A NUMISMATIC CELEBRATION OF THE TOTAL ECLIPSE

A search of the Newman Portal reveals a few numismatic references to the total eclipse of the Sun. There are quite a few (not all listed here), and a numismatist with an astronomical bent could form an interesting collection of such pieces. Coincidentally, the August 21st eclipse will be in near totality in St. Louis, home of the Newman Portal at Washington University.

Bunyan’s Chips, the newsletter of the International Organization of Wooden Money Collectors, in November 1991 presented a wooden nickel from the Hawaii Coin Club featuring Claus Spreckels, the 19th century “King of Sugar.” The reverse was a tribute to the total eclipse appearing in Hawaii on July 11, 1991.

The Missouri Journal of Numismatics, July 1995, includes an article from Marshall Faintich discussing the coinage of Charles I (1227-1285) of Sicily. Faintich suggests that the star to the right of the bust on this reale d’oro signifies the 1267 total eclipse, thought to be a divine endorsement of Charles’ I occupation beginning in 1266.

The excellent Forrer biographical dictionary of medallists notes a wax medallion depicting the solar eclipse by engraver Jean Martin Renaud (b. 1746).

Thomas Elder’s 66th sale (September 1912) describes lot 723, part of a collection of medals related to Martin Luther:

The New Netherlands sale of December 1940, lot 1450, listed this medal from Aix-la-Chapelle:

Link to November, 1991 issue of Bunyan’s Chips
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/521372?page=76

Link to 1995 Missouri Journal of Numismatics:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/512212?page=4

Link to Biographical Dictionary of Medallists:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/books?searchLetter=B

Link to Thomas Elder’s 66th sale:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=23&AuctionId=511500&page=41

Link to New Netherlands’ December 1940 sale:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=27&AuctionId=515050&page=62

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web