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2024 Solar Eclipse Trivia Quiz

In commemoration of the upcoming total solar eclipse in the upper Western Hemisphere, the Amazing Astronomy Blog features a celestial trivia quiz involving this solar spectacle! Click the image above to access the quiz, and good luck!

Cameroon, Canada, Chad, China, Djibouti, Fiji, and Singapore are the most recent updates on the Odd Shaped Coins List (OSCL) Page!

Solomon Islands and Spain are the most recent updates on the Odd Shaped Coins List (OSCL) Page!

Queen Elizabeth II Coins

This post is in loving memory of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), an undoubtedly courageous and lovable leader who will be remembered for decades and centuries to come. Billions of coins around the world have depicted Queen Elizabeth II since the beginning of her extraordinary reign in the 1950s onward. According to the Guiness Book of World Records and its associated website, 33 is the highest number of “currencies featuring the same individual” — the individual being Queen Elizabeth II. Below is a list of coins in my collection with her portrait gracing the obverse side. There are thousands of more examples and coin types — feel free to comment if you have any “queen coins” not listed below! Thanks to the timeless quality of past, present, and hopefully future coinage, her legendary legacy will surely continue for many years.

👑 AUSTRALIA 50 Cents, 1970
👑 AUSTRALIA 1 Dollar, 1993
👑 BAHAMAS 25 Cents, 1970
👑 BERMUDA 1 Cent, 1977 and 1997
👑 BERMUDA 5 Cents, 1975
👑 BERMUDA 25 Cents, 1981
👑 BRITISH HONDURAS 25 Cents, 1964
👑 CANADA 1 Cent, 5 Cents, 10 Cents, and 25 Cents, various years
👑 CANADA 50 Cents, 2016
👑 CANADA 1 Dollar, various years
👑 CANADA 2 Dollars, 2015
👑 COOK ISLANDS 5 Cents, 2000
👑 COOK ISLANDS 2 Dollars, 1987
👑 COOK ISLANDS 5 Dollars, 1987
👑 EAST CARIBBEAN STATES 2 Cents, 2002
👑 FALKLAND ISLANDS 1 Penny, 1998
👑 GIBRALTAR 1 Penny, 2000
👑 GUERNSEY 1 Penny, 1998
👑 ISLE OF MAN 1 Penny, 2002
👑 ISLE OF MAN 50 Pence, 1986
👑 MALAYA AND BRITISH BORNEO 1 Cent, 1961
👑 NEW ZEALAND 1 Penny and 3 Pence, 1961
👑 NEW ZEALAND 20 Cents, 1967
👑 SAINT HELENA AND ASCENSION ISLANDS 1 Penny, 1997
👑 SEYCHELLES 5 Cents, 1972
👑 UNITED KINGDOM 5 Pence, 1983 and 1999
👑 UNITED KINGDOM 10 Pence, 1983 and 1992

Two New Tables on Coins Page

Hello there! I added two new tables to the Odd and Unusual Shaped Coins List (↗): CHAD and TUNISIA! Do you know of non-circular coin(s) that are not listed yet? Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Thank you so much for visiting the Money & Geography Blog!

Sri Lanka and Vanuatu Coins Update

Greetings! This blog's Odd Shaped Coins List (↗) has a new entry for SRI LANKA. The raindrop-shaped country in South Asia has several designs of the rounded heptagon (seven-sided) 20 Rupees commemorative coins of 2020 and 2021. I wrote down "2021-present" to account for relevant coins that may be dated 2022 or 2023 as well as possible coins in the future. In the year 1999, the Oceanic island country of VANUATU issued an octagon-shaped 50 Vatu coin that is now listed on the page. Thanks for visiting the Money & Geography Blog!

Kazakhstan and Mexico Coins Update

Greetings! I just updated the Odd Shaped Coins List (↗) with several additional entries. The KAZAKHSTAN table is updated with seven additional coins, all with the 100 Tenge denomination. They are the 1) 100 Tenge horizontal oval of 2014, 2) 100 Tenge horizontal rectangle of 2014-2016, 3) 100 Tenge vertical rectangle of 2016, 4) 100 Tenge horseshoe of 2016, 5) 100 Tenge of 2017 with an abstract shape surrounding a turtle design (not quite a turtle-shaped coin), 6) 100 Tenge triangle of 2017, and 7) 100 Tenge octagon of 2018. The 2018 octagon entry pertains to a 12-coin Zodiac series. Finally, the MEXICO table is updated with the slightly dodecagonal 20 Pesos of 2019-present. If you know of any coins not listed on the page, please let me know with a comment or email; thanks!

Mali 10 Francs (1976) Coin

● Country: MALI
● Denomination: 10 Francs
● Year: 1976

● KM (Krause-Mishler) number: KM #E3

● Diameter or dimension: 23.5 mm

● Metallic content: aluminum

● NGC coin values: 16 US Dollars in uncirculated grade

● Numista link: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces133998.html

● NGC World Coin Price Guide link: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/mali-10-francs-km-e3-1976-cuid-1126575-duid-1436346

● Obverse: country’s bank and name in French, denomination, and year

● Reverse: sorghum plant with a vertical line of text, ESSAI, to the right between the “4:00” (four o’clock) and “5:00” (five o’clock) positions of the coin; essai indicates that this coin is a pattern/trial/test coin

● Original image credit: National Guaranty Corporation (NGC) and NumisMaster

December Coin of the Month: Panama

● Country: PANAMA
● Denomination: 500 Balboas
● Year: 1978

● KM (Krause-Mishler) number: KM 57

● Weight: 41.7 grams

● Metallic content: 90% gold

● Mintage: only 10 with the M mint mark!

