c1.jpg
This time I will have seven very nice scans for you to look at.
But first of all, I'm going to post only three of them - heavily edited to remove any easy clues.
Once somebody has guessed which country they are from, the eventual scans I will post will be larger and more detailed.
They are also more attractive than these partial ones.
OK, who's going to be the first to guess? :)
Togo?
An interesting guess, Austrokiwi. All I'll say for now is no, you're not even warm, but good on you for trying. I knew this one would be tough, though. 8)
Rhodesia?
That's nowhere near either. I thought this would be interesting. You'll be surprised when you find out.
Since all your recent scans have been African, I naively presumed these would be >:(
Somehow they have a Nordic or Celtic touch. But that 2 1/2 denomination ... beats me.
Christian
Certainly not Nordic, though it's interesting to see the range of responses I'm getting. Celtic - not in modern times - and I don't know enough about prehistory to say anything about that...
Singapore
I'm thinking of somewhere that last had its own coinage in 1706, ended by something commemorated in 2007 on a couple of UK coins. Somewhere where banknotes are issued. Scotland.
Bill.
Scotland is way off too. Is it those little crosses you're thinking of? They're the wrong way round to be Scottish. This is proving fascinating - all these different guesses.
Singapore is nowhere close either, Afrasi. What a range I'm getting here!
Admittedly it is only the first piece, with the somewhat archaic looking lion, that made me think of Celtic culture. And the ornaments along the edges of these three reminded me of elements that can be found on Danish pieces, that's why. :) OK, wrong then. Hmm, let us approach this more carefully ... Asia.
Christian
Asia? You could have a point there. Though if you said that, it could cause arguments...
The dragon makes it probably, that a Chinese minority/majority? lives there.
Hong Kong ?
Are you trying to suggest that these could be designs for Turkey? The "look" is not quite right methinks, but the "2 1/2" could match, and of course that "argument" hint ...
Christian
No, it's not in any way Chinese-related. Lots of countries include dragons in their historical myths.
Turkey, I have to say, is getting close, Christian.
The deleted denominations are very short. Kyat, pya is my guess.
Peter
Quote from: Figleaf on October 27, 2009, 09:15:49 PM
The deleted denominations are very short. Kyat, pya is my guess.
Peter
No - you're way out too, Peter! This is proving to be an interesting worldwide trip! :D
Eagle, 2 1/2 ?
Syria?
No, not Syria either.
Eagle and Lion
Yemen?
Hmm, I am currently looking at some pieces from Georgia, and there is a lion and a gryphon. But no 2 1/2. Hmm.
Christian
It isn't the Yemen, though I can see where you're coming from. Georgia is another intelligent guess - when I saw these designs, I immediately thought the same - but that's wrong too!
Eagle and dragon kites ...
Should it be at last ... Afghanistan?
No, not Afghanistan. You have to think of the clues. If you said, "Afghanistan is in Asia", nobody would argue with you.
Quote from: Ice Torch on October 27, 2009, 09:30:21 PM
No, not Afghanistan.
Ah, but we could go through the alphabet from there. ;) This darn 2 1/2 denomination still confuses me. Judging from the geographical hints, I would now guess Cyprus ...
Christian
Quote from: chrisild on October 27, 2009, 10:08:15 PM
Ah, but we could go through the alphabet from there. ;) This darn 2 1/2 denomination still confuses me. Judging from the geographical hints, I would now guess Cyprus ...
Christian
Just a thought, but 2½ = 6 Old Pence or 4½ Piastres in Cyprus's case.
Quote from: chrisild on October 27, 2009, 10:08:15 PM
Ah, but we could go through the alphabet from there. ;) This darn 2 1/2 denomination still confuses me. Judging from the geographical hints, I would now guess Cyprus ...
Christian
Guess you win the cigar, Christian! You were the first to get close, and now you've got it! This 2½ denomination was never actually used. I said it wouldn't be easy!
The designs were all by William Gardner (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,9030.0.html), who designed the reverse of the UK 20p (1982-2008). He also designed the reverses of the first decimal coins of the Falkland Islands.
Anyway, here are all the prototype designs. Marvellous work by the late Mr Gardner.
I'm quite fond of this set. The ancient times theme is somewhat different from the norm. Interesting that only one of the prototype designs was used in the end. And of course, the Cecil Thomas crowned effigy of QEII appears on the obverse.
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=92198;image)
(http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=39617.0;attach=117756;image)
Quote from: Ice Torch on October 27, 2009, 11:52:24 PM
This 2½ denomination was never actually used.
No wonder I/we had such a hard time finding amatching piece in our collections and catalogs ... Interesting to see such Coulda Been designs, and compare them to some that were actually minted. Thank you for digging these up and showing them to us!
Christian
Lion tells us that this would be either North African or Asian...however, that could be Greek or Alexandrian...my girl says Syria or Lebanon...just our guess :-)
Yes, confusing! But the designs were meant for Cyprus: geographically in Asia, but with native Greek speakers and native Turkish speakers - so, ethnically and culturally, a bit of Europe and a bit of Asia.
Wicked :-)