Sometimes you just have to be lucky.
British Honduras coins aren't expensive, but they aren't easy to find (except on eBay of course where they ask ridiculous prices). In about 50 years of collecting, I've only found 22 different coins, and 4 doubles (a few more doubles because I've already swapped some since I joined Numista, so maybe I had about 8 or 10 doubles in total). But last week I've found on a coin fair two batches of coins from British Honduras. The two packages together consisted of 341 coins, among them 40 different ones. These batches boosted my British Honduras collection from 22 different coins and 4 doubles to 50 different coins and 317 doubles (37 different).
I added green for fairly certain, and white for uncertain lettering.
Obverse: IN HOC SIGNO MILITAMVS
[IN THIS SIGN WE FIGHT]
The cross of the order, date 1739 within
Reverse: F D RAIMV DESPVIG M M H H
= Frater Don Raimundus Despuig Maximus Magister Hospitalis Hierosolymum
[BROTHER DON, RAMON DESPUIG, GRAND MASTER OF THE HOSPITAL OF JERUSALEM]
Lettering around arms of grand master
Ramon Despuig y Martinez de Marcilla - The Bailiff of Majorca and Seneschal
The 67th Grandmaster of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order
of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta
16 December 1736 - 15 January 1741
Fantastic day at the coin market for me; I got a few nice silvers for bargain prices:
First off, a nice example of a Swiss classic commemorative that isn't as expensive as the shooting thalers; 1948 B Switzerland 5 Francs (Constitution Centenary)
Then there's this early English milled type; most British coins are usually either wildly overpriced or underpriced on the European continent. It's an early Maundy coin from the latter category, I got it for even cheaper because it's been mounted. ND (1660-62) England 2 Pence - Charles II
An awesome little 19th century Siamese issue; Siam was one of the first East Asian countries to switch to Western machine-struck coinage. The 1 Baht is relatively common, but smaller denominations are scarcer. ND (1876-1900) Siam 1 Fuang - Rama V
And finally, this lovely genevoise; a 25 centimes from 1844, with gorgeous toning around the edges (some visible above the eagle). 1844 Geneva 25 Centimes
Found a penny! Quite weird to find a US Penny in a Finnish forest. Well, during the next two weeks my collection will get some amazing additions. Something very large, and maybe something very rare too.
some nice common bits from a new place I visited
less than $5 for all this
The 1955 and 1953 wheat-back US cents are both "poor man's" double-die types - interesting, but not valuable.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
'Scotland *Dundee* Old Tower rev ship along quay Copper Halfpenny Token dated 1795'
'Victorian token / Robert Warren London - Liquid blackening manufacturers'
Edit: now received it, and it has 90° rotation, so not sure which way it should be.
'French Republic emblem / Marianne Art Nouveau Bronze Medal' [36 mm]
A big expansion of my Egypt collection, including some nice silver pieces -
It looks like the King Farouk period of Egypt coinage 1937-1944, with the exception of some gold commemorative items, can be completed for not much money.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Απόσπασμα: "Mr. Midnight"
It looks like the King Farouk period of Egypt coinage 1937-1944, with the exception of some gold commemorative items, can be completed for not much money.
Probably, but the Fuad I issues are another story....
I picked up some Notgeld, just in time for the "by year" and "by country" threads. I love the one on the top left, clay with metal gilt, definitely odd looking
Obverse: EEDE EN VERBONDE GEBROOKEN : ENT VUUR ALOMME AANGESTOOKEN
[The oaths and treaties hath been broken, and the fires hath been lit throughout]
with names on a map SILES / SAX / BOHEME / BAV / BYR / OOSTENE
[ SAX (Saxony), SILES (Silesia), BAV (Bavaria), BOHEME (Bohemia), BYR, and OOSTENE (Austria)]
---------
A seated Cardinal de Fleury (the Chief Minister of France) points with a stick on an unfolded map of Germany. Behind the map are the King of Prussia Friedrich II, the King of Poland August III, and the Elector of Bavaria Karl Albrecht; they indicate on the map the areas for which they claim the rights. The exergue is empty.
