Coins
Will these coins bring you luck?
Do you believe in luck? Have you ever owned an item you consider lucky, such as a piece of clothing or perhaps a coin?
Money in general has been considered a source of luck for hundreds of years, such as the lucky penny or the action of throwing money into a fountain to bring fortune. Now let me tell you about a very special ‘lucky’ coin.
The 20 Francs Gold Lucky Angel Coin
The Lucky Angel Coin is one of the most impressive and desirable of all European gold coins, not only due to its beautiful design, but because it is thought to bring such great luck.
The Design:
- The angel depicted on the obverse represents the Spirit of France and is shown writing the French Constitution.
- A rooster appears next to the angel as a symbol of vigilance.
- Behind the angel stands the fasces – previously carried by Roman magistrates as a representation of power.
- On top of this is the Cap of Liberty.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Legend has it that an earlier version of this coin accompanied Napoleon in his rise to power in France and on each heroic campaign, until he arrogantly flung his coin into the river… on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, in which he was defeated and ended his rule as the French Emperor!
This coin was then re-created during the French Revolution and Augustin Dupré was commissioned by King Louis XVI to design it. He was a firm believer in the power of guardian angels and incorporated this theme into his design.
Years later he fell out of favour with the king and was condemned to death. Dupré claimed that the Angel coin saved him from the guillotine because he had it in his pocket. He said a quick prayer as he knelt beneath the deadly blade and rubbed his coin for good luck. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck nearby, causing a panic and halting his execution! Before it could be rescheduled, Dupré was granted a pardon, his life saved.
From that moment on it became known as the ‘Angel Coin’ and many stories were told of the wonders of the coin.
Fishermen never went to sea without it, WWI French pilots never flew without it.
Even pilots from Britain and the United States carried the French coins into battle with them. US pilots continued to put their faith in the coin’s protective powers during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
In fact, the legend of these coins carried such weight that Hermann Goering, the engineer of Hitler’s evil vision, ordered his soldiers to round them up and had them buried in a location that has never been discovered.
The legend continues.
To this day, many pilots, rescue and police heroes proclaim the Angel’s power of luck and protection.
Some blame the coin’s remarkable good fortune on coincidence, others luck, and others a reward for faith. Who knows what these coins actually do, but their legend in itself is enough to want to own one!
If you’re interested…
You have the unique chance to own the world’s luckiest coin… will you be lucky enough to secure one? Click here to find out more
The story behind England’s first colonial coinage…
The story behind England’s first colonial coinage is one that few people know about. It begins with the most influential company in world history – The East India Company…
The East India Company today are producers and distributors of quality, exclusive and exotic goods with a 400 year legacy through its trade history, which built the British Empire.
Originally, the East India Company was a band of pioneering merchants who were granted a Royal Charter by Elizabeth I in 1600 to explore the East Indies and bring back exotic goods to the Regal West. In doing so they established new trade routes and broke down the barriers of the world. They established Singapore and Hong Kong, held Napoleon captive in St. Helena and sent the tea that was destroyed at the Boston Tea Party.
The consequences of the Company’s actions are the very fabric of our Commonwealth.
Queen Elizabeth I
England’s very first colonial coinage – struck for the company’s first voyage
In 1601, Queen Elizabeth I signed a Royal Charter awarding The East India Company the right to monopoly on trade in the East.
On signing the Royal Charter, Queen Elizabeth I instructed The Royal Mint to strike England’s very first colonial coinage – the Testern coin. Struck specifically for The Company’s first voyage to the East, the Testern was the very first currency that was minted specifically for trade outside of England.
Following the defeat of Spain in the Spanish Armada in 1588 and after the death of Prince Philip of Spain, the British colonial era of empire commenced and the start of 270 years of trade and conquest began.
