Moneta's Temple and Gallery

Germany - Prussia 20 Mark 1913 A

Moneta — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 19:35:44 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Wilhelm II German Kaiser (Emperor) and King of Prussia on this common 20 Mark gold piece. Compared to the previous 20 Mark he appears ready to go to war. With 20/20 hindsight and the revelation of secret documents the Germans instigated the events that ultimately lead the the "Great War" and the "War to End All Wars" - World War I. So we're also placing him in the Rogues Gallery.

Czechoslovakia - 50 Korun - Lenin 1970

Moneta — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 16:19:52 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Czechoslovakia Socialist Republic celebrates the 100th Year since the birth of Vladimir Lenin 1870 -1970. This year saw the reduction in size of the 50 Korun silver coin. Only 44k were minted in Unc. with 6.6k minted in proof. Obverse is the socialist Lion.

Cuba - Che Guevara Peso

Moneta — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 17:59:57 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Part of the vast product of Cuba, which I believe are all struck in Spain (let me know my error). Pure copper issue of the 40th Anniversary of his Death, which couldn't have come too soon for his enemies. Still worshiped as an icon of the Communist Revolution.

Venezuela - Italy: Mussolini

Moneta — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 15:16:32 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Somehow the avoidance of a "Cult of Personality," which is generally known to be a Communist tenet, is actually more prevalent more among the Fascists. These 'National Socialists' are actually just one of the many 'flavors' of Statists (those Big Government types that want to crush your individual freedoms). So, I had to go to Venezuela to find a denominated (?) 'coin' that honors Mussolini. It's a borrowed photo and the item is not physically in the Museum. A necessary measure to round out the Rogues Gallery. The item states "Banco Italo-Venezolano" p/o 'Chiefs of the Second World War' series. There were 18 people included in this set that was minted by the Karlsuhe mint in Germany, mintage unknown.

Cuba - Che Guevara 3 Pesos

Moneta — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 21:21:25 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: The famous icon of revolution - CHE! His portrait appears far more often than that of Castro on many different series of coins from Cuba. I suppose this was to suppress the 'cult of personality' that purist Communists try to avoid, North Korea excepted. Of course there's a 'cult of personality' for Che! in the de-evolving West. The type appeared first in 1990 on copper nickel, for 1992 and 1995 the coin became nickel plated steel.

Cuba Peso - Castro 1993

Moneta — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 21:08:37 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: 40th Anniversary of the Attack on Moncada Barracks by Cuban revolutionaries on July 26, 1953. Fidel Castro and others served jail time, which sort of contradicts the supposed evils of the Marti government, because government troops were killed. Reverse features an impressive portrait of Castro in uniform (sides reversed in photo). These are copper plated bronze, which is a little unusual. There are two types, this being the second type with flat rim, the other having a beveled rim and a little less weight. KM shows an equal value for both. Cuban coins post US embargo (early '60's) are hard to find, I found a few coming out of Spain.

Iran - Khomeini Azadi

Moneta — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 17:51:34 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Islamic Republic bullion coinage issued by the National Bank of Iran. Obverse features a mosque with the legends "The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and (perhaps) "Spring of Freedom". Reverse features a facing 3/4 portrait of Khomeini. Another type celebrating him shows a left facing portrait. Ruhollah Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini (Persian text: + 24 September 1902 - 3 June 1989), was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Following the revolution, Khomeini became the country's Supreme Leader, a position created in the constitution as the highest ranking political and religious authority of the nation, which he held until his death. After coming to power, Khomeini ordered the destruction of Reza Shah's mausoleum, and executed opposition members by the tens of thousands. Khomeini's killing spree included 1988 executions of Iranian political prisoners and Chain murders of Iran among others. Khomeini used religion to gain and justify his political power. Khomeini�s close circle created a myth around him and elevated him to God-like status.

France - Napoleon I - 40 Fr, 1st Year

Moneta — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 17:12:02 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: The era of Napoleon I, following the French Revolution, used three date formats. The FIRST YEAR issue used the Revolutionary dating system with Roman numerals. This one year type is seen here with AN XI as the issue year (~1803). The next issue year bore the date AN 12, using Arabic numbers rather than Roman numerals. Later still, in 1806, the coin date system was changed again to a familiar western system. Years are counted since the establishment of the first French Republic on 22 September 1792. That day became 1 Vendemiaire of the year 1 of the Republic. (However, the Revolutionary Calendar was not introduced until 24 November 1793.) So the dates do not easily correspond to today's western date system.

DDR - Karl Marx 20 Mark

Moneta — Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:45:16 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Karl Marx. The more famous of the Marx-Engels duo. They wrote "The Communist Manifesto" and "Das Kapital" to set out a model for a non-capitalist economic system. The system has been tried, as well as human nature will allow, and has been found wanting. The authoritarian governments the system has inspired has killed millions of people, either through the murder of political opponents, or the outright mismanagement of agricultural production. The Marxist-Communist system is a massive failure. Only a few die-hard oppressive countries attempt to adhere to strict communism and they are among the poorest in the world today.

