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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,571 |
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Pillar of the Community
2087 Posts |
this new thread is to assist me in research. My knowledge is limited to a specific area and I would like to extend it. So I am asking what coins do people regard as being the most important trade coins? My provisional list excludes ancients as I know very little about them: Venitian Ducat Grosso Gros Tournois Guilden Groschen Joachimsthaler Guildengroschen Dutch Lion thaler The Luigino ( 5 sols, 1/12 ecu) THE Maria Theresa Thaler US Trade dollarFrench Paistre d Commerce British Trade dollarSovereign Mexican dollar( added) Spanish dollar( added) 1866-1868 British Hong kong trade dollar(added) Venitian Tallero(2 types 18th century) Italian Tallero English silver penny Bohemian pragergroschen Islamic silver dirham Islamic gold dinar Byzantine gold solidus Indian rupee Persian Larin Edited by austrokiwi
07/06/2015 06:27 am
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
The 8 reale and fractions thereof.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
Second the 8 reales. Not only for trade but for the bullion in many of the other trade coins.
French gold 20F Napoleon.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2878 Posts |
Possibly the verinsthalers ?
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Valued Member
United States
462 Posts |
I didnt know verinsthalers were intended for trading. To me as a crown collector below three are the most likable and elusive trade coins (arguably) 1) 1866-1868 British Hong kong Trade dollar2) 1804 British 5 schillings /Irish 6 schillings bank dollar 3) Italian tallero Edit: I just noticed you had Joachimsthaler Guildengroschen, it will probably blow everything else I guess. Edited by plonker
07/05/2015 1:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
3831 Posts |
I reckon the Japanese silver yen and Trade dollar should be included as well. They were exported to China and Taiwan in the early 1900s. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Based on the sheer volume produced - the Colonial Spanish 8 Reale has to be considered as the most important trade coin ever issued. The total silver produced in the new world silver mines exceeded the total volume of silver produced in all of the rest of the world's mines from the ancient extraction to the 1500s. In the 100 years of the 18th century, new world silver production was almost 60 million pounds (that is weight not a monetary measure). That is enough silver to mint over 75 million 8 reales.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
709 Posts |
I would vote for the Spanish/Mexican 8 reales.
Firstly because they were produced in huge numbers and used over the world. Many places cut and overstamped them for their own use.
Secondly, because many of the subsequent trade coins appear to me to have copied their format.
Thirdly because the original US dollar was based on them, and the US$ is probably king of the international currencies today.
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Pillar of the Community
Hong Kong
1270 Posts |
Japanese Yen (Meiji) and French IndoChina Piastre were important to Asia (esp. China) in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
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Moderator
 Australia
16829 Posts |
Some more I would add:
English silver penny
Bohemian pragergroschen
Islamic silver dirham and gold dinar
Byzantine gold solidus
Indian rupee
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
United States
525 Posts |
I just read a book about some bandits in the Balkans in 1900 who kidnapped a woman and demanded a ransom in "Gold Napoleons". They got it.  https://www.brianrxm.comThe Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin Coins in Movies Coins on Television
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Valued Member
United States
309 Posts |
Please tell me your definition of a "Trade Coin." If you mean a high value coin that exchanges locally in its country of origin at face value, but does double duty outside its country of origin, to be exchanged in foreign lands as PM of known fineness and weight, you might look to define which types did so over the largest geographic region (world trade) or over the longest time span. Those that doing both might be best. I would submit one of the first and best were Athenian "Owls" circa 440 BC, given the known world was a bit smaller back then. Many more were minted than needed for commerce in a single city-state. Now some coins were so popular that the design was imitated the world over such as the European Talleros from various mints and countries in imitation of the Dutch Lion Daalder. Do these count as a single type of trade coin? Might "trade coins" be those types never intended for circulation in their country of origin but designed exclusively for overseas commerce? I would think Philippines Pesos minted under U.S. sovereignty could fit the bill. Might you exclude money substitutes like hard times tokens since they traded within their country of origin?
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Pillar of the Community
 2087 Posts |
Good question! I think that since the end of the middle ages there have been national coins that have become trade coins...... and coins that were designed specifically for trade. The Athenia Owl was most certainly, from the very little I know a coin if international commerce. I need to think hard and do considerable research to answer that question( thank you)
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,571 |
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Posted 07/05/2015 12:28 pm