Reverse: DE PRAGMATIQUE SANCTIE BELOOFT EN NOU VAN MYN ERVELANDE BEROOFT
[... and the Pragmatic Sanction, once empowering me, now robs me of my inheritance]
---------
Maria-Theresia, Queen of Hungary, seated to left with her son Josef (later Emperor Josef II) in arms.
In exergue: 1742
'Spot medal satirizing the Austrian War of Succession and the Pragmatic Sanction'.
Associated names:
Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury [1653-1743]
Friedrich II (Frederick the Great) King of Prussia / Elector of Brandenburg [1712-1786]
Augustus III, King of Poland / Grand Duke of Lithuania / Elector of Saxony [1696-1763]
Charles Albert [Karl Albrecht] VII, Holy Roman Emperor / Prince-elector of Bavaria /
King of Bohemia [1697-1745]
Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia /
Archduchess [1717-1780]
Top left:
Charlotte, Coronation, 1761, Medal by L Natter, draped bust right
CHARLOTTA D G M BR FR ET HIB REGINA / L N
The Queen crowned by Fame
QVAESITVM MERITIS / CORON XXII SEPT MDCCLXI
34mm (BHM 66 RR; Eimer 696). Poor condition and very rare.
This is the official Coronation Medal, yet only 400 silver specimens were struck,
and from more than one set of dies.
Created: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces151246.html
Top right:
Crown below rays within a wreath entwined with an inscribed ribbon
PRESERVED FROM ASSASSINATION / GOD GIVE PRAISE / MAY 15 1800
Angel kneeling on a cloud, holding a plaque bearing the portrait of the king and
protecting it from an arrow by a shield
GOD SAVE THE KING / PK
British Historical Medals 486 Engraver: P. Kempson 38mm Fi. 424-26..; H. 248/19-21
Created: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces151324.html
Lower middle:
Conjoined busts right
GEORGIVS III ET CHARLOTTA / REX ET REG
Two cherubs carry an inscribed scroll; below a view of London
FELICITAS BRITANNIAE / DIIS AUSPICIBUS MDCCLXI
George III (1760-1820) Marriage of George III to Charlotte, 1761.
Unknown medal designer. 26mm 4.2gm (E.691, BHM.17)
Created: https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces151332.html
Yet some more nice silver coins from the coin markets! Starting from the smallest up:
1872 H Newfoundland 20 Cents - Victoria
A little coin for my Newfie type set; I now have all the Queen Victoria denominations except that gold 2 dollar coin!
1964 Greece 30 Drachmai - Constantine II (Royal Wedding)
Not a scarce type by any means, but still a well-sized silver with a high-relief, eye catching design that I didn't have before. Still need to get the 1963 Centennial of the Royal Dynasty 30 Drachmai though.
And last but not least, here's my favourite addition of the week:
1865 R Guatemala 1 Peso - Rafael Carrera
I don't actively collect Latin American coins, at least not as much as European and colonial coins; but when I saw this big, scarce old silver coin from a remote corner of the world being sold for just 20 euro, I jumped at the chance! NGC lists this date at 32 USD in VG; and I reckon mine is at least a bit better than VG.
I actually did acquire real coins too, however, I got this token in gent at the Sknt Niklas Church and then when I walked onto the St Michael Bridge, I realised I had the exact scene of the souvenir in real life. It was a beautiful day indeed !
Lots of new additions today as there is a coin fair this weekend on my region.
New countries for the collection.
Haven't started entering here yet but here's the highlights:
Coins:
Thailand 2018 25 satangs Rama X
5 quarter dollars (Alaska, Missouri, Ellis Island, Pictured Rocks and Apostle Islands)
Spain 1788 8 maravedis
2 Russia Empire (denga 1751 and 1 kopeck 1876)
Papal states 1867 Pius IX
Naples 6 tornesi 1801
Portugal 10 réis 1799
2 Romans (Faustina and Claudius II)
Unknown Japanese (I only know its from before the Meiji Restoration - it means that is from the samurais era!) - edit: this one.
