Most beautiful world coins ever?

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 12:17AM

Let's say you were considering a box of 20 of the most beautiful (and still affordable) coins in history. What would you include?

Some parameters:

*You should only consider design, not condition (toning, rarity, grade, etc.)

*You should also keep it within a reasonable price range, let's say under $500 per example. Price limitation must be considered for many (most?) collectors.

*Artistic design beats out historical significance. We will save that aspect for another box of 20.

So, with that said, what coins should be considered for a box of 20 that is comprised of the most artistically pleasing coin designs ever produced?

Weiss · March 3, 2014 12:56AM

Well I don't know how you'd order the other 16. I say 16, because the #1, #2, #3, and #4 spots would be taken by Jadwiga.

I would say the Una would be #5, but she's outside of your cost parameters. Maybe the New Guinea 5 mark?

Hyperion · March 3, 2014 1:16AM

I've seen children's play coins with more attractive obverses than that!!!!!!!

Weiss · March 3, 2014 1:18AM

<< I've seen children's play coins with more attractive obverses than that!!!!!!! >>

I'm sorry, Hype. It's not opinion, and it's not open to debate. It is, in fact, the world's most beautiful coin.

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 1:27AM

I agree with the Una suggestion, maybe more along the lines of some of the silver Britannia designs.

Here's one I was thinking of : Italy (coin archives)

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 1:28AM

<< It is, in fact, the world's most beautiful coin. >>

Well, there ya go!

Weiss · March 3, 2014 1:29AM

No doubt one of the Quadriga pieces would be there. Yours is a modern interpretation of the ancient. But it's certainly more affordable than the "real" pieces ($2M):

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 1:39AM

Ooh... there's a beauty! There are some great ancient designs that are just out of the realm of consideration.

Like this one. (coin archives)

That's why I put the limitation in there, since most of us won't ever be able to own certain coins. This is more of a "do-able" list, I guess. One we can all consider as a possibility.

brg5658 · March 3, 2014 1:57AM

I've always been quite fond of the Roty designed "Sower".

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 2:09AM

<< I've always been quite fond of the Roty designed "Sower". >>

I'm with you on that one. Great design!

Hyperion · March 3, 2014 2:16AM

<< 

<< I've seen children's play coins with more attractive obverses than that!!!!!!! >>

I'm sorry, Hype. It's not opinion, and it's not open to debate. It is, in fact, the world's most beautiful coin. >>

dam. welp. you can't argue with something like that on the Internet. I stand corrected.

coinkat · March 3, 2014 2:31AM

While design should withstand the test of time, issues associated with technology and the ability to reduce a design to an exceptional finished product should be factored into this. Perhaps breaking this down by centuries and identifying 10 coins for each century prior to 1600 and 20 for 1600 to the present. The reason for the increase is due to population/countries and number of coins produced.

I am suggesting this out of fairness and in an effort to have more of an apples to apples, oranges to oranges comparison to the extent that is even possible.

I appreciate opinions, but there should be some perimeters so we are not comparing ancient Greek to modern Italian. I suppose there could even be a lively debate of when modern Italian starts...

I hope you all appreciate the reasoning even if you disagree with it.

ajaan · March 3, 2014 2:50AM

Gothic Crown.

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 3:07AM

<< While design should withstand the test of time, issues associated with technology and the ability to reduce a design to an exceptional finished product should be factored into this. Perhaps breaking this down by centuries and identifying 10 coins for each century prior to 1600 and 20 for 1600 to the present. The reason for the increase is due to population/countries and number of coins produced.

I am suggesting this out of fairness and in an effort to have more of an apples to apples, oranges to oranges comparison to the extent that is even possible.

I appreciate opinions, but there should be some perimeters so we are not comparing ancient Greek to modern Italian. I suppose there could even be a lively debate of when modern Italian starts...

I hope you all appreciate the reasoning even if you disagree with it. >>

I see what you mean. There are probably a good deal of factors that we each can apply to this scenario. I've already got some great ideas and was thinking of making a solid list, just to see how it looks on paper. I'll bet the majority of the coins come out as post-1600 coins just by affordability alone.

SmEagle1795 · March 3, 2014 3:09AM

While not technically a coin, I recently fell off the bandwagon and bought this (which cost $400, probably not worth that much but I kept clicking "Bid" because it was too darn gorgeous):

Belgium. Medal (1857). Forrer VI, p.487. Bronze. 60 mm. By Jacques Wiener. St. Peter's at Rome. Extremely Fine.

ajaan · March 3, 2014 3:36AM

Fantstic medal SE. I've always like those.

lordmarcovan · March 3, 2014 3:51AM

lordmarcovan · March 3, 2014 3:59AM

(Images borrowed from here)

ajaan · March 3, 2014 4:05AM

LM, that is one beautiful coin.

lordmarcovan · March 3, 2014 4:32AM

Yeah, I keep it under my pillow at night. The plastic slab protects it from the drool.

(Trouble is, every time I wake up from my dreams, it ain't under the pillow anymore.)

lordmarcovan · March 3, 2014 4:35AM

If I had to pick a Liteside coin for the "World's Most Beautiful" list, this would be my nominee:

theboz11 · March 3, 2014 4:38AM

Always my first choice when these posts come up.

sumnom · March 3, 2014 6:31AM

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 6:49AM

Let us not forget Italy:

Actually I got a 1913 20 centesimi in a bank wrapped roll a couple of years ago.

