~~~ The Victoria Hope British Empire Collection ~~~

lordmarcovan · July 26, 2004 5:21PM

This 1901 type set consists of coins from the final year of Queen Victoria's reign. It is a snapshot of the coins of the Empire at the dawn of the 20th century, when Britannia still ruled a significant portion of the globe, and it was said, "The sun never set on the British Empire."

Queen Victoria's reign of more than 63 years was the longest in British history and the British Empire was near its peak in 1901. While some colonies did not issue coins that year, many did, and there is a surprising variety in the portraits. In the British homeland, the coins portrayed the veiled "Old Head" or "Widow's Head" of Victoria, while the queen was frozen in time and forever young on the coinage of colonies like India and Ceylon.

As many of you know, this set is being built for my daughter, Victoria Hope. Her birth in September of 2001 heralded the beginning of the "New Victorian Era", exactly a century after the old Victorian era ended. We didn't really name her after the British queen- we just liked the name. I chose her middle name, Hope, in honor of my maternal great-grandmother, and it proved to be a timely choice, because ten days after September 11, 2001, the world was in need of a little Hope.

Like the first Victorian Era, hopefully this new New Victorian Era will be a long one, full of prosperity and advancements. I will eventually pass these coins on to Victoria Hope when she grows up, perhaps for her children. Until then, this is my collection to enjoy and build. I've shown Victoria the coins a few times and, like most young girls who are into princesses and fairy tales, she's shown some interest in "Queen Victoria from the Old Days", as she likes to put it.

Photobucket slideshow

Photobucket album

(Excluded: AUSTRALIA: 1/2 SOVEREIGN, KM12, (1901-M). These were struck in Proof only in 1901, and are prohibitively rare.)

01- AUSTRALIA: 1 SOVEREIGN, KM13, (1901-M).

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 22.05 mm. Composition: .917 Gold/.2354 oz. Mintage: 3,012,000 ("S" mintmark)- 3,987,000 ("M" mintmark)- 2,889,000 ("P" mintmark).
Grade: PCGS AU58 (Cert. # 5820151).
Comments: Purchased 3/1/10 from eBay seller "akbeez", who uses the same ID on Collector's Universe.

02- BRITISH GUIANA (GUYANA), 4 PENCE, KM26.

(Coin picture)
Size: 19.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0560 oz. Mintage: 60,000.
Grade: Raw VG (minor nicks and marks).
Comments: From an eBay seller in Mexico. I paid around ten times catalog price at the time, but these are tough to find and likely undervalued.

03- BRITISH HONDURAS (BELIZE), 25 CENTS, KM9.

(Coin picture)
Size: 27.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.1728 oz. Mintage: 20,000.
Grade: Raw F+ (borderline VF).
Comments: Ex-Dan Lewis ("danglen").

04- BRITISH HONDURAS (BELIZE), 50 CENTS, KM10.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 35.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.3456 oz. Mintage: 10,000.
Grade: NGC VF Details/Scratches (Cert. # 4080257-001).
Comments: Purchased raw on eBay.

05- CANADA, 1 CENT, KM7.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 25.5 mm. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 4,100,100.
Grade: PCGS MS64 RB. (Cert. # 10095298).
Comments: Acquired in a trade from Don Rupp ("ajaan"), 06/2009.

06- CANADA, 5 CENTS, KM2.

(Coin picture)
Size: 18.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0346 oz. Mintage: 2,000,000.
Grade: Raw VF+ to XF (some nicks, but also some pretty toning- which may be heat-induced, but I don't care).
Comments: Purchased from Bobby Hurst, aka "forvm" on eBay. Though not perfect, it will serve as an attractive "filler" until I step up to a full UNC.

07- CANADA, 10 CENTS, KM3.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 21.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0691 oz. Mintage: 1,200,000.
Grade: ICG MS62 (Cert.# 2748922901).
Comments: Purchased at a show on my behalf by Don Rupp ("ajaan"), who let me swap him some other coins for it, 11/2009.

08- CANADA, 25 CENTS, KM5.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 28 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.1728 oz. Mintage: 640,000.
