These are perfectly uncirculated, you could cut your finger on the edges.
A couple of 19th century Mexican Pieces of Eight,
despite the ruddy color, this second one is indeed silver, it weighs 26.9 grams.
Some little 20th century Spanish silver,
my first coin with the fifth portrait of Alfonso XIII.
Now some coppers, building my collection of Swiss rappen coins,
The 1946 is of course zinc rather than copper. I don't like zinc coins but I am somewhat obsessive about date sets once started, so I'm resigned.
Finally, received in change at a coffee shop on the way home from the show,
Not a scarce date by any measure, but pretty high grade, with some red luster.
Lovely coins, especially those silver 8 reales! Looks like a pretty successful coin show overall!
Here is another silver crown-sized coin to add to this month’s thread.
This one is a British ‘Wreath’ Crown from 1927. These crowns were struck in limited numbers according to demand, and were intended to be purchased late in the year as Christmas gifts. These were minted from between 1927 and 1936, with 1934 being by far the lowest mintage at only 932 pieces. These are typically found in high states of preservation as they were not intended for circulation, with an EF-aUNC being typical of this type, and uncirculated being relatively common.
It is quite difficult to see due to the atypical and extreme wear, but this one was struck in 1927. (Can only really make out a part of a ‘7’ if held in the light a certain way). 1927 was the year with the highest mintage for this type, at a total of 15,030 examples struck — with the entirety of this mintage being struck as proofs. (15,000 making their way into the 1927 KGV proof set for the year). The obverse in particular does display some proof characteristics (quite well struck) including what I believe to be some remaining cameo/mirror — although this could equally be just from old cleaning.
This is the first I have of this type and although it is quite a worn example because I couldn’t justify spending the 100s of extra $$$ on a nicer one, I am very pleased with it!
I too have found some silver this month, although most of it is a bit mangled or worn. Delighted with the 1929 Dutch 1 Guilder though which is in surprisingly good condition (love the seahorse mint mark), as well as the 1958 Canadian 25 cents despite the wear…
Lovely coins, especially those silver 8 reales! Looks like a pretty successful coin show overall!
Here is another silver crown-sized coin to add to this month’s thread.
This one is a British ‘Wreath’ Crown from 1927. These crowns were struck in limited numbers according to demand, and were intended to be purchased late in the year as Christmas gifts. These were minted from between 1927 and 1936, with 1934 being by far the lowest mintage at only 932 pieces. These are typically found in high states of preservation as they were not intended for circulation, with an EF-aUNC being typical of this type, and uncirculated being relatively common.
It is quite difficult to see due to the atypical and extreme wear, but this one was struck in 1927. (Can only really make out a part of a ‘7’ if held in the light a certain way). 1927 was the year with the highest mintage for this type, at a total of 15,030 examples struck — with the entirety of this mintage being struck as proofs. (15,000 making their way into the 1927 KGV proof set for the year). The obverse in particular does display some proof characteristics (quite well struck) including what I believe to be some remaining cameo/mirror — although this could equally be just from old cleaning.
This is the first I have of this type and although it is quite a worn example because I couldn’t justify spending the 100s of extra $$$ on a nicer one, I am very pleased with it!
Oh wow! Thats amazing, it must have been a pocket piece. These wreath crowns are rare, yet 99% of them are found in EF or better shape.
I honestly thought my 2nd 1927 coin, was one of the worst - but next to yours its pretty good. Yours would be a Fair 2
I bought it last year for $100, thinking this would be the nastiest and I grade it around F12 or high Very Good in British grading. Ironically the average 50% silver English coin of this era, is around this VG - Fine grade.
I also have one in Proof condition, which could be no worse than the highest AU, but likely a toned Proof 61 or 62
Ironically all the 1927 Crowns were Proof ones, only so some fool went out and spent these Proof coins to turn them into the 2 stunners we have at the top!
I also have a 1929 coin, which was a standard business strike like all of the 1928 - 1934 and 1936 coins (1935 was the common silver jubilee Rocking Horse crown).
