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Charles the Bald Obol King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Monogram Type Obol, 840-864 MEC 934, Depreyot 622 The obol version of the monogram type denier. This style coin was struck only at Melle. Here you can clearly see the chevron in the center of the monogram. These obols were struck only during the reign of Charles the Bald, so the chevron does not help distinguish a coin of Charlemagne in this instance and is a clear indication that the chevron alone is not necessarily diagnostic of Charlemagne's coins.

Charles the Bald Denier King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Class 1d Monogram Type Denier, 840-864 MEC 933, Depreyot 606 The Monogram type denier of Melle is the other common Carolingian coin. This style is indistinguishable from the same coin of Charlemagne. Silver mines located at Melle operated throughout the Middle Ages and are still open as a museum. The deniers of Charlemagne can be distinguished by more graceful lettering, a finer flan fabric, and a minute chevron inside the Karlos monogram. I do not have enough experience with the coins to make that distinction myself, so this denier of Charles the Bald represents both types in my collection. Other deniers of this style from some mints were only produced under Charlemagne, but they are outside my current budget. A second example from Toulouse. Toulouse also struck a denier under Charlemagne that is distinctive by the spelling of the mint name. The following coin was definitely struck in the time of Charles the Bald.

Charles the Bald Denier King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Class 1c Gateway Type Denier, 840-864 MEC 835, Depreyot 725 The Gateway type of Orleans is another of the range of coin types resurrected by mints following the death of Louis. The temple and gateway designs originally appeared on a series of coins late in Charlemagne's reign. One can only speculate why the mints so quickly abandoned the discipline imposed by Louis. Perhaps they balked at the loss of the use of their local name on the coins. For whatever reason, their seems to be some sense of independence being expressed,

Charles the Bald Denier King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Class 1e Temple Type Denier, 840-864 MEC 843, Depreyot 762 Mints struck a variety of coin types after Charles became king. Louis's temple type continued in the name of Charles with and without a mint designation. The Paris mint struck the temple type (seen here) in addition to the mint name type. Grierson speculates the temple type was struck after the mint name type although both could have been struck anytime between 840 and 864.

Charles the Bald Denier King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Class 1a Mint Name Denier, 840-864 MEC 833, Depreyot 761 Charles was the son of Louis's second wife and thus in conflict over inheritance with his three step-brothers. He out lived them all and went on to become the most educated, perhaps most successful of the post-Charlemagne emperors. Three cities struck mint name deniers. Grierson suggests that it was the Paris mint that resurrected this type following the death of Louis. This was my first Paris coin. I hadn't really been looking for one, rather I saw it featured in a dealer's case and bought it with little reflection after holding it in my hand. It remains a favorite coin.

Louis the Pious Denier King of Aquitaine 781-813 Co-Emperor 813-814 Emperor 814-840 Class 3 Temple Denier, 822-840 MEC 792, Depreyot 1179 Probably the most common Carolingian coin you will encounter and the first that I purchased in 2002. This coin sparked my interest in the series. The temple and legend, XPISTIANA RELIGIO, promoted the Carolingian's support of the Christion church. The XP in the legend is the Chi-Rho, so it reads Christian Religion. The temple is the familiar temple from Roman coins indicating the legitimacy of the emperor (by the grace of God), except a cross appears inside instead of a Roman god. People may not have been able to read Latin, but the could readily recognize the image. While the deniers are common by medieval standards, obols (half deniers) are not. I was fortunate to locate this beautiful example a couple of years ago:

Went on a brief buying spree the past couple of weeks and everything (almost) arrived yesterday. Breen's Encyclopedia was the most routine. Didn't have it, do now. The others are more interesting. From George Kolbe: Antiquarian Books on Coins and Medals from the Fifteenth to the Nineteenth Century, by Ferdinando Bassoli (2001) Ancient Numismatics and Its History Including a Critical Review of the Literature, by Ernest Babelon (2004) These are the first two books in his Studies in the History of Numismatic Literature series. As I have acquired older volumes for my specialized collecting topis, I've become more interested in the older books. These are two studies to help refine my library. The third Kolbe purchase is: Illustrium Imagines Incorporating an English Translation of Nota by Roberto Weiss (2001) Illustrium Imagines was the first illustrated numismatic book by Andrea Fulvio published in 1517. Kolbe purchased an unbound and incomplete copy of this rare, early volume. He used the occasion to create a limited edition, fine press book limited to 151 copies and 17 leather bound special edition copies. Mine is number 136 of the 151. Each copie includes a leaf from the original Illustrium Imagines featuring an illustration of Constantinus III with brief bio and Eraclius. The pages look like: I also have John Cunnally's Illustrious Images on the way. It is an introduction and a guide to the numismatic scholarship of the Renaissance--the coin collections and illustrated coin-books produced by humanists and artists of the sixteenth century. The last book is Les Jetons de L'Échevinage Parisien, by A. D'Affry de la Monnoye (1878, Paris).

