Jester's Challenge #157

1jester

Welcome to Jester's Challenge, an interactive history lesson.

Inspired by many others here on the Darkside forum, I'd like to present what I hope will turn into a great learning experience for all of us. Many members on this World and Ancient Coin Forum have done a formidable job of sharing with us many fascinating and historically important coins. Since looking at coins is also one of my greatest pleasures, 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 presume to know 1/1000 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 most importantly, more friendship.

Thanks for your participation!!!

Here is the one hundred fifty-seventh selection:

newsman

Gee ... that looks familiar.

1jester

I knew you'd find that, Newsman....

But it looks like nobody knows what it is.

elverno

Well it looks like a 960 reis, Brasil. But I don't know what the counter-stamp is...

newsman

Hint: It's not a counterstamp -- it's struck over another coin.

1jester

The reverse clearly shows the original coin--just stare at it a while and it'll come to you.

newsman

ttt

1jester

<< <i>ttt >>



How tttimely!!

JZrarities

Struck over a Mexico 8-Reales ?

1jester

1796 to be exact (I believe).

Looks like the Fungus is growing these!!

TwoKopeiki

I knew this coin looked familiar (i've been the highest bidder on it for a few hours now ).

newsman

I never could figure out the date or mint on the undercoin when I owned it.

Based on the strike characteristics though, I can guess that the 960 reis was coined at the Rio de Janeiro mint, even though the mintmark isn't struck up.

lordmarcovan

Nice one. I have a holey 960 reis of the same era on my Holey Coin Vest, and you can see some of the undertype, but it's nowhere near as pronounced as that. Cool coin!

newsman

Here's one that's a bit more obvious, an 1810 from the Bahia mint struck over an 1807 Santiago mint 8 reales:

TwoKopeiki

That's a nice piece, mr. Newsman! I love 8 Reales (as either the host, or by itself) and would pay a premium to be able to see year/mintmark, if it's a host.