HI... and welcome to this newest Trivia. You probably know the U.S. Half Cent and One Cent coins first minted by the United States Mint at Philadelphia bore the denominations as fractions (1/200 and 1/100) as these photos will testify to: Photos courtesy of coinfacts.com. http://www.coinfacts.com/half_cents/half_cents_liberty_cap_head_left.html http://www.coinfacts.com/large_cents/1793_chain_cents/1793_chain_cents.html Here's a USA Gold Quarter-eagle you probably know bears the fraction $2 1/2: http://www.coinfacts.com/quarter_eagles/capped_bust_quarter_eagles/capped_bust_2-1_2_gold.html Are there fractions on other coins of any nation? What countries and what denominations? One (perhaps the latest date) comes to mind because it is a legal tender coin of a small Central American nation that gained its independence from Columbia with the help of the USA when it okayed the building of a canal from the Atlantic to Pacific Ocean. Panama! This denomination was first minted in 1904, but it was not until 1907 that a fraction was placed on its reverse. Here's a photo of that coin courtesy of Don's Coin Gallery: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...7.1 2.5 Centesimos (1907)&query=Panama km 7.1 This next coin photo was a real treat for me to find (hope you enjoy seeing it too). It's one of Hawaii's first coins (1883) and is courtesy of coinfacts: http://www.coinfacts.com/hawaiian_coins/1883_hawaiian_half_dollar.htm Our next example of a coin bearing a fraction is this 1863 pattern 1/4 Cent produced by the Heaton Mint in England for Sarawak. That's the "White Raja," J. Brooke, on the obverse. It is ectremely rare! http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=693227&AucID=505&Lot=294 Another rare coin bearing a fraction on it is this 1/4 Rupee from the Cis-Sutlej States region of India during the reign of Maler Kotla (1871-1908): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=693457&AucID=505&Lot=605 Please step aboard my imaginary time machine so we can travel a little farther into the past (1815-1816) for a momentary pause in Criquatown, South Africa at the office of Reverand John Campbell located in the building complex occupied by the London Missionary Society. He's opening a crate sent to him all the way from England by Thomas Haliday. Look there are newly minted coins in that crate! Wow that Half Penny sure is nice with that dove on the obverse. Know what we are witnessing? This is the only coinage in history issued by missionaries who funded the entire (minting and shipping) costs! You can see it now couirtesy of coinarchives: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=689190&AucID=501&Lot=2676 Hurry! Our time machine's getting ready to travel even farther back in time to one of the first Spanish Silver mines in the Americas (Potosi). Look there, on the ground, Why it's a 1/4 Real dated 1808! Must have fallen off a load being carried to the warf by llamas. Here, you take a look: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=689248&AucID=501&Lot=2815 The time machine is revving up again! Is that the Cyprus Mint? All the coins are dated 1887. Aha! Look at the reverse; 1/4! This is a 1/4 Piastre! http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=689055&AucID=501&Lot=2551 What? You say, you've heard many of the 17th century thalers of the German States are denominated in fractions. You know, you're right! Let's get aboard our time machine. This time I'm overriding the controls. I'll zero in on Saxony and set the time diffrentiator for1674. What's that coin, she's using to pay for those baked goods? Why it's a 1673 1/3 Taler (Saxony spelling of Thaler). See that large fraction? http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=638607&AucID=468&Lot=672 It's time to stop this TRIVIA, but there's another batch of fractions I want to reveal to you before I end this post. Not just coins bore fractions but some very important tokens were struck as fractional pieces. Here's the last photo (courtesy of coinarchives) of this trivia (by no means least important): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=583409&AucID=425&Lot=1506 Just wanted to give you something different to consider... Clinker
Another good source of coins with fractions ? Why, California fractionals, of course ! Lots of 1/4 and 1/2 on those. Another coin with a fraction - 1796-97 US 50c (Draped Bust, small eagle). Tough type. As always... thanks for all the effort, Clinker.
900fine If I showed all the coins with fractions It would take three days to post all the articles, but I sure "thank" you for mentioning the gold fractionals and the halves. Clinker
Yep. I just pointed out the Californias because of a recent thread about them (and the fact that the disapperance of the fractions was an attempt to avoid counterfeiting charges from los federales). I mentioned the 96-97 halves due to the distinctive "1/2" which appears nowhere else on regular US coinage - and their great expense.
And it's not just the denomination that can have a fraction. I have a 25 centavos coin from the Dominican Republic that also shows the weight, 6 1/4 grams.
