This unique fountain has origins date back to ancient Roman times, when it served as the terminal point of the aqueduct Aqua Virgo – which. translates as Virgins Water, deriving from an old Roman legend, which states that a young maiden told a group of Roman soldiers about the source of the water.

They told Emperor Augustus. who immediately ordered an aqueduct be built – 22 kilometer long – specifically lead the water to his thermal baths, scenes from this legend dominating the the upper level of the fountain  in bas-relief. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the fountain fell into a ruinous state,  out of action for almost a 1,000 years, before Pope Nicholas V in 1453 ordered its restoration, after which the name was changed to  the Aqua Vergine aqueduct.

It was during this restoration that the Pope ensured the Roman custom of the endpoint of an aqueduct being a fountain was maintained, insisting that a small, simple basin be built as the terminal point. It was during the reign of Pope Urban VIII that the fountain was thought not dramatic enough, so that famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini was about to become involved when the Pope died and changes were put off.

Planning began again, 100 years later, for a new fountain on the site, under Roman architect Nicola Salvi. Inspired by the sketches left by Bernini, he took 30 years to finish the fountain before it stood completed in year 1762, becoming known then as the Trevi fountain, not only the  largest Baroque fountain in Rome, but highly regarded as the most beautiful one in the old city. 

Perhaps one of most striking features of this fountains is the fact that it stands a massive 25 m tall by 20 m wide, built in a small square that makes the size even more imposing to the onlooker. Theme of the fountain is both the taming of, and the power thundering water, tumbling over rocks and petrified vegetation, in what some call the greatest show you can ever look at it.  

Dominated by a several large statues, central to the fountain is the Roman god of the water and the seas, Neptune – also known as Poseidon in Greek mythology – standing in a large shell chariot, pulled by two sea horses, one of which is calm and submissive, the other is impatient and restless, symbolizing the fluctuating moods of the oceans.

The horses are guided by tritons, mermaid-like creatures forming the marine divinities escort of Greek mythology, adding add symbolic meaning to the fountain – the contrast in mood and poses – as well as providing symmetrical balance.

Any visitor will see lots of coins, stemming from the tradition of throwing a coin into the fountain to ensured a future return to Rome, one modern slice of folklore saying that throwing two coins into the water leads to new romance, while three ensure either marriage or divorce. Sources estimate that 3,000 coins get thrown in daily, collected each morning and donated to charity. The Trevi Fountain is much more than just a fountain – a fantastic work of baroque art, regarded as a true jewel of water and stone, and a hugely popular tourist destination.

Fat Tuesday, Good Friday 2012, Mardi Gras 2012, Miercoles De Ceniza, Shrove Tuesday 2012 Fat Tuesday, Good Friday 2012, Mardi Gras 2012, Miercoles De Ceniza, Shrove Tuesday 2012 Fat Tuesday, Good Friday 2012, Mardi Gras 2012, Miercoles De Ceniza, Shrove Tuesday 2012 Fat Tuesday, Good Friday 2012, Mardi Gras 2012, Miercoles De Ceniza, Shrove Tuesday 2012 Fat Tuesday, Good Friday 2012, Mardi Gras 2012, Miercoles De Ceniza, Shrove Tuesday 2012 Fat Tuesday, Good Friday 2012, Mardi Gras 2012, Miercoles De Ceniza, Shrove Tuesday 2012

The food frenzy also offers a final opportunity to indulge in rich, fatty favorites before Ash Wednesday and Lent.

There are people that don’t do any thing like that.

Can you imagine being part of a team knocking down an old house, only to be treated to a golden shower as your crow-bar bites into the ceiling of the room you are in? A French champagne producer literally did hit gold in this way, when workers making repairs on his property, to an old building, brought a shower of US coins that had been carefully hidden away in the rafters of the room.

Head of the Alexandre Bonnet champagne-producing firm Francois Lange described the treasure trove consisting of 497 $20 face-value gold coins minted between 1851 and 1928 and worth about $1million today. Half of the find will go the workers, half to the owner in what has to be the luckiest of finds, the treasure building a former grape-drying facility belonging to somebody trading in the 1930s with the USA.

