Weapons On Coins I

First, let me tell you, Bonedigger's thread about guns on coins or medals inspired me to try this trivia subject.
A lot of coins bear weapons on them from knives to swords, from guns to cannon. There are so many that I cannot list them all, however, I can present quite a few of those catching my attention. I have been able to locate images for a good portion of them, but not every one of them. The sheer number of coins within this category prevents me from including them all in one trivia article so there will be continuations to this article.

Let's start this trivia with United States coins..

To find rifles on American coins you need go no further back in time than the 2002 West Point Bicentennial Commemorative Silver Dollar. The obverse's main design is a "color guard" of five cadets. The three cadets in the center are the standard bearers (flag carriers) and the two outside cadets shouldering rifles.

Image courtesy of Mint Products: http://www.mintproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=787

Go back a few more years to the 1993 World War II 50th Anniversary commemoratives (all three coins are dated 1991-95 but, were issued in 1993):

The reverse of the clad half dollar portrays a Pacific Island battle scene which includes a soldier with his rifle.

The obverse of the silver dollar shows an American soldier with his Carbine on the beach of Normandy.

Here's an image courtesy of Mint Products: http://www.mintproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=799

The obverse of the five dollar gold piece depicts an American soldier with his rifle raised in victory.

Now we can go back further in time to 1991 and acknowledge the Korean War Memorial Silver Dollar whose obverse features an American infantryman in full gear holding his combat rifle as he charges up a hill.

Here's the image courtesy of Mint Products: http://www.mintproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=759

There are others, of course, and I would be remiss if I didn't include the 1938-D Daniel Boone Bicentennial Half Dollar.

Here's an image courtesy of Coin Page:

http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-1542.html

I believe the first American coin with a rifle on it happens to be the 1925 Fort Vancouver Centennial Half Dollar.

Here's an image courtesy of Coin Page:

http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-929.html

What about coins with cannons? One of our Commemoratives has one on its reverse. The 1995 Civil War Battlefield Preservation clad half dollar..

Image courtesy of Coin Page:

http://www.coinpage.com/coin-image-2578.html

This brings us to other countries' coins. I have not the time nor the space in this trivia article to bring every weapon-bearing world coin to your attention, but I shall present some I believe are important. To not slight anyone's home country, I shall reveal them in alphabetical order.

Alderney has some unique productions. One that might interest you is their 5 pound coin commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. This coin features two spitfire airplanes on the reverse.

Another is their 1994 2 pound coin commemorating the landing of troops at Normandy Beach. Here's an image courtesy of Wotld Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc/ald-7&desc=Alderney%20km7%202%20Pounds%20(1994)%20D-Day%20Normandy

Algeria created a nice weapons on coins representative 5 dinars in 1974 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of its revolution. The reverse of the 5 dinars depicts a freedom fighter holding a rifle.

Image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img1/3-108&desc=Algeria%20km108%205%20Dinars%20(1974)%20Anniv.%20of%20Revolution

One of Andorra's entries in this theme ocurred in 1984 when it minted a proof 20 diners coin to commemorate the XXIII Olympics at Los Angeles, The commemorative committee chose to place on the coin's reverse a tribute to the sport of shooting. Prominently displayed is a shooter aiming his rifle.

Australia produced a 5 dollar Olympic Trbute in 1999. It, too, presents a shooter, but he is holding a shotgun instead of a rifle.

In 2000, Australia minted a one dollar coin to commemorate the HMAS Sydney Battle Cruiser for its role in WWII. The Ship is especially remembered because it represents the greatest loss of life by an Australian warship. All hands went down with the sinking of the ship. The how and why is a mystery to this day.

Image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:


http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img14/10-422&desc=Australia%20km422%201%20Dollar%20(2000)%20HMAS%20Sydney%20II


Austria takes us back into a time before guns were invented, with its 1995 500 shilling coin. The reverse design is that of two knights on horseback, jousting.
Austria, also, gives us two Euro coins to look at in our theme category. This first one transports us back to the days of knighthood:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin_ns.php?image=nmc/11-20e02a&desc=Austria%20new%2020%20Euro%20(2002)%20Rennaissance%20-%20Ferdinand%20I

This second coin has crossed canons on its obverse:


http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin_ns.php?image=nmc/11-20e02b&desc=Austria%20new%2020%20Euro%20(2002)%20Baroque%20Period%20-%20Prince%20Eugene


The Bahamas created two coins that caught my attention. Both celebrate Christopher Columbus. The older coin, a 500 dollar gold coin, produced in uncirculated and proof versions in 1967 has Columbus on deck with sword sheathed.

The second piece, created in 1999, is a 25 dollars silver coin with Columbus on deck with drawn sword being held in his right hand.

Belgium 's entry into this weapons on coins category is a one franc coin minted in 1880 to celebrate 50 years of independance. As you will see when looking at the image, the reverse has a special coat of arms with crossed swords and the two dates 1880 and 1830.

Image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc2/18-38&desc=Belgium%20km38%201%20Franc%20(1880)%2050%20yrs.%20Independence


The British Virgin Islands authorized the minting of a 20 Dollar silver coin in 1985 (probably designed and produced by the Franklin Mint). The coin has two old-type defensive canons in a cross or X pattern.

