Brief Guide to Popular World Coins

Collecting world coins from around the globe gives you a number of rewarding opportunities. You can travel far from the comfort of your home. You can recall historic events. Quite a few coins pay tribute to men and women who brought significant political and cultural changes to their countries. Several world mints produce bullion issues with motifs that reflect their nation's heritage.

Ancient Greek Coin

Greece
440-404 B.C.

Ancient Roman Coin

Rome
A.D. 307-337

Ancient Byzantine Coin

Byzantium
A.D. 602-610

Ancient Civilizations

– struck by hand more than 1,000 years ago from such empires as Byzantium, Greece, Rome, plus Egypt, Judaea and Lydia.


Australia Kookaburra
Australia Koala
Australia Gold Lounar Series

Australia

– silver Kookaburra since 1990; silver Koala since 2007; silver Kangaroo since 2015. The silver and gold Lunar Series has followed the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac since 1996.


China

– the first 10 Yuan silver Panda was released in 1983; the first gold Panda in 1982.

China Gold Panda
China Silver Panda

Canada Gold Maple Leaf

Canada

– first 5 dollar silver Maple Leaf was struck in 1988; the first 50 dollar gold Maple Leaf was struck in 1979.

Canada Silver Maple Leaf

Great Britain Silver Britannia

Great Britain

– the national personification is a helmeted female naval warrior holding a trident and shield. It has graced the £2 silver Britannia reverse since 1997.


Mexico

– silver Libertad, or Angel of Victory coin, pays tribute to the creation of a constitutional republic after a long, bloody 10-year revolution for freedom. It debuted in 1982. Only the date changes each year.

Mexico Silver Libertad

South Africa Gold Krugerrand

South Africa

– the Krugerrand was first minted in gold in 1967; silver issues were released in 2017. The name is a compound of Paul Kruger, the republic’s president from 1883-1900, and rand, the South African unit of currency