Coins

• Obverse means the "heads" side.
• Reverse means the "tails" side
• Mint mark is the letter indicating where the coin was minted.
• A mint is a factory that makes coins.

Around 6th century BCE, 600 BCE, the first coins were minted. The first country to mint coins is a bit unknown , but a very likely contestant is the kingdom of Lydia, in modern day Turkey. Coins have changed remarkably little over the course of almost 3000 years, and hopefully after reading this online exhibit you will realise that. This collection has coins spanning from ancient to modern times, and from all over the world. Enjoy!

America 1853 Half Dime

Obverse

• American, 1853 Seated Liberty Half Dime with Arrows Standard Circulation.
• Half Dime were first minted in 1792, and discontinued in 1873. Nickels were first minted in 1866!

Reverse

Canadian 1882 Cent

Obverse

• Canada, 1882 Victoria Standard Circulation cent.
• The small H on the reverse side represents Heaton Mint! It was also known as Birmingham Mint.

Reverse

United States 1936 25 Cents

Obverse 

• United States, 1936, 25 Cents (quarter) standard circulation.
  
  
• Quarters, and dimes, contained Silver until 1965 with the passage of the Coinage Act! A 1936 quarter is made of 90% silver.

Reverse

Ceylon 1943 25 Cents 

Obverse 

• Ceylon,1943, King George VI 25 cent standard circulation.
• Ceylon is the historical name for Sri Lanka!

Reverse

America 1943 Dime

Obverse 

• America,1943, Mercury Dime.
• The lady on the obverse is Lady Liberty! (5)

Reverse

Great Britain 1953 5 Shillings

Obverse 

• Great Britain, 1953, Queen Elizabeth Coronation commemorative 5 Shillings.
• Queen Elizabeth's full name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor!

Reverse

Netherlands 1954 Cent

Obverse 

• Netherlands,1957, Queen Juliana Koningin 1 cent standard circulation.
• Juliana Koningin was the queen of the Netherlands from 1948-1980.

Reverse

Sweden 1967 1 Öre

Obverse

• Sweden, 1967, 1 Öre standard circulation.
• Gustav VI Adolf was the king of Sweden from 1950-1973.

Reverse

United Kingdom 1975 Penny

Obverse 

• United Kingdom, 1975, One Penny standard circulation.
• New Penny is on the reverse of the coin because in 1971 the UK released new pennys to replace the pre-decimal ones, and wanted to promote them.

Reverse

Russian 1992 1 Ruble 

Obverse 

• Russian, 1992 1 Ruble, Two Headed Eagle.
• Despite the fall of the Soviet Union on December 26th, the mint started making Russian republic coins on the 1st of December (both 1991). 

Reverse 

Germany 2002 10 Euro

Obverse

• Germany,2002, 10 Euro standard circulation.
• The Euro is good for use in 20 EU countries!

Reverse 

New Zealand 2006 1 Dollar

Obverse 

• New Zealand, 2006,  Queen Elizabeth 1 Dollar Standard Circulation.
• The kiwi is a flightless bird native to New Zealand.

Reverse

South Africa 2016 10 Cents

Obverse 

• South Africa, 2016, 10 cent standard circulation.
• The flower on the reverse is an Arum Lily.

Reverse

Poland 2008 1 Grosz

Obverse

• Poland, 2008, 1 Grosz standard circulation.
• On the reverse there is a Oak leaf, which can trace it earliest importance to Slavic Mythology.

Reverse

Private Company Coins

    Although not legal currency, many private companies issue coins and tokens for their businesses. Below are some interesting, and humorous, examples of this.

League Island Ferry Co.

• League Island is more commonly known as the Navy Shipyard in Philly nowadays. 
• The League Island Ferry mostly carried shipyard workers, and is now closed.

Delaware River Bridge Line

• Now known as the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
• This token was mostly used in the 1940's-1960's.

John Swiencicki 5¢

• Seems to be made from an American coin.
• I cannot find any other information on this, please contact me if you know anything.

Hohenadel Beer