Image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img/191-48&desc=British%20Virgin%20Islands%20km48%2020%20Dollars%20(1985)%20Crossed%20Cannons

Now this coin's objects may not be deemed weapons by some, but I remember the one was used by Roman soldiers and/or by Combatants in the Roman Gladiatorial Arena. Namely the Trident. Also the weapon of choice by the mythological God's of the sea, Neptune and Poseidon. The other object, the sickle, was a tool, later adapted to be used as a weapon by the farmers and nomads of the the Russian and Manchurian plains. The Cossacks, further refined it into a long curved sword called a scimitar.

Here's an image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:
Note. This coin is a Danish West Indies denomination:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img10/212-77&desc=Danish%20West%20Indies%20km77%205%20Cents%20(1905)%2025%20bit

This coin authorized by Socialist Bulgaria, a 1969 one lev, celebrates the Socialist Revolution with a man and woman in fighting gear. The man holds a rifle.

Image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:
http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img7/29-74&desc=Bulgaria%20km74%201%20Lev%20(1969)%20Socialist%20Revolution

And in 1976 a one lev coin was minted to celebrate the April uprising against the Turks Though the weapons portrayed are outdated by modern technology, they served the Bulgarians well in the uprising.

Again, image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img7/29-94&desc=Bulgaria%20km94%201%20Lev%20(1976)%20April%20Uprising%20Against%20Turks


Canada contibutes to this category with its Commemoritive program. The 2005 50 cent coin of this program was chosen to bear the commemoration of Canada's role in their participation in WWII with a six coin collector's set. The six coins commemorate the following battles:
Battle of Britain
Battle for the Atlantic
Raid on Dieppe
Conquest of Sicily
Liberation of the Netherlands
Battle of the Sheldt

Another Canadian entry in this category is the 1990 Silver Dollar Commemorating the Tricentennial of Henry Kelsey. Notice the bow and quiver of arrows on the back of the standing Native American in the following image:


http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img11/35-170&desc=Canada%20km170%201%20Dollar%20(1990)%20Henry%20Kelsey

Czechoslovakia, under socialist rule, created a few coins with armed men commemorating their different uprisings. Here are three.

Note all images courtesy of World Coin Gallery:

First the coins commemorating the Slovak Uprising:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc2/51-40&desc=Czechoslovakia%20km40%2010%20Korun%20(1954)%20Slovak%20Uprising

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img9/51-41&desc=Czechoslovakia%20km41%2025%20Korun%20(1954)%2010th%20Anniv.%20Slovak%20Uprising

This coin celebrates Liberation from Germany:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img3/51-42&desc=Czechoslovakia%20km42%2010%20Korun%20(1955)%20Liberation%20from%20Germany

In 1981 East Germany produced a ten mark coin to salute the People's Army on their 25th Anniversary. Take a look at what this coin bears:

Image courtesy oof World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img12/25-80&desc=East%20Germany%20km80%2010%20Mark%20(1981)%2025%20yrs.%20Peoples%20Army

As for France's entry in this category, in 1943 and '44 two franc coins were struck featuring a double-bladed battle.

This image courtesy of World Coin Gallery:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img7/69-904&desc=France%20km904.1%202%20Francs%20(1943,1944)%20axe

Gilbralter produced three one crown coins in 1993 honoring Warships of World War II on their reverses.

This first one honors HNLMS Issac Sweers:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img11/75-115&desc=Gibraltar%20km115%201%20Crown%20(1993)%20HNLMS%20Isaac%20Sweers

This second one honors the USS Weehawken.

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img11/75-116&desc=Gibraltar%20km116%201%20Crown%20(1993)%20USS%20Weehawken

This third and final one honors HMS Penelope.

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img11/75-119&desc=Gibraltar%20km119%201%20Crown%20(1993)%20HMS%20Penelope

Gilbralter also minted two coins of which I could not find photos of:, but here's their Krause-Mishler nunbers so you can look them up if you are so inclined.

KM24 2 Pounds (1988-1996) Cannon
KM1043 2 Pounds (2003) Cannon

Great Btitain produced some one shilling coins which feature the Scottish crest on the reverse of the coins, namely dated 1937 thru 1951

Here's an image of one for your perusal:


http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img9/76-864&desc=Great%20Britain%20km864%201%20Shilling%20Scottish%20crest%20(1947-1951)

Haiti really grabbed my attention with its 1973 and '74 25 gourdes coin honoring Columbus with this beautiful reverse:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img13/82-102&desc=Haiti%20km102%2025%20Gourdes%20(1973-1974)%20Christopher%20Columbus

Liberia's contribution to this subject is a commmemortive to its Miluitary Memorial It'a a $20 coin minted in 1992 and 1995..

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img14/108-44&desc=Liberia%20km44%205%20Dollars%20(1982,1985)%20Military%20Memorial

Marshall Islands authorized The Franklin Mint to create a five dollar coin as a tribute to the Battle of Britain in 1990.

