Sharp!
5
Great purchase
Don
Toronto, On
$15 Sterling Silver Coin – Jack of Hearts (2008)
When coins were made of paper
First issue in a fascinating series!
The $15 Jack of Hearts coin is the first issue in the fascinating “Playing Card Money series".
The name G DE PARIS that appears across the bottom is likely the name of the original artist,
while the name LAHIRE is believed to reflect the 15th-century custom of naming each jack after
a famous figure, in this case one of Charles VII's generals. The inscription on the back of the
card suggests the Jack of Hearts was valued at fifty livres.
In 17th-century New France, everything was in short supply - including coins. In a desperate
move to keep his colony working, the governor issued playing cards bearing a written promise to
pay what was owed when the next shipment of coins arrived from France.
In 1729, authorities began using plain card stock, which circulated like modern bank notes,
until New France fell to the British in 1759—some 75 years after this unique form of money
first appeared in 1685.
Highlights
Unique rectangular coin shape echoes the form and design of 18th-century playing cards. Superb
engraving, combined with colour and selective gold plating on the edge of the coin.
Specifications
- No.101427
- Mintage 25,000
- Composition92.5% silver, 7.5% copper
- Finishproof (with selective colour and gold plate on the coin's edge)
- Weight (g) 31.56
- Diameter (mm) 49.8 x 28.6
- Edgeplain
- Certificateserialized
- Face value$15
- ArtistHenri Beau (reverse), Susanna Blunt (obverse)
Reviews
Heart-tastic
4
The coin was [...] came in an a soft easily displayed case (the kind that jewelery comes in). The coin itself seems excellent, my only concern is the gold-coloured rim around the edge seems to be flimsy, though there hasn't been any incidents yet in which it's proved to be flimsy. Over all though, I think it's excellent and I will probably continue the coin card collection.
Dream Away
Camrose, AB
$15 Sterling Silver Coin â Jack of Hearts (2008)
4.5
2
100.0