Grade: NGC VF30 (Cert.# 4080257-002, Ex-ICCS VF20).
Comments: Purchased in an ICCS holder from eBay, later crossed to NGC.

09- CANADA, 50 CENTS, KM6.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 35.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.3456 oz. Mintage: 80,000.
Grade: NGC G6 (Cert.# 4080257-003).
Comments: Purchased raw on eBay. These are tough. I find this one pleasing for a low-grade example.

10- CEYLON (SRI LANKA), 1/4 CENT, KM90.

(Coin picture #1) ~ (Coin picture #2) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 14.3 mm. Composition: Copper. Mintage: 216,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 BN (Cert.# 4080257-004).
Comments: Purchased raw on eBay. The nice colors were a pleasant surprise. Tiny but beautiful, and undervalued, in my opinion.

11- CEYLON (SRI LANKA), 1/2 CENT, KM91.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 18.5 mm. Composition: Copper. Mintage: 2,020,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 RB (Cert.# 4080257-005).
Comments: Purchased raw from Stephen Album Rare Coins (stevenalbum.com), 04/2010.

12- CEYLON (SRI LANKA), 1 CENT, KM92.

(Coin picture)
Size: 22.5 mm. Composition: Copper. Mintage: 1,014,000.
Grade: Raw F+ (borderline VF).
Comments: Just a cheap coin I picked up somewhere; probably eBay. It will do until I find a nice BU example.

13- CYPRUS, 1/4 PIASTRE, KM1.2.

Size: 21 mm. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 72,000.
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted in any grade, 1901-dated coins only.

14- CYPRUS, 3 PIASTRES, KM4.

Size: 18 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0561 oz. Mintage: 300,000.
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted in any grade, 1901-dated coins only.

15- CYPRUS, 4-1/2 PIASTRES, KM5.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 19 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0561 oz. Mintage: 300,000.
Grade: NGC XF40 (Cert. #1787397-054).
Comments: Ex- Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN"). Might have had a light cleaning long ago, but NGC obviously considered it gradeworthy.

16- CYPRUS, 9 PIASTRES, KM6.

(Coin picture)
Size: 23.7 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.1682 oz. Mintage: 600,000.
Grade: Raw AU.
2009 KM catalog values: $15.00 F, 40.00 VF, 100.00 XF, 200.00 UNC, 1,250.00 PR.
Comments: Ex- Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN").

17- CYPRUS, 18 PIASTRES, KM7.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 29.8 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.3364 oz. Mintage: 200,000.
Grade: NGC VG10 (Cert.# 4080257-006).
Comments: Purchased raw on eBay. Modest grade, but superior eye appeal- far better looking than a lot of the typical cleaned ones out there.

18- GREAT BRITAIN, 1 FARTHING, KM788.2.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 20 mm. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 8,016,000.
Grade: NGC MS61 (Cert.# 4080257-007).
Comments: Purchased raw from Tom C. ("Wybrit"), 11/20/09.

19- GREAT BRITAIN, 1/2 PENNY, KM789.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 25.5 mm. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 11,127,000.
Grade: PCGS MS64 RD.
Comments: A gift from Don Rupp ("ajaan"), 04/2010. I only paid for the grading.

20- GREAT BRITAIN, 1 PENNY (BRONZE), KM790.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 30.8 mm. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 22,206,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 RB (Cert.# 4080257-008).
Comments: Purchased raw from Don Rupp ("ajaan") in 2009, to upgrade a less Red example.

21- GREAT BRITAIN, 1 PENNY (SILVER MAUNDY), KM775.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 11.15 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0140 oz. Mintage: 18,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 (Cert. #1756441-012)
Comments: Ex-Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN"). The apparent haze on the obverse picture is actually a reflection from the holder.

22- GREAT BRITAIN, 2 PENCE, KM776.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 13.44 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0280 oz. Mintage: 14,000.
Grade: NGC MS65 (Cert. #1756441-013).
