This has been an interesting coin to research. I believe it is a Victorian threepence. Dating from 1896 it is features the “old head”, there were two previous versions – “young head” and a “Jubilee head”.
The reverse is inscribed VICTORIA DEI GRA BRITT REGINA FID DEF IND IMP which means Victoria by the Grace of God, Queen of the British territories, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.
This is one of the easier coins to identify in my collection. Apologies for the poor photograph but it is also very worn.
This is a French 50 centimes coin dated 1892 and very common.
Another unusual coin is this small coin stamped 50 HAPA 1915.
On the reverse is the head of Peter I, the King of Serbia, with the words ПЕТАР I. КРАЉ СРБИЈЕ
I believe the coin is silver and was issued in Serbia between 1904 and 1915 and is a 50 PARA.
I would love to believe this coin was collected by my great-uncle whilst he was serving in the Army during the First World War.
Following on from previous posts about coins in my possession here is another one which I think is a George III sixpence stamped 1819.
You can see it’s pretty grubby but I have found some similar examples online.
I enjoyed writing about my exotic locket the other day so I thought I would share another little item in my possession. Again, I inherited this from my paternal grandmother, a small leather purse or wallet.
The brown leather is beautifully soft with a small tear. The initials E.T. have been punched on the front and it is hallmarked in four places – on the lock and two corners. It seems strange that such a small item should have to bear so many hallmarks.
I think the hallmarks mean the following:
Makers mark = GHJ
9 carat gold
Gold fineness = 375
Anchor = made in Birmingham
Date letter = u is for 1857
So I have a small leather and gold purse stamped with the initials ET. There’s a small loop on the back which suggests it could be worn on a belt.
I don’t have any known ancestors with these initials from this time so the item is a bit of a mystery. It contains a number of foreign coins which I’m going to write about over the coming days. Perhaps they belonged to someone who collected coins but I’m hoping there’s a more interesting story to tell!
Everytime I hear anything about British India, like when I posted about a recent press release the other day, it reminds me that I want to research some objects in my possession.
I inherited this locket from my paternal Grandmother. It features an Indian god on the front, the back is plain. Inside are two locks of hair behind glass. It measures about 4cm in height and doesn’t bear any hallmarks.
I prised it open when I was much younger in the hope there would be a secret note stored behind the locks of hair, but there was nothing, except some re-used card.
I have absolutely no information about the locket, no way of dating it or knowing who it belonged to.
I also have an unusual coin.
It’s a half rupee coin issued in 1840 by the East India Company.
Both of these items suggest I have an ancestor who visited India. But I’m unsure where to start….