Notes:
Romania 2000 lei (1999 solar eclipse - I really wanted that one)
Croatia 100 million dinar 1993
Macau 20 patacas 2013
Syria 50 and 100 dinar 2009
Nazi Germany 50 reichsmark
Maldives 20 rufiyaa 2015
Nicaragua 10 córbodas (ND, recent, as its polymer)
2 Thailandese (early Rama IX)
Stamps:
a few older stamps (Brazil, France, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium)
one soviet (space cooperation India-USSR)
These so far are the highlights of this month although I also have several more dates and commemoratives to add in my decimal album for 20 and 50 cents.
Hopefully I may also score at my next local coin fair in about a week or so.
These two oldies from the Dutch Republic. One can tell that the country was proud of its naval achievements and rightfully so. The left was minted in Enkhuizen, a historic town north of Amsterdam known for its smoked eel (looks like a bbq'ed sea snake). The coin on the right was minted in Middelburg, these days a sleepy town in the south west but with some medieval buildings still left.
The denomination of 6 Stuivers demands a background story. The Flemish Pound was a monetary system from the Middle Ages that was long used as a unit of account in the Low Countries. It was divided in 20 Schellingen each of 12 Groten. A Stuiver was 2 Groten, hence 6 Stuivers was a Schelling. Because of devaluations this coin was actually worth half an English Shilling, so 6 Pence.
Many types of Schelling coins exist. These with a ship were the last type. I believe that they continued to be used as 25 Cents coins after decimalisation in 1818, which meant they were debased a bit. Only in 1848 all pre-decimal Dutch coinage was demonetised.
Απόσπασμα: "CassTaylor:"
And last but not least, here's my favourite addition of the week:
1865 R Guatemala 1 Peso - Rafael Carrera
I don't actively collect Latin American coins, at least not as much as European and colonial coins; but when I saw this big, scarce old silver coin from a remote corner of the world being sold for just 20 euro, I jumped at the chance! NGC lists this date at 32 USD in VG; and I reckon mine is at least a bit better than VG.
I definitely don't want to ruin your euphoria, but the wear on this coin looks a bit peculiar. Did you attempt to weigh this coin? It definitely doesn't look like a Chinese knock-off, but it could be a contemporary counterfeit. One Peso definitely was a lot of money in those days.
Απόσπασμα: "CassTaylor:"
And last but not least, here's my favourite addition of the week:
1865 R Guatemala 1 Peso - Rafael Carrera
I don't actively collect Latin American coins, at least not as much as European and colonial coins; but when I saw this big, scarce old silver coin from a remote corner of the world being sold for just 20 euro, I jumped at the chance! NGC lists this date at 32 USD in VG; and I reckon mine is at least a bit better than VG.
I definitely don't want to ruin your euphoria, but the wear on this coin looks a bit peculiar. Did you attempt to weigh this coin? It definitely doesn't look like a Chinese knock-off, but it could be a contemporary counterfeit. One Peso definitely was a lot of money in those days.
Not at all, you raise very good points!
I'm fairly confident in it's authenticity, but the idea that it could be a contemporary counterfeit is very interesting, and I would definitely still keep it if i turned out to be that. I've been trying to buy a dealer's contemporary counterfeit (1930s-40s) Junk dollar for sometime, but he seems to have lost or sold it by now. Does anyone have any info on if 19th century Latin American coins were commonly counterfeited in their day?
Απόσπασμα: "CassTaylor:"
And last but not least, here's my favourite addition of the week:
1865 R Guatemala 1 Peso - Rafael Carrera
I don't actively collect Latin American coins, at least not as much as European and colonial coins; but when I saw this big, scarce old silver coin from a remote corner of the world being sold for just 20 euro, I jumped at the chance! NGC lists this date at 32 USD in VG; and I reckon mine is at least a bit better than VG.
I definitely don't want to ruin your euphoria, but the wear on this coin looks a bit peculiar. Did you attempt to weigh this coin? It definitely doesn't look like a Chinese knock-off, but it could be a contemporary counterfeit. One Peso definitely was a lot of money in those days.
Non colonial Latin American coins from this era often have substandard strikes and QC, so may give the appearance of dodgy details. I'm confident it's real. Not scarce though.
