Colonials, Spiel Markers, and Notgeld

Colonials, Spiel Markers, and Notgeld

Hello, fellow coin enthusiasts!

I recently attended our coin club auction and snagged a few fascinating pieces that I think you’ll enjoy hearing about.

On my quest for unique and older coins, I acquired a couple of interesting items to add to my collection:

I found this one for $10.00, and the accompanying card estimated its value at around $10.50 in AG/G condition. It may not be in perfect shape, but I absolutely adore the rich history embedded in these colonial coins! Just imagine how many hands have held it over nearly 250 years!

The front features a bust of Charles III with the inscription “CAROLVS III DEI GRATIA,” meaning “Carlos III by the Grace of God.” On the back, there’s a crowned shield flanked by pillars with banners. The inscription reads “HISPAN•ET IND•REX,” which translates to “King of Spain and the Indies.” Thanks to en.numista.com for this information!

This particular coin caught my eye because it resembles a gold coin and is over 150 years old. Initially, I didn’t know what “spiel marke” meant when I bought it for $3.50 (its approximate value was noted as $5.00 in XF condition), but further research revealed it’s actually a gaming token 🙂

Here’s a bit from CoinSite.com about them:

“Spiel means play, and marke means money. Spiel markes were used as counters or game pieces. They often imitated contemporary coins but altered the legends or denomination to avoid being accused of counterfeiting. Spiel Markes were popular as play money for children and were used for advertising and politics. They also served as substitutes for small change in many countries, including the United States, during times of economic instability.”

I really like the eagle on the front, and ‘Jeton’ is apparently a French term for these coins, which were also used as counting tools for kids.

I was drawn to the back of this one for its key and shield design, but mainly picked it up for some friends who collect older German coins, especially notgeld:

“Notgeld refers to emergency money issued during periods of economic or political crisis by institutions without official government sanction, typically when state-produced money was scarce. The term is mainly associated with money produced in Germany and Austria during World War I and the Interbellum period.”

The coin is valued at about $6.75 in VG condition (according to the card that accompanied it), and I gave it to my friend just two days later. I bought it for $6.00.

This hobby never ceases to amaze me with the diverse ways we have used money over the years, spanning the globe!

So much history wrapped up in these coins, it’s incredible…