Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Home Archeology pt. 2

Look at this old coin; it’s worn almost smooth. How many pockets has it been carried in? How many hands has it passed through? (Those questions are rhetorical – you don’t win anything by guessing correctly.)

Obverse: APOLEON III EMPEREUR – 1854

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It’s worth noting the date it was minted: 1854. This coin was carried by someone, and probably many “someones”, before the American Civil War began. When this coin was made, it was legal in the USA for people to own other people.

Reverse: EMPIRE FRANCA – DIX CENTIMES

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Here are two more old coins:

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On the left: TUNISIE 10 centimes – 1942 PROTECORAT FRANCAIS

(In 1942 – 1943 Tunisia was the scene of major operations by the Allies against the Axis powers. Tunisia achieved independence from France in 1956.)

On the right: ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE – 1905 (Kingdom of Belgium)

(The coin was minted in 1905, only about two years after the Wright brothers flew the first successful heavier-than-air airplane on December 17, 1903.)

Here is the other side of the above coins:

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Below is one of the stranger coins I’ve found in the house.

Side 1

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Side 2

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If you know what it is, leave a comment and share that information with the rest of us.

The coin below is obviously related to the coin above. Different year? Different denomination? Who knows.

Side 1

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Side 2

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Cheers!

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