To complete the zodiac set of 12 coins, San Marino issued the last 3 coins in 2021.
The last set consists of the Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces -coins.
Each of the 2021 coins has a mintage of 16000 brass coins.
The Capricorn-coin (It: capricorno)
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| Capricorn - coin 2021 RSM |
The Aquarius-coin (It: acquario)
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| Aquarius - coin 2021 RSM |
The Pisces-coin (It: pesci)
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| Pisces - coin 2021 RSM |
With these 3 coins, the set is of western zodiac sign coins is completed.
to be continued...
The set of Zodiac coins of San Marino, coninued in 2020 with 3 additional coins: Libra, Scorpio and Saggitarius. Each of the 2020 coins has a mintage of 16000 brass pieces
The first coin dated 2020, is the Libra-coin (It: bilancia).
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| 2020 Libra - coin RSM |
The second coin, is the Scorpio-coin (It: scoprione)
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| 2020 Scorpio - coin RSM |
The third and last coin for 2020 is the Sagittarius-coin (It: sagittario)
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| 2020 Sagittarius - coin RSM |
At the moment of wrinting this article, the 2020-coins, were still available on the website of the San Marino post, at the price of the face value. Each of the coins were delivered in a hard plastic holder.
The 2019 and 2018 coins were already sold out.
to be continued...
In 2019, 4 coins were added to the set: Gemini, Cancer, Leo and Virgo.
Similar to the 2018 coins, is the obverse side, with the sun, all zodiac symbols and the country's name.
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| Gemini - coin 2019 RSM |
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| Cancer - coin 2019 RSM |
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| Leo - coin 2019 RSM |
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| Virgo - coin 2019 RSM |
to be continued ....
When paying in Europe with cash, the chance of spending or receiving a commemorative € 2 - coin, is not that uncommon. Till 2023, about 610 (!) different € 2 coins, other than the regular ones, are in use.
Also higher denominations are minted, but those coins are never seen in circulation.
First of all because they are printed in very limited numbers, or sold at a higher price than the nominal value.
One specific set of coins drew my attention. The set consists of 12 coins, issued over 4 years (in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021). 12 coins, that sounds familiar ... indeed these 12 coins are dedicated to the 12 western zodiac signs.
In 2018, the first two coins were issued.
Each coin has a face value of € 5 and the reverse side is common to all 12 coins.
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| reverse side of the coins |
On the front side of the first coin, the Aries (It: ariete) or Ram is shown
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| Aries issue 2018 |
The second coin of 2018 depicts the Taurus (It: toro) or Bull.
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| Taurus issue 2018 |
The set of 2018 coins have a mintage of 15000 coins (brass).
They are sold out on the official website of the San Marino postal services.
to be continued...
After the dissolution of the former USSR, various states became independent. One of them was Azerbaijan.
To most people, Azerbaijan was not that known, until Ell and Nikki won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011. The whole festival moved to Baku the next year, and so a lot of people saw images of the most eastern of all europan countries. Nearly 90% of Azerbaijan's economy is based on the export of all kinds of oil products.
Azerbaijan is also known for the disputed area of Nagorno-Karabach, an area with an Armenian majority.
This region has been subject to several wars, where some degree of independency was given and taken from the Armenian people living there. Currently Nagorno-Karabach is recognized as Azerbaijan territory.
Strangely enough, the country exists out of two parts, and the smaller part in the south west, is acualy and enclave of Azerbaijani people in the country of Armenia.
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| Map of Azerbaijan |
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| Flag of Azerbaijan |
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| 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 qəpik |
The value '3' is less common to most of us, but was already used in Russia, and in Cuba.
On the obverse side, we find again the face value, but now with different images.
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| 1, 3 and 5 qəpik |
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| 10, 20 and 50 qəpik |
The music instrument on the 1 qəpik (kae-pik) coin, returns in the 1 Manat note, the books in the 3 qəpik coin, is repeated in the 5 Manat note.
On the 5 qəpik coin we see a building, this image returns on the 10 Manat note.
