Phil's photos with the keyword: Currency

British coins photographed with my recently acquired 60mm macro lens......at it's closest focus the 5p coin fills the frame (and slightly overflows it). This is an old lens (first released in the 1980s I believe) which I bought "pre-owned" but it is also an excellent general-purpose and / or portrait lens for Nikon APS-C cameras where it has the equivalent field-of-view of a 90mm lens on a full-frame camera. Camera: NIkon D500 Lens: AF Micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 Software: Nikon Capture NX2 and Gimp 2

The union of English and Scottish thrones. The Union of England and Scotland Act 1603, (full title...... "An Act authorizing certain Commissioners of the realm of England to treat with Commissioners of Scotland, for the weal [an "olde English" word meaning wealth, health & prosperity] of both kingdoms.") was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England enacted during the reign of King James I (who was also King James VI of Scotland). It appointed a commission led by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Ellesmere, to meet and negotiate with a commission which would be appointed by the Parliament of Scotland. The aim of the discussions was to look into the possibility of arranging a formal political union between England and Scotland, going beyond the existing Union of Crowns and to report back to Parliament. The commission was not effective, however, and similar subsequent proposals also fell flat. The two kingdoms were eventually united over a century later by the Acts of Union, 1707. This Sterling Silver "Trial" coin (A.K.A. "Test" or "Pattern" coin) was minted in 2003 as one of a number of proposed designs for the British version of the Euro. These coins were made in small quantities, often as "Piedforts" (double the thickness & weight of the standard version) and were not intended for circulation. The coins have been created for a variety of reasons, including sample coins for VIPs and for testing various designs and die cuts in the minting equipment. Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

The union of English and Scottish thrones. The Union of England and Scotland Act 1603, (full title...... "An Act authorizing certain Commissioners of the realm of England to treat with Commissioners of Scotland, for the weal [an "olde English" word meaning wealth, health & prosperity] of both kingdoms.") was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England enacted during the reign of King James I (who was also King James VI of Scotland). It appointed a commission led by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Ellesmere, to meet and negotiate with a commission which would be appointed by the Parliament of Scotland. The aim of the discussions was to look into the possibility of arranging a formal political union between England and Scotland, going beyond the existing Union of Crowns and to report back to Parliament. The commission was not effective, however, and similar subsequent proposals also fell flat. The two kingdoms were eventually united over a century later by the Acts of Union, 1707. This Sterling Silver "Trial" coin (A.K.A. "Test" or "Pattern" coin) was minted in 2003 as one of a number of proposed designs for the British version of the Euro. These coins were made in small quantities, often as "Piedforts" (double the thickness & weight of the standard version) and were not intended for circulation. The coins have been created for a variety of reasons, including sample coins for VIPs and for testing various designs and die cuts in the minting equipment. Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

A Sterling Silver £5 coin from Gibraltar, photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. "England expects that every man will do his duty" was a signal sent by Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, from his flagship HMS Victory as the Battle of Trafalgar was about to commence on 21 October 1805. Trafalgar was the decisive naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars. It gave the United Kingdom control of the seas, removing all possibility of an invasion and conquest of Britain. Although there was much confusion surrounding the wording of the signal in the aftermath of the battle, the significance of the victory and Nelson's death during the battle led to the phrase becoming embedded in the English psyche and it has been regularly quoted, paraphrased and referenced up to the modern day. As the British fleet closed with the opposing combined fleets of France and Spain, Lord Nelson signalled all the necessary battle instructions to his ships. However, aware of the momentousness of events to come, Lord Nelson felt that something extra was required. He instructed his signal officer, Lieutenant John Pasco, to signal to the fleet as quickly as possible the message "England confides [i.e. is confident] that every man will do his duty." Pasco suggested to Nelson that "expects" be substituted for "confides" since the former word was in the signal book whereas "confides" would have to be spelt out letter-by-letter. Nelson agreed to the change (even though 'expects' gave a less trusting impression than 'confides'): Thus, at around 11:45 am on 21 October 1805, the most famous naval signal in British history was sent. The exact time the signal was sent is not known (one account puts it as early as 10:30) as the message was repeated throughout the fleet and logs would have been written up after the battle but Pasco puts it at "about a quarter to noon" and logs from other ships of the line also put it close to this time (Wikipedia).

