Welcome to the last month of 2023. Its already 2pm on Dec 1 here in New Zealand!
Lets start this month with some ubiquitous British and Kommonwealth klassics. It all arrived this morning, but I bought it at the end of November.
Look at this high grade 1937 Dollar of Canada. Its basically UNC and has a mint fresh frost to it. Its easily the best of all my 1930s Canadian dollars. I am really happy with it.
1708 British 6d of Queen Anne, not a bad piece - Fine even wear. This was quite cheap and my first 6d of hers. Of all the denominations, my 6d collection has really increased this year with 17th and 18th century examples.
1743 2d silver coin, this likely a standard one rather than Maundy as its quite worn. Still a great little coin though. Easily VF
And 1766 with George III. I always love gettinge arly George III as its quite scarce. This may be a Maundy coin that slipped out or not. Either way it has hardly any wear (EF or a bit better) and may have been put aside early on.
More tuppences - now we have an 1844 Victoria piece and this definitely was a Maundy proof coin - notice the mirror fields and toning, yet its got light wear (EF+ and some toning). I like this piece as the portrait seems too small for it and likely the same size as the penny coin. Bear in mind Maundy Tuppences are some 14mm (17/18 century) and 13mm (19/20 century) in size.
Final Maundy piece, this time a penny and again this one is in that EF area, meaning a few grubby fingered individuals handled it or it did enter circulation briefly (Strange as by 1873, the bun penny onslaught was well and truly underway). Large photos taken by dealer bely the fact this coin is 1cm in size!
I seem to buy and attract a lot of Maundy oddments, but complete sets are rare, still I love these coins!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Very nice coins as always, Moneytane! I love those maundy pieces, that twopence looks amazing. I love the dark toning on it.
Here is my first coin addition for this month: an Indian Bengal Presidency Shah Alam II Rupee. This coin has some nice, subtle rainbow toning on both sides.
This coin was one of the original coins included in the 1800 Proclamation of Australia. To keep coins circulating within the colony, the value of these coins were inflated, and by having their values in excess of that prevailing outside, these coins were retained within the country. This Indian rupee was given a value of two shilling & sixpence. (Two and six). I am hoping to complete the entire proclamation coin series, (excluding gold issues) as my next coin ‘project’. I look forward to seeing what other coins are added onto this thread this month! Maybe some cool Christmas additions.
Very nice coins as always, Moneytane! I love those maundy pieces, that twopence looks amazing. I love the dark toning on it.
Here is my first coin addition for this month: an Indian Bengal Presidency Shah Alam II Rupee. This coin has some nice, subtle rainbow toning on both sides.
This coin was one of the original coins included in the 1800 Proclamation of Australia. To keep coins circulating within the colony, the value of these coins were inflated, and by having their values in excess of that prevailing outside, these coins were retained within the country. This Indian rupee was given a value of two shilling & sixpence. (Two and six). I am hoping to complete the entire proclamation coin series, (excluding gold issues) as my next coin ‘project’. I look forward to seeing what other coins are added onto this thread this month! Maybe some cool Christmas additions.
Very nice. I picked up some Bengal, madras and Bombay presidency rupees myself in the last couple months, although I must admit, I’m unsure what they have to do with the “proclamation of Australia”.
not quite what I normally show in this kind of thread, however i was sorting through all of my Republic india proof sets. I’ve lost count how many I have now since they first started regularly issuing in 1969. It took quite a few trips between Bombay and Toronto to finally bring them over to Canada, along with the rest of my global collection. Now just have to bring over some 6500 duplicate Indian coins for swaps which not many on this side of the world are interested in . Oh well, life !
Welcome to the last month of 2023. Its already 2pm on Dec 1 here in New Zealand!
Lets start this month with some ubiquitous British and Kommonwealth klassics. It all arrived this morning, but I bought it at the end of November.
Look at this high grade 1937 Dollar of Canada. Its basically UNC and has a mint fresh frost to it. Its easily the best of all my 1930s Canadian dollars. I am really happy with it.
1708 British 6d of Queen Anne, not a bad piece - Fine even wear. This was quite cheap and my first 6d of hers. Of all the denominations, my 6d collection has really increased this year with 17th and 18th century examples.
1743 2d silver coin, this likely a standard one rather than Maundy as its quite worn. Still a great little coin though. Easily VF
And 1766 with George III. I always love gettinge arly George III as its quite scarce. This may be a Maundy coin that slipped out or not. Either way it has hardly any wear (EF or a bit better) and may have been put aside early on.
More tuppences - now we have an 1844 Victoria piece and this definitely was a Maundy proof coin - notice the mirror fields and toning, yet its got light wear (EF+ and some toning). I like this piece as the portrait seems too small for it and likely the same size as the penny coin. Bear in mind Maundy Tuppences are some 14mm (17/18 century) and 13mm (19/20 century) in size.
Final Maundy piece, this time a penny and again this one is in that EF area, meaning a few grubby fingered individuals handled it or it did enter circulation briefly (Strange as by 1873, the bun penny onslaught was well and truly underway). Large photos taken by dealer bely the fact this coin is 1cm in size!
I seem to buy and attract a lot of Maundy oddments, but complete sets are rare, still I love these coins!
