Theme Coin collections + Bear Coin Help

Popcoin

How many different theme collections (eagles, ships, tigers, cats, BBLs, etc.) does everyone have?

Since I started my China Panda coin collection (I have 10 different dates now), I started looking at BEAR coins.

I just picked up the following 4 coins from danglen (Palm Coast Coins):

1996 Spain OSOS (bears) Silver Crown Proof

1990 Cook Island Grizzly Bear Proof

1990 Cook Island Koala Bear/Baby Proof

1996 Cook Island Polar Bear/Cub Proof

I plan on bidding on this one:

1992 Andorra Bear/Cub Proof

I plan on getting a couple of Canada (Polar and Grizzly) coins some time.

If anyone has pic's of any bear coins, I would love to see them.

Larry

Spinynorman

This is one of my favorites.

lordmarcovan

A worthy idea.

If you want some old bears, check out the German state of Anhalt-Bernberg- their crest is a bear marching along the top of a castle wall. And the Swiss Canton of Bern has a similar device. Greenland has a polar bear on some coins, plus they're a cool country to have in your collection- scarce, but not impossible, as I understand it.

I'm sure there are others I haven't thought of. Surely the Soviet Union must have issued a commemorative coin with a bear on it at some time?

Edit- I see the Spiny One was of a similar mind when it came to Greenland. He beat me to it!

Popcoin

Steve,

That is a very nice Greenland coin. Is it a Proof and/or do they make those in Proof. I see a 1 kroner on ebay now in VF condition for $7.50. Rather have a proof if they make them.

Larry

Spinynorman

Hi Larry, there aren't any proofs noted in the the Krause. All of the polar bear coins are one year types for circulation.

Popcoin

Thanks Steve for the info.

Thanks Rob, I will start looking for those.

Larry

Refrema

Several years ago I started to collect Viking Ships on coins and medals. I now have over 175 different ones, and new ones are getting hard to find, but they are by far my favorite collection. Since they are all different, they are a joy to look at, and even non collectors like to see them.

If more collectors worked on themes, I think that they would not lose interest as quickly as some collectors do.

Themes are fun!

Bob

Garneteye

I am presently working on a collection of coins with a Rugby theme. Since I am a type collector I feel that theme collecting is just an extension of this form of collecting. Still looking for a 1995 SA 2 rand sterling silver proof!

Dan

farthing

I'm collecting Churchill crowns

coinrookie

I collect big cats and elephant themed coins. Try Chervonets.com they have a nice 1993 1 Rouble Himalaya Bear coin in proof.

Steve

ColinCMR

Don't forget Canada's 2 dollar coin

GDJMSP

Collecting by theme ?? Uh yeah ya might say that If it has a knight on the coin - horsed or on foot matters not - and gold - I want it

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Don't forget Canada's 2 dollar coin >>



Hey, yeah... that's right! More polar bears!

theboz11

I have several Themes that I collect,, US GOLD Type sets, A starter set of PL and DMPL CC morgans by date,Cat's and BBL's(sig line), Cars, and Vickies around the world,,,,,gonna have to narrow my collecting,, I could go broke and have to sell that lightside STUFF

Farthing---

Popcoin

OOPS!!!!!!!

I messed up.

"Koalas are not bears. They are MARSUPIALS, which means that they carry their young in a pouch."

Oh well, they sorta look like a bear.


BTW, thanks Steve (coinrookie), I picked up that coin, it was a 1994, total cost $22.89:

1994 Russian 1 Rouble Himalaya Bear Proof


I just picked up this one on ebay:

1926 Greenland 25 Ore Bear UNC

Larry

shirohniichan

Don't get stuck collecting coins in different kinds of packaging-- it leads to madness!

Conder101

Believe me there are a lot more bear coins out there. There are at least five more just from Canada that haven't been mentioned. The 1980 Artic territories dollar KM 128, 1990 30 dollar platinum KM 174, 1990 75 dollar platinum KM 175, 1990 150 dollar platinum KM 176, and 300 dollar platinum M 177. And of course there are several Liteside coins with bears.

Popcoin

Michael,

Thanks for the heads up, however, with a small "Bears Theme Budget", I will not be getting gold or platinum coins.

Is this the dollar of which you are referring? Did they make a proof one?

1980 Canada Dollar

I also found another Andorra coin with a different bear design. Does anyone know how many different bear designs were made of these coins?

!984 Andorra Bear Coin

Thanks again for all the help,
Larry

Conder101

Yes that is the one I meant. Although it is described as an Unc coin they are actually of what Canada calls "Specimen" quality which would equal a brilliant proof here in the US. Unfortunately since there is no real contrast between the fields and the devices they don't actually look all that nice. Or at least not to me.

Andorra also has a 2, 10, and 50 Diners in that series that have bears on them as well. Just looked at the 1992 Andorra piece you listed in your first post is the 10 Diner not a 20 Diner as was listed in the auction.

More bears

Spitzbergen 1993 10, 25, 50, and 100 rouble. And 1998 1 and 2 rouble
Switzerland 1994 50 Francs shooting commemorative
Russia Y374 1994 1 rouble, Y409 1993 3 rouble, Y592, 594, & 622 25 rouble (all 1997), Y330 1993 50 rouble

I'm sure there are lots of others

lordmarcovan

I just noticed some 1600's Swiss coins from the canton of St. Gall with a cool rampant bear on them. The thalers are actually quite cheap in low grade, assuming you could ever find them for catalog price.

eureka

I have many gold or gilt tokens in my collection with a bear on them. No images yet though...I haven't gotten that far in imaging my collection.
However here are a couple images of extras I'm selling:

Gold, made in 1920's-1930's


Gilt, made in the 1930's-1940's

oldshep

The Canadian offerings
Shep

Conder101

It should also be pointed out that the circulation two dollar coin for Canada uses a different bear design (only one bear) than the one that has been posted twice on this thread.