I'm sure the question has been asked before, but...
What is your favorite coin design? Not based on history or rarity, but purely on the design itself. And I guess let's limit it to circulated coinage, not commemorative or fantasy or token, etc.
For me, it's the United States walking liberty half dollar. Doesn't have the boring symmetry of most US coins, it fits the standard elements into the design in more interesting ways, and extras like the rising sun. In a way that is still balanced and elegant. Same obverse is still used on the bullion silver dollar, although it has a boring reverse.
Not gonna take a picture of all the US coin types, but for comparison here are the half dollars. Walking Liberty definitely stands out!
Speaking of the Walking Liberty half, here's the coin that probably inspired it:
Oscar Roty's Semeuse, seen on circulating French silver coins 1897-1920 and then again on the New Franc and even now on the Euro. It's a humble design found on many junk bin coins, but it's simply durable because of many of the same things you mention about the Walking Liberty half; the rising sun adds a hint of optimistic symbolism to a France wracked by the Great War, and the confident stride of the figure tells us that sometimes less can indeed be more.
Besides that, I really like Benedetto Pistrucci's St George and the Dragon design; it's been on many British coins over the past 200 years, primarily on 5 shilling coins (crowns) and gold coinage.
It's honestly striking in many of the opposite ways that the Semeuse is; it's very detail heavy, and you're meant to focus on what's there rather than what isn't. It was definitely a good idea to remove the garter from the original late George III issues that first bore it; that simply clutters up and handicaps the effectiveness of the motif.
Citeer: "CassTaylor"Speaking of the Walking Liberty half, here's my example of (one of) the coin that probably inspired it:
Oscar Roty's Semeuse, seen on circulating French silver coins 1897-1920 and then again on the New Franc and even now on the Euro.
Hah, you got me there!
Although I suppose it's still better than having half of all available coin sides being taken up by a boring, predictable monarch's bust (or initials) that artistic creativity can only take so far.
I'll post a few more designs I like on humble coins in a bit.
Citeer: "CassTaylor"@sc.rednek
Hah, you got me there!
Although I suppose it's still better than having half of all available coin sides being taken up by a boring, predictable monarch's bust (or initials) that artistic creativity can only take so far.
I'll post a few more designs I like on humble coins in a bit.
exactly, that's why I showed the other US halves as examples. They're all so boring! Or were you talking about British? Presidents, Monarchs, all boring!
Yeah, I was referring more to monarchs (specifically British monarchs). Notice how on British coins the obverse portrait is so rigid (at least since 1895) that the same portrait is used on practically all legal tender, circulating British coins? It's an admirable level of conformity if that floats your boat, but just mind-bogglingly boring for me.
And I definitely agree, the trend of depicting US presidents (& Franklin) on circulating coinage that seems to have been in vogue since the mid-20th century is far more boring than some of the Liberty designs they had... a personal US favourite of mine is the Mercury dime, from arm's length it actually looks kind of like an ancient Greek coin. The Roosevelt dime by contrast looks far too utilitarian. #BringBacktheMerc
My favorites are Rupees from Sikh Empire (for there floral designs and calligraphy) and IPS Awadh (for there coat of arms)
Sikh Empire -
IPS Awadh -
"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ― Isaac Asimov
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Citeer: "phfoticus"
[BTW -- I'd like to see someone start a thread for coins with formal coats of arms, shields, crowns, etc.]
Why not have it here as well?
The Hohenzollern Eagle of Prussia (and later the German Empire), seen as a common reverse on all German coins from 1888 onwards. I think the spread wings and full feathers give a much better representation of a rising world power than the previous, thin, sickly looking eagle does by comparison.
And while most people would think of Europe when we say "coat of arms", I think Siam/Thailand adopted a pretty nice one while Westernising in the late 19th century.
Those are usually valued more than regular Écu coins. I've wanted an excuse to buy one for some time, but they're too similar to the cheap regular types I already have (as a type collector) to justify the expense.
