Battle Of Stalingrad Crown.

[CtahhR]

Here's a nice proof coin from my collection. A 2004 Gibraltar Crown depicting the battle of Stalingrad. A rather strange topic for a commonwealth coin, a coin that has not received much attention. The scan doesn't show the "silver" of the coin very well but it certainly does show the proof striking. So little has been reported on this coin that I am not even sure as to whether it is cupro-nickel or silver.

[medals73]

Interesting. I guess (?) this wasn't a coin intended for circulation, but rather one of those "coin"-like-things made up for collectors?

[CtahhR]

It was part of a series of Crowns and £5 coins based on battles of the second world war. The collector is the focus. I've never known anyone accept a crown for payment since decimalisation and I think I've only seen a £5 coin be accepted twice.

Not the sort of thing you will see in circulation anywhere - and that includes on the rock. A very strange and seemingly obscure creation which doesn't seemed to have struck the right sort of notes with any collectors. I don't even have any information on mintage figures, the sort of information numismatists are very enthusiastic about.

Almost a fantasy!

[medals73]

Sorry, but I'm old enough to think of a "crown" as a national currency unit that was thought of and occasionally quoted (rather like a guinea), but not carried around in your pocket.

The first medals auction I attended in the UK, one item I was interested in reached the point where the auctionneer said "Gentlemen, shall we bid in guineas." I was soon outbid, but not due to the currency employed.

I guess collectors buy anything (unlike folks like us who want some history adhering to the item).

[Lapa]

Gibraltar is one of the great "specialists" of those dreaded Non Circulating Legal Tender Coins, and has the nasty habit to strike its commemorative pounds out of copper-nickel.

Marc

[CtahhR]

We still use guineas! Mainly when dealing with horses but we still use them there-the-less. A jar down the pub costs more than 2 guineas now so that speaks volumes.

The crown was last produced in the United Kingdom in 1981 but they (like this one) are giant, very much like a Morgan Dollar, not worth wearing your pockets out for 25p. The 20p coin was introduced in 1982 and is closer to the size of a "nickel".

If this Stalingrad Crown is silver I bought it for a fraction of the metal content but time will tell. This is one of only a handful of coins in the vast (6 figure) collection that isn't a "real" circulation piece but it is just far too conflicted for me to leave alone.

I also find it quite strange that the poppy is used in connection to this battle in this conflict. A nice George ribbon flowing in its place would have been rather more appealing.

[medals73]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

A jar down the pub costs more than 2 guineas now so that speaks volumes.

Oy, that is right. Somehow I had managed to forget that. Possibly out of a desire to consume . . . ??

Originally Posted by CtahhR

I also find it quite strange that the poppy is used in connection to this battle in this conflict. A nice George ribbon flowing in its place would have been rather more appealing.

True (but who was the audience? Russian oligarchs? I doubt). But an Order of Glory (Орден Славы) ribbon, please. None of that tsarist twaddle here.

[CtahhR]

Tell "Big Liz" on the other side about Imperialism!

I really have no clue who this is supposed to be aimed at but it seems to have seriously missed. I'm sure whoever designed this had some explaining to do. Even the scene of Stalingrad doesn't really grab me or overwhelm me with the struggle.

What about the equipment the soldiers are depicted with?

[medals73]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

Tell "Big Liz" on the other side about Imperialism!

At least she isn't wearing that "clown crown" that she is saddled with on recent UK medals.

And, as the last surviving member (I think) of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India, she'd know.

[EricFG]

Originally Posted by CtahhR

I also find it quite strange that the poppy is used in connection to this battle in this conflict. A nice George ribbon flowing in its place would have been rather more appealing.

So that's what that red blob is? I was wondering. So I thought the poppy was pretty much an obsolete, WW1 thing?
PS. ebay seller1 says "CUPRO NICKEL"