Saturday, May 23, 2009

Vanishing Queen

Do you have a coin from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

Got these two at different locations but on the same day. Both were mistakenly given back as nickels. One thing the constant redesigning of our coins have done is to utterly confuse some of those behind the register. Still with no 2009 finds and a lower production means free finds don't seem to be in the future. I guess I'll stick to talking about non-U.S. coins

Usually when looking at an unfamiliar coin you can quickly gauge what is the obverse and what is the reverse. If Queen Elizabeth II is on it then that is the obverse. A coat of arms can is now seen more on the obverse but I tend to think of as a reverse feature since the U.S. is not big on coat-of-arms. Animals, plants, and nationally symbols are almost always reverse features.

The first pictures shows the obverse of a Canadian nickel and the reverse of a Bahamian nickel and the second photo is vice-versa. I admit even I get confused when trying to figure out which is the front or back of any coin.

Until 1974 The Bahamas had the Queen on every coin and note. Then out of nowhere they switched to the Bahamian Coat of Arms. They are still a part of the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen Elizabeth as head of state but I guess they choose to show their independence with something of their own. On the currency side they have gone back and forth depicting different important figure including the Queen.

This is trend on many of the 53 commonwealth headed by the Queen. Many countries either by official law or just artistic reason have temporarily, permanently in some cases, removed the Queen on coins. Granted it is easier to identify coins of 40 years ago but the explosion of designs makes up for the confusion.

Here's the stats...
Type/Country: 5 Cents / Canada
Year: 2008 Maple Leaf Logo
Mintage: Not Yet Known
Metal: 94.5% Steel, 3.5% Copper, and 2% Nickel
Value: $0.05 in F

Type/Country: 5 Cents / Bahamas
Year: 1998
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Value: $0.05 in VF

While I will get the Canadian mintage, eventually, the Bahamian one may never be known. Many times the coins of the Bahamas were made in several different countries plus there was a six year gap between the last five cent coin issued in the Bahamas. These 1998 coins may have been made for years or a short run it is not fully known.

Do you have a coin from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

6 dollars worth, for Comments/Questions click here.:

James (UK) said...

Like the pineapple...

Man said...

Tropical but seems more Hawaiian than Bahamian.

Anonymous said...

i have a coin i cant find any info on anywhere hope u can help.. side1 man on horse smaller animal below writing all around edge do not recognize language side 2 large 20 with letters AEBA under small fish small sun to either side of 20

Man said...

1 man on horse smaller animal below writing all around edge do not recognize language side 2 large 20 with letters AEBA under small fish small sun to either side of 20

20 Leva from Bulgaria 1997
About $0.75 in extra fine.

Anonymous said...

i have a 1973 nickel that has Elizabeth II on the front and around her it says "The Commonwealth of the Bahamas" and on the back it has a pineapple on it. i was a little confused when i saw the picture on this page when the backs matched but the fronts didnt. not sure wat its worth would love to know

Man said...

1973 nickel that has Elizabeth II on the front and around her it says "The Commonwealth of the Bahamas" and on the back it has a pineapple on it.

The one you have was the last type made with the queen on it. It is about $0.10.