An alphabet of favourite national designs

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Hungary, 200 forint, 1985.  Wild cat.


I can't find a single beautiful design for Hungary. Maybe you can.

Instead, I have chosen this "fake news" design. It's supposed to be a wild cat. When did you ever see a wild cat that was as fat as the cat in the design? I believe that the artist simply drew his own pet cat and gave it longer whiskers to make it look fierce. 

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Iceland, 10 krónur, 1930.  1000 years of Althing (the Icelandic parliament).

© Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions


A naked couple, male and female, kneeling before the King of Thulé, seated on his throne.

This is an eerily beautiful design. The denomination appears as an edge inscription.

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India, 25 paise, 1988.  Rhinoceros.

This is the only coin I own from modern independent India.

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Indonesia, 50 rupiah, 1971.  Greater Bird of Paradise.

Indonesia has several beautiful designs to choose from. Here the bird looks as if it is about to launch itself from its branch, so there is a sense of a moment caught in time. I also like the font and the placement of the text. Many coins of Indonesia are very artistic in their treatment of text and fonts.

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Iran - not my subject. Maybe somebody could post their choice?

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Ireland: One pound, 1990.  Irish red deer: Cervus elaphus.


The design is by Irish artist Thomas Ryan and depicts a stag: the male of the species. He produced it in the style of Percy Metcalfe, but it is a classic in its own right.

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Isle of Man, 50 pence, 1979.  Viking ship.

Mann has produced many Viking ship designs. This is my favourite.

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Israel, 5 agorot.  Pomegranates.

Artistic, different, simple but not simplistic. Nicely struck too, with reasonably high relief adding to the sculpted texture of the design.

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Italy, 50 lire, 1955.  A Vulcan blacksmith, standing at an anvil.

The mythological touch again.

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Jamaica, 25 cents.  Hummingbird on flower.

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Japan, 500 yen, 2007.   50th Anniversary of Japanese Antarctic Research.

Nice dogs. I wouldn't usually associate Japan with the Antarctic.

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Jersey, 50 pence.  The Gatehouse at Grosnez Castle.




The castle was built around 1330 and was probably demolished around the time of the French occupation of Jersey (1461–1468). The gatehouse is now the only substantial remnant of the castle.




A closer look at the gatehouse.

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Jordan, 5 dinars, 1995. UN commemorative.

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Kazakhstan, 100 tenge, 2016.  Abul Khair Khan.

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Kiribati, 1 dollar, 1979.  Outrigger.


Kenya - omitted - too few suitable designs.