As of September 2021, I have five unusual denomination coins in my collection, namely:
• 3 som from Kyrgyzstan (2008)
• 2½ gulden coin from the Netherlands (1972)
• 15 bani and 3 lei from Romania (1966); and
• 4 qirsh from Saudi Arabia (1957/8)
What are your coins in your collection that have unusual denominations?
Side topic:
Currently, I am still stay at home until the end of September or starting October because of partial lockdown and some restrictions since the surge of the Delta variant since August in our country, Philippines. I will plan to buy coins again by 2nd or 3rd week of October, and also, I will be a vlogger from that month.
Ang numismatika ay libangan ng pag-aaral ng barya at perang papel.
Numismatics is the hobby on studying coins and banknotes
Numismatik adalah hiburan pelajaran uang logam dan uang kertas.
There has been a forum topic on unusual denominations before, which set me thinking how exactly to define what is 'unusual'.
So far, I didn't dare to burn my fingers on defining what is unusual in non-decimal systems, but for decimal systems, my thought exercise lead to the following.
In decimal systems, everything centers around multiples or fractions of 10: 0.01 - 0.10 - 1.00 - 10.00 etc.
Then there are two ways of deriving other denominations from these 'backbone' units. A. Repetitive fractioning by 2, so you get 0.005 << 0.01 || 0.025 << 0.05 << 0.10 || 0.25 << 0.50 << 1.00 || 2.50 << 5.00 << 10.00 || 25.00 etc. B. Halve and double the base units, so you get 0.005 << 0.01 >> 0.02 || 0.05 << 0.10 >> 0.20 || 0.50 << 1.00 >> 2.00 || 5.00 << 10.00 >> 20.00 etc.
You will notice that most decimal countries adopt one or the other system in a pure form depending on their tradition. Rarely, however, countries do mix the two systems (try to find one!).
It is also interesting to look for gaps in the system, like Federal Germany for no apparent reason lacking a 20 Pfennig coin.
There are two interesting things with system A:
one could continue dividing beyond 1/4 to 1/8, which would lead to denominations such as 0.125, 1.25 or 12.50 These denomination are close to the next backbone unit and they don't make a lot of sense. They do exist however like this coin in my collection: Y39, Venezuela 12,5 centimos 1958
But they are so rare that they can rightly be called 'unusual'.
in circulation, the 1/2 and 1/4 coins seen to compete for popularity, eventually leading to one forcing out the other. The Dutch guilder did not issue 0.50s for a long time in favour of the 0.25, but 0.05 won from the previously existing 0.025. The US has 0.25 and 0.50, but 0.50s are popular only where slot machines are around.
When I rule out all of the 'usual' denominations from system A or B, and pre-decimal coins, I end up having 49 coins with an 'unusual' denomination.
Of these 49, 28 have denomination '3', which seems to be a quite usual unusual denomination.
Second last of the unusual denominations are 15 coins with the denomination '15'. Particularly popular in Imperial and Soviet Russia, where it goes back to a pegged exchange cours of 15 kopecks for 1 zloty in the 19th century - when the two currencies circulated in the same region. I also have some 15-s from Romania, and these peculiar three: KM5, Bahamas, The 15 cents 1966 (1966-1970)
KM31, Mongolia 15 möngö 1981 (1970-1981)
KM26, Paraguay 15 centimos 1953
And that leaves me with 6 really unusual denominations in my collection: KM75, Germany 4 reichspfennig 1932F
KM105, Iraq 4 fils 1938 (1938-1939)
KM566, Portugal 4 centavos 1919 (1917+1919)
KM15, East Timor 6 escudos 1958
Y39, Venezuela 12,5 centimos 1958 - discussed that above KM33, Kenya 40 shillings 2003 - commemorating the 40-st year of independence, that's why
The East Timor 1958 series is a funny one: the currency is decimal, but they continued with predecimal denominations like 0.30, 0.60, 3.00, 6.00. I only have the last two in my collection, and 0.30 and 0.60 are obviously the next unusual denominations for me to go for.
Well, considering what ArnoV told, apart from the British (and colonies) pre-decimal coinage I can mention these very unusual coin denominations in my collection:
- Kingdom of Naples 20 grana, 1 tari 1691-1700 (1 tari = 1/6 piastra)
- Soviet Union 3 kopecks 1961-1991
- Soviet Union 15 kopecks 1961-1991
Would an English Guinea be classed as an unusual denomination, as its value is 21/- (21 Shillings)
If so, there are coins of 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2 & 5 Guineas.
I would assume not, as its face value is actually 1 Guinea, not 21/-
Thinking aloud to myself
Jersey has some unusual values. 1/48 shilling, 1/24 shilling and 1/12 shilling. Also 1/52 shilling, 1/26 shilling and 1/13 shilling.