Louis the Pious Denier King of Aquitaine 781-813 Co-Emperor 813-814 Emperor 814-840 Class 2 Mint Name Denier, 819-822 Paris MEC 781, Depreyot 759 Louis was one of three of Charlemagne's sons who stood to inherit his kingdom, and he outlived them to become co-emperor with his father shortly before Charlemagne's death. Coins were struck in Louis's name as King of Aquitaine (781-813) and a bust series was struck after he became emperor. Bust coins are rare, but are offered once or twice a year. The first collectible type for my budget are the Class 2, Mint Name deniers. Class 2 deniers are relatively common if you are not picky about the mint. Relative is the operative word here representing a measure of number available in contrast to the number of active collectors. The coins pictured above was struck in Paris, still a relatively small place at the time. Paris carries a magic spell for me and is one of the towns I'm trying to collect to represent Carolingian types when I can find them. A second coin of the type from Bourges is more common than those from Paris. Bourges MEC 766, Depreyot 177

Charlemagne Denier King of the Franks 768-814 Emperor 800-814 Class 2 Denier, 771 - 793/4 MEC 730, Depreyot 7 A Carolingian type collection covers the rise of the silver penny and its dominance over the former gold standard of the Dark Ages. The Carolingian Dynasty begins with Mayor of the Merovingian Palace, Charles Martel in the early 700s. His son, Pepin the Short became the first king of the dynasty in 751. The first deniers--pennies--were struck by Pepin. They are rare, crude, but collectible for a price (beyond my limits, but less than a good used car). Most collectors know Charlemagne, Pepin's son. My denier is chipped, rare, but readily collectible in a variety of types for a price similar to the coins of Pepin. Charlemagne's brother, Carloman, also ruled and they struck similar coins with a M in the monogram of those of Carloman. Both types are extremely rare. Grierson's Class 2 deniers are collectible and in reach depending on states of preservation. Mine was about a third to a quarter of the price of a well preserved example. The RxF reverse appeared early in the series in France. Some mints can be distinguished by elements on the reverse. Mine is uncertain, but Depeyrot suggests it was struck at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle). Class 3 deniers are virtually indistinguishable from those of his grandson, Charles the Bald. Unles the coin was struck at a mint that only struck coins for Charlemagne (extremely rare), it takes an expert to distinguish true Charlemagne period pieces. I have examined a few, but not enough to make that call myself. The last Charlemagne type with a bust are far beyond my collecting means and I have not seen one for sale in my short history of collecting the series.

1892 Aluminum World Globe So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 174 Thick 42.5 mm AU Obverse: Bird's eye view of the fair superimposed on a globe with the inscription, WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION / CHICAGO. 1892-3. The outer ring reads, WORLD'S-FAIR / SOUVENIR. Reverse: Scene of Columbus landing superimposed on a globe with the inscription, LANDING OF COLUMBUS IN AMERICA / OCTOBER 12TH 1492. The outer ring reads, PAT'D DEC. 1, 1891. The globes are definitely raised above the rim on these medals creating the sense of an actual globe. For those of you who have noted my birthday, you will understand the significance of the October 12th date. (Damn that Richard Nixon. He signed the bill to make Columbus day a three day weekend, thus ignoring the real date of historical significance. ) Bancroft's Book of the Fair offers a contemporary bird's eye view similar to that of the medal: This medal seems to be one of the more common medals of the fair, including in higher grades. I've passed a number of these before settling on this piece from Ebay. The next step is a graded, encapsulated medal. I haven't taken that step as yet since I would be tempted to release the critter back into the wild.

1894 Aluminum Electric Tower - Mechanics Art Building So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 252 38.5 mm EF Obverse: Electric Tower, CALIFORNIA MIDWINTER INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / 1894. Inner inscription, ELECTRIC TOWER. Reverse: Wreath, ALUMINUM / SOUVENIR / STAMPED / IN / MECHANICS BLD. / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. The version of the Electric Tower on this medal is the same as that on Hibler & Kappen 246 pictured above. Compare it to the previous post and you can see the differences. What is interesting are the doo-dads hanging off the various platforms. They do not show in actual pictures of the Electric Tower. Of addition interest on this medal is a small person on top of the tower seemingly planting a flag. I have no idea what it might represent. Hibler and Kappen indicate that most of the medals sold at the exposition were struck in the Mechanics Art Building. This is one of two medals indicating that it was struck in the building. The medal is a good example of the frustration of collecting aluminum. The surfaces exhibit near uncirculated luster, yet it has so many dings and marks that it has clearly been manhandled over the years, perhaps bouncing around in a drawer.