Comments: Ex-Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN"). Previously sold by Richard Abrahams ("greattoning"/"MrD")

23- GREAT BRITAIN, 3 PENCE, KM777.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 16.26 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0420 oz. Mintage: 6,100,000 (circulation strikes)- 8,976 (Maundy issue).
Grade: NGC MS65 (Cert. #1756441-014).
Comments: Ex-Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN"). Previously sold by Richard Abrahams ("greattoning"/"MrD").

24- GREAT BRITAIN, 4 PENCE, KM778.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 17.63 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0561 oz. Mintage: 12,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 (Cert. #1756441-015).
Comments: Ex-Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN"). Previously sold by Richard Abrahams ("greattoning"/"MrD").

25- GREAT BRITAIN, 6 PENCE, KM779.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 19.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.0895 oz. Mintage: 5,109,000.
Grade: PCGS MS64 (Old Green Holder- cert. # 2302317).
Comments: Puchased from Tom Carroll ("Wybrit"), 11/20/09, replacing a really nice AU+ I'd bought from him years before.

26- GREAT BRITAIN, 1 SHILLING, KM780.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 23.5 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.1682 oz. Mintage: 3,426,000.
Grade: NGC MS64 (Cert.# 4080257-009).
Comments: Received raw as a generous gift for Victoria from Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN").

27- GREAT BRITAIN, 1 FLORIN (2 SHILLINGS), KM781.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 28.3 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/0.3364 oz. Mintage: 2,649,000.
Grade: NGC MS64 (formerly NGC MS65, current cert.# 4080257-010).
Comments: Ex-Brett Smith ("BS"). Purchased raw, with the original NGC insert included. Resubmitted in 2011 and it only got MS64.

28- GREAT BRITAIN, 1/2 CROWN, KM782.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 32.3 mm. Composition: .925 Silver/.4204 oz. Mintage: 1,577,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 (Cert.# 4080257-0110).
Comments: Purchased raw from Jeffrey Zarit, through eBay.

29- GREAT BRITAIN, 1/2 SOVEREIGN, KM784.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 19.30 mm. Composition: .917 Gold/.1177 oz. Mintage: 2,037,999.
Grade: PCGS MS64, with Terner pedigree on label (Cert. #90089936).
Comments: Ex-Dimitri Gotzamanis ("SYRACUSIAN").

30- GREAT BRITAIN, 1 SOVEREIGN, KM785.

Size: 22.05 mm. Composition: .917 Gold/.2355 oz. Mintage: 1,579,000.
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted- any grade, raw or certified, 1901-dated coins only. A certified coin would be preferable.

31- HONG KONG, 1 CENT, KM4.3, (1901 "plain").

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 27.6 mm. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 5,000,000 (without mintmark)- 10,000,000 ("H" mintmark).
Grade: NGC MS63 RB (Cert.# 4080257-012).
Comments: Purchased raw on eBay. This is the lower-mintage variety without mintmark.

32- HONG KONG, 5 CENTS, KM5.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 15.53 mm. Composition: .8000 Silver/.0349 oz. Mintage: 10,000,000.
Grade: NGC MS64 (Cert. # 3356207-006).
Comments: Acquired in a trade with Hayden Tubbs ("HTubbs"), who let us trade up from a toned NGC MS63 example to this blast white beauty.

33- HONG KONG, 10 CENTS, KM6.3

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 17.84 mm. Composition: .800 Silver/.0698 oz. Mintage: 25,000,000.
Grade: NGC MS63 (Cert.# 4080257-013).
Comments: Purchased raw from an eBay seller with the ID "999_omen".

34- INDIA (BRITISH), 1/12 ANNA, KM483, (1901-C).

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 17.5 mm. Composition: Copper. Mintage: 21,345,000.
Grade: NGC MS62 BN (Cert. # 3260363-003).
Comments: Purchased slabbed on eBay, sold to a forum member, and bought back when I found it harder to replace than anticipated.

35- INDIA (BRITISH), 1/2 PICE, KM484.

Size: (?) Composition: Copper. Mintage: 16,057,000.
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted in any grade, 1901-dated coins only. A Red BU or proof would be especially nice.

