Jester's Challenge #195

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 ninety-fifth selection:

laurentyvan

You always manage to show unique coins Jester-very nice!

1jester

Why thank you Laurent! I thought this would appeal to you medal lovers. Heck, I like it too!! I guess I'm attracted to the Pan-Pac issues because I was born in the Canal Zone.

By the way, I got this beauty from Blackhawk.

coinkat

very cool 1jester... It has been awhile since I have seen this one.

Shipcoin

Wow, Jester! That is awesome medal!!! Somebody here in forum told that he is (and was also she) looking for "naked guys' , but here we have also naked gals ...and sure that it is more important for me, I have sticked to that nice Sail boat!! It looks like, that Laurent and Elverno will be able to do anything to get that medal

Askari

Actually, it's a medal, not a coin. I've been chasing down nice ones on eBay, but haven't snagged one yet.

theboz11

That certainly does have attractive qualities

1jester

Boz is no doubt referring to the naked gals...

I think this is a really beautiful piece of sculpture, artistically as well as allegorically. I like how the dude on the front is holding open the gates of the oceans, to let water pass through. Wonderful allusion to the canal. I can't help but think the medical cadusus on the left also represents the medical triumph over maleria that some modern vaccinations were able to effect. In fact, it was the medical breakthrough of determining that the mosquitos there were carriers of the disease that is most noteworthy. Of course, the reverse shows a beautiful depiction of two babes, perhaps representing the two continents (as on the Monroe Doctrine commemorative). Of course, the women could also represent other things, and probably do. I like the dove at the bottom too, representing peace. And the cornucopia of goods, representing prosperity that trade brings.