Weekly World Coin Post: ASIA

I'm long overdue for a World Coin Post so I thought I'd made up for it by making one post with all the coins I have from the Asian continent. So here they are. We'll go down the list top to bottom.

Japan

I only have 3 different coins from Japan, as sadly, I've never been. I almost had a chance to swing through Tokyo for work, but I ended up getting routed elsewhere. Anyhow, the Yen is the third most traded currency in the world, which is quite impressive. Currently, 1 JPY is equivalent to 1 US cent, making it very easy to do conversions... so 100 Yen is $1.00 USD.

For more info on the Japanese Yen, please click HERE.

TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1959-1989 10 Yen Bronze, 23.5mm | Hirohito (Emperor Shōwa), Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in
1959-1989 5 Yen Brass 22mm
1989 5 Yen Brass 22mm | Akihito (Prince Komatsu Akihito)
1955-1989 1 Yen Aluminum 20mm

China

China has one of the oldest traditions of currency in the known world, as between 200 and 300 BC they introduced copper coined currency. China was also invented paper currency. The main unit is known as the Yuan, which is broken up into 10 Jiao, which are in turn divided into 10 Fen. So 1 Yuan equals 100 Fen. Currently, 1 Yuan is the equivalent to just under $0.15 US.

For more info on the Chinese Yuan, click HERE.

SECOND ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1981-2000 10 Yuan Copper-Nickel 26mm | Chiang Kai-shek
1981-2000 1 Yuan Bronze 19.92mm
1982 1 Fen Aluminum 18mm | National Emblem
1977 1 Fen Aluminum 18mm
1982 1 Fen Aluminum 18mm

Thailand

สวัสดีและยินดีต้อนรับ!

Again, another country I have no visited but would love to, as I'd be rich there. I know a few people from work who live there and absolutely love it. So the currency there is called the Baht (pronounced like bot), which is broken into 100 Satang. A curious note, Thailand is not the only country that uses the Baht, the small nation of Laos also uses it. 1 Baht is right around $0.03 US, which puts 1 USD right around 34 Baht or so.

For more info on the Thai Baht, click HERE.

THIRD ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1957(?) 25 Satang Aluminum-Bronze 20.5mm | Bhumipol Adulyadej (Rama XI), Royal Coat of Arms of Siam
1986-2000 1 Baht Copper-Nickel 20mm
1986-2000 1 Baht Copper-Nickel 20mm
1986-2000 1 Baht Copper-Nickel 20mm
1957(?) 10 Satang Aluminum-Bronze 17.4mm

Phillipines

On to one of my favorite Asian countries. I've had countless friends from this island nation, both growing up, and also at my current job. I would love to visit one day. I only have a few coins, all very low denomination.

Having once been a Spanish colony, the currency here is known as the peso, or more currently, the piso. The Piso is broken up into 100 Sentimos. One Piso is worth about $0.02 US.

For more info on the Philippine Peso, click HERE.

FOURTH ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1995 10 Sentimos Bronze Plated Steel 16.9mm
2002 5 Sentimos Copper Plated Steel 15.43mm
2002 5 Sentimos Copper Plated Steel 15.43mm
2001 5 Sentimos Copper Plated Steel 15.43mm
(NOT PICTURED) 1997 1 Piso Copper-Nickel 24mm | Jose Rizal

Singapore

I visited Singapore for a bit before I joined the crew of the Geco Eagle back in 2008 for 6 weeks. From the airport to the hotel, the place was beautiful, I would love to go back and spend more than a day there. The two coins I have I got back in change after paying in USD, which is readily accepted throughout. Like the US, they also use the dollar, and it is divided into 100 cents.

For more information on the Singapore Dollar, click HERE.

FIFTH ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

1990 50 Cents Copper-Nickel 24.5mm | Allamanda Plant
1991 20 Cents Copper-Nickel 23.6mm | Powder-Puff Plant

Malaysia

I don't know much about Malaysia or its currency, the Ringgit (divided into 100 sens), so I'll just let Wikipedia do the talking... HERE

BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

2000 1 Sen Bronze Clad Steel 13.2mm
2005 10 Sen Copper-Nickel 19.3mm

Greenbrier Church Tot Lot

Around 930p or so last night... sounds right, it was after Reaper came on the TV. Anyway, it was that time to head out for some more diggin'. There are two tot lots on Volvo Pkwy in Chesapeake, VA I've been wanting to hit. And tonight was going to be the night I finally got around to it.

I show up to the spot, pull in, and get geared up. The area the tot lot is in is fenced in. So like, you enter a gate, and there is a large grassy area, and then the play area is sort of in the middle of it all, woodchipped.

I started swinging in the woodchips to start off. I was delighted to start hitting targets all over the place, but bummed they all seemed to be memorials. After a good 45 minutes slowing making my way around, I scored a couple Mickey Mouse Disney pressed pennies, and a bunch of quarters.

I was done there, and started the grassy area. The dimes were really poppin' here. I was landing quite a bit of targets, so much so that to keep the hunt relatively short, I left at least what I believe to be $1 or so in clad still in the ground.

It was a great night to be out hunting. Very comfortable temperature, and making this the maiden voyage of my new knee pads, my knees were feeling great. Sadly, it had been about an hour and a half, time to get back home... so I skipped out on the second tot lot a little further away. Next time though.

Another interesting find for the night was a neat 1997 Philippines 1 Piso coin. Rang up like a nickel.