Haul from this weekend's trip to a local coin show - mostly early-mid 20th century in better grades, plus a few newer bimetallic coins and some cheaper bargain bin stuff :
Angola, Portuguese - 50 Centavos 1927
Australia - 1 Dollar (APEC) 2007
Bohemia and Moravia - 10 Haleru 1943
Bulgaria - 50 Stotinki 1910
Brazil - 1 Centavo 1986
Cameroon - 2 Francs 1948
Canada -1 Cent 1915, 5 Cents (Confederation) 1967
Cuba - 20 Centavos 1920
Egypt - 25 Piastres 2010
France - 50 Centimes 1918
French Indochina - 10 Centimes 1922 (bargain bin find; paid $3 for 16 coins, including this .680 silver)
Hungary - 10 Filler 1927
Indian Princely States - Gwalior - 1/4 Anna 1942 (new issuer)
India, Portuguese - 10 Centavos 1961, 1 Tanga 1952
Netherlands - 2 1/2 Gulden 1971
Netherlands East Indies - 1/4 Gulden 1942 S
Nigeria - 1 Penny 1959
Norway - 10 Ore 1948
Mexico - 2 Centavos 1941, 5 Centavos 1936, 10 Centavos 1934, 25 Centavos 1966 (open beak), 50 Centavos 1935, 5 Pesos (Hidalgo) 1955, 5 Pesos (Carranza) 1959
Philippines - 50 Centavos 1944
Poland - 5 Groszy 1968
Portugal - 200 Escudos (European Culture Capital) 1994
Russia - 10 Roubles (Central Asian Cobra) 1992, 10 Roubles (Red-Breasted Goose) 1992
Russia, Empire - 1/4 Kopek 1887 (Aleksandr III)
Saar - 100 Franken 1955 - completing my Saar type set
Soviet Union - 5 Roubles (Mountain Goat) 1991
Syria - 25 Pounds 2003
Tunisia - 1/2 Dinar 1997
Turkey - 250,000 Lira 2002
UK - 6 Pence 1910, 6 Pence 1926 (km828), Florin 1923, 2 Shillings 1951, 2 Shillings 1953, Crown 1937
US - ¼ Dollar ''Washington Quarter'' 2018-P (Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin)
Venezuela - 5 Bolivares 1987
A nice big silver piece from Monaco, on the same planchet as the French 10 franc Hercule coin of that era, 25g of 0,900 silver. I wonder, how much any of these actually circulated.
not rare by an measure, I have been waiting for a one at a good price.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Απόσπασμα: "Mr. Midnight" I wonder, how much any of these actually circulated.
Very few of the Herculean French 10 fr coins did, so going by mintage proportions I'd say somewhere between very few and none of their Monegasque counterparts did!
If you're interested in how much silver coins circulated in the 5th Republic, I direct you to this superbly detailed answer by VieillePile on my thread on the French side: https://fr.numista.com/forum/topic72561.html
Made a bit of a mistake, I only wanted one but with the bids I made I ended up getting two. Perhaps I’ll buy the other that passed and jingle them all for stress relief.
Well I decided just to go all out and get the type set, they might look bad but its hard to complain when they were all just a few bucks above spot and non restrike dates.
Not a recent acquisition, but I do not add a coin to my collection until I verify the attribution. I went through a small group of German notgeld, and found one that will add a new location for me (and an appropriate Halloween month addition):
Απόσπασμα: "Mr. Midnight" I wonder, how much any of these actually circulated.
Very few of the Herculean French 10 fr coins did, so going by mintage proportions I'd say somewhere between very few and none of their Monegasque counterparts did!
If you're interested in how much silver coins circulated in the 5th Republic, I direct you to this superbly detailed answer by VieillePile on my thread on the French side:
https://fr.numista.com/forum/topic72561.html
wow, excellent info. thanks for sharing that.
Jamais l'or n'a perdu la plus petite occasion de se montrer stupide. -Balzac
Been aquiring quite a few pieces recently, especially medals.
Here is one of my new pieces. This one is actually the most I have ever paid for a medal
A Medal commemorating the two princes of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg returning in 1693 to to take over the throne of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They where sent to the Netherlands and to England to gain adulthood and returned when they where 18.
The edge is also beautifully inscribed all along.
