There is a thread in Coin Chat http://www.cointalk.com/t126165/ that describes coins with Mercury / Winged Liberty design. If you have an ancient or modern coin with Mercury, please post it there. Here are a couple examples from the thread: Click this link to see all the coins: http://www.cointalk.com/t126165/ Very best regards, collect89
The countries & descriptions are all listed in the thread in CoinTalk's Coin Chat. The last coin depicted here is an Aluminum 1 Franc from Togo. My favorite is the first coin. It is a 2 Centavo from Columbia. It has a really attractive bright gold color in hand.
Thank you randygeki, I knew that you would post a cool ancient. I shared this in the coin chat forum.
Are these really Mercury? Mercury I thought had wings on his heals, I have always heard the dime made 1916 to 1945 had wings on his cap to signify freedom of thought. I have mercury Roman coins as reverse types, but they look nothing like these. I also have traditional Roma headed Roman Republican coins. Is the thread wanting Mercury representations, or winged helmet representations?
Hi medoraman, I think most are winged liberty to signify freedom of thought. I was hoping to see some other coins that look like these with winged helmets. I used the word Mercury casually to get the Mercury dime collector's attention in the coin chat forum. If your Roma headed coins have wings on the heads, it would be cool to see a picture.
sorry its so worn only example I have, but there are alot here http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/rsc/i.html heres what the other his. had to dig it up "Obverse Mercury, the mythical messenger of the gods, seated to left. Inscription COMMERCE INDUSTRIE. Rev. value with indication BON POUR. Inscription around: CHAMBRES DE COMMERCE DE FRANCE"
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/rsc/anonymous/i.html Most anonymous silver is Roma head. I am not sure the background on the wings, though. I do not know if they represent the same thing as our "mercury" dimes do. Doug or a Roman Republican collector would know I bet.
To the ancient Romans, Mercury was the god of commerce. Freedom of thought had nothing to do with it.
Two: A silver denarius of Marcus Aurelius shows Mercury with wings on caduceus, hat and ankles. This coin is associated with the 'Miracle of the Rain' where prayers to Mercury was credited with a great storm that helped defeat enemies. The provincial of Septimius Severus from Pautalia, Thrace, shows Hermes (Greek for Mercury) also carrying the purse (commerce). Sorry the coins are worn but that happens when you get that old.