Love the Canadian dollar! 👍
Hi to whoever is reading this. Did you know that TYPEWRITER (on a QWERTY keyboard) is the longest word you can type using only the letters on one row of the keyboard.
Thanks I love it too, really fresh coin - have to go to my 60s Canuck dollars before I get anything nearly as nice looking.
Forgot to show these, enjoy them as my next post here will be all the latest Australian Bubblegum coins my Australian friend sent me.
Another borderline UNC G6 coin of UK, this is a 6d and has a bit too much noise on the cheek and hair above ear to be fully UNC, its beginning that steep slope into wear (Slider UNC/AU58 for you Americans). Again, it seems to be so much easier to get UNC UK coins of this era than NZ. This cost me $25, to get a 1945 NZ 6d, $25 would get me gVF.
And a 1948 Scottish design shilling. This is the real deal UNC coin, notice that noise on the cheek and hair seems gone and you have the frosted UNC feel, despite the fact this is cupronickel. I use dealer photos here as they take better photos than me (You will see that when I have the bubblegum up).
And a florin - again this is UNC and looks sharp - yet lustre is a bit dull, more a postwar austerity thing, 1948 was a bleak time in the UK and the these coins sum up the joyless feel of the times. This means I pretty much have an endless parade of AU - UNC Florins from 1936 to 1953 excusing 1940 and 1941 now. Early cupronickel coins seldom turn up in AU/UNC due to lack of interest, heavy use and the fact that getting perfectly acceptable VF ones costs next to nothing, so why splurge money on higher grade ones, when you can invest in an old classic coin instead. Well I seem to be attracting 1947 and 1948 high grade pieces like a magnet at the moment!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
As promised some Australian bubblegum coins for you. This is a term used to describe nonsensical issues that will unlikely gain value. Any coloured $2 coin dealing with sports or defunct TV characters and foods only known in Australia and parts of New Zealand will never gain much value, whereas Anzac and war issues or anything political may.
A 2019 dated $1 alphabet coin (Z) actually showed some bubblegum, although a 2014 Aussie coin board, some referred to these coins by that name then.
Australian bubblegum coins are a weakness of mine, although most collectors of them are on the verge of giving them up! Here we have the 3 Vegemite coins released through Woolworths, which is responsible for most of the bubblegum type issues. The other 3 $2 coloured ring coins are based on the Soccer world cup in which the Aussies got to the semis and New Zealand failed to make it past round 1 winning just one game and losing the others (Rugby rules in NZ, soccer is considered a “gay/wanky” type game for upper class and Euro types).
The $1 also show the Matildas
The other 10 dollars above are the “Big Things” issue which show giant bananas, dogs etc you find in Aussie towns. This was more collectible bubblegum and sold above FV unless scouted in change. They have a gimmick of 1 coin being coloured in 10 to sell more sets and folders. I am very grateful my Australian friend just sends them to me!
I turned down the 20 coin AFL dollar set which featured 2 coins showing trophies for general public and 18 more which were NCLT only, mainly as I hate rugby like all competitive sport with a passion, being overweight, puny, autistic and unco all in one.
The last photo shows 3 coins I really care about and want - 1972 50 cents, 2011 10 cents (Rare) and 2000 $1 (Rare) but not the mule.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Hi to whoever is reading this. Did you know that TYPEWRITER (on a QWERTY keyboard) is the longest word you can type using only the letters on one row of the keyboard.
more NCLT proofs, from Israel, series Bible scenes -
A set of 1 and 2 shekelim this time. I'm not too sanguine about the obverse, a pen and ink sketch of Rembrandt's fabulous canvas. I'd prefer a relief model, which some of these do have, sculpture, rather than drawing.
A bit boring, but the price was right and no question of authenticity, and I am an inveterate silver stacker.
So this is a type of coin that many people want banished to Exonumia. It is equal to bullion, it will never be handed, ever. But it has a denomination and is guaranteed by a sovereign government, so it won't happen.
Seems like exonumia - it was non-circulating, according the catalog entry, is a privately issued trade token, not issued by a sovereign. But, it is actively collected by Collectors. No one wants to see notgeld sent to exonomia, so it won't happen.
This is a big piece 44mm, 33grams. Was gilt at one time, and is well worn, they either circulated extensively, or this was pocket piece or favorite toy. the rim had many flat spots as if it has been rolled across stone floors and down flights of stone steps.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Some more coins include a 50p Charlie coin I got for free
Design is copied off 1953 and 1960 Crowns - this one has had some slight circulation but is essentially still UNC
Now he also sent me some European coins including Euro coinage of Estonia and Lithuania!
Lithuania 2 Euros include solidairty with Ukraine, state arms and basketball in Lithuania and some weird psychodelic 2019 design (Already forgotten)
Also shown is a 100 tengy Kazakhstan coin showing a guy with some animals and a German 2 Euro coin showing a castle in Thuringa
I liked the Estonias coins, as I had none previously outside Russian Empire and Soviet Communist issues. There are 3 circulation coins from 2011 (1, 50 cents and 1 Euro) and also 6 2 Euro coins, including Solidarity with Ukraine, Wolf, Barn Swallow (National bird), Erasmus Project, National Poet and Finno Ugric people - interesting additions to my collection!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Here’s my new purchase for this month - an Australian 1923 half penny coin. Not in the best condition, but it is a harder-to-find coin in the pre-decimal series. Take note of the die cracks below the date, and running through the legend on both the obverse and reverse.