In another twist on questionable toy releases, Mattel have announced the William and Kate wedding Barbies, the royal pair shown with Kate wearing that Alexander McQueen designed lace white dress and William wearing his red Irish Guards uniform, of course.

Aimed at adult collectors, this royal pair will be on sale from April to coincide with the  first anniversary of the couple,  and can be pre-ordered now on Amazon for £99.99, or around $150.

Going back to being lucky, 36 year-old Ludovic Masciave was driving through his car through the French Alps – the Arly Gorge in fact -when he found the roof of his car caving in of him as a TWENTY ton rock crashed down on it.

This unfortunate man, astonishingly, survived the impact, taken to the local hospital to recover. He recalls driving slowly at 40 – 50 km per hour when a sudden, terrible shock brought the vehicle to a jarring halt upon which he immediately lost consciousness. How he escaped from the vehicle alive, the entire vehicle crushed beneath that rock, beggars belief, the car so damaged that rescue workers couldn’t even tell what kind of car it was, his injuries including flattened lungs and several broken ribs.

Another odd claim is that of a British excavation, saying they struck gold by discovering a site that may solve the mystery of where the legendary, biblical Queen of Sheba got her fabled treasure some three millennia ago. Sheba of those times spanned what today is Ethiopia and Yemen, giving vast quantities of gold to King Solomon.

The team have unearthed an huge ancient goldmine, the ruins of a temple and the site of a battlefield in what was this ancient land, headed by Louise Schofield, archaeologist and former British Museum curator.

They found a 20ft stone slab, carved with a Sheba-style sun and crescent moon, beneath the stone an inscription in Sabaean, the language of the Queen of Sheba. Nearby found parts of a buried temple apparently dedicated to main Sheba deity moon god, was found.

Sheba, a thousand year-long 8th century BC civilisation that prospered, their queen immortalised in both bible and Qur’an, her image standing for divine wisdom in Turkish and Persian paintings, as well in medieval Christian mystical works.

A full excavation will soon be underway, but initial tests by the gold prospector who first brought her attention to the mine show that it is extremely large, and very possibly might turn out to be in reality the King Solomon’s Mine of legend.

I inquired as to what she was doing.  She stated she was looking for some buried treasure.  She said, “you know, like the pirates have.”  So I asked her if the treasure was like a new pink dress.  She said yes enthusiastically.  It was obvious to me that she had no idea what buried treasure was.

To me, treasure is the freedom to live with the person you care dearly for.  Of course they aren’t buried.  But no one, hopefully, would want to steal my treasure.  Dogs have the perfect buried treasure in a bone.  We once owned a dog that would bury her bones for later enjoyment.  If you were watching her out the window when she was burying a bone, she would dig it back up and move it.  It was no wonder there were paths of dirt all around the fence edge of the backyard.  At least you knew where you could safely walk.  And we probably lost at least two lawnmowers in that backyard due to hitting bones with the blade.

Traditional buried treasure brings to mind old coins and pile of precious jewels.  Modern day pirates are certainly not likely to score such a good haul.  I believe most everyone’s life is full of treasure if you know where to look.  Treasure is in the eye of the beholder, Do you know your treasure and where it is?

Papakonstantinou predicts that real incomes would fall heavily for years to come if the Drachma was reintroduced. A decline of 50, 6O, even 80 per cent in paid wages would be the consequence, he estimates. Unemployment would rise to 30 to 40 per cent. The cost for the economy in an exit scenario would be simply enormous.

His estimates are the exact opposite of what the independent financial research institute ifo published recently. Munich based ifo is of the opinion that only the Drachma may save Greece’s economy. And they came up with the date of Christmas as the only viable solution for such a move.  Over Christmas, banks are closed for three days and it would be possible to close the borders, the airports, and the railway links to prohibit Euro exports at the last minute. But Christmas is a long way off, and the government must be seen promoting the opposite scenario.

ifo is also of the opinion that it would take at least three days to print and distribute the new Drachma notes and coins. But there is another solution to this problem. Greece is in talks with Switzerland over a tax treaty similar to the ones concluded between Switzerland and the United Kingdom and Germany. This means that the right people to organise a few odds and end are already in Switzerland on legitimate business anyhow.