Citeer: "Camerinvs"Not sure how much they're worth. Reasonably common, I believe (?).
Correct for the A mintmark (Paris) one on the right, but the Écu de Bearn (cow mintmark) on the left... woauh!
https://www.cgb.fr/louis-xvi-ecu-dit-aux-branches-dolivier-de-bearn-1780-pau-tb-ttb,bry_408734,a.html
Those are usually valued more than regular Écu coins. I've wanted an excuse to buy one for some time, but they're too similar to the cheap regular types I already have (as a type collector) to justify the expense.
I like when my coins are ed!
The one you linked was struck on "un flan large et irrégulier". Mine too is somewhat irregular -- in diameter:
It has an interesting oddity on the rim:
And this is the weight, which I suppose is within the norm:
As for the grade, I'm not familiar enough with French coins...
Those coins were mostly struck on (somewhat) irregular flans anyway, given the minting techniques they had back then; I'm not sure where the threshold is for them to deem it important enough to note down.
I'd prefer Dupré's Génie design to the relatively boring royalist fleur-de-lys motif surrounded by olive branches, but maybe that's just because we all want things we don't yet have.
Citeer: "CassTaylor"I'd prefer Dupré's Génie design to the relatively boring royalist fleur-de-lys motif surrounded by olive branches ...
Yes, and that's why I stressed that I like the Louis XVI livres "especially for the obverse". Still, that reverse is much nicer than many 19th century "wreath and value" reverses.
Citeer: "CassTaylor"I'd prefer Dupré's Génie design to the relatively boring royalist fleur-de-lys motif surrounded by olive branches ...
Yes, and that's why I stressed that I like the Louis XVI livres "especially for the obverse". Still, that reverse is much nicer than many 19th century "wreath and value" reverses.
Ah, I read it as "especially for the reverse". I agree completely on the wreath + denomination combination being far less impressive; but the Bourbon Restoration reverses are IMO kind of like the best of both worlds:
Those also fit nicely with the "best coat of arms" subtheme; the fine engraving on the shield and the detailed crown and wreath contrast the less embellished arms on the Ancien Regime coins.
* = Note how fuzzy the 1826 and 1849 pics are compared to the others -- I wonder if this is caused by the new GIMP 2.10 LoHalo resampling algorithm, which replaced the older Sinc/Lanczos method?
Citeer: "Parimal"My favorites are Rupees from Sikh Empire (for there floral designs and calligraphy) and IPS Awadh (for there coat of arms)
Sikh Empire -
IPS Awadh -
Citeer: "ashlobo"My favourites are the milled Hyderabadi coinage in the 19th and 20th century. The calligraphy and iconography are exquisite to say the least
Yes. Really nice.
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure, that just ain't so. Mark Twain
I think the mantle on a greater coat of arms can make what's otherwise quite a mundane, mediocre CoA look majestic; just check out how these examples stand up to a naked shield:
Citeer: "CassTaylor"
The Chinese dragon seen on silver and copper coins of the late Qing Dynasty (1889-1911); another hugely underrated East Asian design in my opinion.
I've always found the zodiac coins of the Mughals extremely pleasing. I love this one especially, though they're all beautiful to look at. Of course, I would never collect modern zodiac coins. However, I am collecting the PRC annual 10yuan lunar year coins
Citeer: "ashlobo"My favourites are the milled Hyderabadi coinage in the 19th and 20th century. The calligraphy and iconography are exquisite to say the least
Citeer: "ashlobo"My favourites are the milled Hyderabadi coinage in the 19th and 20th century. The calligraphy and iconography are exquisite to say the least
Speaking of Arabic script calligraphy;
The amazing thing about Persian derived scripts is the way they can be manipulated into sophisticated designs!
