I've seen the Bay Bridge coin and I'd love one but it will cost more than I want to spend right now. Someday maybe.
Here is another "Berlin Bear" coin. In 1981 the GDR (East G.) issued a 10 M piece commemorating 700 years of minting in Berlin. It features an Eternal or Perpetual Penny with the bear; not the first piece minted in Berlin AFAIK but a characteristic early one. The term "Ewiger Pfennig" (denarius perpetuus) means that, unlike most bracteates, it did not have to be exchanged every year or so. Oh well, at some point even such eternal coins were revoked ... This is the coin, I think, that can be seen on the GDR coin: http://ww2.smb.museum/ikmk/object.php?id=18206687 Christian
Yeah, I know. But, calling them bears is like calling a fox a dog. They're both in the family Canidae, but nobody would say a fox is a dog.
Oh well, a coconut or a Brazil nut is not a nut, and yet ... Here is a Polish 100 zł coin dated 1983, from the environment protection series: http://www.my-webcoins.de/coin.php?id=11121 Christian
First of three 2015 grizzly bear Canadian 1 oz. silver coins. I have the other two coming in the mail. Hard to get a good picture.
Yes the California is another of my favorites. Sold this one, but will at one point try to pick up another.
The city of Bern(e) in Switzerland was already mentioned; in mid-December a Swiss newspaper had this article about the bear on the city's coins. The story comes with a few images too; click on the blue "(8 Bilder)" link. The pieces are part of an exhibition at a bank in Berne, until the end of February. Another "CoA bear" can be found on the coinage from Anhalt-Bernburg. The bear walking on a castle wall is a nice example of armes parlantes or canting arms: Bear = Bern, castle = Burg. Image link: The origin of city names such as Bern, Berlin or Bernburg is not exactly known. In popular etymology, however, they must have something to do with bears. Christian
Interesting information. A few months ago someone on here posted an Anhalt coin and I thought it was very nice and made a note to look for one. I recently purchased a pfenning from there but I'd like the bigger silver coin someday.
When my cousin's daughter graduated and went to Baylor, I sent her two bear coins. One was a Canadian Polar Bear and the other was from Anhalt-Bernburg similar to this one - http://www.ma-shops.com/internumi/item.php5?id=33&lang=en I also picked up a Celtic cast bear coin, see pics. The cast coin was months late due to shipping from Europe to Texas, so I still have the coin.
The Greenland 1 Krone 1926 is listed here : http://giladzuckerman.webs.com/mercuguinness.html#GREENLAND , the Canadian 2 dollars is listed here : http://giladzuckerman.webs.com/mercuguinness.html#CANADA , Spitzbegen coins are listed here : http://giladzuckerman.webs.com/mercuguinness.html#SVALBARD , the Finland 50 Pennia is listed here : http://giladzuckerman.webs.com/mercuguinness.html#FINLAND