IM94 - Not bad at all, Renniks has it listed at $1150 VG and $1750 fine. Your coin despite being pitted and corroded (And possibly burned too by the looks of things), is near Fine condition.
I suspect its genuine as well, die cracks are nice. If you look at the 9 you can see a lighter patch by the left side of it, suggesting a historical cleaning before it got really corroded and pitted. Can I ask what you paid for it.
I really love that Rupee - a beautiful and historic piece!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
IM94 - Not bad at all, Renniks has it listed at $1150 VG and $1750 fine. Your coin despite being pitted and corroded (And possibly burned too by the looks of things), is near Fine condition.
I suspect its genuine as well, die cracks are nice. If you look at the 9 you can see a lighter patch by the left side of it, suggesting a historical cleaning before it got really corroded and pitted. Can I ask what you paid for it.
I really love that Rupee - a beautiful and historic piece!
Thank you very much Moneytane, I thought it might be a coin you would like!
I was also thinking it might have been burned, it does have that look to it. Or at least spent some time under the ground. I agree, I do believe it is genuine, the date has not been altered and it is certainly is an original strike, so I’m fairly confident it is.
This is my first real big half penny purchase, (besides a 1938 proof from earlier this year). I’ve only really purchased and collected pre-decimal silver coins, so all of my half pennies have come from bulks and small purchases. I was quite happy to fill this gap in the collection though; it has been a coin I have had my eyes on for a while. I paid around the $AUD300 mark, which I thought was fair.
There was one on eBay a couple of weeks ago for $A250, but it was in good, corroded, and had some bright, shiny surfaces from recent cleaning, so I decided to pass on that one. It was difficult to confirm the authenticity on it too.
I don’t think my one would be worth close to the book value due to the surfaces, but perhaps a few hundred dollars.
If you ever need any bubblegum, there is a plague of it over here in Vic, I’m happy to send some across to you. 😆
For anyone interested, the consensus is that only two dies were used for the striking of these coins, and both dies ran into difficulties with the Melbourne mint, having not struck any half pennies before, so an approximate total of only 15 thousand were struck.
I’m not sure if there is much variation between the cracking of the two dies and if therefore it is possible to determine which one was used for the striking of particular 1923 half pennies?
Thank you for sharing that Numistip link as well, I do think it is a good point of reference for those who haven’t seen it before.
In another thread, I write that today is the eve of St. Nicholas and the angel and devils and Nicholas go to give out sweets and fruit in bags to good children and in the end I am surprised myself.
I really didn't expect this and it's a surprise for me. I expected the grandchildren to get full bags, but I'm also good and play like a child, so I didn't expect it - so the surprise I got:
silver medal "golden piggy bank" The Czech Mint is the issuer
Proff , silver, 13 g, 28 mm
I didn't choose it from the capsule, so I just downloaded it from the website.:
Oh! I love the golden piglet! and cookies on the reverse.😁
I guess the marzipan pig arises from the same tradition.
My wife's family used to have one of those every year. They came from a particular aunt in Germany, and when she died, the marzipan pig tradition ended too.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Oh! I love the golden piglet! and cookies on the reverse.😁
I guess the marzipan pig arises from the same tradition.
My wife's family used to have one of those every year. They came from a particular aunt in Germany, and when she died, the marzipan pig tradition ended too.
Ahoj.
Tradition should not die - it should develop and continue - yes, it is in Europe during the Advent preparations for Christmas tradition-, but the dough is not made of marzipan, but it is gingerbread, where honey is added and that is why it smells like that (I will send the recipe if you are interested) and the decoration is also edible and there may be marzipan, but that is egg white mixed with sugar.
I gave this here for the members for this year (now I forgot to do it) and the font is also edible and it is from Roman coins - I wish for NUMIST to rule the world in the coming years:
Sweet honey gingerbread is the body of the coin - the font is confectioner's writing sugar. and snowflakes on the coin is sprinkled with powdered sugar.
On Saturday, the grandchildren painted gingerbread decorations and also a piggy bank - PF 2024 (just immortalize the photo) Honey dough smells the whole house - these are traditions-take the baton from your aunt and keep going - don't let the family happiness fall.
Ivan
I just want to apologize to everyone - this and the medals are taken out they should be in exonumiia I'm desecrating the coin thread here - forgive me
Yaudheyas: Anonymous (ca 190-340 CE) “Counterfeiters” Clay Moulds (Pieper 1662-3)
Left Obv: Incused Kartikeya standing facing, holding a spear in his right hand, with a rooster to right; Brahmi legend around Left Rev: Rough exterior of the terracotta mould
Right Obv: Incused Goddess Devasena standing slightly turned to her left with right hand extended Right Rev: Rough exterior of the terracotta mould
Some more coins include a 50p Charlie coin I got for free
Design is copied off 1953 and 1960 Crowns - this one has had some slight circulation but is essentially still UNC
Now he also sent me some European coins including Euro coinage of Estonia and Lithuania!
