Anyone Collect the Whole World?

I've just thought of the notion of collecting one specimen, of the main currency unit, of each nation.

Anyone do something like this?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I've heard of people doing this. Its quite an interesting idea, in my opinion, although I'm focusing elsewhere. If I were to do it, I would try and get one from each country listed in the index of Krause.

 

I like this idea also. It would be a great geography lesson.

 

I am trying to get one from each country in my birth year.

 

The term is "OFEC" referring to One From Every Country, and there are a whole lot of us doing it.

However, there is very little consensus on what constitutes "Every Country". Many people join physics-fan3.14 in following Krause, although there is a great deal of variation even there.

For instance if you collect Great Britain, you can choose (in just the 20th Century) between:

• A single coin
• A pre-decimal coin and a decimal coin
• One coin each from the reigns of Victoria, Edward VII, George V and George VI, and either one or two (pre-decimal/decimal) from Elizabeth II.

20th Century Japan can be represented by a single coin, or by one coin each from the Meiji, Taisho, Showa and Heisei eras.

I won't even go into the number of variations available to represent 20th Century Germany!

When you go back past 1901 the possibilties increase almost exponentially. Just 19th Century Germany, Italy, and the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires account for at least a couple of hundred candidates.

My own collection is based on Krause, and includes each regnal or monetary regime whether or not separately listed in a Krause volume. I conservatively estimate that my current 350+ coins represent significantly less than a quarter of those that would comprise a complete 17th-21st Century OFEC collection by my definition.

 

Silver & Gold from any nation or era is always on my plate. Variety is the spice of life. Ripley

 

im going for the OFEC idea, but i wont stop there i would love to see at least 1 note and coin from every country ever. thats every country now, and a coin and note from any country that ever existed (if that entity issued their own coinage)

a very broad subject matter... but one that never disapoints

 

well i try to collect a coin from every country or political state. For reference i use the country/state list @ www.worldcoingallery.com.
it as a fairly updated list of coin pictures and the best part is its free unlike the krause which u have to buy.. further it also list the km # and is very good guide for amateurs like me

 

And I thought I was mad with my collecting habits LOL :whistle:

 

Unless you visit your local public library and use their copy.

 

or unless you download it... :whistle:

 

I am just trying to get one of every coin minted...this is an objective that will never end but will keep me occupied until I die.

 

I'm trying to get a coin from every country. But it is a side project, which takes the backseat behind my other projects.

 

Or how about a coin bearing each state of the USA. That would be......OK, already done.

Seriously, that would be very cool, but extremely difficult. However, you could do it by continent, then move on to the next....

 

Collecting "the whole world" does not necessarily mean collecting coins from every country that has ever existed. If you get one piece from each existing nation, that would be, hmm, roughly 200. Looks doable to me.

Christian

 

Good guess. If my count is correct, the 21st Century Krause lists exactly200 countries that issue circulating coinage.

 

under that criteria I have come very close to having accomplished that milestone as I do believe I have at least one coin from most currently existing nations though I am sure there are some I am still missing from Asia and Africa (not many though).

My problem is although I never discard or get rid of a coin, I have a real dislike of modern coins...although I keep them in my world coin collection, I seldom look to purchase them...most come to me in lots, from my own travels, or from the travels of others that I know. I work in an industry where a lot of people I know and myself travel a lot and we bring back lots of change

Some places dont even mint coins, or if they do, they arent easily found...for instance I went to Nigeria and all I found were Nira bills. I DO have a coin from Nigeria but it is an old one that could not be found in circulation there (or at least I didnt find one)...or the Sudan...I have coin from there but again...it was not from ciculation but an older one bought in a bulk lot which is the only way I might purchase common world coins...I find one I want in a lot and I get 50 others with it