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AUSTRIA
The Danube Valley provided a conduit for various tribes that settled in present-day Austria -Celts, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, Huns, Avars, and Slavs. Charlemagne established a territory in the Danube Valley known as the Ostmark in 803, and the area became Christianised and predominantly Germanic. By 1278 the Habsburgs had gained control and this mighty dynasty managed to rule Austria right up through the end of World War I. The last emperor, Franz Josef, ruled from 1848 to 1916. His nephew, Prince Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo on 14 June 1914. A month later, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, the Russians came to the Serbians' aid and World War I was underway. After the war, Austria became a republic until, in 1937, it voted to become part of Germany. After World War II, it was occupied by the Four Powers who relinquished control in 1955 and the republic was reestablished.
Coinage from Austrian territory dates
back to Roman times. Many dukes, bishops, counts, and princes issued coinage for
their respective localities from medieval times into the 1700s. Austrian
national coinage truly begins with the Holy Roman Emperors (Habsburgs) starting
around 1437 A.D.
100 Corona - 1915 (Restrike)
KM-2819
- 33,88 g - 35 mm
The obverse includes the bust of an aging Franz Josef I (b1830-d1916) and the Latin inscription FRANC-IOS-I-D-G-IMP-AVSTR-REX-BOH-GAL-ILL-ETC-ET AP- REX HVNG meaning FRANZ JOSEF I - BY GRACE OF GOD EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA - KING OF BOHEMIA, GALICIA, ILLYRIUM, ETC AND KING OF HUNGARY. Below the bust is the name of the designer S. T. SCHWARTZ. The reverse has the Royal Arms of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At the top is Latin inscription for 100 Crowns and the date in Roman numerals (MDCCCCXV). At the bottom is the denomination and date.
BADEN
Baden is a state in southwestern Germany that was a kingdom until the last king, Friedrich II abdicated in 1918 after Germany was defeated in World War I. It is now part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Coinage was issued starting in the 12th Century through the early 20th Century.
20 Mark - 1873-G
KM-261 - 7,97 g - 23 mm
Mintage
- 0,517M
The obverse includes the bust of Grand Duke Frederick I (b1826-d1907) and the German inscription FRIEDRICH GROSHERZOG VON BADEN (Frederick Grand Duke of Baden). Below the bust is the mintmark G (for the Karlsruhe mint). The reverse has the Royal Arms of the German Empire encircled by the German legend for GERMAN EMPIRE. At the bottom is the denomination 20 M and the date 1873. This reverse is Type I which has a larger depiction of the arms.
There are more Baden gold coins in this section if you are interested - Page Baden 1
BAHAMA ISLANDS
Christopher Columbus' first voyage in 1492 made first landfall in the Western Hemisphere in The Bahama Islands. The original; indigenous people were the Lucayan Indians to work in gold mines in Hispaniola, and within 25 years, all Lucayans perished. Various groups of European settlers formed governments in The Bahamas until the islands became a British Crown Colony in 1717. The Bahamians attained self-government in 1964 and full independence within the Commonwealth on 10 July 1973.
The first coinage for the
Bahamas were copper penny pieces issued in 1806. British currency was used from
1825 until 1966 when the Bahamian authorities issued coinage.
20 Dollars - 1971
KM-027 - 7,99 g - 22 mm
Edge - Reeded
Mintage
- 6.200
This is an example of NCLT (Non Circulating Legal Tender). The obverse has the bust of Queen Elizabeth II (b1926-) and the inscription COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS - ELIZABETH II. The reverse has a lighthouse with the denomination TWENTY DOLLARS around the top and the date 1971 at the bottom.
There are more Bahamian gold coins in this section if you are interested - Page Bahamas 1
BAHRAIN
Bahrain is a emirate located on an island group at the west of the Arabian Gulf. The original civilization was the trading empire of Dilmun, founded during the Bronze Age around 3000 BC and lasting in one form or another for over 2000 years. It was later a vassal state of Assyria and, still later, of Babylonia. The inhabitants adopted Islam in the seventh century AD. Many forces held Bahrain but the Persians held it until the current ruling family, Al-Khalifa, expelled the Persians in 1780s. Oil was discovered in 1932 under the British protectorate which lasted until 1971 when Bahrain gained independence.
Bahrain's coins are minted at the British Royal Mint.
(10 Dinar) - 1971
KM-M002 - 16,00 g - 28,6 mm
Edge - Reeded
Mintage
- 3.000
This is an example of NCLT (Non Circulating Legal Tender). It was issued to celebrate Bahrain's independence which was attained on 14 August 1971. The obverse has the bust of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (b1933-d1999), Bahrain's ruler. The reverse has the national insignia with the Arabic legend at the top and the English legend at the bottom describing the commemoration of independence.
BARBADOS
Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos discovered Barbados in 1536. British Naval Captain John Powell landed on Barbados in 1625 and claimed the uninhabited island for England. Two years later, his brother Captain Henry Powell landed with a party of 80 settlers and 10 slaves. The group established the island's first European settlement, Jamestown. In 1639, island freeholders formed a Legislative Assembly, only the second such parliament established in a British colony (Bermuda was the first). Barbados was loyal to the Crown during Britain's civil wars and, following the beheading of King Charles I in 1649, Oliver Cromwell dispatched a force to establish his authority over Barbados. The invading fleet arrived in 1651 and by the following year Barbados had surrendered and signed the Articles of Capitulation, which formed the basis for the Charter of Barbados. The charter guaranteed government by a governor and a freely elected assembly, as well as freedom from taxation without local consent. When the British Crown was restored in 1660, this charter ironically provided Barbados with a greater measure of independence from the English monarchy than that of other British colonies. Barbados gained internal self-government in 1961 and became an independent nation five years later. As the sugar industry declined after WWII, tourism steadily increased its share of the island's economy. By the early 1990s it was the largest sector, and the sugar industry was in receivership.
$100 - 1975
KM-018 - 6,21 g - 30 mm
Edge - Reeded
Mintage
- 0,023M
This NCLT coin was issued to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the claiming of Barbados for the English Crown. The obverse shows the ship Olive Branch with the denomination ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. The reverse has the national arms flanked by the dates 1625 - 1975. The legend at the top is the event and the country's name is at the bottom.
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