Orell Füssli in Zürich is one of the world leading companies for printing secure bank notes. With just a bit of encouragement from the Swiss government, they would be able and willing to provide Greece with a new currency, design and all included. It would be even easier to order the federal mint Swissmint to do the coins. This would save days and bring the problem down to distribution, but with no traffic in the air, everything could be flown in within hours of the announcement.

The tax treaty with Switzerland is a very big issue for the Greek government. Bankrupt Greece has a huge problem with tax evasion and always had. A large portion of the fugitive money is stashed Switzerland; estimates as to how much there might be are divergent. Swiss authorities published an estimate of 30 billion Euros; German MEP Martin Schulz (SPD) mentioned an amount of 200 billion Euros during an interview. The truth will be found somewhere in between.

Giorgos Papakonstantinou doesn’t know the amount; he just called it a lot of money. This is one reason why Greece is pressing for a conclusion of a treaty; tax income from that money will help to balance the budget in the future. Greece wants the treaty finalised before the end of the year, which is near enough to Christmas. A part of that treaty could see Greek Euro assets frozen in Switzerland on Christmas and re-emerging as Greek Drachma assets after that date. The Euros would help the state’s currency reserves greatly as the Drachma may be expected to plummet after its launch.

The former Finance Minister is of the opinion that many people in Europe have not realised the deprivations the Greek people are already suffering from the first cuts. Salary cuts for government employees see state personnel 40 per cent worse off than two years ago. Because of the higher taxes introduced at the same time, the available income has been halved. I dare say we really don’t see the deprivations. After Greece introduced the Euro, it went and augmented the salaries to German standards almost within months. This is called living above your means. To earn salaries as the Germans do, you have to work like a German. If you don’t, then you haven’t earned it. I can’t see much deprivation in that.

Sources and further reading:
Giorgos Papakonstantinou Interview on Swiss Television
ifo-Chef Sinn rät Griechenland: “Zurück zur Drachme”; in German
Orell Füssli – Homepage
Swissmint – Homepage
ifo – Homepage

Out of the corner of my eye stood an electronic display that was modeled in the form of a children’s arcade machine, labeled as the “Penny Arcade”. The monitor attached featured a cartoon character named Penny that guided the user through a system of inserting coins into a slot as they were automatically counted by the electronic algorithm within.

I had some spare change in my pocket and wanted to take my mind off the frustration of the waiting process, so I had a go with it. I took $0.48 worth of coinage and stuck it in the machine. I used the touchscreen to follow along with the instructions in counting my money.

The process took about 3 minutes to complete from insertion to printing of my receipt. But I was let down when the balance recorded was only $0.43, seeing that I had given this machine more than what was calculated. In fact, I had a loss of 1.04% as per the money I exchanged for a piece of paper.

Maybe the missing money was used for the electricity to power the machine or the ink and paper that it outputted. But in any case, what if my deposit was a larger sum of loose coins?

When I brought the piece of paper along with my work check to be deposited into my personal checking account, I kindly asked for a receipt and some paper rolls for my coins at home. The teller explained I could use the Penny Arcade. I replied I was unhappy with it. She chuckled, as she replied: “we hear that a lot.”

Kind of sinister if you ask me. Especially that the target audience of the byproduct is geared towards the monetary possession of children.

