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Replies: 753 / Views: 51,890 |
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Canada
2805 Posts |
So, there are a few definitions for what a "crown" is. Properly, it's a large silver British pre-decimal coin worth 5 shillings, or 1/4 of a pound. However, since decimalization, these have been made with a value of 25 pence (later increased to 5 pounds). And some people apply this definition to any large silver coin (such as silver dollars or silver pesos or silver 5-franc coins). To make things more confusing, some crowns aren't even made of silver, such as the British 1951 crown made of copper-nickel, and numerous copper-nickel coins from 1960s Africa. Still, everyone loves large coins, so I thought I would make a thread for showing them off in. So... post a large-sized coin, silver or copper-nickel! The only rule here is that it must be large, it must be heavy, and it must be made out of gray metal; use your own best judgment. I'll start with three of my recent additions: Jamaica, 5 shillings, 1966. This commemorates the Commonwealth Games in Jamaica. Also, interestingly, it was manufactured at the private Sherritt Mint, which is only a few kilometers away from me. Dominican Republic, 1 peso, 1897. This coin is quite large but it's a trick; it's only 0.3500 silver. Even though it's worn, it's not unattractive; an eBay search shows that most of these coins are in G condition or worse, so mine's not even unusually worn. Strange, maybe people held on to their money in the Dominican Republic. Southern Rhodesia, 1 crown, 1953. This is a beautiful coin that's been very high up on my most-wanted list for a long time; I was very very close to buying it on eBay for about $50, but then this one appeared at yesterday's coin show for $20. Probably my eyes bugged out of my head. Cecil Rhodes was one of Britain's leading colonists and served as the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony; he saw British influence expand ever northward and prevented the Portuguese from connecting Mozambique and Angola (thus preventing Southern Rhodesia from being called Rodésia do Sul), and he is the namesake of Southern Rhodesia. This coin is interesting for some other reasons. Some people say that the 1965 Churchill crown (which someone will inevitably post here) is the first British coin to feature a non-royal on it. Well, it is if you don't count the colonies; clearly, this coin has the Churchill crown beat by 12 years. Anyway, I hope to see some other large coins in this thread; happy posting! Try not to post duplicates and try not to post everything in your collection at once. This especially applies to American coins, only one U.S. silver dollar per post and no duplicates of previously posted coins and you'd better not circumvent this by making a bunch of consecutive posts or I'll probably cry in real life. Edited by nalaberong 03/08/2015 1:38 pm
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Australia
7096 Posts |
1953 NZ Proof Crown Awaiting grading at PCGS.  
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United States
3460 Posts |
 It was the first thing that I thought off when I saw "Post a Crown!"  (Titles are SO important.) Years ago I remember the term 'crown size' used so the ambiguity has been around a long time.
Brother, can you spare a "BARBER" dime?
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3281 Posts |
How about this?  Was thinking of the Japanese yen coins but had to think twice if it is "large" enough.
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
My oldest British crown, 1696 William III  
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United States
1091 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
7905 Posts |
1820 British crown with unofficial counterstamp: 
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Canada
2805 Posts |
Adding some Oceanic flavour   Fiji, 1 dollar, 1969  Samoa, 1 tala, 1969 (Robert Louis Stevenson)  Tonga, 1 pa'anga, 1974
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United States
1091 Posts |
Here another crown or 'krone' -- the same word used in the Kingdom of Denmark and Norway -- of 4 marks. This one is dated 1672/1 during the reign of Christian V.  
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Valued Member
Japan
336 Posts |
Quote: Was thinking of the Japanese yen coins but had to think twice if it is "large" enough. There are large and small types. They were 38.6mm up until Meiji 20 (1887) This is an example of the large type.  There are large and small types for 1887, but from 1888, just slightly smaller, 38.1mm Weight and fineness was unchanged: .900 fine, total weight 26.96g
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United States
1091 Posts |
The Italian States minted many silver crown sized coins, Venice alone had the Tallero, Ducatone and Scudo for internal use and to trade along side equivalent foreign currency. The largest of these was the Scudo, valued at 140 Soldi. I just acquired this nice example from the time of Doge Giovanni Cornero II and though undated, the mintmaster's initials, AM for Alvise Minotto, indicate that it was produced in 1714 or 1715. 
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United States
2318 Posts |
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United Kingdom
7905 Posts |
Nice one's, Arkie! Here's a British Queen Victoria Jubilee Head crown. This short series lasted from 1887 to 1892 and is one of the most affordable for those wanting to start a collection of British crowns: 
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United States
731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community

United States
1091 Posts |
The Dutch Republic minted several crown sized silver coins. Among the Rijksdaalder, Leeuwendaalder, Ducat and Ducatoon, the latter was the most valuable at 60 stuivers. The ducatoon, aka Silver Rider, was produced from 1659 to 1798. It's one of my favorite coin designs. 
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11935 Posts |
1951 five Shilling (crown)  
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Replies: 753 / Views: 51,890 |
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