1894 Aluminum Electric Tower - State Seal So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 249 38 mm AU Obverse: View of the Electrical Tower and exposition buildings with the inscription: CALIFORNIA MIDWINTER INERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / SAN FRANCISCO 1894. Reverse: California state seal with the sun setting in the Golden Gate in the background. A working miner is to the left of Minerva's feet. The signature HANSON CHI runs along the base of the seal on the right. Hibler and Kappen note the medal is common holed for suspension, but rare without a hole. The piece pictured here was the second, and the nicer, of two unholed medals offered on Ebay at the same time. The piece seems to have been designed from artist's preliminary sketches of the fair plans or a fanciful sketch as the details of the tower do not match the actual structure (see the other medals listed in this topic). The buildings, although somewhat related to the actual buildings, do not match any actual views of the fair. The seal has also been adapted to match the location of the exposition. Instead of the Sierra Nevadas in the distance, the Golden Gate and setting sun form the background of the medal's version of the seal. I'm assuming this medal was produced in Chicago with minimal knowledge of the local environment. The 1849 version of the California State Seal:

An the reverse view on the 50 d. is beautiful. Wonderful note.

Sounds like notgeld. Se a couple of examples in this post: http://www.coinpeople.com/French-Notgeld-t7072.html

I agree and really enjoy seeing the new additions to your collection. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to your future posts.

As I've said before, I believe there are some coins that should be slabbed (or otherwise similarly protected such as in Capitol holders where they can be easily accessed) because of their quality and historical value. That being said, none of those coins are what any of us here typically think of as being collectible. We all might like to own or handle an 1804 silver dollar, but thats not going to happen. Now it just so happens that I got to hold an 1804 silver dollar (among many other rarities) during the Garrett auction preview days, but it was in a Capital holder. I don't think I would have had that opportunity otherwise. As for buying collectible coins, raw is my preference (I actually own zero slabbed coins).

Denier, Vendome Jean II 1202-1207 Legros 1239 Roberts 5123 Duplessy 545v Vendome's earliest Tete Chinoaise style deniers are clearly based on those of Blois or at least inspired by them. Count Bouchard the Worthy (958-1012) was allied with Hugues Capet and that may help explain the influence of Blois, although Vendome exercised its own independence. Their coinage was more likely that of Anjou for much of the 1100s explaining an apparent lack of coinage between ca. 1065 and 1150. Vendome is caught up in the battles between the English and the Capetians over the next 50 years. Local coins are produced, but they are extremely rare. Vendome emerges with some stability under the Capetians by 1200. Deniers of the type shown here are attributed to Jean II (1202-1207). There are multiple varieties of this type, likely indicating a production period greater than that of Jean II or a reinvigorated economy and montary production. These are most common of the Vendome deniers (although I have managed to acquire onlly one in the past few years). The coins of Vendome are the subject of a book by Bernard Diry, Vendome: monnaies & tresors. Some speculate the crescent in front of the face relates to a marriage alliance between Vendome and Chateaudun some years earlier (Jean II's grandmother? was from Chateaudun). I'll attempt to link up some of the symbols when I post my Chateaudun series. The coins of Jean III include the lily, likely reflecting the alliegence to the Capetian crown.

1894 Aluminum Electric Tower So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 246 40 mm EF Obverse: Building facade, CALIFORNIA MIDWINTER INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / 1894 / ADMINISTRATION BUILDING / A HYLEN CHI. / BLUMENFELD S.F.C. Reverse: Light tower, SOUVENIR OF SAN FRANCISCO / 1894. I'm assuming this piece was designed by Blumenfeld of the San Francisco Chronicle, hence the name and letters in the field. I need to do more research to confirm this assumption. It is also signed A Hylen, Chicago along the ground line of the central design. I have another early aluminum medal from Chicago with the same A. Hylen Chicago mark. I'm assuming SFC stands for the Chronicle give the publisher's involvement in creating the exposition. 12/31/06 - Blumenfeld also designed medals for the World's Columbian Exposition and they are signed Blumenfeld P.O.C., so does anyone know what the initials might mean? The electric tower stood at the center of the courtyard (the Court of Honor) and was San Francisco's la petite Tour Eiffel. The Belvista Cafe was on the first landing and one could ride an electric elevator to that 91 foot landing or two others at 147 and 210 feet. At the top, 272 feet, was a powerful electric search light that could be seen for miles. A novelty in a city where few had even seen an electric light bulb let alone contemplate having electricity in their homes. The Online Archives of California have several interesting photographs of the tower by day and night: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf8z09p6r4/hi-res http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf9x0nc0nr/hi-res http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf1s2007zw/hi-res