36- INDIA (BRITISH), 1/4 ANNA, KM486, (1901-C).

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 25 mm. Composition: Copper. Mintage: 136,091,000.
Grade: NGC UNC Details/Altered Color (Cert.# 4080257-014).
Comments: Purchased raw from Vikram Deshmukh ("koincollect"), August 2009.

37- INDIA (BRITISH), 2 ANNAS, KM488, (1901-C).

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 15 mm. Composition: .917 Silver/.0430 oz. Mintage: 8,944,000 (Calcutta)- 1,706,000 (Bombay).
Grade: NGC MS65 (Cert.# 4080257-018).
Comments: Purchased raw from VCoins seller Frits A. Bodde of Moneta Nova (Germany).

38- INDIA (BRITISH), 1/4 RUPEE, KM490.

Size: 16 mm. Composition: .917 Silver/.0861 oz. Mintage: 4,476,000.
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted in any grade, 1901-dated coins only, preferably in BU.

39- INDIA (BRITISH), 1 RUPEE, KM492, (1901-B).

Size: 30 mm. Composition: .917 Silver/.3437 oz. Mintage: 72,017,000 (Calcutta)- 130,258,000 (Bombay).
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted in any grade, 1901-dated coins only, preferably in BU. (Had one but swapped it.)

40- STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (MALAYSIA), 1/4 CENT, KM14.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 21.5 mm approx. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 2,000,000.
Grade: NGC MS62 BN (Cert.# 4080257-015).
Comments: Purchased raw from Tony Fein through VCoins, 11/22/09.

41- STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (MALAYSIA), 1 CENT, KM16.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 28 mm approx. Composition: Bronze. Mintage: 15,230,000.
Grade: NGC AU Details/Rev Planchet Flaw (Cert.# 4080257-016).
Comments: Small planchet flaw (lamination?) on reverse, but nice detail and color. Purchased raw from eBay seller "rdzcoins", summer 2009.

42- STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (MALAYSIA), 5 CENTS, KM10

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 18.5 mm approx. Composition: .8000 Silver/.0350 oz. Mintage: 3,000,000.
Grade: PCGS AU53 (Cert.# 18349590).
Comments: Purchased sometime after 2009. I can't currently remember from whom.

43- STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (MALAYSIA), 10 CENTS, KM11.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 17 mm. Composition: .800 Silver/.0697 oz. Mintage: 2,700,000.
Grade: NGC AU58 (Cert.# 4080257-017).
Comments: Purchased from an excellent eBay seller called "rdzcoins" in the summer of 2009.

44- STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (MALAYSIA), 20 CENTS, KM12.

(Coin picture) ~ (Slab picture)
Size: 23 mm. Composition: .800 Silver/.1397 oz. Mintage: 600,000.
Grade: NGC AU58 (Cert.# 4080257-020).
Comments: Purchased raw on eBay.

45- STRAITS SETTLEMENTS (MALAYSIA), 50 CENTS, KM13.

Size: 31 mm approx. Composition: .800 Silver/.3492 oz. Mintage:120,000.
Grade: n/a (WANTED, 1901 only).
Comments: Wanted in any grade, 1901-dated coins only.

Master index of my collections, treasure hunting tales, and other stuff.

cosmicdebris · July 26, 2004 9:52PM

That's quite a set.

SYRACUSIAN · July 28, 2004 2:06AM

Hong Kong 5 cents, still at $1.25 as of this typing.

lordmarcovan · July 28, 2004 8:44AM

Thanks, Dimitri. I'm gonna put in an esnipe bid on that one.

CoinAddict · July 29, 2004 1:02PM

It looks like you are building a very nice set for her. So do you have any pics of them to share with us?

bosox · July 29, 2004 2:14PM

I have an out of print book (1971) entitled "British Commonwealth Coins" by Remick/James/Dowle/Finn. Doesn't replace a Krause, but gets into more details. I looked through it trying to see if you missed a 1901 Vicky. Some of the far east colonies had 1901's, but no mention or portrait of our favorite queen, only Arabic or other script. I think you got the complete list.

