Jester's Challenge #208

1jester · February 7, 2004 4:31AM

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 eighth selection:

JamminJ · February 7, 2004 3:30PM

That's a tough one, I'll at least open the guessing with medieval French due to the fleur de lies looking device on the crown.

Something tells me it's not in the Krause.

-JamminJ

1jester · February 7, 2004 9:03PM

Boy, Krause is weak!!! I knew there was some reason I didn't need a Krause!

This is a coin which was minted for hundreds of years by many different rulers, and also served duty in many different countries as a sort of standard. It's about 23-24 mm in diameter. It's not French.

Where are all the experts??? Where are the lion lovers??

newbiecollector · February 7, 2004 9:11PM

I will show my ignorance......... is it Greek?..

1jester · February 7, 2004 9:14PM

Sorry, but it's not Greek. Think of some other strong countries, which may or may not be powerful or significant today. It is a hammered coin, by the way, which dates it to pre-1600. In fact, I'll go even further and say this particular coin was minted from 1310-1346.

1jester · February 7, 2004 9:18PM

Here's another big clue: Bohemia.

newbiecollector · February 7, 2004 9:22PM

I knew I would be wrong but, I wanted to try....

1jester · February 7, 2004 9:24PM

Without your help, Wayne, it wouldn't be an "interactive" project!!!!

Thanks for participating!

newbiecollector · February 7, 2004 9:26PM

Yup........ I got it wrong but I got a prize........ great photo of another of your coins.....Thanks!

1jester · February 8, 2004 3:07AM

OK, this coin is known as a Prague Gross (grosz/groschen). Due to inflation, they varied in size (smaller in later years).

Jester's Challenge #208

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