Silver from the Tropical Cook Islands in the South Pacific

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Today is turning out to be a little busier than intended, but welcome to life I suppose. At least it's a beautiful, sunny day here in Orange County which is why I'm so hesitant to move away. It really is hard to beat the weather!

I've been meaning to share a coin for some time now, it's really an interesting one but at the same time just a bit odd. It comes from the beautiful Cook Islands in the South Pacific. A place I have not had the opportunity to visit, but from the pictures I've seen it is high on my bucket list! The reason I've always found the coin odd is that it has a Spanish conquistador that was involved in Mexico, not the Pacific Ocean.

It is pretty though, have a look:

About the coin


From numista.com

This is a nice coin that was produced by the Franklin Mint in Wawa, Pennsylvania. This was part of the Great Explorer Series that the Cook Islands released in 1988, which were all really beautiful coins. At first it made no sense to me that the islands would have Hernando Cortés on a coin. Especially since he never ventured into the Pacific, but the rest of the series celebrated explorers who did sail the Pacific and Polynesian Islands.

This isn't the most valuable coin in the world, with a silver value of $28.71, but might sell for a couple dollars more to a collector. I just thought it was a cool coin when I bought it, but at a much cheaper price back when silver was inexpensive! I have discussed Cortés in post in the past on a Mexican coin, I'll give a quick recap of how things went down as he conquered the Aztecs.

Hernando Cortés


Public domain

Born in Spain to a family of lesser nobility in 1485, he decided to seek his fortune and glory in the new world. Upon his arrival to Hispaniola he made a good impression and participated in conquests there and in Cuba. Upon arrival in Cuba he quickly gained in wealth and power as assistant to the governor. But he wanted more...

He was given the opportunity to explore Central Mexico for the Spanish Crown. He had no military leadership experience whatsoever, but it didn't stop him. Once he arrived in 1519 he quickly allied himself with indigenous groups to help him defeat others indigenous tribes and soon built a large army with many indigenous fighters.

In August of that year they marched into Tenochtitlán, modern day Mexico City. They received a non hostile welcome, as Aztec ruler Moctezuma II felt they could better learn their weaknesses and more easily destroy them later. In the end it didn't go so well as Moctezuma II became a puppet ruler for Cortés.

Cortés was called to battle against another Spanish commander opposing him. After winning the battle he returned to conquer Tenochtitlán, Moctezuma II had lost control and was killed by his own people. Instead of fighting urban warfare they slowly starved out blocks by cutting off supplies and water. Then destroying them block by block taking the city by 1520. This cemented his place in history as one of the most successful conquistadors as he destroyed the Aztec Empire.

What is always downplayed is the massive genocide to accomplish his goals. But the victor writes the history books...

That will wrap up my post for this Thursday, I hope you enjoyed the coin and brief history. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below, and as always thank you for all of your support. It's genuinely greatly appreciated! Have a great day everyone!

References:

https://en.numista.com/71026

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hern%C3%A1n_Cort%C3%A9s

Disclaimer

I am not a financial planner and this isn't financial advice. Please always do your own research before investing your money. You worked hard enough to earn it!

Pictures are mine unless otherwise stated.

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45 comments
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Nice pretty piece there sir!

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Thanks! This is an older one I've had for a very long time. Too bad it's not worth more, but it has a great design!

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It's worth what it's worth, lol. That's why I stack for weight because I really wouldn't know how to value coins any other way as far as if I am getting ripped off on premium or not for a pretty or 'rare' piece.

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These coins are harder because they are sterling silver rather than pure, and you need to weigh them to know how much silver you are buying! By the Troy ounce is easier!

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Ah yeah, I don't really mess with sterling much at all unless it's in jewelry.

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I'm not sure why, but Franklin Mint made all of their coins in sterling. I still find it bizarre, but that's how they operated. They made beautiful coins and bars though! Too bad they gave up the precious metals part of the business.

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I think there are more Cooks Island coins than any other place other then Germany.

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They must make a lot of revenue through their silver and gold coin program. I can't imagine the islands get much any other revenue apart from tourism. Germany does produce a lot of coins don't they?

