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 Replies: 8 / Views: 820 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
541 Posts |
Nine Down Three To Go Back in the 1960's I started collecting German coins and stumbled across my first German East Africa 20 heller coins. Even though they were crude they had an irresistible history and mystery about them. The Yeoman brown book barely mentioned them and the German books listings were very confusing. Eventually I realized that there were twelve varieties of the 1916 twenty heller coins. The coins came in both Brass and Copper. Obverses had large or small crowns. The reverses had one of three lettering variations; two Ornamented L's in the word Heller, a broken L and plain L's. I then thought it would be fun to try and assemble a set of these types. Well fifty years later I just picked up my ninth variety; a Brass, small crown with the broken L reverse. That still leaves three to go and from what I see the last three are going to be expensive if I can even find them in acceptable condition.   Edited by retiredkper
01/08/2022 12:21 am
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
1557 Posts |
Coins of the German colonies are quite an interesting topic for the collection. There is not much information about these coins, although there is probably more information in English-language reference books. I wonder why they have such a poor quality of coinage. I also like the coins of German Papua New Guinea, but these coins are too expensive for me (unfortunately).
I would advise you to first collect coins of German East Africa by type, and then when you collect all types of this series, only then expand the collection and collect varieties.
Edited by Slerk
01/08/2022 04:39 am
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Moderator
 United States
34409 Posts |
That is pretty cool progress @ret. I find the different letterforms for the L fascinating. Do you know what sort of explanation there is for why?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
541 Posts |
According to my published German publications the ornamented L's was the original and traditional design as seen on some pre-war coins. In the minting process the first L part "broke off" which must be on the hub which was used to make working dies. They continued to use the broken hub as long as possible and then re-engraved the the broken hub resulting in the thicker plain L's. The copper versions are scarcer than the brass and the ornamented L's are scarcer than the common plain L's. Thanks for asking.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5240 Posts |
@retired, I find it quite interesting how, out of the thousands of areas of numismatics, this one in particular caught your eye.
Since these varieties are not well known, you might be able to buy a rare one for very little. But I assume that after 50 years of looking you would know just how scarce they are.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
541 Posts |
Oriole, the fact that this is a relic coin is what hooked me. Most relic items are medals made from captured cannon, most famous of which are The Victoria Cross and the US Medal of Honor but coin relics are closer to my collecting heart.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
541 Posts |
The fact that these were issued by the under dog in an epic WWI struggle made collecting these irresistible.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5240 Posts |
@retired, so in a sense the story was the main hook. Like most people, I love a good story.
Now when do you plan to get the 15 Rupien DOC coins?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
541 Posts |
If you luv good stories that are true read : Gentlemen of War by van der Vat and The Last Gentleman of War by Lochner both about the SMS Emden. Also Guerilla by Hoyt and The Germans Who Never Lost by Hoyt both about the SMS Konigsberg and German East Africa. As for the 15 Rupien coins I am tempted but I need to study them a bit more before I spend that kind of money.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 820 |
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Posted 01/08/2022 06:32 am