Here's that coin with a fighter plane on the obverse:

http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=nmc/118-18&desc=Marshall%20Islands%20km18%205%20Dollars%20(1990)%20Battle%20of%20Britain


New Zealand has been featuring Maori two patus (hand-carved war clubs) in a cross pattern on the reverse of its three pence coins from 1933: Here's images of an older silver coin and a later dated cu-ni one:


http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img3/131-1&desc=New%20Zealand%20km1%203%20Pence%20(1933-1936)


http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img3/131-25_2&desc=New%20Zealand%20km25.2%203%20Pence%20(1953-1965)


This is the end of the first installment of Weapons on coins .


Hope you enjoyed this trivia...
Look for more installments ...
Clinker

 

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New Zealand also had the shilling with a Maori warrior holding a tiaha or spear and also the Waitangi crown with the Chief holding a spear and the Governer General holding a sword. The HMAS Sydney was sunk by the German raider Kormoran west of Australia. Both ships were sunk but as you said there were no survivors from the Sydney.

 

Nice thread.

The only interesting thing I can think of about weapon-related coins are these two:


Sadagura 2para - 3 kopeks, struck on melted down Turkish cannons by Russian armies


Medal token from R-12 (SS-4) Soviet medium range missiles scrapped under the Soviet-American INF Treaty. Don't think I want to know the radiation levels of that!

Weren't there some Irish coins that were struck on cannon metals as well?

 

Kiwi,

My father was a US Marine and WWII vet in the Pacific Theatre. He told me the story (long time ago) of some Japanese POW's captured near Henderson Field, Guadacanal who they were debriefing and one admitted to being part of the HMAS SYDNEY Capture and SINKING, all hands were subsequently shot...!

They used to get them (POWs) drunk with Sake and Beer then when they realized they weren't going to be killed and eaten they would start talking. Of course they had to filter out the fact from fiction.

I wrote an essay when in High School about his experiences and included this little unusual bit of information.

Ben

 

Clinker,
Thank you once again for VERY interesting thread! You're one of the best! GREAT read. I couldn't keep my eyes off the screen....I was riveted to the thread! Thanks again!

swick

 

kiwi01

Thanks for reading and for the addendum....

Clinker

 

gxseries

Thanks for reading commrnting and especially the image links,,,

Clinker

 

Bonedigger

Ben...Thanks for adding your experiences to this thread...and for the inspiration...Look for the next three parts of this article...

Clinker

 

swick

Thanks for the pat-on-the-back...and...I await your comments on the next three installments..

Clinker

 

Hi Ben, one small problem with your Fathers story. The HMAS Sydney fought the battle with the Kormoran and was last seen on the 19th of November 1941, before Japan entered the war.

Cheers,John

 

Yes, 18 days prior, as a matter of fact, sadly that's why there were no Australian survivors. You see the HMAS Sydney intercepted the Kororman and the Japanese subs while they were rendezvousing near Shark Bay. A tremendous night-time battle ensued with the Sydney going down just before the Kororman. Those Australians who survived the sinking were shot in the water. Reason being they did not want to tip off the US about the Japanese sneak attack which was due on the 7th of December, also the Japanese did not adhere to the Geneva Convention War Articles. Only two life boats were found with the body of one Australian sailer in the one who is buried on Christmas Island, but of course you knew that.

Regards
Ben

 

John,the Waitangi Crown depicts Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson & a Maori chief,possibly Hongi Hika.

The office of Governor-General only came into being in 1917,replacing that of Governor.

Clinker,the Maori fighting clubs that are depicted on the New Zealand 3d. is called the Patu club.

Gxseries,Ireland did strike an issue of coins that was melted down old cannons.These are the famous Gunmoney coins,which are unique in 2 respects - bearing the month as well as the year of issue,& being the only coinage issued by an English monarch after their deposition from the throne.

Hutt River has had some medal-coins depicting planes & tanks.

The British 1994 D-Day 50 Pence coin depicts some gliders being escorted by some bombers & fighter planes.

Aidan.

 

I did not know that, thank you Ben that explains a lot!!

 

Aiden

Thanks for pointing out my typo...it should have been Patus, not putas...

Clinker

 

Old theme on coins:


Constantius II (AD 337-361)
Soldier spearing falling enemy horseman
Catalog: RIC Aquileia 199

 

Don't forget about the U.S. Lexington-Concord commemorative $1/2,which depicts a Minuteman.I think there are other U.S. coins that depict American revolution themes that shows guns being used in battle.

Gxseries,that coin with the 2 shields that are denominated in both Kopecks & Para is from Moldavia & Wallachia,which is now located in Romania.

Columbia also had emergency coins made of the brass from melted down bullet casings.These were issued in around 1902 during one of Columbia's many civil conflicts.

Aidan.

 

willieboyd2:

Thanks for the pics....stay tuned for Part 4...after...parts 2 and 3....of course...

Clinker

 

Many weapons are shown on a number of Civil War and other tokens as well. I even have some tokens that were made from melted down captured German cannon. Wish I could take some pics to show them.

 

cwtokenman

Thanks for the info, now take a gander at WEAPON ON COINS II...

Clinker

 

I know it's allegorical... but it seems the "eagle clutching arrows" motif would be a "weapons on coins" candidate.