One side shows a wintery landscape of Altenburg that remains in sadness without their heirs to the throne.
The other side shows the ship Katherine which transported the two princes back to Germany.
If you like coins, medals and tokens with ship motives follow my new instagram account with regular updates @numisnautiker
From time to time I sell some coins on Ebay make sure to follow me @apuking on Ebay.
Got some nice stuff during the last two weeks:
First this Vereinstaler of 1866 made to somekind of necklace (its not really a coin anymore but I will still add it to my collection
Then this nice 5 Franc issued under the rule of Leopold I King of the belgians. He was the last King missing in my coin portrait collection for Belgium.
A nice little Frederik VIII 10 Öre coin
And one of the last coins of the romanian monarchy
Απόσπασμα: "Essor Prof"Sometimes you just have to be lucky.
British Honduras coins aren't expensive, but they aren't easy to find (except on eBay of course where they ask ridiculous prices). In about 50 years of collecting, I've only found 22 different coins, and 4 doubles (a few more doubles because I've already swapped some since I joined Numista, so maybe I had about 8 or 10 doubles in total). But last week I've found on a coin fair two batches of coins from British Honduras. The two packages together consisted of 341 coins, among them 40 different ones. These batches boosted my British Honduras collection from 22 different coins and 4 doubles to 50 different coins and 317 doubles (37 different).
British Honduras is one of those countries that seems to come in groups--when you find one, you usually find several.
Wait until you start buying the Victoria 50 cent coins, if you are having sticker shock now!!
I am glad to see that none of your eBay links were to my listings.
Απόσπασμα: "apuking"Been aquiring quite a few pieces recently, especially medals.
Here is one of my new pieces. This one is actually the most I have ever paid for a medal
A Medal commemorating the two princes of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg returning in 1693 to to take over the throne of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. They where sent to the Netherlands and to England to gain adulthood and returned when they where 18.
The edge is also beautifully inscribed all along.
One side shows a wintery landscape of Altenburg that remains in sadness without their heirs to the throne.
The other side shows the ship Katherine which transported the two princes back to Germany.
99% sure you beat me on this lot. Congratulations, it is beautiful! (My most expensive was the Danish one)
Απόσπασμα: "neilithicman"I picked up a roll of the new New Zealand armistice day coins. I'll probably put most of them into circulation for someone to find.
Απόσπασμα: "neilithicman"I picked up a roll of the new New Zealand armistice day coins. I'll probably put most of them into circulation for someone to find.
I would like one of those, can we swap?
You don't really have anything I collect, but if you send me your address I'll get one out to you.
I got hold of this cheap Chinese Yuan Shih Kai, or "Fat Man" dollar dated 10 (1921)! The only catch is that it's quite beat up, and it also has an unsightly loop soldered to the reverse, which I might have to take to a professional to have removed.
Still, great to finally have this famous type represented in my collection.
Oh, and these two came in the mail just this morning!
1905 R Italy 2 Lire - Victor Emmanuel III https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4898.html
Another gap in my 1861-1946 Italian type collection filled! The coin actually has a fair bit more lustre than the seller's photos indicated, so that's a bonus.
1967 Denmark 10 Kroner - Frederik IX (Royal Wedding) https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces14548.html
Normally I don't bother to post acquisitions like this coin here, but this coin was just so pretty I couldn't resist! It has this sheen over it that makes rainbows when you turn the coin.
Απόσπασμα: "loruca"A nice (common) 5 lire!
If anyone wants to throw a grade out...
fabulous! that mustacio, the jewels in the crown, and the nice sheen... I am not a pro, but I would call that BU.
for me the selling point of this coin (apart from the 20$ price tag) is that I could finally figure out what the figures within the knot of the wreath were! (and obviously the condition)!
I collect anything: If it's Italian or Italian states i collect it even more!
Απόσπασμα: "neilithicman"I picked up a roll of the new New Zealand armistice day coins. I'll probably put most of them into circulation for someone to find.
I got today the coins from him as a gift, he gave me 6 coins for free. Thank you!
Starting from the smallest up:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9116.html
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9887.html
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces9115.html
The coin actually has a fair bit more lustre than the seller's photos indicated, so that's a bonus.