In 2002 the UK issued a series of "pattern" coins based on the Euro. The coins were struck at the Heaton Birmingham Mint (which closed in 2003) with permission granted by the UK Government to use a new portrait of HM the Queen. A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design and not meant for circulation. They are often produced to proof standard in Gold or Silver and as "Piedforts" (double the thickness and weight of the standard version of a particular coin). They are collected or studied by coin collectors because of their highly-elaborate designs and their rarity....this one is a Sterling Silver Piedfort (one of only 5000 ever made to this specification). Pattern coins have been created for a variety of reasons, including sample coins for VIPs and for testing various designs and die cuts in the minting equipment. Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

In 2002 the UK issued a series of pattern coins based on the Euro. The coins were struck at the Heaton Birmingham Mint (which closed in 2003) with permission granted by the UK Government to use a new portrait of HM the Queen. A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, produced for the purpose of evaluating a proposed coin design and not meant for circulation. They are often produced to proof standard in Gold or Silver, and as "Piedforts" (with double the thickness and weight of the standard version of a particular coin). They are collected or studied by coin collectors because of their highly-elaborate designs and their rarity....this one is a Sterling Silver Piedfort (one of only 5000 ever made to this specification). Pattern coins have been created for a variety of reasons, including sample coins for VIPs and for testing various designs and die cuts in the minting equipment. Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

A Gold & Silver coin / medallion issued to commemorate the introduction of the new Euro coinage that was released (except in the UK) into circulation on January 1st 2002. There is a different design for each country on the obverse of the medal (this is the French one.....see further down the page for the other side of this coin) and it depicts scenes and events from French history, a Gold €50 with the names of all the member countries and a Golden portrait of the Goddess Europa. The reverse design (pictured here) is common to all of the coins and depicts a map of Europe. This coin is made of pure ("fine") Silver with 24 carat / karat Gold gilding and weighs 20 grams (0.7 ounces). Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

A 22K Gold Bahamas $100 commemorative coin issued to celebrate the independence of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. This coin is unusual due to the fact that it displays two dates.....1975 (the year of issue) and on the other face is the date 1973 (the year of independence) below the Queen's portrait. The Bahamas became a British Crown colony in 1718 when Britain clamped down on piracy. After the American War of Independence, thousands of American Loyalists (taking their enslaved Africans with them) moved to the Bahamas where the Americans set up a plantation economy. After Britain abolished the international slave trade in 1807, the Royal Navy resettled many free Africans (liberated from illegal slave ships) in the Bahamas during the 19th century. Hundreds of American slaves and Black Seminoles escaped to the islands from Florida and nearly 500 were freed from American merchant ships by the Royal Navy. The Bahamas became an independent Commonwealth Realm in 1973, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as it's monarch. (Wikipedia). Camera Sony RX100. Processing with Nikon Capture NX2.

A French Gold & Silver coin / medallion issued to commemorate the introduction of the new Euro coinage that was released into circulation on January 1st, 2002. The obverse of the medal (shown here) depicts scenes and events from French history, a Gold €50 with the names of all the member countries that have converted to the Euro and a Golden portrait of the Goddess Europa. It's reverse design (posted elsewhere in my "photostream") depicts a map of Europe. This coin is made of pure ("fine") Silver with 24 carat / karat Gold gilding and weighs 20 grams (0.7 ounces). Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