Lithuania 2 Euros include solidairty with Ukraine, state arms and basketball in Lithuania and some weird psychodelic 2019 design (Already forgotten)
Also shown is a 100 tengy Kazakhstan coin showing a guy with some animals and a German 2 Euro coin showing a castle in Thuringa
I liked the Estonias coins, as I had none previously outside Russian Empire and Soviet Communist issues. There are 3 circulation coins from 2011 (1, 50 cents and 1 Euro) and also 6 2 Euro coins, including Solidarity with Ukraine, Wolf, Barn Swallow (National bird), Erasmus Project, National Poet and Finno Ugric people - interesting additions to my collection!
Amazing Euro coins there Moneytane. The memorial 50p is quite an intriguing design although it’s a magnet for fingerprints, hopefully everyone will be able to find the new definitives without getting ripped off online.
Hi to whoever is reading this. Did you know that TYPEWRITER (on a QWERTY keyboard) is the longest word you can type using only the letters on one row of the keyboard.
Ordered these proof coins over the last few months, but only picking them up now.
Nice proofs! I do quite like that diamond jubilee CBI one.
Thanks, yes the CBI is not half bad, though I think I prefer the national technology day and the year of Millet’s. It’s hits and misses with the designs; the Rani Durgavati could have been so much more dynamic and nicer than what they put out.
that said, indian coins went through a phase where it were only portrait coins of mostly minor people, many of which I had never heard of, even though i grew up in India, so we are past that hill thankfully
This is my biggest purchase possibly ever. The dealer has had it for years and tried to sell this unsuccessfully for months, until me in my fully cashed up state came along. I had been looking at this beauty for ages.
That is right, this proof set craze will not go away. Its a 1911 Proof set of King George V basically. There were three sets issued and this was the cheapest of the 3. It has a catalogue value of well over £1,000 - so yeah that is saying something about the other 2.
Here's the contents and compared to the others, its a huge step up. First of all the case is proper wood, none of this cloth covered card and it was obviously lacquered with gold lettering. It has a blue erminy/velvet cushion for the coins, and you can see marks for the smaller coins where they have settled for years! It is in surprisingly good condition for something 112 years old.
There are only 8 coins as no crown (5/-) was issued in 1911. The 2 more expensive versions include one with all these coins and a gold sovereign and its half (London mint) and the most expensive one is all that and the gold £2 and £5 coins, which will bring the total up to an eye watering $35,000 - the 2 and 5 quid were very scarce and first ones minted since 1902 and only for coronations and coinage changes (The last circulation £2 coin, the only one was in 1823) and a circulation £5 was never issued - only ever proofs.
What we have is a halfcrown, florin, shilling, sixpence and a Maundy set from 1 to 4 pence. All are proofs and unlike the 1937 set - there is only one threepence and its a proof maundy one (Although the standard 3d was the same design, in 1937 it wasn't).
Condition of the coins is stunning, tails sides all show some moderate toning but no wear, but all the heads are shiny and fresh, a sign the box was not opened much and when it was, it was always the tails side showing. A sample of some of the coins.
You can clearly see, these are great and have no wear. They unlike 1927/37 and 50 have some real catalogue value (£300 for the halfcrown). Mintage was just 6,000 sets (Including the scarce and rare gold coin sets).
Some of those reverses (These will blow your socks off, even with mediocre photography)
In order - Maundy Penny, Florin, Shilling, Halfcrown and Sixpence.
Needless to say - this is just awesome and the apothesis of my dreams. This is the type of thing I have always dreamed owning!
Oh the price I paid was $2,950 NZ for the set.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Yaudheyas: Anonymous (ca 190-340 CE) “Counterfeiters” Clay Moulds (Pieper 1662-3)
Wow, really interesting.
I searched on google for an explanation of the problem - I found nothing.
I understand correctly - that it is an optically real coin into clay, which is then a fired mold and serves as a mold for casting fakes?
Ivan
There are multiple “theories”, but the normal explanation is that they are moulds used for casting fakes. There are two moulds representing the two sides. Here is an example of one type of the actual coin. Other theories cast doubt on this as these were copper coins and thus there was no need, unless the weight of the coin was lower. Similar casts are found for Roman Coins as well…
This is my biggest purchase possibly ever. The dealer has had it for years and tried to sell this unsuccessfully for months, until me in my fully cashed up state came along. I had been looking at this beauty for ages.
That's a wonderful acquisition Moneytane. I think that set has found a good home!
It has been a busy week for florins here!
This is what arrived this week, in date order:
The 1876 Gothic and 1892 Jubilee are both difficult dates, which I have long been looking for.
Yaudheyas: Anonymous (ca 190-340 CE) “Counterfeiters” Clay Moulds (Pieper 1662-3)
Wow, really interesting.
I searched on google for an explanation of the problem - I found nothing.
I understand correctly - that it is an optically real coin into clay, which is then a fired mold and serves as a mold for casting fakes?
Ivan
There are multiple “theories”, but the normal explanation is that they are moulds used for casting fakes. There are two moulds representing the two sides. Here is an example of one type of the actual coin. Other theories cast doubt on this as these were copper coins and thus there was no need, unless the weight of the coin was lower. Similar casts are found for Roman Coins as well…
Thank you for the information, I can imagine casting tin or lead there - I do it for my coin.