I wondered whose hands touch these coins before they landed on my scrap box. The truth is that, I just saw some of these coins on the ruins of our old house. Some were given by a college classmate and others are from my mother’s old wooden luggage. Some of them are just the same worth but different shape, design and size. All just prove that coins do change. Coins do evolve…lol…

The 1970’s Piso or Php1.00 coin or one peso coin is about 1 inch in diameter. There is an engraved image of the Philippine National hero Jose Rizal in one side and a logo of the Republic of the Philippines in the other side. I had two of these coins and they were dated 1974 and 1972. Years when both my mother and father were on their early 20’s. In the late 1980’s, the Piso coin was changed. It was a little bit smaller than the 1970’s Piso coin. Rizal was still on the other side but that time, the logo was removed and was replaced with an engraved image of the Philippine’s national animal which is Carabao. I had two of these coins and they were dated 1987 and 1989. In the mid 1990’s, it changed again a little smaller but with the same design. I have one dated 1994 and in 2000, the Piso coin evolved and again. A little bigger than the mid 1990’s but a little bit smaller than the 1980’s coin. Until now, it’s the used Piso coin in the Philippines.

The two Piso coins or Php2.00 no longer exist nowadays but I’m lucky to have kept one old Two Peso coin. This coin is a 10-sided shape and about ¾ inch in diameter. It has an engraved image of a coconut with its scientific name on one side and an engrave image of Andres Bonifacio in the other side. (There wasn’t a three peso coin before so we used to joke around that a three peso coin has an engraved image of a carabao tied to coconut tree… lol) My two peso coin was dated 1989. Two peso coins were produced along with the 1980 one peso coin and they were replaced and vanished on the mid 1990’s which is the reason why I only experienced them as my allowance for the first three years of my grade school years.

The only five peso I have grown up with was a bill. A green paper bill with a picture of Emilio Aguinaldo which is one of the bills I’m looking for now for a collection.  It was on the early 2000’s that it just disappeared and was replaced by a coin. I never even thought there was actually an old five peso coin until my college classmate gave this to me. (Actually, I asked him to give it to me as souvenir…he refused at first but I was crazy…) The old five peso coin is a bit smaller than the five peso coin today. It has an engraved image of a flower I’m not that sure if it’s Sampaguita but it has a scientific name below Pterocarpus Indicus and there was an engraved image of Emilio Aguinaldo on the other side. My old five peso coin was dated 1991.

Aside from two peso coin, other coins that have totally disappeared now are the 50 centavo coin and the 1 centavo coin. I was in my early grade school years when I got hold of fifty cents. Canteen snack were so cheap back then that I always had 50 cents on my bag’s pocket. It has a size just the same with the old five peso coin. It has an engraved image of an eagle with a scientific name under Pithecophaga Jefferyl on one side and an engraved image of Marcelo H. Del Pilar on the other side.(Now who said you can’t learn science and history at the same time with coins?) I have four 50 cents dated 1989, 1983 and 1984. Years when my older brothers and sisters were still toddlers.

The 1 centavo was a bronze one and small. It has an engraved image of a man looking at Mayon Volcano on one side and a logo of the Philippine Republic on the other side. The one I keep now was dated 1962. In 1980’s, the 1 centavo coin changed. It turned smaller and its shape was square with rounded corners. It has an engrave image of Lapu-lapu on one side and the logo of Banko Sentral nang Pilipinas on the other side. In the 1990’s it totally vanished. The one I keep now was dated 1982.

I’m not that sure but 25 centavo coin is one of the coins that have undergone a lot of changes. In the 1960’s, 25 centavo coin has an engraved image of a woman with a long curly hair. In her background was Mayon Volcano. On the other side was the logo of the Republic of the Philippines. The one I keep now was dated 1966. In the 80, 25 cents were changed into smaller sizes. It has an engraved image of Juan Luna on one side and a logo of Banko Sentral nang Pilipinas at the other side. I have two of these and they were dated 1982 and 1981. It was only in the 90’s when they changed it to a smaller one showing only the number 25 on the front and RP logo on the other side.

