Friday the 13th: A New Beginning for Your Collection?

The idea that the number 13 is unlucky dates back several centuries, depending on the culture. There’s even a term for having a fear of the number: triskaidekaphobia – a good word to have at the ready should you ever find yourself in a spelling bee! In more recent times, Friday the 13th has taken on a celebratory meaning, with tattoo shops offering special pricing on the day and, of course, the wide availability of the movie franchise immortalized in coin form below.

The words “iconic” and “legendary” feel like they are used a lot to describe things that have simply stayed in the forefront of popular culture for a while, but it’s pretty hard to argue that Jason Voorhees’ hockey mask doesn’t rise to that level. The Friday the 13th franchise was already four movies deep and had enjoyed its “Final Chapter” by the time I was born, and several more years would go by before I watched a single second of a “Jason movie.” However, I guarantee that I and most of my peers knew exactly who that mask belonged to growing up, even if we didn’t realize he didn’t wear it until the third movie. As with most 1980s horror movies, the fun doesn’t stop with just one though. Fans of the Nightmare on Elm Street series can also add a 2022 Niue $2 coin to their collection. Perhaps a two-coin Freddy vs. Jason registry set could be in order?

Slasher movies not your thing? There are still creative and different ways to add a “lucky 13” to your numismatic collection. For instance, the coin above combines a lot of different interests that we run into with collectors being both a world coin depicting Queen Victoria and having the odd denomination, at least by today’s standards, of “one thirteenth of a shilling.” And there’s the appeal for residents or historians of the U.S. state of New Jersey and its connection to the small island nation. For 1871, the mintage is listed as just 160,000 pieces and offers a modest auction record of $59.

There are always other traditional ways to add the number 13 to your coin cabinet, such as collecting by date, which could open up a literal world of options. For those who might want to celebrate their favorite horror movie franchise with a more historical piece, the medal above commemorating the purchase of Manhattan, which by many accounts was completed for the equivalent of $24, might be something to track down.