This one is EF and has some light wear (Check tops of thistles and acorns). Apparently they minted these coins as Christmas Presents and given it was the Depression, they were big flops, hence now why they are valuable. The average late 20s, early 30s halfcrown was 10 - 25 million pieces, these were a few thousand. They were legal tender too - hence why someone who got it as gift in rich and swinging 1927 or 1928 could spend it for an apple or some soup in less swinging 1932.
Got my Canadian half dollar set I won in the Auction, it has a super rare 1948 coin and a 1947 Maple Leaf, will show them soon!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Oh wow! Thats amazing, it must have been a pocket piece. These wreath crowns are rare, yet 99% of them are found in EF or better shape.
I honestly thought my 2nd 1927 coin, was one of the worst - but next to yours its pretty good. Yours would be a Fair 2
I bought it last year for $100, thinking this would be the nastiest and I grade it around F12 or high Very Good in British grading. Ironically the average 50% silver English coin of this era, is around this VG - Fine grade.
I also have one in Proof condition, which could be no worse than the highest AU, but likely a toned Proof 61 or 62
Ironically all the 1927 Crowns were Proof ones, only so some fool went out and spent these Proof coins to turn them into the 2 stunners we have at the top!
I also have a 1929 coin, which was a standard business strike like all of the 1928 - 1934 and 1936 coins (1935 was the common silver jubilee Rocking Horse crown).
This one is EF and has some light wear (Check tops of thistles and acorns). Apparently they minted these coins as Christmas Presents and given it was the Depression, they were big flops, hence now why they are valuable. The average late 20s, early 30s halfcrown was 10 - 25 million pieces, these were a few thousand. They were legal tender too - hence why someone who got it as gift in rich and swinging 1927 or 1928 could spend it for an apple or some soup in less swinging 1932.
Got my Canadian half dollar set I won in the Auction, it has a super rare 1948 coin and a 1947 Maple Leaf, will show them soon!
Thanks! And yeah, I was thinking a pocket piece as well. The reverse has got practically no design left at all — and George isn’t too far off being worn flat.
You would have to be insane to break up a proof set, but as you said during the Depression, you would do what you had to do.
There is actually quite a big market for ‘lowball’ coins in the US in particular, especially for coins in P01 grades. I have seen certain modern coins that are common in mint state actually sell for more in P01 than in MS69 or MS70 due to how unusually worn it is for the specific type.
Your 1927 proof crown is great, I remember you showing it in an additions thread a while back from a 1927 proof set you purchased, if I remember correctly. I’ve got a couple of 1902 and 1911 proofs, but this one is the only British 1927 proof coin i own. Although it certainly doesn’t look like one!
Got quite a few additions myself. Some of which I've been looking forward to getting for a long time!
First, some new banknotes (+ some vouchers).
Some banknotes from Aachen (Germany), the Comoros Islands, Israel, Suriname, Tartarstan, 1930s Soviet Russia, occupied Japan and Serbia, specimens from North Korea and matching serial notes from Jersey. In addition are a pair of coupons from well known fraudster Sergei Mavrodi, and a £1 coupon from the tiny island of Herm.
Next are my new coins (+ tokens).
Highlights include a cash from the reign of Dong Jhuo, a George II sixpence, coins from three kings of Fiji, German 5 euro coin showcasing the Subpolar regions, 50 cents from the Cook Islands, 1 dollar commemorating Newfoundland and 2 dollars with the Northern lights and some transit tokens all from Canada, a 1981 proof set from Jersey, and a doubles tournois from Louis XIII of France.
And last but not least, a PAXS Type 1 penny from around the end of the reign of William the Conqueror (possibly also his son William II, but that's not as cool lol).
It has a crack and the legend isn't super readable, but I'm super happy with it regardless! 😊
I finally gave in and opened up a sealed mint box of Tonga Ive had a long time. Im suprised many of them have micro nicks? Must not have been perfect examples, Id say most of them are UNC60 or 62 with slight nicks.
