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TIBET
The known history of what today is called Tibet has been traced back to the seventh century, the era of the first hero-king, Song-tsen Gam-po. Before that, what is known about Tibet is in the realm of ancient myths, including the one that says Tibetans were generated by a monkey and a mountain ogress. Gam-po is significant in that he has been credited with the translation of several Buddhist scriptures into Tibetan. This led to Buddhism's making its presence felt in Tibet. One of Gam-po's queens was Bhrikuti Devi, a Nepalese princess who brought with her many Buddhist images, including one of Sakyamuni -- the sage of the Sakya caste -- namely, the Buddha. Before Buddhism came to Tibet the prevalent religion was Bon, a set of local beliefs. It was a shamanistic worship of nature spirits in which human and animal sacrifice, exorcism, magic and sorcery were practiced. Bonism was soon merged into Buddhism, but without its cruder practices. The fusion became known as Lamaism, from the word lama, meaning master or teacher. It was the Tibetan monk Tsong-khapa (1358-1419) who carried forward the reform initiated in A.D.1042 by Atisha, a notable teacher from India. Tsong-khapa founded the Geluk-pa sect (Virtuous Way), or Yellow Hat sect, in the beginning of the 15th century. He demanded celibacy among monks. After 1587 the Grand Lama of this school was called the Dalai Lama. Interestingly, the title of Dalai Lama was first conferred by the Mongol warrior king Altan Khan, who proclaimed the head of the Geluk-pa sect as Dalai Lama Vajradhara (the All-Embracing Lama, Holder of the Thunderbolt). By 1641 the Dalai Lama had acquired temporal and spiritual authority over all of Tibet. The Tibetans regard the fifth Dalai Lama, who reigned during the 17th century, as their greatest leader because it was during his time that the great Potala Palace was built. The Chinese revolution of 1911 brought down the Manchu dynasty and led to China's losing control over Tibet. In 1913 the Chinese authorities gave into British pressure for the holding of a tripartite meeting (China-Tibet-Britain) in Simla, India. A treaty was drafted by the British that divided Tibet into Inner and Outer regions, the latter being autonomous. But the outbreak of WW I in 1914 pushed Tibet out of international focus. During the 1930s, when China became more unified, new efforts were begun to wrest power over Tibet. After nearly two decades of uncertainty and the emergence of Communist China, the Chinese army captured the frontier fortress of Qamdo, 370 miles from the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. The Tibetan forces capitulated, with the current Dalai Lama sending a peace mission to Beijing. On 31 May 1950, an agreement was signed granting nominal autonomy but for all practical purposes bringing Tibet under Beijing's control. This, however, did not reduce tensions between the Chinese garrisons and the Khamba tribesmen of Tibet. In March 1959 the Dalai Lama rejected the Chinese request that he use his temporal power to reunite the tribesmen. The Dalai Lama was summoned by the Chinese commander in Lhasa to appear before him. This sparked revulsion and large-scale antagonism toward the Chinese among Tibetans. On 31 March 1959, the Dalai Lama fled to India, where he was given political asylum. The Dalai Lama is considered the 14th reincarnation of Tsong-khapa. He was born Tenzin Gyatso on 6 July 1935, into a family of farmers in Takster, in northeastern Tibet. When he was 2 years old he was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. He is also considered a living Buddha.
20 Srang - 15-54 (1920)
Y-22 -
11,55 g - 25,5 mm
The obverse of this coin has a Tibetan style lion in the centre within a ring with Tibetan legends surrounding it. The reverse features a prayer wheel within a ring with Tibetan characters around it. The coin was minted in Ser-Khang.
TONGA
Tonga has a proud history stretching back for more than a 1,000 years, but the written recorded history began in 1616 with the arrival of Dutch navigators Schoutn and Lemaire, followed by Abel Tasman in 1643, Captain Wallis in 1767 and Captain James Cook in 1773, 1774 and 1777. The Mutiny on the Bounty occurred in Tongan waters in 1789. Cook named Tonga "the Friendly Islands" for the friendly, affectionate people welcomed him with abundant hospitality, typical of Tonga to this day. Missionaries came in 1787, and the civil wars that has wracked the country for half of a century came to an end. King George Tupou I united the country, he was converted to Christianity, introduced a constitutional form of government and instituted land reform policies that are in effect today. Christianity has taken deep roots in Tonga, which has involved an unpretentious but gracious way of life, firmly based on Christian principles and on a deep reverence for the family which extends to the most distant relationship. The Kingdom of Tonga is one of the remaining constitutional monarchies. Ruled by His Majesty King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, Tonga preserve ancient tradition alongside policies designed to improve the well-being of the people.
½ Koula - 1962
KM-2 -
16,25 g - 30,35 mm
The obverse of the NCLT "coin" features a standing figure of Queen Salote of Tonga (b1900-d1965) with her name SALOTE TUPOU III around the top and the date 1962 at the bottom. The reverse has the royal Tongan arms with the denomination HALF KOULA at the top and the country's name TONGA at the bottom.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Trinidad was sighted in 1498 by Columbus, who christened it La Isla de la Trinidad, for the Holy Trinity. It took until 1592 for the Spanish to establish their first settlement, San Jose, just east of the present-day capital of Port of Spain. Over the next two centuries unsuccessful attempts were made by Spanish colonizers to establish tobacco and cacao plantations but crop failures and a lack of support from Spain left the island only lightly settled. As a result, the British took the islands from the Spanish in 1797. Slavery was abolished in the1830s prompting the British to import thousands of indentured workers, mostly from India, to work in the cane fields and service the colony. The indentured labor system remained in place for over 100 years. Tobago was also sighted by Columbus and claimed by the Spanish but there were no attempts to colonize it. During the 17th century, Tobago changed hands numerous times as the English, French, Dutch and even Courlanders (present-day Latvians!) wrestled for control. In 1704 it was declared a neutral territory, which left room for pirates to use the island as a base for raiding ships in the Eastern Caribbean. The British returned to establish a colonial administration on Tobago in 1763. In 1889 the British made Tobago, which previously had its own independent legislature, a ward of neighboring Trinidad. The British granted universal suffrage in 1946 and took measures to institute self-government. Independence eventually came in 1962.
