Lost Coins

I thought it’d be interesting to submit coins that are known to have existed as some point but have no extant specimens.

I’ll start with the interesting eagle crown of Scotland: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces174456.html
The only evidence we have of its existence comes from a French merchant or moneychangers manuscript that dates to 1520.

The obverse is pretty much the same as that on the later James V crowns: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces53497.html

Its reverse is fascinating and completely unlike any other coin struck in the British Isles. This side is completely devoted to John Stewart, Duke of Albany, who served as regent for James V from 1514 to 1524. The legend proclaims John as Duke of Albany and regent. The dove symbolises the protective role that that regent Albany had over the young king. It bears some resemblance to a 1524 medal that was struck to celebrate the Albany regency. There is only one surviving specimen of this medal, it can be seen here: https://glasgowuniscotrenaissance.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/gold-medal-commemorating-the-regency-of-john-duke-of-albany-1524/ both depict a dove and the legend: SUB UMBRA TVARVM

This is just speculation, but I can’t help but wonder if the coin was intentionally supressed due to the prominence it paid to the regent. The regents of the proceeding two reigns would make their mark on the Scottish coinage, but nothing as blatant as an eagle crown was produced. They resorted to more subtle displays, such as the inclusion of a family badge or motif.

Feel free to share examples of other lost coins.

The only coin of modern Japan that doesn't exist anymore that I know of is a comemorative 500 yen coin. Because of a copyright dispute (LINK) the whole issue was recycled and turned into the version we have now.

Quote: "Idolenz"​The only coin of modern Japan that doesn't exist anymore that I know of is a comemorative 500 yen coin. Because of a copyright dispute (LINK) the whole issue was recycled and turned into the version we have now.
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​Nice. It will be interesting to see if one surfaces on the public market at some point and how the mint reacts to it. I'd imagine that the Japanese mint must have kept a few specimens for their own or national museum collections.

The 1964 Peace Dollar is a pretty famous one here in the US. About 300000 of them were struck at the mint before the government cancelled the coins, if I remember correctly. The mintage was melted down and none are known to survive. Today, PCGS will give $10000 literally just to see a surviving example.

Years ago, I heard about some coins minted locally in late 1944 or early 1945, by the Japanese puppet government of Manchuria, called Manchoukuo, but never issued.

Supposedly some of these found their way into the USSR after Manchoukuo was invaded by the Soviets very late in the war.


They were similar in design and size and value to these odd magnesite coins in our catalog: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces22470.html

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces22469.html


--but these coins were said to have been composed of various metals they had on hand, including tin.

But there's no proof they ever even existed through photos or documentation.

Quote: "whitesox491"​The 1964 Peace Dollar is a pretty famous one here in the US. About 300000 of them were struck at the mint before the government cancelled the coins, if I remember correctly. The mintage was melted down and none are known to survive. Today, PCGS will give $10000 literally just to see a surviving example.

​Interesting. I'd imagine that the US government would confiscate the coin if one was to ever surface, as they did with the 10 1933 Double Eagles that were found in 2005. I'm honestly surprised that at least one was not saved for the Smithsonian.

Quote: "SteveV"​Years ago, I heard about some coins minted locally in late 1944 or early 1945, by the Japanese puppet government of Manchuria, called Manchoukuo, but never issued.
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​Supposedly some of these found their way into the USSR after Manchoukuo was invaded by the Soviets very late in the war.
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​They were similar in design and size and value to these odd magnesite coins in our catalog: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces22470.html
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​https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces22469.html
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​--but these coins were said to have been composed of various metals they had on hand, including tin.
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​But there's no proof they ever even existed through photos or documentation.
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​I wasn't aware of these Manchukuo off metal strikes. I've have had several of the 1 and 5 fen coins in my collection for a few years and catalogued them as being made of 'red fibre', I didn't know it was magnesite. You wouldn't happen to know how the magnesite coins were struck? I often wondered whether the planchets were made and then struck with dies as you would when striking a regular coins or if the coins were just made in a mould.

Scottish 60 Shillings of William II


https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces186916.html

This coin is pretty much sole reign variant of the 60 Shillings of William & Mary, which does survive: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces25007.html

There are no known surviving examples. publications from the 18th and 19th centuries reference the coin. It is possible that the authors had access to specimens that have since been lost. There are also no records of the coin ever being struck, but the surviving Scottish mint records are far from complete so this does not definitely prove that they never existed in the first place.