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 6:50AM

<< Well I don't know how you'd order the other 16. I say 16, because the #1, #2, #3, and #4 spots would be taken by Jadwiga.

>>

The Jadwiga coins are some of my favourites. I really like early 20th century Polish, Portuguese, Italian and Romanian coins.

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 7:00AM

<< Let us not forget Italy >>

I was trying to decide on one from Italy and eventually chose the 2 lire (quadriga design).

Great suggestions so far!

trozau · March 3, 2014 7:03AM

Pistrucci's St George slaying a dragon in a silver Crown or gold Sovereign.

brg5658 · March 3, 2014 7:16AM

<< If I had to pick a Liteside coin for the "World's Most Beautiful" list, this would be my nominee:

>>

Doesn't exactly fit the < $500 requirement set by the OP.

FilthyBroke · March 3, 2014 7:24AM

<< 

<< If I had to pick a Liteside coin for the "World's Most Beautiful" list, this would be my nominee:

>>

Doesn't exactly fit the < $500 requirement set by the OP. >>

Yeah, I'm loose on the budget requirement but not that loose!

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 7:38AM

<< 

Yeah, I'm loose on the budget requirement but not that loose!

>>

The 50 Lire didn't fit the bill either. Sorry. The Italian 20 cts can be bought for a couple of bucks though.

coinkat · March 3, 2014 7:48AM

The same or substantially similar design can be found on other Italian denominations- a red 1911 10 Cent. will easily fit within the 500 limit.

The 1921Mexico SILVER 2 Pesos deserves some consideration as does the Edward VII Florin

lordmarcovan · March 3, 2014 8:28AM

<<

>>

I always called that the "Marianne lost her ice cream cone in a windstorm" design.

lordmarcovan · March 3, 2014 8:30AM

<< Doesn't exactly fit the < $500 requirement set by the OP. >>

Neither does the Gothic crown, or the Swiss 5-franc, for that matter.

I didn't read the OP very well.

ajaan · March 3, 2014 8:31AM

<< I didn't read the OP very well >>

Neither did I.

Under $500 I would say a Gothic Florin.

OldEastside · March 3, 2014 10:04AM

me like this thread so tttt

Steve

harasha · March 3, 2014 10:45AM

For me, this was the coin design that was my first love:

Aethelred · March 3, 2014 11:09AM

You are not gonna take this puppy home for under $500, but what an amazing coin:

brg5658 · March 3, 2014 1:19PM

A readily available type for < $500 in gem condition.

STLNATS · March 3, 2014 1:21PM

<< 

<<

>>

I always called that the "Marianne lost her ice cream cone in a windstorm" design.

>>

The question is so subjective that the answers reveal more about the person about than the coins themselves. In terms of the last century or so, the French 1930-1960 coins are some of the best designs that are both stylish and accurately reflect their times; the 100 fr is a great example. Better yet, the darned things actually circulated and weren't made just to appeal to collectors. But then, I think that the humble 1-10 pfennig, 1 mark and generic 5 mk silver coins of "West" Germany are amazingly effective and attractive designs (which is an odd statement indeed for someone who collects baroque papal!).

edited to add: I agree that that 20 fr rooster is a great pick also. The obverse was used on a number of turn of the century medals.

LochNESS · March 3, 2014 4:08PM

I think the coins of Bhutan are underrated, design-wise. And they can be easily had for < $500. This one is PR68 DCAM, although you wouldn't know it from this cr@ppy PCGS Secure Plus image:

This one has a classic, regal lion and artsy dude in draped clothes w/ wreath of olive? (coinfacts photo = nicer)

Here's another pretty design IMO. Sorry I don't have a cropped image:

This one is definitely "pretty" looking, but you must have an eye for modern ... which many don't ...

LochNESS · March 3, 2014 4:15PM

... these girls are pretty popular ...

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 10:40PM

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 10:46PM

Iceland 2 Kronur 1930 - commemorating 100th anniversary of Althing

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 10:47PM

Romania

SaorAlba · March 3, 2014 10:50PM

Polska - Poland

Like to see Queen Jadwiga return on the Polish euro coins - now there is due impetus to adopting the euro with the USSR starting to rebuild it self in the bEast.

STLNATS · March 3, 2014 10:55PM

Wonderful Portugal circulation issues. Seems to be a series that's devilishly hard to find in such nice shape!

brg5658 · March 3, 2014 11:01PM

Lots of beautiful coins posted here so far. Here are a few others from my collection that I find to be lovely designs.

davidrj · March 3, 2014 11:19PM

French design appears to be winning here

One of my favourites that is very affordable

[URL=http://s593.photobucket.com/user/microtome/media/Fr1362710Centimes1916-1.jpg.html]

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David

FilthyBroke · March 4, 2014 3:08AM

Some great suggestions here, thanks everyone! I'm considering using this idea to put together a box of 20 set. A few of these suggestions I've forgotten about and others I've never seen before. But now I have a few ideas of what to start looking for.

worldcoinguy · March 4, 2014 3:30AM

I would comb the swiss shooting talers for possible contenders. A few of my favorite designs - all well under the $500 threshold in mint condition.

Exbrit · March 4, 2014 4:00AM

<< Always my first choice when these posts come up.

>>

I'll have to give this one honorable mention and may add it to one of the 20. I have to agree that Jadwiga should be included and agree with Trozau that the St. George reverse on the sovereign is a must.

Most beautiful world coins ever?

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