Old Sails: Defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588.

This is one of my favorite jettons.
   It is a broad, thin piece (only 6g) that is fully struck and nicely centered. This one was obviously cared for and passed from collector to collector. I feel lucky to have it, even though it is a common design. But of course, all Spanish Armada jettons are popular, so get them when you can.
   For the ship lover, this one is hard to beat as it features two sixteenth century warships in the heat of battle. The engraving is crisp and balanced. The high fore- and aft-castles are detailed and accurately depict the distinctive form of the mighty galleons.
   The ship on the right is on the offensive, cannons firing with smoke billowing out. It is on a starboard tack, broadside facing the enemy vessel. The other ship has taken evasive action with sails oddly reversed, bow nearly into the wind. What a great action shot!
   We can only guess which ship is the Spanish one.

   Nearly 150 ships left Lisbon at the end of May of 1588 to invade England. They entered the English channel in July after struggling against foul winds and harsh waves. The English launched a series of attacks, but they were careful not to get close enough for the Spanish to board. As such, the English strategy was long-range cannon fire.
   When the Spanish anchored, several fireships were sent out and eventually the Spanish fleet retreated in August by sailing north around Scotland. Tragically, many of the galleons were sunk in the raging seas. It was a devastating blow to the Spanish fleet. The heavy losses were interpreted as an act of God.
   The legend on the jetton summarizes this saga: VENIT + IVIT + FVIT. This translates to: "It came; it went away; it came to nothing." The caption beneath the ships reads: CLASSIS-HISP; this labels the ships as coming from Spain.
   The obverse legend (not shown) has the familiar phrase: GLORIA SOLI DEO or Glory to God Alone. This underscores the belief that God's hand was responsible for the loss of the Spanish fleet.
   I imagine that this jetton was quite popular in its time. It was a significant event that was widely known. An invasion was foiled by nature. What a storyline. Now, four-hundred plus years later, this piece is in my hands (for a while anyway); I find it quite amazing to ponder.

Blank Canvas Collecting

So many collectors get caught on the train. Or, they stick to the super-highway.
   They ride the rails. They hug the big road. They watch the rest of the world whoosh by without ever taking a side road.
   This is the world of set collecting. And, there is nothing wrong with set collecting (I have done it -- although I have never finished a set).
   Set collecting stems from the early days when coins could be found in circulation and coin boards were widely available. What a great pastime it was in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s.

Use you imagination! Coin collectors can learn from these boys.
Create a unique set that tells your story. And have fun!

   The coin board had it all. The limits of the collection were well-defined. The rare ones were clearly marked -- sometimes, the hole was already filled with a cardboard filler labeled "rare." Your progress was immediately evident by counting the number of unfilled holes. All told, your future was laid out in front of you.
   The coin board or folder was a masterstroke. But ... .
   In some odd way, it all reminds me of growing up in a neatly manicured suburban neighborhood. Every house, the same; all yards squared with geometric precision. Tidy.
   How comforting.
   Many numismatic writers have made a living suggesting different versions of this suburban theme. Collect Lincolns! Collect all the Buffalos. Now, I like Lincolns and Buffalos.

But do I need them all? Do I want the coin board to shape the next few years of my life?
   And let me be a bit radical here: Was it really a good idea to prompt collectors to get one of each YEAR AND MINT? Was this really a ground-breaking insight? Of course, I only have praise for Augustus Heaton and his 17 points of light. But personally, I think a collection from a single mint is more interesting. And, more relevant. Think about it.
   Alas, most collectors are completists. It is a psychological thing I guess.
   So, why not complete a set of your own design? Why not start with a (coin) board where you punch the holes?
   A blank canvas. That is what I suggest. Complete this instead. Fill in the white space.
   Let collecting become a creative act wherein each coin is chosen to tell a larger story -- a story larger and more exciting than a canned set that someone else thought of.
   Use your imagination to tell a story with coins!