Jester's Challenge #210

1jester · February 7, 2004 4:34AM

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 tenth selection:

spoon · February 7, 2004 6:09AM

Freddy the Great! That's a really cool one

Do they all have that prominent edge-(whatchamacallit)??

The year he died too...

1jester · February 7, 2004 6:30AM

I'm glad you like the coin, Spoon! I like the reverse design.

Yes, it's his swan-song year. By the way, he's guilty of helping partition Poland (first partition in 1772), so he's NO friend of Poland. So I also must consider this coin as one of my least favorites....

Even if it does have ample mint luster....

newsman · February 7, 2004 8:27AM

I don't have an 18th-century Krause, but is this what is known as the "death thaler"?

1jester · February 7, 2004 8:29AM

Newsman, I don't know. But I thought this coin more suitably fits the definition of "death thaler."

historygeek · February 7, 2004 8:37AM

<<<So I also must consider this coin as one of my least favorites>>>

Giveaway?

1jester · February 7, 2004 8:40AM

Well, I can't fault your logic, HG!!

1jester · February 8, 2004 11:02PM

Another bone I have to pick with this wretched coin is that it appears to be the product of inflation. For a Thaler, it's miniscule!!!

It weighs in at only 21.88 grams, and has a diameter of 37.5 mm, making it the smallest Thaler coin I've ever seen.

newbiecollector · February 8, 2004 11:06PM

<< <i>Another bone I have to pick with this wretched coin is that it appears to be the product of inflation. For a Thaler, it's miniscule!!!

It weighs in at only 21.88 grams, and has a diameter of 37.5 mm, making it the smallest Thaler coin I've ever seen.

>>

I can seen that you are disappointed so, just to help out, send it to me. I will hide it over here.......

1jester · February 9, 2004 12:54AM

Newbie, thanks for your charitable offer! I'll have to keep it under consideration. I might just keep it around in order to remind myself of what a terrible, embarrasing and disgusting dog of a coin it is!! Even if it does have lots of mint luster and almost proof-like fields.

1jester · February 9, 2004 12:56AM

That reminds me--the last coin I had of this ruler, a third Thaler, I simply gave away; it was also disgusting in my eyes....

spoon · February 9, 2004 12:59AM

Inflation? Interesting. It looks like a decent thickness though.. is it? Were any of the earlier thalers in the series larger? I don't have a book for that period.

Let me add my name to the drawing list! I don't see why you don't like it on its merits.. It's got really strong detail and a cool design, even if the guy was a jerk

I mean, if I weeded out all the coins from people/places I don't like personally I wouldn't have much! But then I think that was half the reason I was attracted to them in the first place. Odd, eh?

spoon · February 9, 2004 1:01AM

<< <i>That reminds me--the last coin I had of this ruler, a third Thaler, I simply gave away; it was also disgusting in my eyes.... >>

Hey ol buddy, ol pal

you know I collect this stuff right??

1jester · February 9, 2004 1:37AM

Actually, it is a very decent example of the type. But other Thalers of different countries are significantly larger and heavier.

1775 Talar, Poland 40 mm, 27.96 grams

1648 Thaler, Gelderland 42 mm, 27.12 grams

1764 Thaler, Austrian Netherlands 41 mm, 29.04 grams

farthing · February 9, 2004 8:49AM

But Jester, it's German silver! Therefore it has more inherent value than Polish or Dutch silver. Thus it is only proper that the coin be smaller and lighter than your other examples!

1jester · February 9, 2004 9:03AM

Philip · February 9, 2004 3:00PM

<< <i>Freddy the Great! That's a really cool one

Do they all have that prominent edge-(whatchamacallit)??

The year he died too... >>

Did I hear "giveaway"?

Jester's Challenge #210

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