● NGC coin values: NGC coin values: $2 US Dollars in extra fine (XF) grade, $3 mint state 60, $5 MS 63, and $8 MS 65; $20 in proof 63

● NGC World Coin Price Guide link: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/panama-500-balboas-km-57-1978-cuid-1081488-duid-1514223

November Coin of the Month: Belgium

● Country: BELGIUM
● Denomination: 500 Francs
● Year: 1980

● KM (Krause-Mishler) number: KM 162

● Diameter or dimension: 37 mm

● Metallic content: silver clad copper-nickel (cupronickel)

● Mintage: 1,000,000 non-proof (this coin), 52,000 proof (KM 162a)

● NGC coin values: NGC coin values: $2 US Dollars in extra fine (XF) grade, $3 mint state 60, $5 MS 63, and $8 MS 65; $20 in proof 63

● NGC World Coin Price Guide link: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/belgium-500-francs-km-162-nd1980-cuid-1043009-duid-1309161

● Obverse: five circular portraits of monarchs, country name, 1830 and 1980 dates signifying the 150th year anniversary of Belgium’s independence, country name divided in two lines (BEL— and GIË), and crown above 1980
       KM 161 French language coin depicts the crown to the left of the country name’s first line (BEL—), which is shifted to the right to be centered above the second line (GIQUE)

● Reverse: outline map of the country containing the Dutch text “150 Jaar Onafhankelijkheid van Belgie” (English translation: “150 years of Belgian Independence”) in all caps, with the bottom denomination flanked by two privy marks
       KM 161 French language coin also has an outline map but contains the following all caps text: 150 Ans d’Independance de la Belgique (English translation: “150 Years of Belgian Independence”)

● Original image credit: World Coin Gallery

October Coin of the Month: Croatia

● Country: CROATIA
● Denomination: 25 Kuna
● Year: 1997

● Diameter or dimension: 32 mm

● Metallic content: outer ring with cupronickel and center core with brass

● Mintage: 300,000 non-proof (this coin), 2,000 proof

● NGC coin values: $7 USD in mint state 60, $8 MS 63, and $9 MS 65

● NGC World Coin Price Guide link: https://www.ngccoin.com/price-guide/world/croatia-25-kuna-km-48-1997-cuid-1040445-duid-1301814

● Description: Map of Croatia superimposed over a world outline map in commemoration of Croatia’s five-year membership in the United Nations. Official and native country name (REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA) encircling the denomination and stylized marten; olive branch and leaves, coat of arms, and acorns and oak leaves along the bottom half

● Shape: dodecagon (12-sided)

● Original image credit: World Coin Gallery

September 2022 Coin of the Month: Saudi Arabia

Wonderful World Money Blog’s Coin of the Month for September 2022 features the Saudi Arabia 100 Halala (↗) minted in the year 1419 (1998). According to the Numismatic Guaranty Company’s online World Coin Price Guide powered by NumisMaster, this bimetallic base metal coin encompasses a diameter of 23 mm and weighs 6 grams. This 100 Halala coin features a reeded edge and celebrates a centennial: 100 years since the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ornate Arabic script indicates that the ruler in 1998 was Fahad Bin Abd Al-Aziz. As of September 2022, the average value of this coin in Very Fine (VF) grade is $2.50 (U.S. Dollars); Extra Fine (XF) grade is $3.50; Mint State 60 grade is $5.00; and Mint State 63 grade is $7.00. A proof coin with the grade of Proof 63 is valued on average at $12.50.

August 2022 Coin of the Month: Italy

Wonderful World Money Blog’s Coin of the Month for August 2022 features the Italy 500 Lire (↗) minted in the year 1993. According to the Numismatic Guaranty Company’s online World Coin Price Guide powered by NumisMaster, this 83.5% silver coin contains 0.4027 ounces of silver and weighs 15 grams. This 500 Lire of 1993 celebrates the noble virtues of education as well as the 650th anniversary of the University of Pisa’s foundation.

The reverse prominently features the city of Pisa’s coat of arms and frames the world-renown Leaning Tower of Pisa within a scroll design. 41,000 coins were minted in uncirculated condition and 9,080 coins were minted in proof condition. Paradoxically, the lower mintage of the proof coin does not necessarily make it more valuable than the uncirculated version. As of August 29th, 2022, the average value of the uncirculated coin in Mint State 60 grade is $70 (U.S. Dollars); a proof coin with the grade of Proof 63 is valued on average at $60; and the silver-content value is $7.60.

July 2022 Coin of the Month: Spain

The 2005-dated 300 Euro coin from SPAIN is the July 2022 Coin of the Month on the Wonderful World Money Blog. This 40-millimeter proof and dodecagonal (12-sided) coin celebrates the country’s stellar participation at the 2005 FIFA World Cup Championship in Germany. Having a rather low mintage of 8,000, this plain-edged coin weighs 28.8 grams. This bimetallic Coin of the Month includes a center core comprised of a 99.9% (0.999) gold and 92.5% (0.925) silver mix surrounded by a ring of 92.5% silver. The Proof 63 version of this coin is valued at $1350 as of July 31st, 2022. There is also a coin dated 2006 with the same composition and shape. High-quality photography and additional details can be found on the NGC World Coin Price Guide (↗).