I'll try to dig up some gray clay in the garden in the spring - modeling clay - I'll make a coin sticker, I'll put the clay mold in the oven for baking at 300 degrees Celsius - and then I'll pour tin in there- such an attempt.
For me, it's a mold for fakes, and the metal could have been a mixed mixture - they knew how to combine it beautifully even 2000 years ago.
Thanks for the explanation and many more such miracles to find.
That's a wonderful acquisition Moneytane. I think that set has found a good home!
It has been a busy week for florins here!
This is what arrived this week, in date order:
The 1876 Gothic and 1892 Jubilee are both difficult dates, which I have long been looking for.
Those are beautiful! Any gothic in that condition is hard to find, yours are really stunning - same with 1892. I only ever saw one and bought it straight away - except it was only Fine to gFine, still cost me over $100! None are my gothics are better than gVF and thats a very common 1881!
The first two years of SA are also hard to find unless worn heavily. I have both too, but not in that condition. Most South African Florins and Halfcrowns are usually found Fine or worse and I have seen coins as late as 1941 worn down to Fair (As in American fair, not British fair). Your 23 looks better VF and the 24 is likely EF or better.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
I got this Republic of Ireland 5 Pounds with the first instance of 2nd signature (Murray & O Murchu) P-71b (dated May 18th 1976). I'm happy that it's a tougher variety & I feel I did well in the price I paid:
I got this Republic of Ireland 5 Pounds with the first instance of 2nd signature (Murray & O Murchu) P-71b (dated May 18th 1976). I'm happy that it's a tougher variety & I feel I did well in the price I paid:
Well,
It looks like a deal
How did you buy it for
Numista Referee for Coins of Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Tunisia & Kingdom of Morocco
🇧🇭🇸🇦🇹🇳🇲🇦
Here is my Christmas present to myself, my first gold coin of any note.
Its a 2004 NZ Pukaki coin, it shows an ancient carving that also appears on our 20 cent coin, except its 22ct gold (.916667 like sovereigns etc). It comes in a beautiful carved waka huia (Sacred box - treasure box).
Finished in proof condition, it weighs 40 grams and contains 5 sovereigns worth of GOLD!
So its bigger than a crown.
Its going in a safe for sure. It is my first ever gold coin besides half sovereigns. Just 300 were made and several were given to iwi (Tribal) members. It is a beautiful addition to my coin collection.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
The Batory trojaks are not so easy any more (except 1586).
I hit a couple of auctions kinda big in November and the coins are arriving now. Added these two to my theme featuring Christian saints:
Soldo of Castiglione delle Stivere, Ferdinand de Gonzaga, with St. Nazarius (still to be added to Numista):
This is probably the Nazarius whose remains were miraculously (😉) revealed to Ambrose of Milan. Not the Nazarius who was an early bishop in southern France.
Giulio of Papal States, Clement X 1672 featuring Saint Venantius:
Venantius is the patron saint of Camerino, where Clement had served as bishop before his elevation to the papacy, so the saint holds a model of the town in his left hand. According to Christian tradition, he was a 15-year old lad who was killed during the persecution of Emperor Decius around 251 A.D., but the iconography on the coin is somewhat ambiguous. Most saints shown holding a standard/banner are shown in military dress (St. Mauritius, for example), but Venantius is not.
The obverse isn't much to look at, but the reverse is what I care about. Also nice to have such a late date rendered in Roman numerals.
Wasn't really planning on getting any of these but I did put in a bid and got them at a fair price.
I collect and deal in ancient Roman coin. In case you're looking for affordable ancient coins or need any help with the coins you already have send me a message.
Colleague, it's not just a coin - it's mainly a sharing of value with an illustrative example from life, the story is part of the value that people held in their hands at that time. Today's minting of circulating coins for the population would need ,, the message that killing each other is wrong and giving a child and a heart to a person-into the palm of your hand,,
I don't how mints can get away with that, if the coin is dated 2024, it should not come out in 2023.
Then again the coin I am showing was dated 1804, but belived to have been issued right up to 1811 and even as late as 1817.
Mainly as sometimes the Spanish Dollars they were overstamped have occasionally revealed dates underneath as late as 1811
My first ever Bank Of England dollar, issued through a massive coin shortage in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These were Spanish dollars (Silver 8 reale) coins which were bought (or stolen) for 4/6 or 4/9 and reissued as 5/- coins. The first ones merely had a counterpunch of G3 on the Spanish King (Usually Carlos III or IV (1759 - 1788 and 1788 - 1807) and occasionally Ferdnando 7 (1808 - 1839) and mostly coins from Mexico and Potosi mints, values as low as ½ Reale were overstruck (6¼ cents or a little under 4d!!).
But in 1804 this new design came out and they were completely Anglicized). There are various minting and strike types but my examination of Maurice Bulls 2020 book on British silver coins, reveals this is the most common variety - A2. But its hardly common, even in this barely Fine condition, this is a $400 - $500 coin and a great addition to the collection, a tick on the coin bucket list for me. Bank Of England dollars have always fascinated me and now I have one.
