In recent years there has been a trend to sell what look like circulation sets from what look like countries. Actually, these fantasy sets fall into different categories:
1] Unofficial "coin" sets for recognised territories or countries.
2] "Coin" sets for territories or countries that are partially recognised or unrecognised, but under the control of a single government.
3] "Coin" sets for territories or countries that are partially recognised or unrecognised, but disputed and not under the control of a single government.
4] "Coin" sets for a part or parts of an existing recognised state, but which are either fighting for or desirous of self-determination.
5] Fantasy pieces for fantasy states:
a] "States" which lay claim to land within a recognised country, e.g. "The Grand Duchy of Avram", located in Australia.
b] "States" which do not physically exist, e.g. "The Kingdom of Atlantis".
6] Historical or retro-fantasies.
For instance, what if coins bearing the effigy of Edward VIII had been issued for the British Empire?
7] Anachronistic fantasies.
For instance, what if the French Empire in Africa still existed? What would their coins look like?
Sets from category 1 are generally issued to appeal to collectors for commercial reasons.
Sets from category 2 may be issued for either commercial or political reasons, or a mixture of both.
Sets from categories 3 and 4 are generally issued mainly as a political statement.
Sets from category 5 are issued mainly for self-advertisement, for fun, and sometimes for commercial reasons.
Sets from categories 6 and 7 are issued mainly for fun, and for commercial reasons.
