Another fine tread Siberian Man. Is the recuring theme of the 3 towers signfy the orginal fortifcation? Thanks Again!
Very interesting that many of designs incorporate groups of 3, Towers, horses, Birds I think my favorite of the group is 500 lire 1983 "500th Anniversary - birth of artist Raphael". The portrait in a portrait is very innovative. I don't think I've ever seen any coins quite like that. Thanks!
These three "elements" are basically always the same, taken from the country's CoA. Quote from Wikipedia: "In the blue shield there are three green mountains with three silver towers, which are decorated with a weather vane with a silver ostrich feather. The towers symbolize the three citadels of San Marino (La Guaita, La Cesta and La Montale), while the hills represent the three summits of the Monte Titano." Christian
nice information about small country, I din not know about melting coins,why? I do not have much San Marino coins, but here few San Marino 5 Lire 1933 [/QUOTE]
Usually there are two reasons for melting such coins. One is that the production volume of a commemorative or collector coin exceeded the demand. So if after X years so and so many pieces of that issue have not been sold, the rest may be melted and used for the next issue. Another possible explanation, at least here in the euro area (thus also in SM): The pre-euro coins that people take to the central bank, in order to get euro cash for them, will be destroyed/recycled. And that also reduces the "available" mintage ... Christian
Thank you,Christian! It's looks like some kind of silly, to spend money to make money, then to spend money to melt money.?why they did so many in first place? which remind me interesting fact about - encased postage stamp IN US in 1862-1865 ( Civil war) value the silver in coins became more then nominal of coin, and people started to keep this coins , do not use, which came to problem with change in stores and etc. in 1862 John Gault of Boston patented idea of encasing postage stamps ( value the stamps did not change) in metal frame behind a shield of transparent mica, and using them instead of coins for change, on frame they put some advertising stuff. Later the encased postage stamps appear in France, Germany,Spain. I though it's was very cool solving problem
In many countries the law says demonetized money should be destroyed; and usually coins are melted. Nice coins Siberian, San Marino is says to be the oldest republic.
1000 lire 1977, silver .835, weight - 14,6 g., mintage - 180000 pcs. (38145 pcs melted at the mint). "600th Anniversary - birth of Brunelleschi".
1000 lire 1978, silver .835, weight - 14,6 g., mintage - 130000 pcs. (17892 pcs melted at the mint). "150th Anniversary - birth of Tolstoy".
1000 lire 1979, silver .835, weight - 14,6 g., mintage - 125000 pcs. (14945 pcs melted at the mint). "European unity".
1000 lire 1980, silver .835, weight - 14,6 g., mintage - 125000 pcs. (49095 pcs melted at the mint). "1500th Anniversary - birth of St. Benedict".
The portrait looks a little weird to me. By the way, "Ascolta o figlio" ("Listen, oh my son") is from the prolog of Benedict's rules. Christian
10 centesimi 1894, copper, mintage - 150000 pcs. Rome Mint. A coins of this type were minted at 1875, 1893 & 1894 only. Common mintage - 450000 pcs only.
Interesting design, even though I don't quite understand it. By the way, that was the year of the first direct European Parliament elections. I suppose that, even though San Marino is not a member state, the coin commemorates that. Christian