Egypt in my view takes it to another level especially when they pare it off with their rich pre Islamic heritage
1935 GB Crown, issued for 1 year only, known as the" Rocking Horse" crown with it's art deco styling very aesthetically pleasing, not to everyone's taste but i like it a lot with it's change from tradition and more stylized image of George and the dragon , even the the King supposedly liked it at first then changed his mind, very nice coin.
people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening
Citeer: "Iainmac"
1935 GB Crown, issued for 1 year only, known as the" Rocking Horse" crown with it's art deco styling very aesthetically pleasing, not to everyone's taste but i like it a lot with it's change from tradition and more stylized image of George and the dragon , even the the King supposedly liked it at first then changed his mind, very nice coin.
That's a design I like too; I'm conflicted as to whether it's better than the Pistrucci original or not, but while I like the horse and St. George, I don't have much to say about that "dragon".
Citeer: "Iainmac"
1935 GB Crown, issued for 1 year only, known as the" Rocking Horse" crown with it's art deco styling very aesthetically pleasing, not to everyone's taste but i like it a lot with it's change from tradition and more stylized image of George and the dragon , even the the King supposedly liked it at first then changed his mind, very nice coin.
That's a design I like too; I'm conflicted as to whether it's better than the Pistrucci original or not, but while I like the horse and St. George, I don't have much to say about that "dragon".
lol, have to agree with you, the dragon is a bit weird, even St George is not bothered with slaying this excuse for a dragon, looks more like a snake with legs .
people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening
Presenting an enduring, republican design; Dupré's Herculean trio:
One coin with the Herculean trio from every French Republic (except the 4th, which didn't issue any bearing it). They get more worn the older they are.
This has been a favourite of mine for quite a while.
Its a Charles I Scottish Unit (worth £12 Scots = £1 Sterling). It was engraved by Nicholas Briot who served as engraver for both the Scottish and English mints. The small 'B' at the end of the obverse legend identifies it as his work. This Unit formed part of Scotland's first ever milled coinage.
Here is Briot's English milled Unite which was worth £1 Sterling, making it interchangeable with its northern equivalent.
Lot's of excellent coins appearing on this thread.
Thought i would add these 2 Young Victoria, a long time favourite with British collectors
GB Gothic Florin 1872 & British India Rupee 1862
people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening
Citeer: "Iainmac"Lot's of excellent coins appearing on this thread.
Thought i would add these 2 Young Victoria, a long time favourite with British collectors
GB Gothic Florin 1872 & British India Rupee 1862
I love the one rupee series all the way till George Vi. However, I was never impressed by the Edward VII issues
From the Americas, this was one of my first coins; it obviously raised the bar so high, that it’s been very hard to be impressed by anything else from Mexico for a long time
Citeer: "Iainmac"Lot's of excellent coins appearing on this thread.
Thought i would add these 2 Young Victoria, a long time favourite with British collectors
GB Gothic Florin 1872 & British India Rupee 1862
I love the one rupee series all the way till George Vi. However, I was never impressed by the Edward VII issues
Did you know, that the Gothic bust of Queen Victoria (albeit a slightly altered one) was also used on some colonial coinage of one of my favourite British colonies to collect from, Hong Kong:
The interesting thing is that the other Hong Kong denominations used the "regular" colonial bust of Queen Victoria by Wyon instead; I have little idea as to why only these two denominations were selected to have the Gothic bust on them.
Citeer: "Iainmac"Lot's of excellent coins appearing on this thread.
Thought i would add these 2 Young Victoria, a long time favourite with British collectors
GB Gothic Florin 1872 & British India Rupee 1862
I love the one rupee series all the way till George Vi. However, I was never impressed by the Edward VII issues
Completely Agree,
you could collect Indian rupee's and nothing else and still have a beautiful collection
Most aesthetically pleasing designs for sure!.
people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening
#BringBacktheMerc 
I agree completely on the wreath + denomination combination being far less impressive; but the Bourbon Restoration reverses are IMO kind of like the best of both worlds:
Looks great. 
. 