Many non-decimal denominations are quite common -- I have a lot of different 1/12s Annas, 1/4 Annas, 3 Pence, 6 Pence, 2 ½ and 2.5
Less common non-decimal stuff:
1/16 Rupee - Mewar
4 Annas - British India
1/3 Farthing - UK
18 Piastres - Cyprus
30 Centavos - Portuguese India
4 Pence - British Gayana
6 Escudos - Timor
400 Reis - Brazil
1/6 Thaler - Saxony
Decimal:
1¼ Centésimos - Panama
12½ Céntimos - Venezuela
4 Mon - Japan
4 Ghirsh - Saudi Arabia
4 Pfennig - Prussia
4 Centavos - Portugal
I would like to add that when I first joined Numista 4 years or so ago I had many odd denomination coins ie, 2 1/2, 3, 4, 15, among others from all over the world. These were some of the first to go as these seemed to appeal to a lot of members here.
Unfortunately, I don't have this coin (or any similar ones, though I hope to change this). The only unusual one I could think of in my collection is a Soviet 3 kopeck coin, but this has already been mentioned.
"Be kind, rewind."
Numista referee for banknotes from Greece, Crete & the Ionian Islands.
If NCLTs count as coins, there is this 19,18 euro coin (?) issued in 2020 by Lithuania: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces225473.html
I don't have it, but it is worth mentioning here (along with Bulgarian 1.95583 Leva), in order to consider how far the idea of an "unusual denomination" can be developed, and how quickly an original idea can become unoriginal.
And, to go in the other direction with the same numbers, we have these examples of 13 quattrini and 26 quattrini from Papal States > Ferrara (the title of the first should be modified, as these are the denominations inscribed on the coins) .
ArnoVThere has been a forum topic on unusual denominations before, which set me thinking how exactly to define what is 'unusual'. So far, I didn't dare to burn my fingers on defining what is unusual in non-decimal systems, but for decimal systems, my thought exercise lead to the following.
In decimal systems, everything centers around multiples or fractions of 10: 0.01 - 0.10 - 1.00 - 10.00 etc.
Then there are two ways of deriving other denominations from these 'backbone' units. A. Repetitive fractioning by 2, so you get 0.005 << 0.01 || 0.025 << 0.05 << 0.10 || 0.25 << 0.50 << 1.00 || 2.50 << 5.00 << 10.00 || 25.00 etc. B. Halve and double the base units, so you get 0.005 << 0.01 >> 0.02 || 0.05 << 0.10 >> 0.20 || 0.50 << 1.00 >> 2.00 || 5.00 << 10.00 >> 20.00 etc.
You will notice that most decimal countries adopt one or the other system in a pure form depending on their tradition. Rarely, however, countries do mix the two systems (try to find one!). It is also interesting to look for gaps in the system, like Federal Germany for no apparent reason lacking a 20 Pfennig coin.
There are two interesting things with system A:
one could continue dividing beyond 1/4 to 1/8, which would lead to denominations such as 0.125, 1.25 or 12.50 These denomination are close to the next backbone unit and they don't make a lot of sense. They do exist however like this coin in my collection: Y39, Venezuela 12,5 centimos 1958 But they are so rare that they can rightly be called 'unusual'.
in circulation, the 1/2 and 1/4 coins seen to compete for popularity, eventually leading to one forcing out the other. The Dutch guilder did not issue 0.50s for a long time in favour of the 0.25, but 0.05 won from the previously existing 0.025. The US has 0.25 and 0.50, but 0.50s are popular only where slot machines are around.
When I rule out all of the 'usual' denominations from system A or B, and pre-decimal coins, I end up having 49 coins with an 'unusual' denomination.
Of these 49, 28 have denomination '3', which seems to be a quite usual unusual denomination.
Second last of the unusual denominations are 15 coins with the denomination '15'. Particularly popular in Imperial and Soviet Russia, where it goes back to a pegged exchange cours of 15 kopecks for 1 zloty in the 19th century - when the two currencies circulated in the same region. I also have some 15-s from Romania, and these peculiar three: KM5, Bahamas, The 15 cents 1966 (1966-1970) KM31, Mongolia 15 möngö 1981 (1970-1981) KM26, Paraguay 15 centimos 1953
I see we think very much alike and you saved me a lot of work by making this very nice presentation. Well done!
With that said I have a few denomination that might not be unusual in that sense, but less frequently used:
Unfortunately, I don't have this coin (or any similar ones, though I hope to change this). The only unusual one I could think of in my collection is a Soviet 3 kopeck coin, but this has already been mentioned.
Another 1/9 is a Third Groat - owned not by me but by a member >
Today a 9 Tari (collector) coin from the Order of Malta arrived in the mail, depicting the head of St. John the Baptist on a platter. N#135261
Besides coins I love geometry. The avatar consists of each of the 35 hexominoes used precisely once. With the 5 large yellow shapes placed like this, the solution for tiling the remaining 30 hexominoes is unique.
English [scarce year] 
Irish [mule] 
English [scarce year] 
Irish [mule] 
