Raiders of Ghost City - 1944 Serial film - European coins used by secret agents

1. Title

The 1944 film "Raiders of Ghost City" is a Western serial film with 13 chapters.

The film is set in 1865 as the Civil War was ending. It has the usual serial gun fights,
fist fights, horse chases, and each chapter ended with one of the heroes in jeopardy of
being killed.

In 1865 the German state of Prussia has sent agents to California posing as Southern Confederates and they
and their hired outlaws have been robbing gold shipments.

Captain Steve Clark is a United States Government agent and along with a Wells Fargo detective Idaho
Jones and Wells Fargo station manager Kathy Haines set out to expose and stop the Prussians.

The Prussian agents use European coins with dates of 1752 to recognize each other.

There are four real coins from Britain, Germany, France, and Netherlands which appear several times.

The four coins are:

Britain florin (2 shillings) minted 1851-1887
France 2 francs minted 1870-1895
Germany Prussia 2 marks minted 1901
Netherlands 1 gulden minted 1922-1945

The coins were minted in the late 1800's and early 1900's but for plot reasons have the date 1752 added to them.

A Prussia coin:


2. Raiders of Ghost City - Four coins - Prussia coin obverse


3. Raiders of Ghost City - Four coins - Prussia coin reverse

The three coins on the left are hard to identify. The small coin with a "10" on it appears to be a German 10 pfennig coin.

The coin on the right is a German two mark coin which was issued in 1901 to commemorate the
200th anniversary of the Kingdom of Prussia. The two heads are kings Frederick I and William II

A Germany Prussia two mark coin similar to the one in the film:


4. Germany Prussia two marks 1901
Silver, 28 mm, 11.08 gm, minted Berlin 1901 only

Obverse: Kings Frederick I and William II facing left FRIEDRICH I 1701 WILHELM II 1901
Reverse: Crowned eagle with shield on breast DEUTSCHES REICH 1901 ZWEI MARK
Commemorative issue 200th Anniversary of the Kingdom of Prussia minted in 1901

The left head is Frederick I (1657-1713) who was the first king of Prussia from 1701 to 1713.
The right head is Wilhelm II (1851-1941) who was the last king of Prussia from 1888 to 1917.

A France coin:


5. Raiders of Ghost City - France coin
The reverse of a French coin is shown with the added date of 1752.
The French coin is a Third Republic (1870-1940) two franc coin.

A France two franc coin similar to the one in the film:


6. France two francs 1873-A
Silver, 27 mm, 10.0 gm, minted Paris 1870-1895

Obverse: Woman's head facing left REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE
Reverse: Wreath LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE 2 FRANCS 1873, Mintmark 'A' at bottom

A Netherlands coin:


7. Raiders of Ghost City - Netherlands coin obverse


8. Raiders of Ghost City - Netherlands coin reverse

The Netherlands coin is a Queen Wilhelmina one gulden coin.
The coin is mounted in a coin bezel frame with a ribbon attached.

A Netherlands one gulden coin similar to the one in the film:


9. Netherlands one gulden 1929
Silver, 28 mm, 10.00 gm, minted 1922-1945

Obverse: Queen Wilhelmina facing left WILHELMINA KONINGIN DER NEDERLANDEN
Reverse: Netherlands coat of arms MUNT VAN HET KONINGRIJK DER NEDERLANDEN 1929

A British coin:


10. Raiders of Ghost City - Three coins - British coin obverse
The German coin, the French coin, and now a British coin (at the bottom of the picture).

Hands "open" the coin.


11. Raiders of Ghost City - British coin reverse


12. Raiders of Ghost City - British coin opened

The British coin is a Queen Victoria florin (2 shillings).
These types of hollow coins were sometimes called "magician coins".

A Britain florin coin similar to the one in the film:


13. Britain florin (2 shillings) 1873 - "Gothic" type
Silver, 30 mm, 11.31 gm, minted London 1851-1887

Obverse: Crowned head of Queen Victoria facing left
VICTORIA D:G:BRITT: REG:F: D:MDCCCLXXIII
(Victoria by the Grace of God Queen of the Britains Defender of the Faith Empress of India)
Reverse: Crowned shields of England, Scotland, England again, and Ireland
ONE FLORIN ONE TENTH OF A POUND
The coin is called the "Gothic type" due to the unusual inscription font.

At the end of the serial the good guys and the army cavalry kill or arrest the raiders and Prussians.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The Gothic Florin would have had the date in Roman Numerals on the obverse behind Victorias bust.