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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6356 Posts |
I've been going through some coins from around the world that my father had passed on to me. I've ran across two 15 mm coins (Norwegian Ore and a Dutch Guilder). I know I've seen some small old non-circular coins. With modern minting technology though what is the smallest coin that a country has put out there?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3307 Posts |
If you Google your question, you'll find the answer.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1739 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Edited by Crazyb0
01/26/2018 1:39 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6356 Posts |
Thanks bd251. That's some good info. .and thank you for introducing me to numista.com
Check out my counterstamped Lincoln Cent collection: http://goccf.com/t/303507 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6356 Posts |
@Crazyb0. my question was just more specific. I'm curious about modern coinage and what the smallest is. I did Google it and was having a hard time limiting my search to not include older coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
I believe the smallest made on modern minting equipment were the Panama Pill (1904) and Travancore 1 cash coins (1901-1947), 10 and 10.5mm, respectively.
Several countries have put out tiny little precious metal fractional coins; I believe the smallest Britannia was 8mm or thereabouts.
The smallest coin in absolute terms was a fractional fanam from India, the smallest that were still die-struck are just 2mm and have an indistinct and irregular pattern on both sides.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
4934 Posts |
In general (including NCLT), 4 mm is the smallest I'm aware of - this type and two other Cook Islands coins (in gold and platinum) comprise the World's Smallest Coins set. IIRC, a few ancient and medieval types might have also been made in this size or even smaller, but those do not count as "with modern minting technology". The smallest coins still minted for circulation today (or, at least, within the last few years) appear to be the Netherlands Antilles 1 cent and the Mexico 10 centavos, both at 14 mm. The Uruguay 1 nuevo peso 1989, at 12 mm, appears to be the smallest coin made for circulation in the last few decades; it apparently barely circulated due to its overly small size and weight, and was demonetized in 1995. The already mentioned Panama Pill (10 mm) is, of course, the smallest circulating coin of the 20th century. As far as I can tell from a Numista search, the smallest coin ever made for circulation with modern minting technology (or, at least, something that could pass for it) is probably this Guatemala gold 4 reales, only 9 mm in diameter. And, of course, as already mentioned, many - many - ancient and medieval coins (up to late 19th century in some parts of India) were smaller yet; but those types weren't exactly made with modern minting technology. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6356 Posts |
Thank you Finn and January1may. When I was Googling I saw that some people collect only small coins. Amazing how many different ways you can make a coin collection 'your own'.
Check out my counterstamped Lincoln Cent collection: http://goccf.com/t/303507 |
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Valued Member
United States
56 Posts |
There is a puny small Chinese Imperial Provincial 5 cents. These are from many provinces, such as Kirin, Fukien, Kwangtung, etc. They are very very small. 3.6 Candareens. Ill post one shortly!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6895 Posts |
Pretty sure the smallest modern world coin in my collection is the Turkey 1 kurus from 1960s. 14 mm.
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New Member
United Kingdom
21 Posts |
English silver maundy 1d is 11mm... is this 'modern' minting?
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
16067 Posts |
The last issue of the Netherlands Antilles 1 cent (still being struck in 2022 according to Numista) was 14mm, as was the last Spanish 1-peseta coin before that country adopted the Euro, struck from 1989 to 2000. An older 14mm coin issued for circulation was the Ceylon quarter-cent.
A TV marketing campaign currently running in the UK is promoting a 24-carat gold 'one-eighth sovereign' commemorating Sir Winston Churchill. The advert conveniently doesn't mention that it's struck for Tristan da Cunha and has a diameter of 11mm, and costs about double the value of the bullion.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
4934 Posts |
Since the original discussion, the Guatemala 4 reales had been reclassified as 10 mm, which ties it with the Panama Pill and the Travancore 2 chuckram - that last one probably winning the "circulating coin" title by weight (the Panama coin is much heavier). In the meantime, "smallest NCLT" had also became a point of pride, with Cook Islands' 4 mm coins beaten first by the "Einstein" Swiss 1/4 franc (2.96 mm) in 2020, and then by the "Hum" Croatian 1 kuna (1.99 mm) in 2022, which is, as far as I can tell, the smallest coin minted so far. In a few years there will probably be something even smaller. |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 7,385 |
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Posted 01/26/2018 10:55 am