How can that happen, they were from mint? I thought they would be MS68 to 70?
!anyways I took them out in a series as I opened them, fun to look at this way.
I finally gave in and opened up a sealed mint box of Tonga Ive had a long time. Im suprised many of them have micro nicks? Must not have been perfect examples, Id say most of them are UNC60 or 62 with slight nicks.
How can that happen, they were from mint? I thought they would be MS68 to 70?
!anyways I took them out in a series as I opened them, fun to look at this way.
It was two sets !
That’s an amazing set! I’ve never seen any coins from Tonga, so I think they’re quite interesting
Did you know that Pluto is still a planet in Illinois and New Mexico and has de facto recognition as a planet in Arizona?
I finally gave in and opened up a sealed mint box of Tonga Ive had a long time. Im suprised many of them have micro nicks? Must not have been perfect examples, Id say most of them are UNC60 or 62 with slight nicks.
How can that happen, they were from mint? I thought they would be MS68 to 70?
!anyways I took them out in a series as I opened them, fun to look at this way.
It was two sets !
Nice group, I have many Tongan coins, but none with original packaging!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Some housecleaning today. Found the following: Top: US $50 (San Francisco, 1990). Exchanged in face value with HKD. Glad I don't have to hunt for it now! Bottom: Bank of China $20 and $100 (both 2006). Filler years. Now if I can make a move on that $500 I've been eyeing up for a while and which is selling at $780 last I checked.
"Life is all about being too wrapped up in the now to care about the future. When the future becomes the past, you start to regret what you've done."
Yet another 1976 Olympic coin which I obtained well below bullion value (C$50 vs. C$70). The coin looks a lot better in hand than in the photos. Interestingly, all coins of series VII (as well as all the previous series except the first) were in capsules. It looks like quite a few people broke the capsules open, as with this one.
I think this is Constantine II as Caesar. The legend, however, seems to be incomplete for lack of space, and clumsily engraved. I suspect this is a so-called barbarian imitation.
At first I thought it was a “no FPN” but the prefix doesn't fit, and the front plate number (just above the ribbon on the far left) is there but very very faint. It's usually much clearer, even if very tiny.
I think this is Constantine II as Caesar. The legend, however, seems to be incomplete for lack of space, and clumsily engraved. I suspect this is a so-called barbarian imitation.
Nice coin.
Definitely a barbarian imitation, the portrait looks off.
And thanks for the compliment Hibernia.
I only took photos of the highlights.
With the siglos also came a 20th century italian silver.
And with the amber also came a few cheap fossils I ordered too:
That Maundy set is beautiful and the original box - great work. Love all the Roman stuff as well and the Babrbarous impersonation. And whoever was mentioning Devonian and Miocene fossils - just astounding!
KS5331 Productions - you just reminded me of my latest rare buy and for this note, glad we only have one bank to buy notes off!
Its a $100 NZ note, but this one is rare, its a Series 3 1967 - 1977. Just 500,000 were issued and this is number 477137 - normally our notes are worth more according to prefix, but only Prefix G was used for this series. These are rarer than the Series 4, in which is 3,500,000 issued. They were Fleming (1967) and Knight (1975). This is a latter one. You seldom saw them then and now likely less than 100 of these notes survive, this is quite worn (Not sure of grade as I don't have it yet) Looks Fine in picture.
To give you an idea of how rare these are, they issued 200 million of the $20 notes in the same period, so thats 400 of them per 1 of these. Average wages around 1975 were $100 or so, but who wants their whole wage paid as one note? if you have bills to pay.
The $50 was not issued until 1983, so there are no series 3 $50 notes. Most people would have got $20s and $10s in their paypackets and NZ was very equal before the Neoliberal wave of the 1980s and 1990s, so even most high ranking white collar jobs may have got $250 a week in 1975 and then paid 40% as tax, whereas a Labourer got $85 but paid only 10% tax.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
It was two sets !It was two sets !