For the first time ever, the Pobjoy Mint has issued a Silver Angel struck in 99.9% pure silver. The coin's reverse features a sculpted image of St. Michael the Archangel battling a fierce dragon. This classic depiction of the triumph of Good over Evil appeared on the very first Pobjoy Angel coin in 1984 and was awarded the prestigious "Coin of the Year Award" for excellence. The obverse of this coin features the regal portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This coin is Legal Tender on the Isle of Man. Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera. Processed with NIkon Capture NX2. "For over 600 years, Silver and Gold coins featuring Angels have been treasured by millions. Medieval kings and queens often bestowed Angel coins on worthy subjects and these coveted coins were believed by many to bring the bearer good luck, fortune and health. For centuries, stories of lucky Angel coins have abounded. Napoleon, King Henry VII, fighter pilots, seafarers, rescue and police heroes have testified to the Angel's powers of luck and protection. In 1984 a new British Angel series was established by the Isle of Man. This island-Nation within the British Commonwealth commissioned the world-renowned Pobjoy Mint in London to strike the modern Angel coin series. The Pobjoy Mint is one of the oldest and most respected private mints in the world and the design that they created for the Angel series immediately garnered a Coin of the Year award in it's very first year. Since 1984 an exciting array of Angel coins have been struck in Gold, Silver and Platinum. The Angel series has become one of the most popular collector-coin series in the entire world". (The Silver Angel Coin official collector's guide).

The "Mysteries of Wawel" coin from Crystal Art. Wawel is a fortified architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula river in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. The complex consists of many buildings and fortifications; the largest and best known of these are The Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral which is the Basilica of St Stanisław and St Wacław. Some of the Wawel's oldest stone buildings such as the Rotunda of the Virgin Mary can be dated to 970AD. There are also wooden parts of the complex which date to about the 9th century. The castle itself has been described as "one of the most fascinating of all European castles." Wawel is a place of great significance to the Polish people: it first became a political power centre at the end of the first millennium AD and, in the 9th century, the principal fortified castrum of the Vistulans tribe. The first historical ruler Mieszko I of Poland of the Piast dynasty and his successors Boleslaw I the Brave and Mieszko II chose Wawel to be one of their residences. At the same time Wawel became one of the principal Polish centres of Christianity. The first early Romanesque buildings were erected there including a stone cathedral serving the bishopric of Kraków in the year 1000. From the reign of Casimir the Restorer Wawel became the leading political and administrative centre for the Polish State. This pure silver 2 Troy-ounce coin depicts the fairytale Wawel Castle in a high-relief "antiqued" finish with the face-value of 2 Dollars and a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. A different Red Agate crystal insert for each coin makes every coin unique. These coins are made by the Mint of Poland and issued by Niue Island (Approx. 800 miles East of Fiji, where they are legal tender) with an extremely limited mintage of just 999 pieces in the world. Camera Sony RX100: Processed with NIkon Capture NX2.

"Freedom Girl" is the first medallion in the Silver Bullet Silver Shield series done with full creative control given to American sculptress Heidi Wastweet. Heidi is known for her images of strong and beautiful women, most notably "Pandora Defiant". Now she has created a new beauty for a new generation. Men have been known to fight to the death for women, treasure and freedom. Freedom Girl is a stunning combination of all three. Every aspect of Heidi's design brings out a gorgeous update of the classic Peace Dollar. The original Peace Dollar had her hair tied in a bun with an uncomfortable tiara perched on her head. Freedom Girl's hair is wild and free. Freedom Girl's parted lips and gaze of almost ecstasy looking forward to the future is so seductive, as Freedom should be. Even her shoulder arching forward brings out more emotion from this modern beauty. She is finished off with the modern cues of a hoop earring and a tattoo of the Trivium. (Edited & shortened extract from an article at The Numismatic Bibliomania Society) . This coin is created on the basis of the "Peace Dollar" which is regarded as one of the most beautiful coins in the world (struck by the U.S. mint after World War One to commemorate the "War to End All Wars"). These coins are made from 1 Troy ounce of 99.999% pure silver. The medieval Trivium design (on her shoulder) symbolizes the foundation for individual freedom from outside manipulation. These coins (A.K.A. "rounds" or "medallions") are not legal tender and have no "face value"....they are for collectors and investors in precious metals.