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(Edited)

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Come get MOONed!

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With a $50 Face Value, I was hoping it would be a 5 Ounce Coin…

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Sadly, just a small silver coin of sterling with a large denomination...
!BBH
!PIZZA

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(Edited)

!PIMP !LADY !ALIVE !PIZZA !BBH

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I don't think this is a piece I would want to own with such a vile fellow on it. Sure, he was probably just following orders. What a brutal time in history that must have been.

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It really would have sucked to live back then, the world was a far more violent and bigoted place than even today. All of the conquistadors and explorers may have discovered the unknown, but at a huge price to the indigenous inhabitants. Ironically, Cortez took Moctezuma's widow as a mistress and had children with her. There were Spanish nobles for generations with the last name Moctezuma believe it or not!

The world certainly had different values from ours, and all of the evils done in the name of religion were horrendous. Too bad they continue to happen today...

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Wow, yeah, it's no wonder the sense of entitlement is still so alive and well today. We had some pretty hefty influences in the past to learn it from!

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(Edited)

The “Great explore series” sounds interesting!😊
I checked with ChatGPT, and AI said that they were 25 silver rounds in this series!😊
I’m sure every round is just as nice! 👍😊

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They are all nice looking coins, I think I may have one or two more but haven't thought about them in years. Once securely stored I tend to forget about some items purchased in years long past! Or maybe it's the dementia kicking in! lol

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lol….🤣😇
That makes it all the more exciting when you discover a coin or a round that you have forgotten all about, it’s like buying it all over again!😇🤗

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But the victor writes the history books...

I guess it is what happening all aroudn the world, as what we learn now might not as the true event in the past.

He might be considered a succesful man, but for the Aztec I believe they will curse him as a monster. Always the two side of the story on each event.
!PIZZA !LUV !LOLZ

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Exactly, that is what is often forgotten in history. The Moctezuma name did live on however, as Cortes took his widow as a mistress had children with her. There were Spanish nobility with the last name Moctezuma for many, many years. I think there may still even be some living in Spain today!
!BBH
!PIZZA
!LUV

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Cortes was certainly a man who was ambitious as he was ruthless.
He makes Captain Bartholomew look like a gentleman.
!PIMP

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It's scary what driving ambition can do to a person. It can make them paranoid and obsessive, and extremely ruthless. We have great examples today like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Zuckerberg... They may not use the sword anymore but are just as cruel. Cortés was particularly brutal in his ambition and made many other cruel men seem like choir boys. But they justified it all in the name of religion... A sad theme that has prevailed throughout human history and even today...
!PIMP

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What does Franklin Mint do now, @thebighigg , do you know? I think I have a Yorkie 14K pendant and chain, I'm not quite sure, but I think it was made by Franklin Mint!
!BBH
!LADY
!PIZZA

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I think they got out of the precious metal business completely @silversaver888 . I thought they just were a gift supply company nowadays. That pendant may have come back before they closed down their precious metals division, it must have become unprofitable at some point.
!BBH
!LADY
!PIZZA

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I have a Yorkie chocolate bar, does that count 🤣

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At least it's a beautiful, sunny day here in Orange County

You won't be surprised to know that I duly cursed you long and loud as I am sitting here with the heating on and waiting for the height of storm amy to pass!

I too would love to visit the Cook Islands, they look gorgeous. Just as long as no ghost of Cortes running around anywhere on the way.

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No surprise whatsoever with a storm raging over there! lol

I would love to see them too, I doubt any ghosts of Cortez would be there though. He never traveled to the Pacific and died in Spain of old age. The Cook Islands were always independent until the French took Tahiti, they then decided to ally themselves with the UK to prevent the French from trying to take over their island too!

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Ah those pesky French, I presume they were renamed to Cook Islands once that happened.

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It's an interesting coin. Imagine that life. Living on a ship with a bunch of stinky dudes, ship sailing is an extremely physical job. Ive been watching a series on famous pirates and sailors from back then it was a crazy time to be alive in the carribean!

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