As the millennium ends coin collectors may want be look forward to coins beginning with the digits "20." It should also be a time to reflect on what has happened in the past thousand years, identify some of the most popular and some of the most significant coins of this period.

Everybody has their own ideas regarding what constitutes the most significant coins. Those presented here were chosen by the author, not by a panel. Readers will undoubtedly have their own pet coins for their own "short list."

Here is the second half of my "Top 100 World & Ancient Coins of the last Millennium", starting with #100 and working up to #51. The list of the top 50 will appear in an upcoming edition of Coin Insider.

(100) The final "coin" is a curiosity, an item many would like to own but few would have room to store. This is the undated 1709 stone money of Givai, the ruler of the island of Yap in the Pacific Ocean. This huge odd and curious money item is a late bridge between primitive and modern societies. It is sought after by collectors, but is difficult to store considering its huge size. Make it Number 100 on the "Top 100" listing.

(99)The 1813 "dump" of the 1813 Holey dolar of Australia, an emergency issue made by punching the center from a Spanish colonial American 8-reales coin to make two separate coins. The Australians valued each of these byproducts sufficiently highly enough that they totaled more than the coin from which they were made!

(98) The impressive "Workers of the World Unite" 1924 Soviet silver 1 ruble must be included.

(97) The Italian 1861 5 lire of Victor Emmanuel II is important to collectors not only as a rare coin, but because it is the first coin of Italian unification. Just as with Germany, Italy was one of the last countries in Europe to unite its medieval states.

(96) The 1588 dated doppia of Filippo II struck at Milan also comes to mind. This rare coin, often selling for several thousand dollars, was struck in the year the Spanish Armada was defeated by the English navy.

(95) Austria's 1908 Franz Joseph I 100 corona is another outstanding coin for the "Top 100." This gold coin marks the 60th anniversary of the reign of the emperor. The reverse depicts the classic "Lady in the Clouds" design.

(94) In 1259 the final silver bezants of the Latin Kingdom were struck at Jerusalem by the crusaders just before they were kicked out by the followers of Islam. By this time the Byzantine Empire made a recovery, but it is the bezant that belongs in the "Top 100."

(93) Hungary's denier of Stefan I struck about 1000 is a good place to start. This is the first coin of the first ruler of the modern state. This coin is always in demand by collectors of medieval coinage.

(92) Also in demand, but for a different reason is the common Cook Islands 1972 dollar, a coin depicting Queen Elizabeth II looking rather stately on the obverse, but with a naked fertility god letting "it all hang out" on the reverse.

(91) Perhaps it is much more common, but the Palestine 1927 100-mils coin makes the list as the first coin for what would become Israel and the surrounding states.

(90) Another coin that deserves mention is the Sudan 1885 20 ghirsh of revolutionary leader al-Mahdi. The coin is rare and is a grim remembrance of to what religious fanaticism can lead.

(89) The last coin of the Oceania region to make the list is the rare New Zealand 1935 Waitangi crown, a desirable coin marking an 1840 treaty with the local natives that always brings good prices when offered.

(88)(87)(86) Three issues of Hawaii are worthy of the "Top 100." These are the 1837 Ladd & Company plantation tokens issued by some of the first white settlers on the islands, the handsome and expensive 1883 dollar of King Kalakaua I and the fantastic 1893 gold 20-dala pattern of Queen Liliuokalanai.

(85) A final coin of Asia to include is the Japan 1875 bocki-gin trade dollar coin, an ill-fated attempt at an international trade coin when Japanese trade reached out to the rest of the world.

(84) Another coin of India of note is the infamous 1911 "pig" rupee of George V. The coin is not rare, but had to be withdrawn because the design of an elephant appeared to look more like a pig, offending some sects of people living in India.

(83)(82) A rare Russia 1825 pattern ruble of Constantine I, and the commemorative 1913 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty 1 ruble also belong in this group.

