marianne Posted April 11, 2007 Report Share Posted April 11, 2007 One of my favorite aluminum coins from Africa: The Belgian Congo gained its independence in 1960 and was racked by civil war for the next five years. This aluminum 10 Franc coin was the first coin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but it rarely circulated due to continuing economic and political unrest, inflation, etc. The legend reads, Justice, Peace, Labor. Eventually, most were melted. I guess this would be considered scarce, but its not an expensive piece. It is a good example of being more than a case of bad money driving out the good, in this case bad economic times drove out aluminum coins! I've been keeping an eye out for this very coin, and yours is a lovely example. Your comments explain why they've been so hard to track down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cladking Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 One of my favorite aluminum coins from Africa: The Belgian Congo gained its independence in 1960 and was racked by civil war for the next five years. This aluminum 10 Franc coin was the first coin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but it rarely circulated due to continuing economic and political unrest, inflation, etc. The legend reads, Justice, Peace, Labor. Eventually, most were melted. I guess this would be considered scarce, but its not an expensive piece. It is a good example of being more than a case of bad money driving out the good, in this case bad economic times drove out aluminum coins! This is one of my favorites as well but I like a lot of the African coins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merovingian Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Aluminum coins are pretty neat. A favorite of mine is the Czech Republic 50 haleru. EDIT: You can see some nicks. Aluminum sure is fragile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg_jos Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Here is one I don't see in the list yet. 5 Francs 1961 from Mali, with a rather sweet hippo Regards, Jos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg_jos Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Burundi also has a 1 franc in aluminium. Cyprus has a 1 Mil - KM 38 Denmark has the 2 and 5 Ore - KM 833 & 834 Luxemburg has a 25 centimes - KM 45a Malta has the 2, 3 & 5 Mils - KM 5, 6 & 7 Nicaragua has the 5, 10 and 25 Centavos (some FAO editions) Rwanda has the 1/2, 1 & 2 Francs - KM 8, 9 & 10 Turkey has some too That's all I can come up with. What country was the first to use aluminium? It seems to be post-WW2, or am I way off? Regards, Jos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg_jos Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 A few more than i can remember (other than the already mentioned)...: Portugal Brazil Cape Verde Mozambique Angola Guinea-Bissau St. Thomas & Prince Italy Spain Egypt Argelia Morocco Tunisia Botswana Ethiopia Yemen Afghanistan India Nepal Myanmar Cambodia Vietnam (and French Indochina) Philippines Argentina Uruguay Surinam Cuba Costa Rica Belize ................... Jose I guess Argelia will be Algeria Regards, Jos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 What country was the first to use aluminium? It seems to be post-WW2, or am I way off? Don't know which country, but aluminum medals have been around since the late 19th century. Various countries used aluminum coins during WW1, so roughly 100 years ago. But I think most alu coins are more recent issues ... Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ageka Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 am i wrong or is it algerije spelled in spanish http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argelia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxseries Posted April 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 What country was the first to use aluminium? It seems to be post-WW2, or am I way off? That IS a good question. I don't know! US did have some trial coins minted in aluminium although I am not too sure if other world minted aluminium. Now let's not forget that some 300 years ago, aluminum was so expensive that aluminium jewellery at one stage is more rare than gold jewellery! (it maybe still is "rarer"! ) The only thing I know is that Japan minted aluminum coins during WWII so that might push the date earlier. Btw, Banivechi has sent me a batch of super hot aluminium coins and I will be posting when I have the time. Interestingly in two of the Romanian coins, they are SUPER THICK - over 4mm!!! Edit: Appearently Romania had it as early on 1921 (makes me wonder if anyone knows any coins minted any earlier in aluminum) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Appearently Romania had it as early on 1921 (makes me wonder if anyone knows any coins minted any earlier in aluminum) See post #12. So we're at 1916-17 now ... Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg_jos Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 See post #12. So we're at 1916-17 now ... Christian 1916 it is I thought it was a trial strike, but it no, it wasn't Can anyone do better? Regards, Jos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxseries Posted April 12, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Obviously we are all blind bats - bill made a great post in listing a great number of aluminium coins in post #20 and we just missed it Must be because it's at the end of page 1 Bill nailed it down to "Nigeria and British West Africa 1907 1/10 penny" Thanks bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belg_jos Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Maybe we should've started a new thread for the oldest one. That's what you get when you go a tiny bit off-topic. Would there be any in the 19th century? The search is on! Regards, Jos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted April 12, 2007 Report Share Posted April 12, 2007 Must be because it's at the end of page 1 Bill nailed it down to "Nigeria and British West Africa 1907 1/10 penny" Either because it was at the bottom of the page, or because it had no images. I'm not a bat! So this year could actually be the 100th aniversary of the first aluminum coin! Don't know of any 19c pieces. Medals and tokens, yes. Coins, ummm ... Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Either because it was at the bottom of the page, or because it had no images. I'm not a bat! So this year could actually be the 100th aniversary of the first aluminum coin! Don't know of any 19c pieces. Medals and tokens, yes. Coins, ummm ... Christian There are pattern coins in the 19th century, but 1907 is the first circulating coin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topher Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 Virtually all French colonies issued aluminium pieces. That reminds me. I've got a couple of coins from New Caledonia that were aluminum, from just after WWII, if I remember correctly. I'm not sure where I even managed to pick those up from. Now I've got to go dig them out and admire them again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banivechi Posted April 13, 2007 Report Share Posted April 13, 2007 My oldest aluminum coin is a German one: 1 Pf. 1917. Then comes Romanian set 25 an 50 bani, after that is a Greek 10 Lepta 1922 and Bulgarian Lev 1925, Third Reich 50 Reichspfennig 1935 and 1940-44 - maybe a result of interdiction for Germany to refine Nickel in large quantities (?). After WWII aluminum will be the metal for cheap coins all over the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxseries Posted April 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Before this thread vanishes behind everyone's mind, this is a batch of aluminum coins that Banivechi has sent me. In my opinion, Romanian and Hungarian aluminum are pretty hot! Will be posting the closeup soon. Sorry banivechi - I was silly enough to misplace my memory card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbaker221 Posted April 24, 2007 Report Share Posted April 24, 2007 Here's another country for the list of those who have produced aluminum coins: Mexico. In this case, a 1914 1 Centavo piece from the State of Durango. This was during the Mexican Revolution. I've had this in my collection for twenty years or so -- hadn't looked at it for quite some time, then saw this topic. I'd be interested in knowing more about this issue, e.g., was this the only year for this coin? Did any other Mexican state produce aluminum coins? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tabbs Posted April 24, 2007 Report Share Posted April 24, 2007 I'd be interested in knowing more about this issue, e.g., was this the only year for this coin? Did any other Mexican state produce aluminum coins? According to my catalog, Durango only issued coins dated 1914. And no, I did not see any other aluminum pieces listed there; most are copper, silver and brass coins. Ah, wait ... Toluca 5 centavos "gray cardboard". Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
see323 Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Nobody seem to list down a 5 cents coin from Singapore. It is minted as a FAO coin in 1970s and circulated in Singapore. It feature a white promfret fish. That's the only aluminum coin that Singapore had minted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Nobody seem to list down a 5 cents coin from Singapore. It is minted as a FAO coin in 1970s and circulated in Singapore. It feature a white promfret fish. That's the only aluminum coin that Singapore had minted. Any pics, see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
see323 Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Any pics, see? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gxseries Posted April 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 See323, that is definately an interesting coin. I never saw it before. If I am not mistaken, coins around that time were minted in ni-cupro. Would you have any idea why is that particular coin only minted in aluminum, as well as in a 5 cent denomination? Very unusual I must say. Thanks for your picture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
see323 Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 See323, that is definately an interesting coin. I never saw it before. If I am not mistaken, coins around that time were minted in ni-cupro. Would you have any idea why is that particular coin only minted in aluminum, as well as in a 5 cent denomination? Very unusual I must say. Thanks for your picture! This is a 1971 coin minted under F.A.O ( Food Agriculture Organization ). I think during that time, Singapore participated in increasing food production and more food from the sea. The mintage is 3,049,000. It is larger than than the Singapore 10 cent coin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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