Jester's Challenge #198

1jester · January 16, 2004 4:23AM

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-eighth selection:

oldshep · January 16, 2004 4:30AM

WOW!!! I'm in love!! That is a beauty - what is the date or did I just miss it? I've never seen it before and it is eye candy!!!!!
Shep

newsman · January 16, 2004 4:36AM

The date's on the edge and can't be seen in the photo.

1jester · January 16, 2004 4:39AM

Well, when in doubt, just trust the sl*b!!!

It's an NGC MS-66 1970 500 Lira piece, Clankeye pedigree.

Bruce · January 16, 2004 4:45AM

It is a cool coin, I was wondering where the date was.

oldshep · January 16, 2004 4:48AM

MS66 - What is the mark at the 11:00 position on the reverse - it looks like a lamination type defect but must be an artifact of the photo.
Boy, I love that coin.
Shep

1jester · January 16, 2004 4:51AM

Shep, the mark is some kind of toning artifact. It's hardly noticeable in person. The overall look of the coin is gorgeous and a scanner can't pick up on the vibrance of the colors.

....trade it for your icon coin....

oldshep · January 16, 2004 4:55AM

I believe it - I keep coming back to it over and over - a 1970 shouldn't be real hard to find, although probably way outside of my budget. The fine lines on the portrait are amazing - you hardly see that kind of detail as consistant as those are, just beautiful. Thanks for sharing this one.
Shep

1jester · January 16, 2004 5:05AM

Thanks Shep!

I like the glossy-smooth silkiness to this coin. It's really fine and exquisite. I don't know how else to describe it; perhaps they are all this way? But I do like the coin.

Askari · January 16, 2004 5:13AM

Most lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!

oldshep · January 16, 2004 5:28AM

Jester - I looked that up in Krause and was amazed to see that coin was produced from 1958 to 1998 and the prices are not outlandish - some of the mintages were quite small - in the 60000 to 70000 range. This is not an unattainable coin. That's why I like this forum - there is so much variety out there that we can see some of the best through this venue.
Shep

cladking · January 16, 2004 5:44AM

This is another of the moderns which have been heavily melted. This one's hard
to get a handle on as to numbers but the melts probably concentrated on the
circulated early dates.

elverno · January 16, 2004 5:54AM

That, by the Lord Almighty, is a beautiful coin!

tlhoy · January 16, 2004 5:59AM

This is the kind of coin I'm going to be looking for at the coin show this weekend.
Great coin, O' Great Darkside Pilgrim Sojourner!

Glenn

hookedoncoins · January 16, 2004 6:05AM

Very nice coin... I have a similar one minus the toning.

-Jarrett Roberts

JamminJ · January 16, 2004 6:42AM

That's really an eye catcher. The obverse reminds me a bit of the Victoria gothic crowns and florins.

-JamminJ

MacCrimmon · January 16, 2004 7:23AM

Ooooooh, my!! Love that portrait!!

1jester · January 16, 2004 7:50AM

Thanks for all the comments folks!

MacMouse, I'll trade it for your present sig line coin!

SYRACUSIAN · January 16, 2004 5:15PM

This is one of Italy's most popular silver coins and can be very easily located for anybody who's interested. What made this coin famous, is its rare variety , where the flags of the ships on the reverse are looking the other way, against the wind.

Shipcoin · January 17, 2004 2:44PM

Great shipcoin, Mike and in a very great condition! I managed to get it only in VF, so I'll continue to find the better one sample. As far as I know that coin # 98 , shows us Columbus's fleet---his three famaous ships, that made the history.

Interesting remark, Dmitri, I never heard about that variety before!

1jester · January 17, 2004 8:30PM

Nick, I wasn't aware that the three ships were Columbus' ships! I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Italy would want to share in Spain's glory.

Shipcoin · January 18, 2004 1:14AM

BTW, Mike, many coins from different countries have his fleet or his flagman ship on them: Somalia, Dominican Republic, Portugal and many others also, only Spain has something that has Wayne, but you cann't find in any catalogue!

When all the world have celebrated 500 years of Discovery of America many countries have minted nice coins with his fleet or his ships and part of them are real rarites!

Jester's Challenge #198

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