Foreign Coin Page

1794 Hamburg Silver Shilling

I would like to thank to Mr Thorsten Straub, From Germany for the following information

Hi Gary, the coin on your website is a 1 Schilling coin of 1794 from the city of Hamburg. One side shows a castle which is the symbol of Hamburg (just as the white headed eagle is the symbol of the US). "O.H.K." are the initials of the head of the mint of Hamburg from 1761 to 1805, Mr. Otto Hinrich Knorre. The other side reads "1 Schilling Hamburger Courant" ('U' was written as 'V' back then). One word to the term 'Courant'. There were two sorts of currencies in Hamburg in those days. One currency for business (banking etc.) and one currency for the daily life. The latter was called 'Courant'. My literature just goes back to 1800. Please find a picture of a more modern version attached. It shows the number of minted coins from 1817 to 1819. These coins are rated US$ 10 to US$ 28. The Schillings minted from 1817 to 1855 were made of a silver alloy called 'Billon'. It had a silver content of 375/1000.

Angie found this 1763 1 Skilling, København coin it's a Danish shilling

Angie, Found this French coin it's a Louis XVI
Obv: LUDOV.XVI | D. GRATIA, portrait looking left.
Rev: FRANCE ET (mint mark) NAVARRE REX 1785,
shield with three lis surmounted by a large crown

Louis XVI, son of L. XV, had the misfortune to come to the throne when France was riven by financial, political and economic stresses. He was married to Marie Antoinette, who was never popular with the French. Louis was a cultured person, interested in the arts and sciences, but unprepared to deal with the state of the State. From the failure of the Estates Genereaux to the proclamation of a General Assembly through the storming of the Bastille, Louis rode a current that was to unravel the Bourbon monarchy. He was ultimately held a virtual prisoner and forced to sign a Civil Constitution. He remained on coinage until his execution, on January 21, 1793.
In October Marie Antoinette followed him to the guillotine.

The coin attached to the smooth stone (pendant) is a Chinese "cash" coin probably brought to England by merchant seamen.

"Thanks to Yorkie Bill for ID



I would like to thank Jame's NC From the USA For all his help.
The Chinese coin that you are asking for the date of is from one of two dynasties, The Ch'ien Lung Dynasty (1736-1796) or his son's dynasty; The Chia Ch'ing Dynasty (1796-1799) They look so similar, it's hard to tell which one you have, regardless, it's an old coin, but unfortunately not worth much. Only worth a dollar or two.

“A dollar or two That’s the story of my life” thanks mate

I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU TO Jeff from SC, for his full description of the South Carolina state quarter that I found around London England
The 50 States Quarter program was started because coin collecting here in the states was down. In our country's early history, coins were frequently redesigned every so many years. This gave a wide range artwork to the coins. That made then very collectable. Once they put Presidents on the coins, they have change very little in designs. With the exception of the Bicentennial coins of 1976, the State quarters have been a big change and big hit to coin collectors. They are being issued, 5 different states a year, in the order the states radifide the constitution and became states. The one you found is from my state, South Carolina. The star in the centre is where our state capital of "Columbia" is located. The "Palmetto" is the state tree. The state flower is the "Yellow Jessamine". The state bird is the "Wren". All the state quarters will be an individual work of art that will last for years to come.

1916 Australian Penny


1916 Australian Penny
Found in London, It’s a long way from home
If you look just below the bottom scroll on the reverse you'll see a small 'I'. This means the coin was minted at the Calcutta mint in India and there were 3, 320,00 minted. Pennies and Halfpennies were minted there in 1916, 1917 and 1918. So your coin would have been minted in India, shipped to Australia, taken to England by possibly a soldier in the First World War and lost so that would make that penny a much travelled coin. Just a little info from a fellow collector.

Thanks go to Pete in OZ for this info

1934 Quarter Dollar

1943 Irish Penny

1934 I think it's Italian
Found in London

10 Paise from India
Found in London

1952 Francs Rooster