TRIVIA: Glory and Horses 1

Clinker · 09-19-2008, 11:50 AM

This Trivia will expose you to some "Glory" Coins and some "Horse" subject coins. This part of the post will introduce you to "Glory" coins only.

"Glory," nunismatically, can be interpreted as "Radience" or (on ancient coins) "Radiant" devices.

There are thousands of coins bearing some form of "Glory" on them, but to peak
your interest in this subject here's two examples from the U.S's Colonial and Ferderal issues (Coin Facts):

http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_co...ugio_cents.htm

http://www.coinfacts.com/colonial_co...io_coppers.htm

This next "Glory" coin, is an Octadrachm, circa 221 - 205 B.C. Ptolemy IV loved his father so much he had the Moneyer create and strike this coin to deify Ptolmey III. That's Ptolemy III on the obverse wearing a crown. The reverse bears a "Radiant" Cornucopia (symbol of everlasting life).

Image courtesy of Coin Archives:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvie...D=289&Lot=1323

Here's an important coin in the history of the Roman Empire. When viewing this Gold Solidus please take advantage of the text appearing with it:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvie...ID=214&Lot=296

This next "Glory" example comes to us from Celtic numismatic history:

Courtesy Coin Archives:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvie...ID=136&Lot=415

This next example is one of the first ever to bear a head of a Caesar on both sides with each wearing "Radiant" Crowns:

Coin Archives:

http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotvie...ID=155&Lot=298

"Glory" on a coin was used in ancient times, as you now know from reading the text of the coins already revealed to you, but here's an Indian (India) Mohur struck circa 1611 whose designer took great pride in creating (I believe) "a work of art". Both sides of the coin are representative of that pride, but the detail and strength of his effort shines through in the sinuous beauty of the lion and in the flaming strength of an impregnable sun.

Agree?

Coin Archives:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=376&Lot=1063

Perhaps the greatest use of "Glory" is religious in nature. Halos around the heads of Jesus, angels and saints, all-seeing eye, crosses,etc.

Here's examples courtesy of Coin Archives:

Take a look at the reverse of this gold Ducat struck in 1729 with Karl VI standing in all his pomposity on the obverse. As you can see, Madonna and child are encompassed in a "Glory" oval!

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=386&Lot=4020

Here's another religious relic from earlier in world history. Circa 1464 - 1486. This Goldgulden was struck at Swabach for the Brandenburg-Francona kingdom of Albrecht Achilles. That's Saint John sporting a "Radiant" halo.

http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/...image00574.jpg

After Religion, a sun becomes the dominent "Glory" device This is evident in the coinage of Central and South America.

The following examples courtesy Coin Archives:

This 1826 Argentina Gold 8 Escudos adds a human touch to the Sun whose "Radience" shines forth all around it:

http://imagedb.coinarchives.com/img/...image00921.jpg

Let's jump forward 12 years to 1838 when Argentina, as a Federation, struck this gold 8 Escudos featuring a "Radiant" Sun above the shield:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...ID=387&Lot=925

And look what Bolivia created:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...ID=387&Lot=947

And the Republic of Chile struck this gold 8 Escudos in 1820:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...ID=387&Lot=999

Costa Rico, a member of the Central American Republic, minted this 1831 Silver 8 Reales:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=387&Lot=1043

In 1842 Ecuador's Quito Mint struck this gold 8 Escudos:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=387&Lot=1046

Guatemala, another Central American Republic member, put a "Radiant" Sun above 5 volcanoes on this 1824 gold 8 Escudos:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=387&Lot=1058

And, also in 1824, struck this silver 8 Reales showing a "Radiant" setting Sun overlooking a valley beset with a row of volcanoes:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=387&Lot=1060

We return to South America to see what the mint at Cuzco in Southern Peru did to "Glorify" the sun on this 1838 gold 8 Escudos:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=387&Lot=1188

And the design on this silver 8 Reales:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=387&Lot=1190

Lest all these Spanish-American "Glory" coins bore you here's a couple other examples of "Glory:"

1897 Japanese 5 Yen:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=388&Lot=1662

Hungarian 1678 15 Krajczar:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=388&Lot=2743

Iranian 1978 5 Pahlevi:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=388&Lot=1613

Italian 1614 crudly hammered AR Soldi:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=380&Lot=2082

Wondering, "What about Mexican Coins?"

Here's a 1904 Peso with the familiar " Radiant" Libertad Cap design on the reverse:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=388&Lot=2927

And a 1905 50 Centavos:

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=388&Lot=2930

Okay, okay! I hear all you Peace Dollar collectors!

Anthony De Francisci helped make the Peace Dollar more beautiful by including "Glory" on its reverse:

(Coin Page)

http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=4783

A. A. Weinman included "Glory" in his design of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar which debuted five years earlier in 1916, on its obverse:

Coin Facts:

http://www.coinfacts.com/half_dollar...f_dollars.html

Augustus Saint Gaudens beat both designers with his creation of the $20 (Double Eagle) gold piece which was released in 1906. Not only did he predate them, but both sides of the coin bears "Glory":

http://www.coinfacts.com/double_eagl...nt_gaudens.htm

Up-to-date uses of "Glory" on U.S. COINS extends to the Bullion issues:

Silver Eagle

(Coin Page):

http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=6394

Gold Eagle:

http://www.coinpage.com/large.php?tImageId=6658

Platinum Eagle (reverse):

http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-22.html

And I'd be remiss to not show you the United States 1996 National Community Service Commemorative Silver Dollar (Coin Page):

http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2579.html

Here is a unique use of color, dimension and perspective to create "Glory" you probably have never seen. Authorized by Benin, it's a gold 30,000 Francs coin (courtesy Coin Archives):

http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvie...D=299&Lot=3519

This ends "Glory" on the coins part of Glory and Horse 1

The "Horse" on coins part of Glory and Horse 2 will be posted in a few days.

Did you enjoy?

Clinker

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