The coin was always a token as it was issued when the Gold/Silver standards applied and its face value was over its melt value. Its face value increased from 5/- to 5/6 in 1811 and it was only demonitised from 1817, finally being banned in 1820. They did well overseas and part of that change was the new coinage and friendlier relations with Spain and thus they could just use Spanish coins in the colonies to as proclaimed amounts.
It was not the last time Spanish coins were mutilated, in 1813 the New South wales colony bought several thousand Spanish dollars and mutilated them, by chopping the centres out and making the centre worth 15d and the ring 5/- giving a total value of 6/3 for a coin they paid much less for. These holey dollars and plugs are much rarer than Bank of England or countremarked coins.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
After 14 years of Victorian crowns, none were issued in 1901 and only this one in 1902. This one is worn and toned (Possibly ex proof set). After 1902 they stopped issuing crowns for circulation and the next one did not appear until the New Coinage of George V in 1927. 1902 is a bit harder to find than the later Victorian coins (Jubilee and Veiled Head coins 1887 - 1900).
A nice coin for Gothic Florin, another upgrade, Uncirculated 1930 British florin, couple of Black Spots (Auckland humidity, 3 years before we had our own Florins and stopped using British ones).
More coming 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
I don't how mints can get away with that, if the coin is dated 2024, it should not come out in 2023.
Then again the coin I am showing was dated 1804, but belived to have been issued right up to 1811 and even as late as 1817.
Mainly as sometimes the Spanish Dollars they were overstamped have occasionally revealed dates underneath as late as 1811
My first ever Bank Of England dollar, issued through a massive coin shortage in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These were Spanish dollars (Silver 8 reale) coins which were bought (or stolen) for 4/6 or 4/9 and reissued as 5/- coins. The first ones merely had a counterpunch of G3 on the Spanish King (Usually Carlos III or IV (1759 - 1788 and 1788 - 1807) and occasionally Ferdnando 7 (1808 - 1839) and mostly coins from Mexico and Potosi mints, values as low as ½ Reale were overstruck (6¼ cents or a little under 4d!!).
But in 1804 this new design came out and they were completely Anglicized). There are various minting and strike types but my examination of Maurice Bulls 2020 book on British silver coins, reveals this is the most common variety - A2. But its hardly common, even in this barely Fine condition, this is a $400 - $500 coin and a great addition to the collection, a tick on the coin bucket list for me. Bank Of England dollars have always fascinated me and now I have one.
The coin was always a token as it was issued when the Gold/Silver standards applied and its face value was over its melt value. Its face value increased from 5/- to 5/6 in 1811 and it was only demonitised from 1817, finally being banned in 1820. They did well overseas and part of that change was the new coinage and friendlier relations with Spain and thus they could just use Spanish coins in the colonies to as proclaimed amounts.
It was not the last time Spanish coins were mutilated, in 1813 the New South wales colony bought several thousand Spanish dollars and mutilated them, by chopping the centres out and making the centre worth 15d and the ring 5/- giving a total value of 6/3 for a coin they paid much less for. These holey dollars and plugs are much rarer than Bank of England or countremarked coins.
As silly as it might sound, I did not realise it had 1949-2024 in the date until you pointed it out. I suppose I’m so de-sensitized that the Indian mints are prone to issuing coins many years later than what they should be, I just assumed it was 2023 or earlier. Besides that, there have been a diarrhea of coins issued this year, 17 in total. However I’ve been collecting these proof coins since I was a kid in the early 90s and I have the entire series since they first started in 1969, so I’m kinda a captive market for them, for now atleast!
Austria issues its New year coins in late Nov/early December. But atleast it makes sense and that’s the USP for those coins
The BoE dollar is a beauty, I dont think I’ve seen one actually, and I recall there was a movement in the 18th century to replace the sterling system with the decimal dollar if I’m not mistaken. The other coins are very nice too!
Yaudheyas: Anonymous (ca 190-340 CE) “Counterfeiters” Clay Moulds (Pieper 1662-3)
Wow, really interesting.
I searched on google for an explanation of the problem - I found nothing.
I understand correctly - that it is an optically real coin into clay, which is then a fired mold and serves as a mold for casting fakes?
Ivan
There are multiple “theories”, but the normal explanation is that they are moulds used for casting fakes. There are two moulds representing the two sides. Here is an example of one type of the actual coin. Other theories cast doubt on this as these were copper coins and thus there was no need, unless the weight of the coin was lower. Similar casts are found for Roman Coins as well…
For my part, not much so far this month, but yesterday I purchased in pre-sale a complete set of the new Canadian C'''R circulating coins, including the 50¢ (seller's picture on eBay):
What some sellers do is buy from the RCM the five-roll set plus a roll of 50¢ (which technically is a circulating coin), and break them apart. This is certainly why the Mint is sold out for all these new items. It's a pre-sale because the Mint will start mailing the packages to buyers not before mid to late January.
Sorry, I just don't think portrait looks like him. Charles looks too fat headed there and his lips are too thin. Also Charles hair does not look like that and he is 75, the man on that coin looks about 60 at most.
The real Charles has a more slender head and fuller features. That portrait makes him look more like Kenneth Branagh!
British portraits are much more accurate, I mean he does not even have the over entitled looking face that most snobs do.
