What are your dream themes for your own country's coinage?

[<k>]

Back in 2009, here on the forum, I wrote about my wish to see wildlife designs on the UK coinage.

Now in 2023 my wish has quite suddenly and unexpectedly come true.

My home country, the UK, has announced a new design series of beautiful wildlife themes.


My thoughts now turn to my fellow forum members from other countries.

Are you satisfied with your own country's coinage?

If not, which themes would you choose?


Would you choose a single theme, such as wildlife?

Or would you choose a mixture, such as wildlife and landmarks?

Perhaps you would like to see a mixture of architecture and ships?


Having chosen your theme or themes, which subjects would you choose?

Some countries have chosen a single subject, perhaps all birds or all trees.

Which subjects would you choose to project your country to other nations?

Tell us about them here. 

[Figleaf]

For the abstract-inclined, any kind of clever double-bottom non-symmetrical design. Give creativity and innovation free play. Show off some contemporary art.

For the figuratively minded: people transacting money. Example:

1 cent - paying cash for candy (coin-candy)
5 cents - inserting money into a vending machine (hand-coin-slot)
10 cents - no contact credit card payment (hand-credit card)
25 cents - signing a contract (bottom of paper with "date" and "signature", pen)
½ dollar - equities trader (computer screen with columns of figures, hand clutching phone)
1 dollar - data centre

Peter

[<k>]

Intriguing idea. If the Manx treasury or Tower Mint read it, then it could end up on a set in the next three years. 

[<k>]

France: pre-euro coins depicting architecture.

Pre-euro, France was seemingly working towards an architecturally-themed series.

Numista says the Pantheon 100 francs was a standard circulation coin.

I show the relevant three designs here.

How would our forum members who live in France have finished the set?

[eurocoin]

The Netherlands is a seafaring nation so a series with ships could be an option. But I also thought the WWII thematic coinage to be nice. Maybe a mix of typical Dutch things would be even better. A ship, a cow, a tulip, a canal house, a church, a mill, clogs or ice skates, etc.

Above all, however, a lifelike portrait of our monarch should be on the obverse of the coins. I have seen some very nice portraits on medals that were designed by commercial artist Elles Kloosterman. But also Pannos Goutzemisis made some good coinage portraits for the overseas parts of the Netherlands. For as long as we are in the Eurozone, the reverse of the coins will unfortunately be occupied with European symbols.

[<k>]

Netherlands Antilles, 5 gulden, 2013.

Accession of Willem-Alexander.

Thank you, eurocoin.

Here you see Willem-Alexander by Elles Kloosterman.

He has the sort of face that wouldn't stand out on the street.

Probably he suits a cartoon outline better, for that reason.

[eurocoin]

I am actually not so much a fan of that one. Below an example of a more recent portrait that she made, that I like. But a lifelike portrait in general would already be a major improvement.

[Offa]

Uk set of four £2 coins depicting British dog breeds one from each of the four countries of the union.

English bull terrier for England
Corgi for wales
West highland terrier for Scotland
Irish setter for Northern Ireland

[<k>]

English bull terrier for England

English, yes. Bull - like John Bull.

But they are not handsome dogs.

My neighbour had one, and he was a fine hound, friendly and also a bit mischievous.

I always found him a bit weird to look at, though.


As for me, I'm just a bit disappointed that we haven't got a badger in our new UK wildlife set.

Ideally on the 50 pence. We can't have everything, though.


Otherwise, we haven't had any wildlife on our recent coins.

Only the chimpanzee on the Darwin 2 pound coin.

I think it was modelled on Neil Kinnock. 

[<k>]

Below an example of a more recent portrait that she made.

Too cluttered, for my liking.

Also, I do not like beards. They should be taxed or banned. 

[Offa]

English, yes. Bull - like John Bull.

But they are not handsome dogs.

My neighbour had one, and he was a fine hound, friendly and also a bit mischievous.

I always found him a bit weird to look at, though.


As for me, I'm jut a bit disappointed that we haven't got a badger in our new UK wildlife set.

Ideally on the 50 pence. We can't have everything, though.


Otherwise, we haven't had any wildlife on our recent coins.

Only the chimpanzee on the Darwin 2 pound coin.

I think it was modelled on Neil Kinnock. 

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