Leprosarium Coinage

I'm curious as to why the coins from the leper colonies of Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Panama and the Philippines are not considered in the same way as the coins from the Venezuelan leper colonies. The coins from Maracaibo, Cabo Blanco and Isla de Providencia are categorized as a Venezuelan Province and also a country according to Numista's country list.

They are not considered a country but a currency.
The only difference is that they are within Venez Provinces rather than Venez itself. Other countries don't have sections as the "provinces".
The treatment is not that different.

Let me ask the question this way, why are Venezuelan leper colonies listed under Venezuelan Provinces to begin with. What makes Venezuela special and why aren't leper colonies listed under provinces of the other countries.

Also, if If you enter a Venezuelan leper coin through a Venezuelan Provinces page, it will be added as a new country to your total.

That should change in the near future. (Lepper colony should not be counted as a new country.)

They are not countries but currencies.
Other countries than Venez do not have provinces.
Maybe should they go as Venez general rather than provinces. That would solve the problem.

Cita: "Jarcek"​That should change in the near future. (Lepper colony should not be counted as a new country.)

​I don't care one way or the other but your going to upset a lot of the people that sought those coins out for a new country. Either way I agree the leprosarium coinage should be treated evenly for each country that has some.

Matt

Cita: "Myeackle"​

Cita: "Jarcek"​That should change in the near future. (Lepper colony should not be counted as a new country.)

​​I don't care one way or the other but your going to upset a lot of the people that sought those coins out for a new country. Either way I agree the leprosarium coinage should be treated evenly for each country that has some.
​
​Matt

​Upsetting people who bought a coin merely to increase their country count should not be a factor in the decision in the slightest. I've often thought that this 300 Club obsession runs counter to sound numismatic values.

Uniformity would be nice of course, even at the expense of geographic and historical accuracy. Consider the nature of the subject matter - Leper Colonies were established as a genuinely humane attempt to allow those afflicted to live out their lives in a productive, comfortable and accepting mini society. Their whole purpose (from the perspective of the unaffected majority) was that they would be separate and isolated from the mainland. They used a distinct currency which had no official value beyond their borders, so much so that it was necessary for governments to offer a one time exchange rate when the colonies began to close in the mid 20th century. I reckon they are as "independent" as say the Isle of Man and Channel Islands. (I believe these should be merged into the UK, but that's a different discussion)

As far as I know I'm the only Numista member who actively collects these oddities so I most definitely have a dog in the fight. However it won't affect my personal collection in the slightest whatever is decided, it merely means I'd have to look in a different place for the information. I'm quite happy to have the Venezuelan Provinces remain and for new "countries" such as Cullion Island appear, it would make it easier to manage my growing LC collection. However I understand it's a minority interest and it makes more sense, from the cataloging viewpoint to merge them into the mainland. If we can merge a major period / regime like the 3rd Reich into a Germany 1871-1945 amalgam, then what's a few lepers matter eh? I'm just grateful they weren't condemned to the Tokens / Exo~ Ghetto. Either option works for me really.

So on balance, and despite instinctively being with the "merge" wing of numismatics I'd list them separately. It would be nice to say "let the refs decide" but in common with many others, I'm very suspicious that "country count" pop collecting in recent years has been given more importance than actual numismatic principles.

Ok, lets just add 2 cents, or 2 Reales if we go back a bit to the province time

Before venezuela was liberated by Simon Bolivar, there were 7 (8) Provinces (Not all provinces had coins as per what I can see), and each one of them did have currency. that's the reason why venezuelan flag had 7 stars and now 8... but that's another story.

Those leper colonies happen to be within those areas, but at a different time (during the republic) so they should be just moved to Venezuela

For those seeking to get a new country count one of the Real coins should be the way to go... or are you guys planning to move all provinces to Venezuela? if so, what's your plan with argentina then?