The Originial Testern Coin
It’s believed that Queen Elizabeth I insisted on her own trade coinage as means of demonstrating that she was just as powerful as the King of Spain, which would only be effective if it was based on the prevailing international trade coin of the time – the Spanish Real. So, she introduced a coin that was minted in the exact same specification as the Spanish 8 Real denomination, commonly known as ‘Pieces of Eight’. This coin was formally named the Testern but came to be known as ‘Portcullis Money’ due to its unique Portcullis design.
The end of the Testern
Elizabeth I insisted that The East India Company carried the new Testern coins on each voyage, as means of exhibiting her power overseas. Just over £6,000 worth of ‘Portcullis Money’ was loaded onto the vessels of Sir James Lancaster VI’s fleet – the first fleet of The Company. When the fleet arrived in the East many of the coins were melted down, and very few returned to England. In fact, those that did were presented to The Company’s shareholders.
A coin found only in museums
The 2017 Silver Testern Coin
Today, you will only find these coins in museums and even then only a very small number of the Testern ‘Portcullis Money’ coins will be exhibited across the world.
This year, The East India Company and St Helena government have issued the Testern coin in Silver featuring a design based on the original ‘Portcullis money’ and struck in the same weight specification as the Testern coins. Only the second ever minting of Portcullis Money, the design features the iconic portcullis engraving just as its 1601 predecessor.
If you’re interested…
Fully approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and strictly limited to just 10,000 coins worldwide, you can own the 2017 Testern Silver coin today if you’re quick.
Why these 9 gold coins tell a story that changed the world…
This year, a unique set of nine pure gold coins has been released to mark the prestigious heritage of the East India Company, still trading after 417 years.
The Empire Collection
At its peak the British company single-handedly accounted for half the world’s trade. They minted their own currency, started the mass production of tea for export in India and transformed dining tables in the West forever by introducing new exotic ingredients and flavours.
But despite the Company ceasing operations in 1874, it had changed the way the world traded. The Times commented ‘It accomplished a work such as in the whole history of the human race no other trading Company ever attempted, and such as none, surely, is likely to attempt in the years to come.’
Just 500 gold coin sets issued to mark this history
All nine 24-carat gold coins
Now The East India Company has issued The Empire Collection, a brand new, limited edition set of nine 24-carat gold coins which tell the story of the company from its foundation in 1600.
Each coin features a depiction of a British monarch who ruled during the Company’s first period of operations – from Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Victoria –alongside a key historic symbol.
Only 500 sets will ever be struck, making each of these coins immediately scarce in comparison to say, the Gold Sovereign, of which 10,500 will be issued this year.
Nine British Monarchs – Nine Gold Coins
Coins from left: Elizabeth I, James I and Charles II
The first three coins of the collection honour Elizabeth I, James I and Charles II. They feature symbols influenced by the Red Dragon (one of the East India Company’s ships), the rare Rose Ryal coins, and the charters granted by Charles II.
Coins from left: William III, Queen Anne and George II
The next three coins mark the reigns of William III, Queen Anne and George II and make symbolic reference to Fort William, the main garrison for the British in Calcutta, the Company ‘balemark’ (the heart shape used as a trademark for all Company goods) and the design of the 1758 shilling.
Coins from left: George III, William IV and Queen Victoria.
The final three coins pay tribute to George III, William IV and Queen Victoria. The George III coins pictures the famous ‘Spade Guinea’, whilst the William IV coin depicts the beading and lettering used on the Mohur – the Company’s own currency. Queen Victoria’s coin is graced by a Crown containing a precious jewel set by the East India Company, marking when Victoria became Empress of India.
Finished to an exceptionally high standard in a numbered luxury Presentation Case decorated with brass highlights, the collection truly represents the global resonance of The East India Company. With just 500 available The Empire Collection is one of the most impressive gold coin sets you are likely to see, and it is bound to become a future collector priority.
If you’re interested…
You can now own the Empire Collection, but with such a tiny edition limit, it won’t be available for long. Sign up below if you’d like to be contacted about owning this impressive gold coin set: