I found this when digging a water line. I need help Identifying what country and value. Any help would be apprecited.
Great Britain, 1946. I don't follow these too closely, so I can't give a real accurate value. But I'd be surprised if it was more than a dollar or two.
According to 2006 catalog the 1946 has .2273 ounces actual silver weight. This other figure I think was actual coin weight, because the coin is made from 50% silver which makes it worth $1.73 for silver value or $2.00 in very fine numistimatic value. Olmanjon
This raises the question of why "Great Britain" isn't imprinted on the coin somewhere. Did they think the world revolved around their island or something?
Actually for many years the world did revolve the British Empire. At one time they could claim that the sun never set on the British Empire. Olmanjon
like GD said...it does say its British but in a way you might not have recognized (which is kind of stating the obvious) and he didnt explain...If you are in fact interested in the inscriptions, they read like this: The front inscription says George VI D:G (Dei Gratia) BR OMN REX It means: George VI by the Grace of God (D:G = Dei Gratia), King (Rex) of all(Omn) Britian / British Territories (BR) The Reverse is FID DEF IND IMP (Defender (def) of the Faith (fid), Emperor(imp) of India (ind))
I've been looking at these lately. What language is this, from what time period and why did they decide to use it on their coins for so long?
Its Latin. Its the only language that's ever been used on British coins, I believe. To answer your last question with a question - why do we have E Pluribus Unum on ours?
Because it was the motto for our nation up until a group petitioned to have it changed to 'in god we trust'...its amazing that its still used..I am glad though, since I believe it is a far superior motto...my opinion of course. As to WHY they chose to do it in Latin? Latin has been and remains the language of Law and in many ways, government since much of the government is concerned with law...we are an offshoot of Britain and I assume the short answer would be in some ways, especially when our first national motto was implemented...we carried the practice of using Latin for such things as well. Most of our money does NOT use Latin save for that motto. I think Latin is considered a more regal or official way of saying things sometimes...like my tag line...it seems a little more interesting than just saying 'money doesn't grow on trees'...Money is issued by the government which is law and the language of law is latin. That and just a very long tradition of money in Britain using Latin on the coins which I am sure was picked up because of Church (latin), Law (latin), and probably Roman influence.
That was the answer I was too lazy to write, thanks. My motto is in Latin too. But its rude and had better not be translated.
In the days of old latin was used on all of the coinage of the western world since the time of Rome. But there was an underlying reason besides the influence of Rome. Latin was the only written language in the western world. And since the vast majority of all scholars were either monks or priest latin was it. Not only were coins inscribed in latin, but all official and Royal documents were as well. Change did not come until well after the Dark Ages. So latin was used on coins for almost 2000 years and by the time other written languages came to be it was an entrenched tradition. It is only in modern times that it has changed.
For a quick Identification, that is a British Half Crown coin about EF-40, worth about 3.00 (Krause Catalogue of World Coins 2004).