Disappearing Shapes: The Future Of Oddly Shaped Coins Bleak?

Wow! Thanks for all the information on a lot of this stuff, much appreciated.

The electroplating thing I think I found most interesting, and it makes a little more sense than what I was told earlier. Many electroplate coins I've seen from Africa or Haiti look pretty bad when worn. All the metal layers get exposed and begin corroding at various rates. I'll bet some of these coins may eventually be worth a lot in good condition just because they lack durability.

From what I can understand, Bangladesh doesn't really make the small poisha coins anymore, due to having such little value. Same thing with the Indian Paisa, I think the lowest denomination in India right now is the 50 paisa. The Belize scalloped pennies are still used though, and the Belize dollar is still made with ten sides. Lots of countries have started using the "Spanish flower" shape, Australia's 50 cent works well with machines as a couple mentioned, I'm guessing quite a few "shapes" will circulate for some time yet. But I think we may as well say goodbye to the square, as well as a few shapes like the octagon which never took off except a few places to begin with.

I had no idea Cook Islands was still putting out those dollar coins, despite New Zealand retooling the cents. The mint figures Mr. T put up seem to hint they have the intention of using them. Weird but interesting.

As far as unstable countries go, I know post-invasion Iraq and Afghanistan have both issued 3 coin sets (all round) but I have no idea how much they actually circulate, if at all. I haven't even seen NCLT come out of South Sudan yet though, and when it does I almost doubt their government will even know about it.

[quote]There are the 2010 "sets" -
http://worldcoinnews.blogspot.co.uk...ok%20islands[quote]

I'm guessing they don't circulate then.