Hello, coin enthusiasts!

I recently snagged a few coins at our latest coin club auction, and I think you’ll enjoy taking a look at them.

In my quest for unique and older coins to add to my collection, here’s what I found:

I got this one for $10.00, and according to its accompanying card, it’s in AG/G condition, valued at about $10.50. It may not be in mint condition, but I absolutely love the rich history embedded in these colonial coins. Just imagine how many hands have held this piece over the nearly 250 years of its existence!

The front side features a bust of Charles III with the inscription “CAROLVS III DEI GRATIA,” which translates to “Charles III by the grace of God.” On the reverse, there’s a crowned shield flanked by pillars and banners, with “HISPAN•ET IND•REX” meaning “King of Spain and the Indies.” A big thanks to en.numista.com for the details.

The next coin caught my eye because it resembles a gold coin! It’s over 150 years old. Initially, I didn’t know what “spiel marke” meant when I acquired it for $3.50 (the card said it’s worth about $5.00 in XF condition), but through research, I discovered it’s actually a gaming token.

Here’s some info from CoinSite.com:

“‘Spiel’ means play, and ‘marke’ means money. These tokens were used as counters or game pieces, often mimicking contemporary coins but lacking the correct legends or denominations to avoid counterfeit accusations. Spiel Markes were popular as play money for kids and became a vehicle for advertising and political messages. They were also used as a substitute for small change in many countries, including the United States, during economic turmoil.”

I adore the eagle design on the front, and I learned that the term ‘Jeton’ (a French name) describes these coins, which were also used as educational tools for children to learn counting.

The reverse side with the key and shield is a nice touch, but I mainly got this one for some friends who are collectors of older German coins, especially notgeld (“emergency money” or “necessity money” in German):

“Notgeld refers to money issued during an economic or political crisis by institutions without official government sanction, typically used when the central bank couldn’t supply enough state-produced money. The term especially applies to money produced in Germany and Austria during World War I and the period between the wars.”

This coin’s value is around $6.75 in VG grade, according to the card it came with. I ended up gifting it to a friend just two days later, after purchasing it for $6.00.

This hobby never ceases to amaze me with all the historical insights into how money has been used throughout time and across the globe.

There’s so much history in these coins, wow!