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Coins with a "TV screen shape"

Started by <k>, May 12, 2022, 10:23:18 AM

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<k>

If we look at when unusual coin shapes were invented, we see that the UK issued the first heptagonal coin in 1969. It was a 50 pence coin. The 50 pence coin is still heptagonal today. The Spanish issued the first Spanish flower coin in 1990.

I have already described Circular coins that have an inner polygonal rim. However, there is one variation that particularly interests me. I will call it the "TV screen shape". It is round but with an polygonal inner rim that is a square with rounded corners. This shape looks quite elegant to my eyes.

When did this shape first appear as a circulation coin? Can we identify all the countries that have issued circulation versions?
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<k>

#1
Israel - TV screen coins.jpg

The earliest versions that I can find right now are from Israel:

5, 10 and 25 agorot of 1960 (N# 1719; N# 1231; N# 2052).
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<k>

#2
Israel 1 agora 1960.jpg

The Israeli 1 agora coin of 1960 is a special case, because it is a scalloped TV screen shape.

N# 977.
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<k>

#3



South Africa issued a new design series in the 1990s. It included three TV screen shapes.

The 2 rand coin (N# 830) was actually issued in 1989.

The 1 rand coin was issued in 1991 (N# 831), and the 5 rand coin (N# 2234) was issued in 1994.
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<k>

#4


Federal Republic of Germany, 5 mark, 1973. Pattern.

Above we see that Germany almost issued a TV screen shape.

The issued version was not a TV screen shape. See below.



Germany 5 DM 1996.jpg

Federal Republic of Germany, 5 mark, 1975 to 2001.    N# 843.
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chrisild

Cannot come up with anything in terms of circulation coins right now, sorry. And maybe there is or was a technical reason for that - the 5 DM design above was modified because, or primarily because, the vending industry argued that machines could not handle that kind of rim. (This was in the early/mid 1970s.) But instead of starting a new design competition, the "feds" simply went on with that (now less attractive IMO) rim ...

Interestingly, the "television" coin from 2002 (Numista 12762) did not use a "TV screen shape" either. So we got stuck with one of the blandest designs oh I will stop ranting.  ;D

<k>

#6
Brazil 10 cruzeiros 1975.jpg


Brazil, 10 cruzeiros, 1975.  N# 33393.

10th Anniversary of Brazil Central Bank.  Non-circulating coin.


Image © Heritage Auctions
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<k>

#7
Finland 1 markka 1976.jpg

Finland, 1 markaa, 1976.  N# 3737.


The first "TV screen" 1 markka coin was introduced in Finland in 1964 (N# 1528).

It was made of silver (.350) and was issued through till 1968.

The coin was issued in copper-nickel from 1969 to 1983.

It was of the same size as before, and with the same obverse and reverse designs.
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<k>

#8
Finland 5 markkaa 1984.jpg

Finland, 5 markaa, 1984.  N# 1531.


From 1973 to 1993, Finland issued an aluminium-bronze 5 markka coin with a "TV screen" shape.

It featured a design of an icebreaker ship on the obverse.

It replaced a similar coin, but that earlier coin had a heptagonal inner rim.

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<k>

#9
Greece 20 drachmes 1993.jpg

Greece, 20 drachmes, 1990.  N# 579.


Here we see a Greek coin with a round rim -- not a "TV screen" rim.

However, there is a kind of inner indentation that has a "TV screen" outline.

That gives this coin a similar appearance to the other coins in this topic.

Curiously, the reverse is "normal" and does not have this "TV screen" inner indentation.
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<k>

#10
Italy 500 lire 1987.jpg

Italy, 500 lire, 1987.  Year of the Family.  N# 12026.


Again, it is part of the field of the coin that is made into a "TV screen", rather than the shape of the rim.
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<k>

#11



Poland, 1958, aluminium, 1 Zloty - pattern.   N# 125457.


A sideways TV screen on the reverse.
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<k>

Belgium Macken.jpg


Belgium, 10 francs, 1968.  By Macken.  Pattern.

Image courtesy of the auction house Stack's Bowers.
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Pellinore

Very interesting thread. One wonders when and how it started. Who invented the TV screen design for coins? And was there really a connection with TVs?

-- Paul

chrisild

Let's see ... did the ancient Greek have TV screens? ;D  The raised rim with varying width is not exactly a recent phenomenon. Here is a coin from the Greek city of Ainos, from the 5th century BCE:

ainos.jpg

Some of the coins from Israel, or this Belgian pattern, may have been inspired by such shapes. The patterns from Germany or Poland, on the other hand, are "more regular". Now whether Israel's shapes were inspired by ancient examples (some of their designs certainly are), I do not know.