Jester's Challenge #201

1jester · January 31, 2004 8:50AM

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 two hundred first selection:

XpipedreamR · January 31, 2004 8:53AM

Gee, is it a 1994 South Africa 5 Rand?

1jester · January 31, 2004 9:02AM

Man, PipeDream! What have you been smokin'???

XpipedreamR · January 31, 2004 9:12AM

In all seriousness, I don't know anything about the coin, but I think it's really sharp. It looks prooflike if not proof.

1jester · January 31, 2004 9:18AM

YOU WIN!!!!!

It is indeed as you describe. See, here you don't have to know anything in order to participate. Ain't it great??!!!

It is proof, by the way. It has some funny striations though, and I don't know how common that is with these coins. Perhaps some experts can enlighten....oops....endarken us.

spoon · January 31, 2004 9:22AM

Actually, I think it might be a special 5 rand.. one commemorating a Presidential Inauguration, maybe??

Some massive floes on that coin! (that's the right lingo isn't it??) Nice

edit: slow on posting here

oh well

tbirde56 · January 31, 2004 9:25AM

The striations are on my circulation strike as well, to a smaller degree. Probably from the 'deep dish' central design striking.

1jester · January 31, 2004 9:48AM

Spoon, I've gotta hand it to you---you're sharp!!

Shipcoin · January 31, 2004 6:49PM

Interesting and very unusual comm. coin! and I like it , because I see an anchor on coat of arms---that means that the scan is really good!

1jester · January 31, 2004 9:47PM

Nick, you crack me up

with your affinity for all things maritime!!!! Thanks for the comments!

Shipcoin · January 31, 2004 9:52PM

<Nick, you crack me up with your affinity for all things maritime!!!! >

In my case it works only with coins, Mike (I think, that in real life I'll suffer from "sea disease" in any boat I'll take to try it

1jester · January 31, 2004 10:08PM

I remember when I was 10 years old and my dad had moved to Washington, D.C., he decided to buy a small (7meter) sailboat for the family. Of course, that meant that we had the great privelege and pleasure to go to the docks every weekend and clean/refurbish the boat. Boy did I hate that!!! Scrubbing barnacles off the underside of the hull was NOT my idea of fun. We did actually get to sail the boat a few times the next summer.

Jester's Challenge #201

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