100 Dollars - 19
KM-37 - 6,21 g - 26,5 mm
Edge
- Reeded
Mintage - 400
The obverse of the NCLT "coin" features the nation's coat of arms with the name REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO with the date 1981 at the bottom and 500/1000 FINE GOLD and the Franklin Mint mintmark above the date. The reverse has a hummingbird and flower with the denomination 100 DOLLARS below. A legend 1975 - 5th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE -1981 to the right.
TUNISIA
From Phoenician settlements begun in about 1000 BC, including Carthage, the region known today as Tunisia has figured in Mediterranean history ever since. The Romans, followed by the Vandals and the Byzantines, all desired Tunisia. Islam spread here in the seventh century and led to the country's emergence as an important Islamic center. In 1574, the Ottomans made Tunisia part of their empire, ruling from Constantinople. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881 and by the 20th century, nationalist movements began to surface. Their activities subsided during World War II, when Allied and Axis powers fought here, but resumed after the war. By the 1950s, it was clear that French control was coming to an end and independence was declared in 1956. Habib Bourguiba's New Constitution party took control of the government in 1957; he himself was named president for life in 1959. He was overthrown, however, in 1987. His former minister for the interior, Zine el-Abidine ben Ali declare himself head of state.
20 Francs - 1310AH (1892)
KM-227 - 6,45 g
Mintage
- 0,937M
This coin was minted at the Paris mint for the French Protectorate of Tunisia. The obverse has the toughra for Ali IV ibn Husain Bey (b1917-d1902) with the date 1309 AH inside a leaved wreath. The reverse has the Protectorate's name, denomination, date, and mint mark A with privy marks within a circle surrounded by scrollwork with a star at the top.
TURKEY
Turkey's first known human inhabitants appeared in the Mediterranean region as early as 7500 BC. The first great civilisation was that of the Hittites. The Hittites dominated Anatolia from the Middle Bronze Age (1900-1600 BC), clashing with Egypt under the great Ramses II and capturing Syria. A massive invasion of 'sea peoples' from Greek islands put untenable pressure on the Hittites and a jumble of smaller kingdoms played at border bending until Cyrus, emperor of Persia (550-530 BC) swept into Anatolia from the east. The Persians were booted out by Alexander the Great. After Alexander's death the Galatians (Celts) established a capital at Ankara in 279 BC. Roman rule brought relative peace and prosperity for almost three centuries, providing perfect conditions for the spread of Christianity. The Roman Empire weakened from around 250 AD until Constantine reunited it in 324. He oversaw the building of a new capital, the great city which came to be called Constantinople. Justinian (527-65) brought the eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire to its greatest strength, reconquering Italy, the Balkans, Anatolia and North Africa, but five years after his death, Muhammed was born in Mecca and the scene was set for one of history's most astounding tales. Sixty years after Mohammed heard the voice of God, and 50 years after his ignominious flight from Mecca, the armies of Islam were threatening the walls of Constantinople (669-78), having conquered everything and everybody from there to Mecca, plus Persia and Egypt. The Islamic dynasties which emerged after Mohammed challenged the power and status of Byzantium from this time, but the Great Seljuk Turkish Empire of the 11th century was the first to rule what is now Turkey, Iran and Iraq. The Seljuks were shaken by the Crusades and overrun by Mongol hordes, but they hung onto power until the vigorous, ambitious Ottomans came along. The Ottoman Empire began as the banding together of late 13th century Turkish warriors fleeing the Mongols. By 1453 the Ottomans under Mehmet the Conqueror were strong enough to take Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire's began in 1585. By the 19th century, decline and misrule made ethnic nationalism very appealing. The subject peoples of the Ottoman Empire revolted, often with the direct encouragement and assistance of European powers. After bitter fighting in 1832, the Kingdom of Greece was formed; the Serbs, Bulgarians, Rumanians, Albanians, Armenians and Arabs would all seek independence soon after. After WW I, Ottoman general Mustafa Kemal organised resistance, sure that a new government must seize the fate of Turkey for the Turkish people. When Greece invaded Smyrna and began pushing east, the Turks were shocked then galvanised into action. The War of Independence lasted 1920-22, ending in a bitterly won Turkish victory and the abolition of the sultanate. Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk or Father Turk) undertook the job of completely remaking Turkish society. By the time he died in 1938, a constitution had been adopted. Constantinople became Istanbul. Atatürk's successor, Ismet Inönü managed a precarious neutrality in WWII, then oversaw Turkey through the transition to a true democracy.
100 Kurush - 1293AH Yr 31 (1906)
KM-730 - 7,22 g
This coin was minted at the Constantinople mint. The obverse features the toughra of Sultan Abd al-Hamid II (b1844-d1918), the Ottoman Turkish ruler from 1876-1909 within a wreath with two torches at the bottom and a half circle of stars. He was deposed by his brother during the liberal young Turk revolution of 1909. To the right of the toughra is the Turkish inscription in Arabic alphabet al-Ghazi (fighter of infidels). Below the toughra is the regnal year (31). The reverse has a Turkish inscription, the mint name (Qustantiniyah), and the Sultan's accession date (1293 AH).
There are more Tunisian gold coins in this section if you are interested - Page Turkey 1
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