio.
As far as coins are concerned, the Swiss monetary system did not undergo any major changes since 1850, except for the change from silver to copper-nickel for all denominations from ½ franc to 5 francs in 1968 and the cessation of the 2 rappen coin in 1974 and the 1 rappen coin in 2006. So the remaining denominations are 5 rappen, 10 rappen, 20 rappen, ½ franc, 1 franc, 2 francs, and 5 francs. On the reference page, you can find the technical details and the dates of coinage for each design.
From 1883 to 1949, gold coins with the denominations of 10 francs, 20 francs, and 100 francs have been minted. They have never been taken out of circulation, but they are not used for payment anymore, since their bullion value is considerably above their face value. A list of them can be found on the reference page, too.
Commemorative coins were introduced in 1936, equal to the 5 francs coin in size and material. At least one per year is issued since 1974. In 1991, they were replaced by 20 francs silver coins.
Pakis Coin


This volume is being distributed free of charge by the Pakistan Numismatic Society. It is divided into four sections. The first provides brief overviews of each of the dynasties and series of coins from the early punchmarked until the British annexed India. Each series is accompanied by black and white illustrations (of variable quality). The second section covers the same material again with some additional discussion of the history and the coins. This is followed by a set of essays and a fourth section of maps, chronologies and genealogical information.
So how does the content compare to Khan's stated aim of producing a 'handbook' of the regions coins? The answer is that Khan falls somewhat short of this goal. The black and white illustrations are usable and the text is clear and concise. The chronologies and tables of kings are simple and convenient, though I am at a complete loss as to why the chronology begins halfway through the period covered by the book. In a handy and easy to use format the book provides an overview of the coins of Pakistan. So in its own terms the book is broadly successful.
Norfolk coin

n recent years, complaints that Congress is too careless in authorizing commemorative
coin issues are frequently heard. It’s been said that too many events and causes of only
limited national importance have been honored and funded through the sale of such coins.
Obviously, Congress has a knack for repeating its mistakes, since the same complaints were
voiced 60 years earlier and ultimately led to legislation that greatly restricted the approval
of new coin issues. Among the coins that prompted this action during the 1930s was the half
dollar honoring the bicentennial of Norfolk, Virginia’s elevation to the status of borough in 1736.
This commemorative marked an event of purely local interest, and its design bore no less than
five different dates, none of which was the actual date of coinage! Much maligned at the time of issue,
the Norfolk half dollar realized poor sales. In the irony that often attends such initial failure, it is now
among the scarcer and more costly coins in the commemorative series.
Bangladesh - coin


Friday, February 27, 2009
Florin Coins of England

1849 Godless FlorinPlace Mouse on Imageto View Reverse The Italian coin was very popular and quickly imitated in Europe. In 1344, Edward III of England issued his own gold coin valued at six shillings and having a weight of 108 grains. This coin was also called a florin and also a double leopard from the two leopard heads that are on either side of the seated figure of the king on the obverse. It was also struck in a half which was also known as a leopard from the leopard with banner on the obverse. Finally, there was struck also a quarter, also called a helm after the helmet on the obverse. With the exception of a very rare (and unpopular) penny (worth 20 silver pennies) struck in 1257 under Henry III, the coins of Edward III were the first gold ones struck in England in about 350 years
Us CoinS

U.S. coins have changed many times since the Coinage Act of 1792, which adopted the dollar as the standard monetary unit.
Silver dollars have been minted and issued at various times since 1794. Dollar coins were discontinued in 1935, then resumed in 1971 with the introduction of the silverless Eisenhower dollar. The silverless Susan B. Anthony coin, honoring the famed women's suffrage advocate, replaced the Eisenhower dollar in 1979. A new dollar coin authorized in 1997 replaced the Susan B. Anthony coins in 2000. The new coin depicts Sacagawea, the Native American woman whose presence was essential to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The coin has a copper core clad in an alloy of copper, zinc, manganese, and nickel, which gives the coin a golden color