"Sic Semper Tyrannis", one of the most infamous phrases in U.S. history, was shouted by John Wilkes Booth as he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. This phrase (Latin for "thus always to tyrants") encircles the obverse of the newest "round" in the Silver Bullet Silver Shield series. This time it celebrates the overthrow of the Debt and Death paradigm. Here, Freedom Girl stands triumphant over Debt and Death. She holds a spear and a buckler shield emblazoned with the Trivium, both of which she used to slay Debt and Death who is portrayed with his five arrows from the Rothschild's family crest and the chains he used to enslave mankind. The slain foe lies on a pile of U.S. currency, one of his greatest tools in enslaving humanity. (Silver bullet, silver shield). Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon NX2 software.

The Mexican Libertad Silver Bullion Coins are struck annually for investors and collectors and were first minted in 1982. A winged angel design has been portrayed on the coin since its inception but a re-design occurred in 1996 to "make it more attractive" (according to the Mexican Mint). That design, which is still used today, depicts the spectacular Angel of Independence -- an eight ton golden statue on top of a tall slender column in Mexico City. The angel towers above a background of the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl. The obverse or heads side of the coin features an eagle battling a snake (Mexico's national coat of arms), which is surrounded by a wreath and the words "ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS". Encircling the center are ten eagle designs that have been used as National Emblems through the centuries, including one depicted in the 16th century Mendocino Codex. The Inscription surrounding the top includes the numerical size following by "ONZA" for "ounce", then "PLATA PURA" for "pure silver", the year of issue, "LEY" (Fine....the purity of the metal measured in "parts per thousand")) and ".999". The "O" above the "M" is the Mexican Mint mark (La Casa de Moneda de México).

The Mexican Libertad Silver Bullion Coins are struck annually for investors and collectors and were first minted in 1982. A winged angel design has been portrayed on the coin since its inception but a re-design occurred in 1996 to "make it more attractive" (according to the Mexican Mint). That design, which is still used today, depicts the spectacular Angel of Independence -- an eight ton golden statue on top of a tall slender column in Mexico City. The angel towers above a background of the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl. The obverse or "heads" side of the coin features an eagle battling a snake (Mexico's national coat of arms), which is surrounded by a wreath and the words "ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS". Encircling the center are ten eagle designs that have been used as National Emblems through the centuries, including one depicted in the 16th century Mendocino Codex. The Inscription surrounding the top includes the numerical size following by "ONZA" for "ounce", then "PLATA PURA" for "pure silver", the year of issue, "LEY" (Fine....the purity of the metal) and ".999" (i.e. 999 parts-per-thousand pure (Silver in this case, or Gold)).

This Silver "Round" was designed by American sculptress Heidi Wastweet, the first in her new Latin series. The inscription translates as "Truth Is My Light" or "Truth Enlightens Me". Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

The reverse / rear of the "Veritas Lux Mea" silver "Round" / "Medallion" designed by American sculptress Heidi Wastweet, the first in her new Latin series (see previous photo). Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Freedom Girl is the first medallion in the Silver Bullet Silver Shield series done with full creative control given to American sculptress Heidi Wastweet. Heidi is known for her images of strong and beautiful women, most notably "Pandora Defiant". Now she has created a new beauty for a new generation. These coins are made from 1 Troy ounce of 99.999% pure silver and the 47 "bullets" in the design represent the element Silver, whose atomic number is 47 ("Silver Bullet" is also the name of the mint which produces these coins). The medieval Trivium design symbolizes the foundation for individual freedom from outside manipulation. These coins (A.K.A. "rounds" or "medallions" are not legal tender and have no "face value"....they are for collectors and investors in precious metals). Camera: Sony RX100