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 Replies: 177 / Views: 7,026 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
11274 Posts |
The inclusion of one or more sea shells in a coin's design is relatively common among island nations, whether in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea or any other sea. They've also appeared on the coins of non-island nations.
So, let's have a look at what folks have in their collections in terms of coins/medals/tokens/bank notes that depict a sea shell.
I'm kicking things off with a pair of coins: a US commemorative coin on which a pair of shells play both a symbolic and ornamental role, and a silver dollar from the Marshall Islands of the Pacific Ocean for which a Triton shell is the primary reverse design element.
Let's get going!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
 United States
11274 Posts |
First up is a quick look at a classic US commemorative half dollar that includes a pair of shells in its design - the 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial/Tricentennial Anniversary half dollar. The obverse of the coin depicts the Seal of the Norfolk that dates to 1912-13. Norfolk has had multiple official Seals during its history, but the 1912-23 version was current as the time the commemorative half dollar was designed. The Seal featured a fully-rigged sailing ship at its center, with wheat sheaves and plow placed in the foreground. The mottoes "Et terra et mare divitiae tuae" and "Crescas" are included above and below the sailing ship, respectively. The figurative translations of these mottoes are "Both by land and by sea thy riches (are)" and "Thou shalt grow" respectively. (A modern, more literal, translation would be "Your wealth, land and sea" and "Increase" respectively.) The coin's date - "1936" - is flanked by a pair of sea scallop shells. Throughout much of its history, Norfolk has served as an important port for fisherman to bring their scallop catches. The port has frequently been among the top US ports in terms of scallops volume. The shells are included in the design as acknowledgement of this important component of the city's economy. 1936 Norfolk Bicentennial / Tercentennial Half Dollar    For more on the Norfolk half dollar, have a look at: - 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial / Tricentennial- 1936 Norfolk, VA Bicentennial / Tricentennial - Original Models vs. Final Coins- https://goccf.com/t/405708Official Seals on Classic US Commemoratives - Part IV" - "Thanks! But No Thanks!" - The Norfolk Medal- Raleigh's Portrait - Raleigh Coin's Design Team- 1936 Norfolk, VA Tricentennial / Bicentennial, Coins Designed by a Woman ThreadFor other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11274 Posts |
Next up is a silver commemorative coin issued by the Marshall Islands (MI) in 1986 - a one dollar coin - to mark the nation's new independence and the signing of the Compact of Free Association (CFA) between the Marshall Islands and the United States (US). The silver dollar was just one coin of a multi-issue silver and gold coin program for the event. The MI was administered by the US post-World War II under a United Nations Trust Territory arrangement. The MI achieved its independence in 1986, but has remained closely-affiliated with the US via the original and subsequently-renewed CFAs. The reverse of the dollar is dominated by a spired Triton shell; a triton is a marine snail of the Cymatiidae family and is native to many Pacific islands.   Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
162716 Posts |
Nice examples!  Looking forward to some more.  |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11274 Posts |
Here's another classic US commemorative half dollar whose design includes a shell - the 1935 Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial half dollar. The reverse design of the half dollar is an adaptation of the original Hudson, NY Seal. It is not an exact duplicate, but is reasonably faithful. On the coin, Neptune is depicted riding backwards on a whale while holding a trident in his right hand. The shell element (small though it is!) comes into play upon close inspection of the mermaid figure (possibly a triton figure) at left in the background. The figure is shown blowing into a conch shell and using it as a horn or trumpet. In ancient myth, the conch shell was used to stir up or calm down the seas, as fit the situation. The wording seen on the ribbon ("ET DECUS ET PRETIUM RECTI"), translates as "both the ornament and the reward of virtue." A contemporary interpretation would be "moral behavior is honorable and its own reward." The obverse of the coin features Henry Hudson's sailing ship, the Halve Maen (in English, Half Moon) under full sail. It was in the Half Moon that Hudson explored the river he named "Manhattes" based on the name of the Native American tribe that lived near the mouth of the river. The river had other names, before and after Hudson's exploration, but today, the river bears his name. The coin's design is the work of Chester Beach. 1935 Hudson, NY Sesquicentennial Half Dollar    To learn more about the Hudson half dollar, and other commemorative coins and medals, check out: Commems Collection. Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
162716 Posts |
A subtle shell. Well played! |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11274 Posts |
I've always considered the circulating coins of the Bahamas to be attractive and perfectly suited for the island nation. Here's a silver dollar from the Bahamas that was struck in 1966. the coin is 0.800 fine silver and was struck from 1966-1970. Its obverse features the Arnold Machin portrait of Queen Elizabeth II; the central design element of the reverse is a conch shell. The reverse design was also created by Machin. (Arnold Machin was responsible for the designs of all of the original coins issued by the Bahamas.) The coin design was struck on a non-circulating silver coin (with updated inscriptions) from 1971 to 1973, but returned on a coin for circulation in 1974 - at that point, however, its planchet was copper-nickel.   Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Moderator
United States
162716 Posts |
Lovely example! I have the same, along with some other denominations, in my world album. My brother them brought back after his honeymoon cruise.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
24882 Posts |
1966 Bahamas 1 Dollar - Elizabeth II.   Reverse Conch shell (Strombus alatus) |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
16637 Posts |
Great idea for a topic! 1977 5 dollars from Barbados showing Bridgetown's famous Shell Fountain and scallop shells:   Edited by NumisRob
11/05/2021 09:46 am
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Moderator
United States
162716 Posts |
Great examples! |
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Valued Member
Canada
280 Posts |
I hunted and hunted for a topic already featuring seashells on coins, not to be found. Let's start off with a beaut! Coinciding with my own birth year, this is a 1966 UNC Bahama Islands $1 silver (.800) coin featuring the bust of Elizibeth II and on the reverse a Conch shell above a wreath of seaweed. Note the small fish top left. Weight is 18.4 gm and the 1966 coins were minted in both 1966 & 67.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
16637 Posts |
1983 1-cent coin from the Philippines with a native seashell - Voluta Imperialis:  Edited by NumisRob
05/31/2022 6:23 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
8076 Posts |
Conch shell on Bhutan 10 chhertum.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
8076 Posts |
1914 Netherlands 5 cents  View my Coins here, (NOW WITH OVER 16,800 IMAGES).... https://www.coincommunity.org/galle...hp?cat=10048OFEC count = 237 |
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
11274 Posts |
Quote:
I hunted and hunted for a topic already featuring seashells on coins, not to be found. Previous thread here: Post Your Coin / Medal / Bank Note With A ShellMaybe the mods can add these new entries to the existing thread to keep everything together?
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Replies: 177 / Views: 7,026 |
Posted 10/12/2021 10:33 am