1894 Aluminum Administration Building So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 258 44 mm EF Obverse: Building, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING above. Inscription: CALIFORNIA MIDWINTERINTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / 1894 Reverse: ALUMINUM across the center, above: MALLEABLE / DUCTILE / TASTELESS / SONOROUS / UNTARNISHABLE / STRONG, below: CUBIC FOOT OF GOLD 1204 LBS / ALUMINUM 179. / THIS IS THE LIGHTEST / METAL THE WORLD / HAS PRODUCED / NOBLE CHICAGO Another Noble product sharing the same reverse design as the Bird's Eye View piece. The wedding cake architecture of the Administration Building combined styles from Siam and India, over the top even for San Francisco. It was built for $32,000 dollars and featured a 50 foot diameter gold-leaf dome. An official fair photograph from the University of California's Online Archive of California can be seen at: http://content.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf1n39p1tm/hi-res

The Chicago World's Columbian Exposition was so successful that San Francisco Chronicle publisher and Columbian Exposition director, Michael de Young, sought to bring the exposition west. His goal was to showcase the city and improve the local economy. Funded solely by donations, they broke ground on August 24, 1893 and opened 26 days late on January 27, 1894. 1894 Aluminum Bird's Eye View So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 259 44.5 mm BU Obverse: Bird’s eye view of fair, MIDWINTER FAIR / 1894. Reverse: MALLEABLE / DUCTILE / TASTELESS / SONOROUS / UNTARNISHABLE / STRONG / ALUMINUM / CUBIC FOOT OF GOLD 1204 LBS. ‘/ ALUMINUM 179 / THIS IS THE LIGHTEST / METAL THE WORLD / HAS PRODUCED / NOBLE CHICAGO The central courtyard of the fair remains today in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park as the home of its museums. The Japanese Tea Garden built for the fair (upper left corner of the grounds below the bear's tail) still stands as a park attraction. I suppose the bear is standing on an exagerated Strawberry Hill in this stylized bird's eye view. This 1892 view of the park from SF archives shows the general state park development prior to the fair. The view is looking west. The medal's view of the exposition grounds is looking northwest towards the Golden Gate. The grounds were situated just before Strawberry Hill (the peak in the park view) and the central courtyard ran to the northeast. This particular medal is rare and rarely encountered in this state of preservation. It was struck by Noble of Chicago. The novelty and promotion of aluminum was still in full swing.

1893 Aluminum Ferris Wheel So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 170 45 mm EF Obverse features the Administration Building facade and the inscription, WORLDS COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION / ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. Reverse features the Ferris wheel with the Midway backdrop and a crowd of people in the foreground with the inscription, GREATEST MECHANICAL ACHIEVEMENT OF THE AGE / HEIGHT 264 FEET WEIGHT 4300 TONS / CAPACITY 2160 PERSONS ENGINES 2000 HORSEPOWER / FERRIS WHEEL. With almost 2200 people on a full ride, it must have been an amazing trip. The view from the top of the Ferris Wheel: The Administration Building:

Technically, its not a NSDAP election token, but it sets the stage for the political environment in Weimar Germany. The horrific inflation of the early 1920s destroyed people's lives and helped fuel the political furor that led to the appeal of radical political parties. I believe the following token may have been a socialist token, but it does not matter. The sentiment spoke for most of the parties. Obverse: Raised hand grasping hammer. Die Arbeit ist der Fels auf dem die Kirche der Zurkunft erbaut wird. Work is the rock on which the church of the future is built. Reverse: Zur Erinnerung an Deutschlands schlimmste Zeit / 1923 / im Nov. kostete / 1 Pfd. Fleisch 3200 Milld. / 4 Pfd. Brot 840 Milliard. / 1 Klr, Kartoff. 5000 Milld. / 3 Millionen / Erwerbslose / Denkt daran! To the memory of Germany’s worst time. 1923 in November, Prices: 1 pound of meat, 3200 Million marks 4 pounds of bread, 840 Million marks 1 kiloliter? potato, 5000 Million marks 3 million unemployed, Remember! Sometimes its helpful to remember the economic reality that the colorful notgeld represents.

Uh, I believe that image is allegorical and refers to her execution (the rock has the date of her execution on it).

Obol, Blois Hugues de Chatillon 1292 - 1307 Legros 992 Roberts 5065s Duplessy 591 After a 100 year lapse, coinage began again in Blois under Jean de Chatillon (1241-1279). Most likely, the Capétien-Plantagenêts conflict that heavily impacted the Chartrain played a role in the demise of some coinage. While the lands of Champagne yielded to the crown in the 1200s, followed by those of the Chartrain and Chartres to relieve debts, the lands of Blois and Dunois preserved their independence until Louis XII became king in 1498 when Blois becomes the royal residence of Louis. Jean Châtillon reunited the lands of Chartres and Blois in 1256. His son, Hugues, struck the obol pictured here. The lily pays hommage to the ties to the royal French line. All coins from the late period of the history of Blois are rare. Despite the poor preservation of this particular coin, one can still see the improved technique and quality of the die engravers.