Irrelevant anecdote: during the 2004 G8 summit here, there were heads of state of some of the guest nations staying in the hotel where I worked, and I served room service to Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the president of Algeria, then and now. (No, I did not speak to him. He was on the phone with his back turned to me as I set the table at the direction of his personal butler. On my way into the room, the US Secret Service detail checked under all the plate covers to be sure I wasn't bringing in a bomb. The food included some rather reeky sardines or anchovies, as I recall. And there was more food served to that one man than eight people could have possibly eaten.) Wow! Quite the interesting thread. Geographically educational, too. I always figured I had a pretty good head for geography, but several times I've had to check a map to be sure one of my plays was legitimate.
Indonesia to Timor. Just mailed this pair off to @Nyatii yesterday, as he won them in my December giveaway.
Next door to Irian Jaya/Indonesia AV 100,000 Rupiah Indonesia 1974 Birmingham Mint Komodo Dragon Conservation Issue One of my Birdwing specimens from there
I bought a lot of Franklin Mint Proof Sets/ Proof gold coins when I first started collecting, after I got my first job after highschool. Then, I bought my first coinworld magazine, learned that there were actual coin auctions....rest is history. Now with the internet site sixbid, heaven! But to be candid, I like modern coinage if the designs/engraving are classical in nature. Certain Countries still produce beautifull coins, ie: United Kingdom/ Russian Federation etc. But I do have a fascination with coinage struck before 1918.