Iraq - Saddam Hussein

Moneta — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 17:04:32 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: 1st Anniversary of Saddam Hussein as President.

Hitler Portrait - 1 Mark Opfer-Spende

Moneta — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 14:16:27 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Other than on un-denominated medals and campaign tokens, etc., I know of no other denominated tokens featuring a portrait of Adolf Hitler. Obverse: "HEIL HITLER" separates "DEUTSCHLANDS ERNEUERER" =[Germany's Renewer, or Restorer]; Reverse: "AVCH ICH HAB MITGEHOLFEN" = [I, too, have helped]; "OPFERSPENDE" = [Sacrificial Donation]. These 'Opferpfennige' & Opfer-Spende (Marks) are very rare. They were sold, probably at face value, in order to raise money for the NSDAP [Nazi] Party. I've seen these in denominations of 30 & 50 Opferpfennige also, a 50 pf is here in the Museum. This example is pristine, a tad lightly struck in one area, and may be the best example around. Very difficult to find even a photo of these. Edge is plain. Contact moneta@moneta-coins.com for a larger file size for research, documentation or printing.

E. Germany - Engels

Moneta — Sun, 28 Sep 2014 02:26:03 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Part of the huge issue of DDR commemorative coinage spanning 5 - 20 Marks, this one celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Friedrich Engles. He, with Karl Marx, were responsible for the "Communist Manifesto." You'll see the Marx issue here as well. Their economic model, for the countries that have tried it, has been a failure. Both coins have an issue of 100,000 each.

Adolf Hitler portrait medal

Moneta — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:20:12 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: A large bronze medal with a bold portrait of the Feurer. These must have been issued early as the sacrifice of this quantity of metal would not have been tolerated in later years. The reverse is: "Zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr ins Reich" - best translation of this might be "In Memory of the Return to the Reich (Empire)".

Somalia - Mao Tze Tung

Moneta — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:52:25 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Millennium Icons series issue by the Republic of Somalia using tri-ring bi-metal technology to depict Mao tse-tung of China.

Czechoslovakia - Stalin

Moneta — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 15:45:58 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Post WWII commemoration of Joseph Stalin on his 70th Birthday. After the zeal of the October Revolution (1917) Stalin brought the Soviet Union (USSR) to new levels of brutality. His programs led to the the deaths of millions.

N. Korea - Kim Il Sung

Moneta — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 17:10:40 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: 80th Birthday of Kim Il Sung. There's a version of the 10 Won (KM65) that's supposed to depict Kim's birthplace (wasn't that in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes?)

USSR - Engels

Moneta — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 16:59:45 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: 165th Anniversary of the birth of Friedrich Engels of the famous duo Marx and Engels. Engels actually is responsible for the "Communist Manifesto" but Marx gained fame for being more active rather than just economically philosophical.

Hitler 50 Opferpfennige - RARE

Moneta — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:35:50 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Other than on undenominated medals and campaign tokens, etc., I know of no denominated tokens featuring a portrait of Adolph Hitler [Schickelgruber]. I'm working on an accurate translation of the legends. These 'Opferpfennige' are very rare.

Libya - Col. Qaddafi

Moneta — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:17:21 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: 10th Anniversary as President of the Socialist People's Republic of Libya. Just one of many spellings available [Kadaffi]. He had his highs and lows. At some point a degree of madness set in. A lot of people had to die but they finally got him. Unfortunately, the chaos caused by his USA enabled downfall (Hillary Clinton, Samantha Powers, Susan Rice, etc.) has kept the "country" in the throes of Islamist disruption. Somehow, for some reason, that appears to have been the goal. Excess weapons were transferred to Syria (research Benghazi attack) to help destabilize that country, but also led to the rise of ISIS.

Cuba - Castro

Moneta — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:09:37 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Promised bright future - imposed a repressive Communist regime tied to the USSR. The old goat that never dies...

Nero playing Lyre, As

Moneta — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 23:23:45 -0400

Caligula, As 37-41 A.D.

Moneta — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:52:08 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Caius Ceasar, son of Germanicus, famous 'bad boy', and subject of Hollywood fascination. He became ill and somewhat insane later in his 1st year as emperor. A group of Preatorians murdered him on January 24th, 41 A.D. OB: C.CAESAR AVG.GERMANICVS PON.M.TR.POT.; Laureate head l. RX: VESTA S.C.; Vesta seated l. S516; C27; RIC30; BMC 46; 11.7 gm at 31 mm.

Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh - 2 Dong

Moneta — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 18:53:08 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Uncirculated or nerly so. OB: 3/4 facing portrait of Ho Chi Minh with the legend "CHU TICH HO CHI MINH". RX: value above and below star in wreath with "NAM II" below. Outside the wreath is the legend: "VIET DAM DAN CHU CONG HAO." Planchet edge has pits due to the crude puching out process and the reeding is crude and incomplete. KM (Krause/Mishler 'Standard Catalog of World Coins') says that these are found in varieties - I would welcome a Museum project to document as many of these varieties as we can - anyone game? Here's a little rare history of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, and the OSS in 1945. In Moneta Library at: http://www.4shared.com/file/101496728/efa13c69/Ho_Chi_Minh_and_the_OSS_in_1945.html

Chinese 'Soviet' Counterstrike

Moneta — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:49:59 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Listed in KM as of 'Uncertain Origin'. It is known that Yuan Shih-kai issue (Y 329) was re-struck by the Communist Soviets when the need arose. I am still researching if this was one of their issues that was countermarked or if this is a standard issue Y329 that they countermarked. Meaning of the 3 characters is "SOVIET." Very Scarce and I also have an obvious fake that I will present. While KM lists these as 26.4 gm, the Wenchao book (Shanghai Museum) lists various weights for this long lived issue (1914-1929). There is a counterfeit one in the museum to compare this one to. Here are a number of RARE articles on Communist Chinese Soviet coins & notes from the Moneta Library: VIEW & DOWNLOAD: Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn (1st research 1937!): http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Chinese%20Soviet%20Coins%20and%20Notes%20-%20Raeburn.pdf Chinese Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Chinese%20Soviet%20Coins%20Intriguing%20-%20Hogan.pdf Chinese Communist Armies - Kann (excerpt): http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Chinese%20Communist%20Armies%20-%20Kann.pdf Soviet Chinese Copper Coins - Hua Guangpu (Little Brown Book): http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Soviet%20Chinese%20Coppers%20-%20Hua%20Guangpu.pdf The premier articles on Early Chinese Soviet issues are the invaluable documents below. It covers the history, coins and notes from 1927-1935 and includes photos and a map: (with color photos; in 3 parts); Money of Communist China - Sandrock Part I: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/The_Money_of_Communist_China_1927-1949_-Part_I.pdf Money of Communist China - Sandrock Part II: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/The_Money_of_Communist_China_1927-1949_-Part_II.pdf Money of Communist China - Sandrock Part III: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/The_Money_of_Communist_China_1927-1949_-Part_III.pdf

Lenin Dollar

Moneta — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 10:37:06 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: This example, with hammer & sickle reverse, are still controversial issues. KM has them as "authenticity in doubt", and Wenchao (Shanghai Museum) has them as 'fabrications.' However, Duncan Raeburn in his monograph "Chinese Soviet - Coins & Notes", a work printed and read before the Numismatic Society of China in Shanghai in January 1937, shows this profile portrait coin of Lenin. I am confident that this is the first article ever describing the issues of the Chinese Soviets. Yet, these are remarkable strikes compared to all other Soviet issues. Wenchao shows them as being minted in several varieties: 1) one with 'One Yuan' reverse; 2) this one w/Hammer & Sickle rev.; 3) a mule with portraits Ob. & Rx; 4) struck in gold w/hammer & sickle Rx. The evidence from Raeburn shows that these were struck fairly early during chaotic times. Kann (#800, 1953) also documents these profile Lenin Dollars. These facts might lead one to conclude that these issues were presentation pieces most likely with the USSR in mind. To the extent that the USSR aided the cause of revolutionary movements worldwide these pieces could have been struck as a token of gratitude. Proof-like & reeded. Money Company auction, June 1979, lot#299. Here are a number of RARE articles on Communist Chinese Soviet coins & notes from the Moneta Library: VIEW & DOWNLOAD: Chinese Soviet Coins and Notes - Raeburn (1st research 1937!): http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Chinese%20Soviet%20Coins%20and%20Notes%20-%20Raeburn.pdf Chinese Soviet Coins Intriguing - Hogan: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Chinese%20Soviet%20Coins%20Intriguing%20-%20Hogan.pdf Chinese Communist Armies - Kann (excerpt): http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Chinese%20Communist%20Armies%20-%20Kann.pdf Soviet Chinese Copper Coins - Hua Guangpu (Little Brown Book): http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Soviet%20Chinese%20Coppers%20-%20Hua%20Guangpu.pdf The premier articles on Early Chinese Soviet issues are the invaluable documents below. It covers the history, coins and notes from 1927-1935 and includes photos and a map: (with color photos; in 3 parts); Money of Communist China - Sandrock Part I: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/The_Money_of_Communist_China_1927-1949_-Part_I.pdf Money of Communist China - Sandrock Part II: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/The_Money_of_Communist_China_1927-1949_-Part_II.pdf Money of Communist China - Sandrock Part III: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/The_Money_of_Communist_China_1927-1949_-Part_III.pdf