Jester's Challenge #197

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-seventh selection:

Bruce

Not sure what this one is, and don't have a 1700's Krause. I will be curious though.

Askari

St. Rupert, Archepiscopate of Salisbury? Can't say I've ever heard of him.

1jester

Salzburg. I can't believe JamminJ hasn't picked up on this one yet!!

JamminJ

Sorry, had to step out for a bit but this coin is right up my alley!

A 1714 Salzburg quater ducut KM297 valued at $60 in VG, $120 in F, $250 in VF and $350 in XF. I'll bet that coin is tiny!

The guy on the front is St. Rupert the patron saint of Salzburg and the reverse features the coat of arms. The Archbishop at the time was Franz Anton and is mentioned in the reverse legend. We've never figured out what is in the bucket he holds.

I'm more of a silver coin collector so I cannot comment on the availability of this particular coin, but in general Salzburg coins are fairly easy to find.

Another great coin 1jester!
-JamminJ

1jester

Thanks for all the comments, folks!

JamminJ, this coin is rather small, at 14mm in diameter, but it absolutely dwarfs this coin, which is barely 5mm in diameter and by far the smallest coin I've ever laid eyes on.

This quarter ducat is brilliant uncirculated, with not a trace of wear on it nor any detracting marks. I can barely believe any coin, especially a gold one, could have survived nearly 300 years in Gem BU condition.

JamminJ

That 1/32 ducat is something else!

Why is it that in every Jester's challenge the coin I like best seems to attract the fewest replies?

-JamminJ

SYRACUSIAN

Very nice and unusual coin Jester !



<< <i>I can barely believe any coin, especially a gold one, could have survived nearly 300 years in Gem BU condition. >>



As a matter of fact, gold coins are much more likely to survive in better conditions. People always treated gold with respect, and the coins were often hoarded and not necessarily used for big transactions.

1jester

Dimitri, you're right that gold would most likely have been cared for better, and possibly hoarded rather than circulated, or otherwise collected and cared for. That's obviously the case for this coin. Obviously, gold is also inert, which helps, but since gold is so soft, it is often scratched and even bent.