Hello everyone and thanks to George Irwin for inviting me to join Coin Talk. George did a good job of introducing my project but I will state it briefly here again. I am a National Geographic photographer (who has visited more than 100 countries) preparing a photography book called SACRED LIFE, Coins of the Natural World. The book will feature black and white photographs of several hundred coins with very specific images on the coins: Animals, Plants, Birds, Undersea creatures, Plants, Reptiles and Insects. I am not actually a coin collector, nor am I collecting coins - I am a collector of PHOTOGRAPHS of coins.
The theme of the book is very simple and clear: We have living beings all over our money, let's use that money to protect them. You could think of the book as a Zoo, a Botanical Garden, an Aquarium and an Aviary. By putting this book together I am trying to inspire people to recognize that we humans are surrounded by living things, which are every bit as valuable to the grand scheme of global life as we are. Through the mediums of money, art (coins have some of the greatest sculpture ever produced), history, biology and numerous others, the book will appeal to a wide variety of people, in countries all over the world.
There will be chapters for each of the categories of living beings represented. Each page will show four coins, on a white background, and the coins will be shown at approximately three inches in diameter. Beneath each coin will be listed the Country, Denomination, Living Species, Year of Issue. The beginning of the book will have a 5-10 page introduction, which will explain its theme, and it will also briefly tell the history of coin use, their method of manufacture and some other interesting facts. The book is being prepared in black and white so that it will be less expensive than color to produce, and thereby less expensive for people to purchase.
I conceived of this book idea nearly twenty years ago when I was in Istanbul, Turkey doing some photography for another book I was working on. I found a few contemporary coins with living beings on them, was inspired by the beauty of the coins, and wanted to share that beauty with more people. As I thought more about the book, I realized it would be a good way to get people to value and respect other forms of life instead of only human beings.
So far, as of April 1, more than a dozen different coin collectors and dealers have lent me more than 300 coins, and altogether I have photographed more than 400. All of the coins that people lend me to photograph are perfectly taken care of, the surfaces are not shinned, and everything is promptly returned to the owners as soon as I photograph the coins. I can provide the names and contact information of each of the people who lent me coins, in case any of you reading this want to check on me even more.
The coins I am photographing for the book are really of no value other than their face value. I am not seeking old coins or valuable coins - I want to photograph every-day coins that every-day people carry in their pockets and purses. I would be grateful if anyone receiving this letter will lend me - again, for no more than one week - any of the coins on the list below. If you would like to see a list of the coins I have already photographed, send me an email at
martin@sacredsites.com and I will email that list back to you. If you want to see many of the coins I have already photographed, there are photographs of them on these four pages of my web site:
Animals
http://sacredsites.com/coins/animals/
Plants
http://sacredsites.com/coins/plants/
Birds
http://sacredsites.com/coins/birds/
Fish
http://sacredsites.com/coins/fish/
If you wish to call and speak with me by phone, my number in Arizona is 928-274-5699. The coins may be sent to my post box address (Martin Gray, PO 4111, Sedona, Arizona 86340) or to my street address (Martin Gray, c/o Sedona Moving and Storage, 2060 Contractor's Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336). Here is the list of coins that I still need to photograph. If you have other coins that you think I might like to photograph, send me an email and I will tell you if I have already photographed them.
Thank you very much.
B
Botswana, 5 Pula, 1978, Gemsbok, KM#11
Botswana, 5 Pula, 1986, Red Lechwes, KM#19
British Virgin Islands, 25 Cents, 1985, Blue marlin, KM#45
C
China, 5 Yuan, 1995, Golden monkey, KM#714
Costa Rica, 100 Colones, 1974, Manatee, KM#201
Cuba, 1 Peso, 1983, Spiny lobster, KM#107
G
Gibraltar, 1 Crown, 1997, Peacocks, KM#514
I
Isle of Man, 1/5 Crown, 1994, Japanese bobtail cat, KM#475
Isle of Man, 1 Crown, 2000, Kitten with world globe, KM#1056
Israel, 1 New Sheqel, 1993, Buck and young Hart deer, KM#243
Israel, 1 New Sheqel, 1994, Leopard, KM#259
Israel, 1 New Sheqel, 1995, Fox, KM#274
Italy, 200 Lire, 1991, Wolf, KM#142
L
Latvia, 10 Latu, 1996, Grieze bird, KM#10
M
Malawi, 5 Kwacha, 1978, Zebras running, KM#15
Malawi, 10 Kwacha, 1978, Sable antelope, KM#16
Maldive Islands, 5 Rufiyaa, 1978, Spiny lobster, KM#57
Mongolia, 50 Tugrik, 1976, Camel running, KM#37
N
New Zealand, 2 Dollars, 1993, Sacred Kingfisher, KM#87
O
Oman, 75 Rials, 1976, 1996, Arabian Tahr, KM#63
P
Papua New Guinea, 5 Kina, 1997-98, Snake in tree, KM#44
R
Russia, 3 Roubles, 1997, Polar bear watching walrus, Y#593
S
San Marino, 5 Lire, 1974, Porcupine, KM#32
South Africa, 2-1/2 Cents, 1997, Knysna seahorse, KM#174
South Africa, 2-1/2 Cents, 1998, Jackass Penguin, KM#176
Spitzbergen, 10,25,50,100 Roubles, Polar bear, KM#Tn5-8
Sudan, 5 Pounds, 1976, Hippopotamus with calf, KM#71
V
Venezuela, 25 Bolivares, 1975, Jaguar, Y#46
Venezuela, 50 Bolivares, 1975, Giant Armadillo, Y#47
Vietnam, 10 Dong, 1986, Water buffalo, KM#15
Y
Yemen, 10 Riyals, 1969, Three gazelles leaping, KM#7
Yemen, 20 Riyals, 1969, Camel with rider, KM#9
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