Checking Change

The inspiration behind this entry came when receiving change from an automated machine in a local supermarket.  Whilst checking the coins to see if it came to the right amount I realised that one of the 2p pieces I was given was not actually a coin intended for use in the UK, but was minted for use in Gibraltar.  Not being bothered, because it was not a coin I had in my collection, it got me thinking about other coins I have received in my change which had a point of origin elsewhere.  This usually resulted in many destinations from British dominions such as the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.  However, the train of thought soon evolved into special minting of commemorative coins for general circulation.

Now here in the UK we have many such coins in the form of 50p and £2 pieces.  Though scarce at first, the process has become rather endemic with many pieces being struck each year to commemorate people and events.  The latest run being the second release of 5 more 50p coins of Beatrix Potter characters.  Some of these coins though to a collector have value beyond what is struck on the face.  With some of the more notable examples being the Kew Gardens or the WWF 50p pieces.  This got me thinking further and I started scouring my collection for examples beyond the borders of the UK, and the picture below shows some of the examples I have dug out:

1. Italy – (Going clockwise from far left) 200th anniversary of the council of state 200 Lira, World Food Day 1981 200 Lira, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 100 Lira, 100th anniversary of the birth of Marconi 100 Lira.
2. India – Grow More Food coin from the UN FAO 50 Paise.
3. New Zealand – 10th Commonwealth Games, Christchurch 1974 1 Dollar
4. Spain – 1982 Football World Cup 25 and 50 Pesetas.
5. Australia – 12th Commonwealth Games, Brisbane 1982 50 Cents.
6. Argentina – 150th anniversary of the removal of the Spanish viceroy 1 Peso.
7. Mexico – Centenary of the defense of Veracruz 20 Pesos.
8. France – (Pre-Euro) 50th anniversary of the French Resistence 2 Francs
9. Canada – (Clockwise from top) Confederation centenary 1 Cent, Year of Volunteers 10 Cents, Creation of the territory of Nunavut 1999 2 Dollars, Centenary of the Canadian Mounty 25 Cents.
10. USA – (Left to right) Bicentennial of American independence 1 Dollar and 1 Quarter. (I haven’t included American state quarters in the photo due to the large number of them, and pure laziness on my part)
11. Various – (From Left to right, top to bottom) Various 2 Euro coins collected during trips to Europe, the countries are as follows – Finland, Belgium, Germany, Austria (x2), and France.
12. Algeria – Two 5 Dirham coins

Finally, as an aside, the photo below shows the various number of 50p’s and £2 coins I have managed to collect by getting them in my pocket change.  As a final note, I guess it is a good practice to check your change for more than to see if it is the right amount.  Sometimes you find something a little bit more special and unexpected.