5 and 10 cents have been into some evolution as well. In 1970’s the 10 centavo coin has an engraved image of Francisco Baltazar  on one side and BSP logo on the other side. The one I keep was dated 1979. It was on the late 80’s and early 90’s that it changed into a smaller silver coin with an engraved image of a Milkfish on the front with s scientific name Pandaka Pygmaca and Francisco Baltazar’s engrave image on the other side. I have one dated 1994. Later on 1990’s, it evolved again, smaller and bronze with number 10 on the front and RP logo on the back. Until now, this bronze 10 cents are still being used anywhere in the Philippines. Five centavo coin had been into evolution too. Back in the  late 1980 and early 90’s the 5 centavo coin is a small one with an engraved image of Melchora Aquino on one side and an engraved image of an orchid on the other  side with a scientific name Vanda Sanderiana. I have two dated 1987 and 1990. Later on 1990’s together with the change of 1 peso and 10 centavo coin, 5 centavo coin changed smaller. It even has a hole in the middle that makes it look like a washer.

1.       Middleton received the same engagement ring Prince William’s father gave to Princess Diana
2.       The engagement ring an 18 carat white gold with 12 carat oval sapphire and 14 round diamonds
3.       The Royal Mint has produced a £5 coin to mark the engagement of the couple
4.       The Royal Australian Mint has also issued collectable coins to mark the couple’s engagement
5.       The Royal Canadian Mint is also set to produce some coins to that effect
6.       The Canadian post is also set to issue stamps in commemoration of the royal wedding
7.       The Royal Wedding is been faced with several threats from some terror groups
8.       A British militant Muslim said Anjem Choudary has cautioned that a terrorist attack is most likely 
9.       “Muslims Against Crusades”, a group has announced a demonstration at the wedding
10.   Security agencies are considering several tough measure to prevent any disorder

Prince William

Take a look in your wallet. You may find a colored Poppy coin from 2004. If so, you’re holding a piece of history because it is the first colored circulation coin in the world!

It took a while for people to get used to it. In fact, it was mistaken as a spy coin. When American defense contractors first saw the poppy coin in 2007, they examined the coin’s security features and incorrectly concluded that the protective coating was being used to hide a surveillance device!”

at http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/learn/kids-and-teachers-1000008 (yes I know they spelled defense incorrectly)

I hate to inform the US that Canada really doesn’t care to spy on them. Everything they do can be found on the news or on the web. As Canadians we have much better things to do with our time and energy.

Also I refuse to call someone from the US an American. Technically, anyone from Canada or the US is an American as we all live in North America! I think for the most part USers or United Statians works better!

OK done my ranting for now

In Canada (particularly when compared to the United States) coins can really pile up to huge amounts of money, as Canadians use a $1 and $2 coin in place of bills. Other nations who use coins to represent larger amounts of money also have the same occurrence.

photo source

People seem reluctant to count up their coin and use it. Rather most people empty their pockets, or wallets, of their coin and it accumulates in a dish somewhere at home.

I encourage people to look at this money in a new way. Use it to do something good for yourself and your local economy.

Count up your coin. If necessary roll up pennies and coin that adds up to larger amounts. You can either take this coin to the bank to be exchanged for cash or keep it as loose change.

Look around your local area for a way to spend the money specifically supporting local business, ideally one that sells local produce. I have a local Ice Cream / Sandwich shop nearby, they are not a chain and are locally owned, they get their ice cream from a local dairy, get their bread from a local bakery, and they employ local people (lots in the summer). When I shop there I know most of my money stays in the local economy, it doesn’t go to far away head offices or to purchase goods from other countries.

Ideas on Where to Spend your Cash to Aid your Local Economy

• Locally Owned (not chains) Restaurants, Bakeries, etc.
• Locally Owned Stores that sell Local Produce
• Locally Owned Business that are well staffed
• Thrift Stores that support Local Charities
• Farmers Markets
• Locally Owned Services (spa, dog walker, housekeeper)

The key is to avoid chains because a large portion of the money spent at chain stores leaves the area. Avoid businesses that sell products from other areas. This includes restaurants that do not use local produce (all chains have their food come from their warehouses located elsewhere).

If everyone took a few minutes to dig up their piles of coins they could not only help their local economy but have some spending it too.  Go for Ice Cream!

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