The heads are much thinner and he looks older and more upper class.
But what do I know? The King would have approved that portrait before those coins were issued, so at least he is happy with it.
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
1939 5 Sen (in international mail) Proof/Prooflike according to Naw I trust their judgment on the coin's condition. These are their store's pictures I eagerly await it's arrival.
There are already quite a range of opinions on the new king's portraits, which is normal since these are such subjective appreciations. On this RCM page
you can see the artist's original portrait which was used by the Mint's engravers. Any thoughts?
As usual for royal portraits, it is a bit idealizing. One feels the artist wanted to convey life experience with a sense of duty or responsibility for the future (looking at it from the royalist point of view, even as a non-royalist). An interesting issue is that by convention, he is turned left, even though in our culture, since we write left-to-right, that gives the impression of looking backward…
Nice gold coins, Mr. Midnight. I have a weak spot for too many things, including Egyptian coins. A Fou'ad gold would be a nice addition…
Some medieval Dutch silver won in a November auction has just arrived:
County of Holland, John the Pitiless, 2 groot, emission of 1422 (struck early 1423 according to some sources):
Unusually large for its time, at 32 mm. The rough spots obverse appear to be areas of delamination. Strike is a bit weak reverse, but I think hammering a coin so large and thin is prone to this.
County of Holland, William VI, groot, emission of 1411
Another large one at 29 mm. This one on the other hand was stuck so well the cross reverse has ghosted through.
There are already quite a range of opinions on the new king's portraits, which is normal since these are such subjective appreciations. On this RCM page
you can see the artist's original portrait which was used by the Mint's engravers. Any thoughts?
As usual for royal portraits, it is a bit idealizing. One feels the artist wanted to convey life experience with a sense of duty or responsibility for the future (looking at it from the royalist point of view, even as a non-royalist). An interesting issue is that by convention, he is turned left, even though in our culture, since we write left-to-right, that gives the impression of looking backward…
Nice gold coins, Mr. Midnight. I have a weak spot for too many things, including Egyptian coins. A Fou'ad gold would be a nice addition…
Left and right portraits of monarchs is itself an interesting topic.
Some medieval Dutch silver won in a November auction has just arrved:
County of Holland, John the Pitiless, 2 groot, emission of 1422 (struck early 1423 according to some sources):
Unusually large for its time, at 32 mm. The rough spots obverse appear to be areas of delamination. Strike is a bit weak reverse, but I think hammering a coin so large and thin is prone to this.
Country of Holland, William VI, groot, emission of 1411
Another large one at 29 mm. This one on the other hand was stuck so well the cross reverse has ghosted through.
Those are really nice and interesting coins, plus well struck! Hard to believe these are over 600 years old! Good find.
Early Australian sovereign here - very nice 1871 Sydney. Like most early Aussie gold coins, the obv is nearly a full grade lower than rev. Rev is easily gEF/AU but Viccy lingers in the High VF zone.
This 1897 Melbourne has no such problems - practically UNC (AU at worst) all the way through. Coins yellower in real life, brown wood table and silver content make coins look off colour.
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 about the same price I would have paid for a much later (common) version (ungraded) on eBay.
Speaking of cheap (& eBay), I got this UNC $2 note recently. I only saw a few dirty $2 rags while working in Jamaica (1995-1996). I had to use most of my $20 ($1 CDN) or $50 ($2 CDN) for tips so often I only got a few VF examples. I never found a $2 in good shape back then (they were always so soiled) so it was nice to buy this note in UNC.
The Jamaican note is very interesting, my brother was working in the cruises and bought back a $20 in 1997 telling me it was worth about 80 cents back then (NZ$). Now they have like $50 - $5000 notes and its like $130 to a US$ crazy stuff, yet back in 1969 when they started notes, they like Fiji and a few other poorer commonwealth places, had a 50 cent note and the series topped out at $10!
I also got these Canadian classics last week and got so carried away with the British dollars and gold, I forgot to show them. Canadian coins before 1937 and that are not 1cents, are quite hard to find here, so I grab them every chance I get if I need them.
1909 Dime, usual near VF condition - not 100% sure telling difference between Victorian and Edwardian leaves, suspect these are earlier.
Has a nice tone and miraculously not cleaned.
1881 H Quarter - its a decent example and amazingly an upgrade on my existing 1881H (A quarter sized disc with 1881H on it and little else). This is cleaned Fine. However a good upgrade and here in NZ, decent Victorian Canadian coins are hard to find.
2 Halves finish this post off, both interesting coins in the high Fine, near VF level (Again)
1910 - Fine to gFine - this was sold to me as Victorian leaves, however I suspect its Edwardian leaves as the points are sharp and look similar to the 1911 coin below. A very different coin to say one issued in 1905, as by now they had the medal axis and were minted at the Royal Canadian mint rather than Tower Hill. This is a good coin and has none of the usual bumps on it.
1911 - an important year that angered some people as “Dei Gratia” was missing (Possibly an honest mistake) and of course in 1912, it was put back for the rest of his reign. 1911 coins are quite scarce above VG and I notice the prices climb above it. This coin was graded aVF, which is right in my opinion - the level of detail increases between F and VF and you can see the difference between this and the coin above.