(81) The massive and very expensive Poland 1621 gold 100 ducat of Sigismund I also is worthy of mention.

(80) Eastern Europe makes the list also. A rare undated 1025 denier of Boleslaw I of Poland is desirable as the first coin with the legend "Polonia."

(79) Italy shouldn't be forgotten. Three coins come to mind. The first is the undated 1284 gold ducat, the first year the coin was struck at the city-state of Venice.

(78) The 1579 Netherlands daalder marking the union of Holland, Gelderland, Zeeland and Utrecht after the overthrow of the Spanish government is another piece that fits well with the Leyden issue.

(77) The former Spanish possession of Uruguay is included due to the rare 1844 1-peso coins overstruck on other crown size coins. One rare specimen was overstruck on an early U.S. silver dollar. Others may exist.

(76) A second Spanish coin for the list is the ominous 1555 Sao Vicente gold coins marking the introduction of the Inquisition.

(75) Mexico re-enters the world arena of "Top 100" coins with the 1732 8 reales, a coin struck with a collar making it round and better looking. This is the first truly machined coin of Mexico. Very popular.

(74)(73)(72) There are several other interesting and rare Mexican coins also deserving of mention. These are the 1811 silver 8 reale of Don Jose Morelos struck to finance a revolution, the 1866 20 pesos of Maximillian I as emperor of Mexico and the very rare revolutionary 1916 60 pesos of Oaxaca overstruck on a gold 8-escudos coin.

(71) When speaking of early modern German multiple talers the 1664 3 taler of Brunswick-Neu Luneburg-Celle is typically recognized as the prime example. This coin is large enough to be mistaken for a small dinner plate. At 72 millimeters with a weight of 86.69 grams of silver this is quite a coin. These typically sell for about $3,000 in Very Fine.

(70) The German 1873 1 pfennig should also be included because it symbolizes the unification of the German Empire and its coinage. This is not expensive, just historical.

(69) Another Austrian coin of the same period should be considered, the massive 1509 double show taler of Maximilian I struck in silver.

(68, 67) Two coins of the French Revolution made the list. These are the 1791 Constitutional coinage made from church bell base metal and the 1792 ecu constitutionel issue of Louis XVI, generally considered to be the first real coinage of Revolutionary France.

(66)A 1670-A French Colonial American double de l'Amerique Francoise meant for use in French Canada is unique. This desirable coin was auctioned for more than $85,000 in the 1996 Norweb Collection sale of Canadian coins. It is very appropriate to the "Top 100."

(65) The list includes a significant number of British coins. The 1859 Victoria "Ansell" sovereign is a rarity struck from Australian gold that proved to be unsuitable for coinage. Ironic, considering the extent of Australia's gold rush.

(64) The 1729-EIC George II 5 guinea is a classic, a coin struck with gold supplied by the East India Company. The EIC initials appear below the bust on the obverse.

(63) A fascinating and rare French coin to include is the undated 1296 masse d'or gold coin of Philip IV, known as "le roi faux-monnayeur" for his officially sanctioned counterfeit coinage.

(62) Perhaps history will prove the 1999 Princess Diana memorial crown shouldn't belong on such a list, but at the moment emotions still run high over the untimely loss of this popular person. The British coin struck in her remembrance makes the list for this reason.

(61) There are some other really neat coins of the United Kingdom on the "Top 100" listing for a combination of reasons including their popularity with collectors, their collector value and historical significance. Matthew Boulton's famous "Cartwheel" penny of 1797 is very popular with collectors, yet not unobtainable considering its price. Boulton was a very famous private minter whose innovations changed the appearance of modern coins.

(60) The 1649 Cromwell Commonwealth crown is modestly rare and always of interest. The die for the obverse quickly developed a crack that appears at Cromwell's neck. Some people believed this indicated a bad omen for the Commonwealth. This proved to be true. Soon after Cromwell's death the royal family returned to power.

