Continent: Asia Country: China Denomination: 1 Yuan Year: 2002

Originating with the shells of sea snails between 3,000 and 4,500 years ago, China is one of the first places to adopt currency in addition to a barter trade system. Over the years China has used a variety of currencies. Today, in the People's Republic of China, Renminbi is the currency in use. Renminbi, which translates to "Peoples' Currency," is divided into Yuan, Jiao and Fen. 1 Yuan = 10 Jiao = 100 Fen. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan use currency separate from the mainland. November's Coin of the month is the 1 Yuan coin. It is currently traded at about .15 cents USD. The value of the Yuan has risen in the last 3 years against the dollar. The flower on the reverse of the Yuan is a chrysanthemum, a flower cultivated for over 500 years in China as an herb often brewed in tea to aid against the flu.

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[Submitted by Nicholas]

Continent: Europe Country: Austria Denomination: 1 Ducat Year: 1915*

The gold 1 ducat coin from Austia is an interesting one. For one, this coin was not actually minted in 1915. In fact, all of the 1915 1 Ducat coins are restrikes. It's estimated that only a million were minted between 1920 and 1936. Austrian coins have frequently kept the same dates over the years commemorating different events. The front of the coin has Emperor Franz Joseph I and the reverse has a crowned double-headed imperial eagle. The pictures used for this Coin of the Month is from an eBay auction being sold by amc_atticfinds. You can view the auction here: Auction for 1915 1 Ducat Gold Coin. I like that seller as they are pretty honest about the coin. They mention that the coin is dated 1915, which it is. But they do not claim the coin is minted then. Kudos to them for their honesty.

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[Submitted by Nicholas]

If you have not already heard, in 2009, the United States Mint will mint and issue four different one-cent coins in recognition of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth and the 100th anniversary of the production of the Lincoln cent. While the obverse will continue to bear the likeness of President Lincoln currently on the penny, the reverse will change to bear four different designs, each representing a different aspect of the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Contrary to other reports, after these new coins are issued in 2009, the 2010 Lincoln one-cent will not revert back to it's previous design but will "feature a reverse design that will be emblematic of President Lincoln's preservation of the United States of America as a single and united country." Read the full story from the U.S. Mint.

I find this news especially appealing as the rumors continue to fly around of the one-cent's demise and inevitable phasing out from our currency. It looks like that will not be happening any time in the near future.

Earlier today a truck heading from the Philadelphia Mint to Miami, Florida was involved in a wreck on Interstate 95. The U.S. Mint truck rear-ended the back of another truck which caused it to flip over spilling out $187,000 worth of Nickels. That's 3,740,000 nickels! Nickels were all over the highway and in the grass. The highway was shut down for hours as Secret Service and U.S. Treasury agents retrieved the coins. Unfortunately one of the guards was killed in the accident. The two drivers were hospitalized. The accident occurred in Mims, FL which is not too far south of Daytona Beach. Anyone trying to pick up the coins runs the risk of being charged with a federal felony.

It had never occurred to me that our coinage would be transported via semi-trucks across the country. In fact, I had never really thought about it. I do find it interesting to know that many times I've traveled the highways and it has been possible that a truck full of dimes or quarters has whizzed by in the opposite direction.

Picture of the Nickels

I added a table that converts the dollar into 90 different currencies. I included some currencies no longer in use like the European money that was replaced by the Euro.

This data will not be updated regularly (at least not for now). It is a good reference guide though. The values of world currency on the exchange are constantly changing however most of the time those values do not vary more than a few cents in either direction.

Coinbrag Currency Conversion Table