| Author |
 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,520 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
I've had these in my collection a very long time and have no idea what they are. 1893 2 of something. Other than the date and the number 2, no other characters on the coin. If I had to take a wild guess, I would say Czechoslovakia, because my grandfather's parents immigrated from there. I also have the same coin from 1912 (in better condition).   1879 2 of something else. This one has lots of writing, looks something like Russian to me.   Thanks in advance. I've wondered for 40+ years what these are. |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
kbbpll- the first is an Austrian 2 Kreuzer and the second is a Russian 2 Kopeks.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Second is definitely Russian. 2 Kopeks of 1893: en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces3020.html?mobile=2
Second one is an Austrian 2 heller of 1893:
en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2082.html?mobile=0
Edited by zxcccxz
12/24/2013 7:01 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
4233 Posts |
Wow, I waited 40 years to find out and got answers in 3 minutes. You people are _awesome_.
I presume these are relatively common.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
kbbpll- yeah, the Austrian coin is pretty common. The Russian coin is fairly common as well, but it may have a little bit of value.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
a bit on confusion on those first two posts.
first coin is Austrian 1893 2 Heller Krause KM # 2801
second coin is Russian 1879 2 Kopeks Krause Y # 10.2
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Yes, I see a few of each for sale and not more than a few dollars. I enjoy the history way more than that. Now I know that I have something from the Austro-Hungarian Empire and from czarist Russia. Pretty cool.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I have a few Austrian coins and I banged my head a while
before making an identification.
That doubled-headed eagle is the key.
The writing on the Russian coin is "old" style.
Modified after the Soviets took power, the old writing is still is used in religious texts.
A coin + an explanation of it's history = a joy forever!
edit:
Czechoslovakia did not come into existence until 1918.
Before then it was the provinces of Bohemia and Slovakia.
Both were Austrian territories.
So your recollection/guess was correct.
Edited by matthewvincent
12/25/2013 03:23 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
matthewvincent - thanks, that explains all the Bohemian jokes when I was growing up; my great-grandparents emigrated from what was Bohemia. Whether the coins came over directly from the "old country" I can only speculate about. The 1893 Heller would have pre-dated migration, but the 1912 (not pictured) would have been after my grandfather was born in the US in 1906. It's possible they returned to Prague to visit relatives when my grandfather was a child and before WWI began, and returned with the 1912 coin.
On the other hand, nearly all of my world coins came from my grandfather having been head librarian at the Chicago Tribune, whose predecessor had contacts all over the world who mailed in coins. When the predecessor died, my grandfather maintained those contacts for a while, and thus I now have many world coins from the 1940s, although some like these are earlier dates.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
My grandparents on Mom's side came from Moravia, the poor cousins of the Czechs.
I spent a happy week in Prague back in 1974.
And, just to annoy you:
"Strč prst skrz krk!"
= Push/stick your finger through/down your neck/throat." THE classic Czech tongue twister.
No vowels? Czech doesn't need no stinking vowels!
Makes one's tongue sore trying to say it.
(Do not forget to 'roll' that "r" - very much unlike the "r" we say in English.)
česky = Czech = Bohemia. Confusing? You BET it is!
Either your grandparents returned for a visit, OR:
relatives/fellow villagers also came later with a few
coins in their pockets. That would explain a 1928 Czech coin which was made after my grandparents came here
and found in the house where we all lived..
Some mysteries remain mysteries.
Edited by matthewvincent
12/25/2013 3:03 pm
|
| |
Replies: 9 / Views: 1,520 |
|
Posted 12/24/2013 7:00 pm