(59) The 1558 issue (undated) gold "fine" sovereign of Elizabeth I is also desirable not only for its rarity and because it is generally considered to be the most beautiful coin every struck by Britain.

(58) (57) (56) Several of the "Top 100" coins of the millennium are from Canada, all chosen for historical reasons rather than for their collector values. All federal coinage dated 1858 can be lumped together as one for this list. Canada was more than a half century behind the United States in issuing its first federal coinage. Canada was not a single nation until this time. This issue is very significant for this reason. Canada's 1943 to 1945 5-cent coins made from metals other than nickel due to the emergency situation of World War II may not be world class rarities, but for historic reasons they'll make the "Top 100." These can get to be expensive in high grade. Finally, an interesting and rare coin to include is the so-called Diving Goose error silver dollar, a coin with a die rotation that according to the Royal Canadian Mint had to be a fabrication done illegally by Mint workers. Most specimens have seen seized.

(55) Both a rarity and popular coin is the Canada 1948 George VI dollar, the key date for the Voyageur silver dollar set. Perhaps it isn't expensive by U.S. coin standards, but averaging $1,000 in Uncirculated its still a nice coin to purchase. chosen for historical reasons rather than for their collector values. All federal coinage dated 1858 can be lumped together as one for this list. Canada was more than a half century behind the United States in issuing its first federal coinage. Canada was not a single nation until this time. This issue is very significant for this reason.

(54) Its current and inexpensive, but Canada's 1997 Elizabeth II/polar bear ringed bimetal $2 caused quite a sensation when it hit circulation in the U.S. neighbor to the north. Maybe one of these days the U.S. will join Canada by issuing such a coin. Incidentally, the nickname to this issue is "The queen with the bear behind."

(53) This is followed by the 1382 initial silver dirhem coin issues of the Golden Horde following the Mongol invasions of Russia, another coin with more historical value than intrinsic value to collectors but deserving of mention.

(52) The final papal coins issued at Avignon in France in 1410 also deserve mention. The papacy was embroiled in a political mess by this time. There was more than one pope, each claiming to be the descendant of St. Peter. The closing of the papacy in France, bringing it back to Italy, was an important step in uniting the Catholic Church.

(51)The Dark Ages are considered to be mysterious by many. For that reason what more logical coin could be added to this list than the undated 1436 denier coinage of Vlad Dracul struck in Wallachia. Vlad Dracul was the father of Vlad Teppes, remembered to history as Dracula. Coinage of the father is incredibly rare but doesn't bring high prices due to a lack of demand. There are no coins of the son.

The millennium has been eventful. There are coins to be collected because of their historic interest, their beauty, their rarity and their great value. Some of each have been included here. None of us will be around to see the next millennium, but it would be fun to be able to look ahead and see what is yet to come.

(For the top half of the list, including the #1 coin of the Millennium, see these pages next week.)

Richard Giedroyc is a numismatic writer, researcher, auction cataloger and coin dealer. He has been in the hobby and business most of his life, now having more than three decades experience in this fascinating hobby field. During this time Giedroyc has been the owner of Paris Bergman Galleries, owner of Classical Coin Newsletter, international editor of Coin World and owner of Giedroyc-Anderson Interesting World Coins. He is currently a numismatic consultant. He has written more than 2,000 byline numismatic stories and contributed to several coin catalogs.

Richard Giedroyc is a numismatic writer, researcher, auction cataloger and coin dealer. He has been in the hobby and business most of his life, now having more than three decades’ experience in this fascinating hobby field. During this time Giedroyc has been the owner of Paris Bergman Galleries, owner of Classical Coin Newsletter, international editor of Coin World and owner of Giedroyc-Anderson Interesting World Coins. He is currently a numismatic consultant. He has written more than 2,000 byline numismatic stories and contributed to several coin catalogs.

Reverse of 1927 Palestine 100-mils (#91)

Canadian 1858 penny (first year Canadian coins were minted) (#56)