 |
1900? A metal coin slightly
over 1" in diameter showing the fox and the crow on
one side and German verse on the other. $38.59 from Kevin Kelley, Harrisburg, SD, through
Ebay, July, '99.
The verse reads "Wann Dein Spiel
der Gegner preiset,/ Dann gieb doppelt auf Dich Acht,/ Und erinn're Dich des Raben,/ Den
zuletzt der Fuchs verlacht." That is, "When your opponent praises your play, pay
doubly close attention to yourself and remember the crow, on whom the fox had the last
laugh." I am tempted--but afraid--to clean and polish up this old coin. Who knows
what circumstances ever gave rise to the distributing of a coin like this! |
 |
| 1972 "Fabled Isles"
Mardi Gras doubloon. Comus. Gift of Jonathan Singer, Bronx, NY, through Ebay, Oct., '99. On one side there is pictured and captioned "The Golden Cup of
Comus," with a nice Latin phrase: "Sic volo, sic jubeo." Apparently the
Comus krewe began in 1857. The fabled isles side of the coin shows an island with a
classical temple wreathed in laurel. Before it lie a ship, a lyre, and two vases. What a
lovely gift! |
 |
| 1974 Aesop's Fables Mardi
Gras doubloon. Argus. Emperor Romulus. Jefferson Parish, LA. 1973. $3 from The Witch Lady,
Metairie, LA, through Ebay, March, '99. Second copy for $2 from Jonathan Singer, Bronx,
NY, through Ebay, Oct., '99. What does one do with a coin that has
different dates on its front and back? On the front, there are a stork with a tall vase, a
grasshopper playing a violin, a Greek temple facade, a building column, and a written
scroll. The back seems to feature Argus and the peacock. |
 |
| 1980 A Sap's Fables Mardi
Gras doubloon. Knights of Momus, New Orleans. $2.25 from P. M Berry, Carmel, Indiana,
through Ebay, May, '99. On the front of a coin, a pudgy girl sticks her
tongue out at the beholder, with "A Sap's Fables" written above her and
"1980" below. On the back side, a knight is pictured with the legend above
"Knights of Momus" and below "Dum vivimus, vivamus" (while we live,
let us live). I never knew such a thing existed! |
 |
|
