Collecting coins has been popular throughout the world and history. Some people collect coins as an investment others such as myself collect coins as a hobby and I started collecting coins many years ago. My interest was more in the coins itself and not so much as to the grade of the coins, though I always looked for the best grade possible within my budget. For people who collect anything; coins, stamps, art work or even rocks for a hobby, one thing that makes the hobby worth while, other than the ownership of the object, is to be able to display and show them to others.
These 2008 first year issue Silver Philharmonic Coins are minted in one troy ounce of .999 pure Silver. The obverse of each Silver coin has the caption “1 Unze Feinsilber,” meaning “1 ounce pure silver,” positioned beneath the “Great Pipe Organ” of Vienna’s Golden Concert Hall, home of the Philharmonic. Republic of Austria, “Republik Oesterreich,” the year, 2008 and face value of €1.5 Euros are also shown.
The reverse shows the bouquet of Philharmonic instruments with the word “Silber” above.
The Silver Kookaburra bullions are minted at the Australian Perth Mint. The obverse features Queen Elizabeth II. The reverse is a Kookaburra, which is the name of four species of birds living in Australia. The design of the Kookaburra is changed every year. These coins are .999 fine silver and are one Troy ounce.
In 1943, to help with the war time requirements of copper, the U.S. cent was made out of steel and zinc coated. Through World War II, copper was needed for military equipment and ammunition. The design was the same Lincoln (wheat penny) by Victor D. Brenner, showing a portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the obverse and “One Cent” “United States of America” with two Wheat Ears on the reverse. The cent was made at three mints, Philadelphia , Denver and San Francisco.
This Eight Reale Spanish silver coin was recovered from the shipwreck “El Cazador”. The “El Cazador” was a Spanish warship that was sunk during a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, while sailing to the Louisiana Territory starting in January 1784. Hundreds of these coins were found in 1993, by a fisherman. The obverse is a portrait of Carlos III, King of Spain, who sent the ship to Vera Cruz, Mexico to be loaded with the coins. The reverse pictures Loins and Castles.