It wasn't cheap, but fills a gap and my first 1911 no Dei Gratia coin!
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
Those Canadian pieces are excellent! I had not heard of the 1911 no Dei Gratia story, I will have to look out for those now. That is just the kind of occurrence that keeps this field interesting.
today I spent $1 poking in a 4 for a dollar dish -
I have any number of these, nothing special, but I like how worn they are, and so similarly worn.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
The Jamaican note is very interesting, my brother was working in the cruises and bought back a $20 in 1997 telling me it was worth about 80 cents back then (NZ$). Now they have like $50 - $5000 notes and its like $130 to a US$ crazy stuff, yet back in 1969 when they started notes, they like Fiji and a few other poorer commonwealth places, had a 50 cent note and the series topped out at $10!
I also got these Canadian classics last week and got so carried away with the British dollars and gold, I forgot to show them. Canadian coins before 1937 and that are not 1cents, are quite hard to find here, so I grab them every chance I get if I need them.
1909 Dime, usual near VF condition - not 100% sure telling difference between Victorian and Edwardian leaves, suspect these are earlier.
Has a nice tone and miraculously not cleaned.
1881 H Quarter - its a decent example and amazingly an upgrade on my existing 1881H (A quarter sized disc with 1881H on it and little else). This is cleaned Fine. However a good upgrade and here in NZ, decent Victorian Canadian coins are hard to find.
2 Halves finish this post off, both interesting coins in the high Fine, near VF level (Again)
1910 - Fine to gFine - this was sold to me as Victorian leaves, however I suspect its Edwardian leaves as the points are sharp and look similar to the 1911 coin below. A very different coin to say one issued in 1905, as by now they had the medal axis and were minted at the Royal Canadian mint rather than Tower Hill. This is a good coin and has none of the usual bumps on it.
1911 - an important year that angered some people as “Dei Gratia” was missing (Possibly an honest mistake) and of course in 1912, it was put back for the rest of his reign. 1911 coins are quite scarce above VG and I notice the prices climb above it. This coin was graded aVF, which is right in my opinion - the level of detail increases between F and VF and you can see the difference between this and the coin above.
It wasn't cheap, but fills a gap and my first 1911 no Dei Gratia coin!
Nice Canadian pieces there. Still some great detail left on all of them.
I recently got myself another Hogarth & Erichsen trade token. This token, (dated 1860) was struck by jewellers, Hogarth Erichsen & Co to meet the demand for coinage at the time, and circulated alongside many other tokens.
This coin has similar specifications of a British threepence of the period, although the silver used was so inferior that these tokens were struck in such bad quality that they were eventually withdrawn under government pressure. The reverse of the threepence was inspired by the British threepence reverse design with the numeral ‘3’ encircled in a wreath.
The mintage of these tokens is somewhat unknown, as Erichsen ‘often struck coins at his own pleasure’. Threepence and fourpence tokens were struck in 1858 & 1860, with the fourpence tokens being the first coin in Australian history to feature an indigenous Australian figure on it.
This one is possibly the worst example known, but it is still a scarce piece. I will need to get myself an 1858-dated one to complete the set now. One of my favourite token designs ever struck in Australia!
Some assorted coins I got for free at a charity shop.
The coins on the left are new to me (types, year, mintmark) while the rest on the right are duplicates to be sold/spent.
The best coin is the 2006 Greek 50 Euro Cent with a mintage of only 1 million which is fairly low for a 50 Cent coin.
Hi to whoever is reading this. Did you know that TYPEWRITER (on a QWERTY keyboard) is the longest word you can type using only the letters on one row of the keyboard.
Those coins are amazing especially the Persian one - wow!
Merry Christmas to everyone here as well! (Happy holidays to those who do not celebrate Christian festivals or religion of any sort)
I love coins. Especially silver, gold and anything really old.
Member of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand and the Auckland Numismatic Society
As the end of the year approaches I leave you all with my recent additions from two auctions and a purchase in a store in Lisbon:
I have always like the galleon design on Portuguese coins; those are lovely. AnNd the Romans equally striking (especially for their age). wonderful additions!
As the end of the year approaches I leave you all with my recent additions from two auctions and a purchase in a store in Lisbon:
I have always like the galleon design on Portuguese coins; those are lovely. AnNd the Romans equally striking (especially for their age). wonderful additions!
Thank you tdziemia for the comment. I agree, the galleon design is something else 😊.
I have a list of 20 Edward VIII coins, which I think is complete, but you have to include those where his name is in a foreign script, such as this 3 dokda from Kutch.
1861 Jersey Penny with a low mintage of just over 173k (btw the writing is not mine and I got it for £15).
Hi to whoever is reading this. Did you know that TYPEWRITER (on a QWERTY keyboard) is the longest word you can type using only the letters on one row of the keyboard.
My last acquisition for this year was this modern countermark:
Quite a cool name: “Ewasiuk”. Perhaps R. Ewasiuk can be identified with a good degree of probability. I have not done any serious research yet, though I got to find the name in both Canadian and US contexts. But I got this coin from a UK eBay seller, so I have to investigate whether this rare name is attested there as well.
Otherwise, I have a trackable US package which has been stuck in the same place since December 8th. It says “arriving late”… Well, you got that right…
