Was an actual person used as the model for Britannia on English coins?
There are at least three answers to this question. Samuel Pepys in his diary, on Feb. 25, 1666, wrote, “Kings Medall which he saw that day had Miss Francis Stewart’s portrait, as well done as ever I saw anything in my whole life.” The second version is that it was based on an earlier Roman design. The third version is that the model was the mistress of Charles II, Nell Gwynn. Why do early Mexican and South American coins have three or four letter mintmarks? The letters designate two things. The mintmark is one, shown by either one or two letters. The other one or two letters are the Assayer’s initials. In the early mints, the assayer’s job was important, and dangerous. A coin found with an assayer’s initials that was underweight or had the wrong mix for the alloy could cost him his life. What’s the largest diameter coin currently circulating? This may be outdated, but according to a 1980 listing, the Indian 50 rupee coin, which measures 54 mm, seems to take the honors. However, there m