The crown on the 10 qəpik coin, also is seen on the 20 Manat note, and the stairs on the 20 qəpik coin can be found again on the 50 Manat note.
The 50 kqəpik coin, is the only bimetallic coin. It illustrates the oil industry in the country.
1 and 3 qəpik coins are rarely used, but still part of the set of coins.
There is no date of issue on any of the coins!
to be continued ...
Today another post with 'coin' related wallpapers.
Just for fun - all pictures are free to use (to my knowledge).
This is my third post for 'fun' some nice wallpapers for coin collectors.
All images are - to my knowledge - free.
Hope they are useful, more wallpapers will follow....
Today I'm posting my second group of wallpaper images, on coins.
They are free to use - according my knowledge - hope they are useful to decorate your desktop:
I will post more great wallpapers in the future...
This is the last post on the Swiss coins in circulation.
Last time I presented some old 5 franc coins, but in what follows, is the current design:
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| 5 Swiss Frank design 1922 |
For the first time we see a herdsman with a hoodie. Often is thought that this is Willhem Tell, the famous hero who shot an apple from the head of his son - but it's not.
On the reverse side, the Swiss coat of arms, now with 5 FR on top of it, and the date and mint mark below it. The seal is surrounded by a wreaht, consisting of Edelweiss on one side, and Gentian on the other side.
Edelweiss is also a national flower of Switzerland (and Austria).
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| Edelweiss |
The famous song 'Edelweiss' from the movie and musical 'The Sound of Music' is often thought to be an old Swiss or Austrian song. Nothing is less true, as it was composed by Rogers and Hammerstein in 1965.
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| Due to Covid-19 - the hills are closed |
This coin was only issued in 1922 and 1923 and contained 90% silver.
5 Francs D (coin alignment ↑↓)
In 1931, the coin became smaller 31.45 mm diameter in stead of 37 mm - and lighter, 15 g in stead of 25 g - but still 90% silver
Two other modifications were made to the coin:
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| 5 Swiss Frank design 1931 |
The coat of arms is made smaller compared to the previous version.
Where the old version had 5 Fr. on the coin, the new design has 5 FR.
These coins were made till 1969 and were taken out of cirulation in 1971.
5 Francs E (medal alignment ↑↑)
From 1969 on the coins are cupronickel and the design remained the same.
The inscription on the edge of the coin was incused between 1985 and 1993, the other coins have the text embossed. In 2004 all coins from 1985 to 1993 were demonitized and taken out of circulation.
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| text on the edge is embossed |
to be continued ...
Today I present the last circulation coin of the current swiss coinset, the 5 Francs coin. Probably the largest coin in circulation at the moment.
5 Francs A (Medal alignment ↑↑)
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| 5 Swiss Francs 1850 - 1884 |
This first set (1850-1884) had a 'seated Helvetia' on the obverse side and a wreach with date and denomination on the reverse side.
The coins were 35 mm in diameter and weighted 25 g. This coin contained 90% silver. It was made after the 5 franc coins that were in used in France at that time.
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| 5 French francs 1875 |
Below the wreach we find the mint mark.
A - minted in Paris, France
B - Minted in Berne, Switzerland
B. - Minted in Brussels, Belgium
Coins without mint mark are from 1884 and in 1874 a coin
without date was issued too.
5 Francs B (
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| 5 Swiss Francs 1888 - 1916 |
In 1888 the design of the coin changed completely.
The obverse side showed the head of Helvetia with a crown of gentian.
I know the coin is not in colour, but today's question is: is it red, blue or
yellow gentian we see?
(answer see below ...)
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***spoiler alert***
Well the question seems futile if there were not such huge
differences between red, blue and yellow gentian.
For sure it is not the yellow gentian, as that is rather a
large plant:
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| Yellow Gentian (Gentiana Lutea) |
Second could be the red gentian (Gentiana Purpurea) which is
a much smaller flower than his 'yellow' brother, but here the shape of the
leaves are different.
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| Red Gentian (Gentiana Purpurea) |
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| Blue Gentian (Gentiana Acaulis) |
to be continued ...
