The 1951 film "The Tales of Hoffmann" is a filmed operetta with ballet sequences. It is set in late 1700's or early 1800's Nuremberg, Bavaria and based on stories by the German writer E. T. A. Hoffmann. Hoffmann is seeing a ballerina who plans to join him at a pub after her performance. While waiting, Hoffmann offers to tell the patrons the stories of his three previous girlfriends. The first story is "Olympia" where Hoffmann encounters a dollmaker and his "living doll". At the beginning of the film the ballerina hands a note to her servant. A wealthy man offers the servant gold coins for the note which he accepts. The coins appear to be prop coins. Later a friend accompanies Hoffmann to a doll shop where she pays three gold ducats for pair of spectacles. The large imitation coins are shown in close-up.

A theater program sits next to a tray of coins.

The coins also appear to be prop coins. Stella, a ballerina, is appearing in a ballet, "The Enchangted Dragonfly". Andreas, Stella's servant, is handed a note to deliver.

The note is from Stella to Hoffmann.

The note reads "I love thee Hoffmann - S" Lindorf, a wealthy man who desires Stella, offers Andreas money for the note.

He appears to be holding a gold coin.

Andreas hands over the note while Stella dances.

The scene moves to a local pub.

Hoffmann waits for Stella. He is joined by Nicklaus, a woman who is a friend. He offers to tell the patrons the stories of his three previous loves. The first story is "Olympia". Spalanzani, a dollmaker, owns a shop. He has constructed an automaton or "living doll". He sees Hoffmann and invites him and Nicklaus to his shop.

Spalanzani offers to introduce his "daughter" Olympia to Hoffmann.

Hoffmann sees the "girl" and immediately falls in love. Coppelius, a maker of spectacles, arrives and offers a pair of "magic spectacles" to Hoffmann for three ducats.

Hoffmann is not sure what he is seeing.

Nicklaus quietly pays the money.

The coins are large imitation coins. Real gold ducats are small coins, about the size of a United States five cent coin. Hoffmann and Olympia dance together. Coppelius has lost some money in a crooked business deal and becomes angry at everyone. He arrives and begins taking the doll apart. Spac and Coppelius fight over the doll's head. Hoffmann removes the magic spectacles and leaves with Nicholas.

Hoffmann tells two more stories, "Giulietta" and "Antonia", neither of which feature coins or items of numismatic interest.

Stella finally arrives at the pub and finds Hoffmann drunk.

Lindorf appears and offers assistance.

Robert Rounseville as Hoffmann
Moira Shearer as Stella, Beauty, and Olympia
Pamela Brown as Nicklaus
Robert Helpmann as Lindorf and Coppelius
Grahame Clifford as Spalanzani
Philip Leaver as Andreas
Directors: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger
Writers: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, Dennis Arundell, Jules Barbier
Based on stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann