The local shop had several bags of unsorted world coins set aside for the 10 cent bin. As usual, I was eager to help myself to some barely picked-over coins. The first 10, L to R from top: Denmark, 10 Kroner, 1989 (about $1.35 face value) Italy, 1 Lira, 1928 Israel ,1/2 Lira, 1975 (?) Sweden, 5 Öre, 1920 UK, 1/2 Penny, 1926 USSR, 5 Kopecks, 1961x2 USSR, 5 Kopecks, 1945 (Apparently, this is not a common date, worth ~$20?) Japan, 1 Sen, Meiji 16 = 1883, badly scratched on obverse Iceland, 1940, 5 Aurar I'll try to post the rest later.
Nothing wrong for buying some fun coins. If you learned something, most folks would consider it a win, Right?
The rest of the set, L to R from top: Chile, 100 Pesos, 1984 Lebanon, 5 Piastres, 1961 Argentina, 20 Centavos, 1949 Argentina, 50 Centavos, 1953 Mexico, 5 Centavos, 1957 Mexico, 1 Centavo, 1951 (?) Portugal, 5 Escudos, 1963 Italy, 10 Centesimi, 1936, XIV (Numista has this as more expensive than the other dates in the series, even though the mintage is not low at ~9 million.) Denmark, 25 Øre, 1961 Canada, 1 Cent, 1940 El Salvador, 5 Centavos, 1956 Honduras, 1 Centavo de Lempira, 1939 (?) Denmark, 2 Øre, 1942 Italy, 5 Centesimi, 1933 There was also a Samoa 1 Tala 1984 (I think), but I gave it to my youngest kid knowing she would like a 7-sided coin.
Yeah, I mostly get them for the learning experience. With 10 cent coins, it only takes one or two finds to pay for the whole set. Several of these are worth well over 10 cents. USSR 1945 5 Kopecks probably turned out to be the best value.
Pretty good history lesson contained in these lots. I've always found it fascinating how a look at Italian and French coins over the years really gives a fascinating glimpse of their history: changing governments, changing leaders, wartime inflation, wartime occupation, Fascism, etc.
My favorite is the 1928 Italy Lira. I really like that type and grab them whenever they're cheap or reasonably inexpensive. I like the design, but I have a side horde of pure nickel coins going too (just in case).
I like the world coins because it not only gives me history, it gives me something else to look at, design wise. Nice haul.
Excellent junk, sir. Great variety. I love those "seated Italia" Lire. Also, is that Swedish 5-Öre one of the iron issues? If so, that's a remarkably well preserved example.
It's 1920, so I guess it has to be copper. The weight is ~7.91g and the iron are a little lighter. It just looks oddly colored in the photos.
