Jester's Challenge: an interactive history lesson

1jester · February 4, 2003 3:03AM

Welcome, Darkside Collectors (and all others who wish to participate)!!!

Inspired by others here on the Darkside forum, including Severo, Rublevik, Ajaan, Cacheman, Aethelred, Mongoose, Wybrit, LordMarcovan, Askari, Shirohniichan and many others, I'd like to start what I hope will turn into a great learning experience for all of us. The above-mentioned members, and many others, have done a formidable job in sharing with us many fascinating and historically important coins. Since that's one of the greatest pleasures to me, I'd like to try to follow in that time-honored tradition and submit for your pleasure and entertainment some world coins I've come across in my short lifetime.

I will pick out a coin on a regular basis, and post it along with the challenge to you to name the coin, its provenance, denomination, metallic content, mintage, any distinguishing characteristics or noteworthy features, and its value. The more information, the better. I'd like as many people as possible to participate, regardless of how little knowledge you might have on the subject. I appreciate comments on every aspect of the coin, including its history, or its role in human history, or info on similar coins in its series, etc. I myself don't assume to know 1/100 of what you collectively know, hence my challenge to all of you to share your knowledge with the rest of us. Hopefully this exercise will encourage thought, discussion, and primarily more friendship.

Thanks for your participation!!!

Here goes the first selection:

shirohniichan · February 4, 2003 3:06AM

It looks like a penny from the Isle of Man, but I don't collect George III coins and could very well be wrong.

1jester · February 4, 2003 3:08AM

Aaaahhhhh, so the first one hooked is none other than a professor himself! I'm honored.

kuhli · February 4, 2003 3:49AM

Isle of Man

copper

half-penny

also issued in 1798 (the year after the cartwheels)

reverse:
triquetrum and legend
Quocunque Jeceris Stabit = Wherever you throw it, it will stand. (the motto of IoM)

mongoose · February 4, 2003 3:53AM

I'm hooked too, but will leave no answers here yet. I saw one of these in gem condition, loved it, and was seriously tempted by it. My budget didn't allow for it, as my British copper indiscretions had left me destitute for the rest of the month.

Nice coin, and lots of info out there on it too!

1jester · February 4, 2003 4:52AM

Kuhli, great job. You're right on as to what it is, and other trivia related to it, althought I didn't know the other mintage date. Don't the cartwheels represent the first "modern" coins in the sense that they were the first produced using steam power? I think that's very interesting. Imagine trying to hammer a 2d. coin, or use a screw press! With steam power harnessed for the mintage of coins, new possibilities were uncovered.

What's the value of this coin? I see Aethelred has a penny like it for sale for $12. Is this a rare coin? I really don't know.

wybrit · February 4, 2003 9:17AM

Can't tell if it is a halfpenny or a penny, though I'd bet on it being a halfpenny. Krause lists no mintage for either coin.

Halfpenny: F-$10.00, VF-$35.00, XF-$80.00, UNC-$200.00
Penny: F-$8.00, VF-$35.00, XF-$100.00, UNC-$225.00.

This coin is below fine, so worth maybe $2-$6.

1jester · February 4, 2003 10:59PM

Thanks, folks. It is a half-penny.

1jester · September 22, 2004 1:57AM

ttt

cosmicdebris · December 21, 2004 10:45AM

TTT

oldshep · December 21, 2004 12:00PM

Does anyone know the origin of or the story behind the three legs runnining in a circle??? I have always wondered about that peculiar image.
Shep

AuldFartte · December 21, 2004 12:03PM

Here's the 1798 Half Penny (not a very good one, though)

lreneadler · December 21, 2004 1:40PM

<< <i>Does anyone know the origin of or the story behind the three legs runnining in a circle??? I have always wondered about that peculiar image.
Shep >>

I'm not too sure but I've seen it on ancient Greek coins. Whichever way you throw me I'll always land on my feet is a motto of fortitude, just as an Eagle or a Bear.

lordmarcovan · December 22, 2004 7:36AM

It's called the triskele.

Was this the first Jester's Challenge?

1jester · December 22, 2004 8:10AM

You guessed it, miLord.

ColinCMR · December 24, 2004 3:31PM

I thought it had similarities to a swastika, cool coin and neat link Lord M.

PuddlePirate · December 24, 2004 8:19PM

1813 - Napoleonic Wars are still going on, the French 1812 Russian Campaign has ended in a disaster blamed on weather (and not the French poor logistical train) and Europe is rising against the French once again. In Germany the Free States are actively rearming aided by the presence of a battered but victorious Russian Army. Russian Cossacks are pursuing the shattered remnants of the Grand Armee throughout northern Prussia and the German Free States. Austria has declared War on France and the greatest Battle of the Napoleonic Era has yet to be fought, The Battle of the Three Emperors 1813.

England is unable to participate with man-power, but once again opens its coffers and nearly bankrupts itself supplying Austria, Russia, and Prussia with the gold and silver necessary to purcharse the armaments of war. In England, massive amounts of copper and bronze coinage are made for local circulation, gold and silver is sent abroad along with the armaments necessary to crush the infamous Corsican Upstart once and for all.

How's that for a short history lesson

As for the Three legged Isle of Man Copper penny - well I must ask - are three penises better than one?

Jester's Challenge: an interactive history lesson

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