lordmarcovan · July 29, 2004 3:09PM

<< So do you have any pics of them to share with us? >>

Not yet. I haven't yet gone from a pile of loose coins in a big envelope to a properly organized album. When that happens, and I'm further along, I'll almost certainly image them.

lordmarcovan · July 29, 2004 3:12PM

Oh- and bosox- thanks again for checking my list (not to mention bringing danglen's 1901 Brit Honduras 25c to my attention). Going through Krause to compile it, I was worried I'd miss one, particularly for some of the Indian states and Asian colonies. Like you said, the few I found did not have portraits.

It's too bad (or maybe lucky for me, in a way) that not every colony issued a coin in 1901. But one thing I do like about this set is the wide variety of young and old heads used in the portraits. The Many Faces of Victoria. Doing a colonial set, one gets a lot more variety.

bosox · July 29, 2004 3:54PM

I saw that many Colonies did not issue 1901 coinage. Given the expense of the surrounding issues, you had some "fortunate" skips. Good luck on your collection.

bosox · July 29, 2004 4:02PM

BTW the catch on the British Honduras Vicky quarter was lucky. Although I specialize in Canadian (greyside) coins, I am also assembling an UNC BH penny collection. The coins are available and mintages are crazy low. Of course,demand is nonexistent.

lordmarcovan · July 29, 2004 4:26PM

I just noticed a package for me lying on the table, with foreign stamps. I love those.

It was from Dimitri in Greece- the NGC XF40 Cyprus 4 1/2 piastre piece.

I think NGC graded it a tiny bit higher than I would have, personally, but it's a great little coin, and I unintentionally stole it from Dimitri, I think- I had a higher proxy bid for it on eBay but not much competition, so it ended up closing for less than I expected to pay. (Great for me, not so great for Dimitri).

Thanks, Dimitri- it's a nice addition. One of several contributions you've made.

Now I gotta find where I left those daggum 3d's. I had two- bought one, and Dimitri donated one. Both were nice. Both are now MIA. Not in the envelope with the rest. I gotta make up an album for this set, soon. Hopefully the prodigal threepence pieces will come on home when I make a nice album for them.

SYRACUSIAN · July 29, 2004 5:17PM

Rob,

I agree with you on that Cyprus 1901 41/2 piastres. It was indeed overgraded, a VF35 (if not less) would have been more appropriate. Still a nice little coin, better than most I've seen so far, in fact I will be very interested to see a unc silver 1901 coin from Cyprus one day, I wonder how Vicky really looks like on that portrait.

Great for me, not so great for Dimitri.

Here, we disagree. That's what no reserve auctions are about. Just so that you don't feel guilty,some other coin from that lot brought multiples of what I expected and therefore (more than) covered the one you won. Let alone how much I enjoy sharing coins with other Darksiders.

I'm glad to have contributed to your set and I will continue to do so, if I come across coins that you need to complete it. The other coins came all from my own (British only) 1901 set , that I'm still trying to finish with as much colorfull unc coins as possible. Not nearly a challenge as yours, but a nice little project anyway.

How about a picture of little Vivctoria?

CoinAddict · August 3, 2004 5:19AM

Here is a 1901 Cyprus 9 Piastres.
Cool Fantasy 1901 Cyprus 36 Piastres
1901 Hong Kong 5 Cents.
1901 Canadian Half Dollar
1901 Canadian 10 cents

ajaan · August 3, 2004 5:26AM

Hey, keep away from that 1901 Canadian 50c.

drjules · August 3, 2004 8:18AM

Is this one that you are looking for?

50 cents

Dr J

CoinAddict · August 3, 2004 8:22AM

Dr J, That coin is one of those fantasy pieces if you missed that in the auction.

drjules · August 3, 2004 8:27AM

OIC

lordmarcovan · September 22, 2004 6:26PM

Just added the first coin for the Straits Settlements!

A VF 10-cent piece. Cost me a whoppin' $1.25. I paid more than that for the shipping! Woohoo!

lordmarcovan · September 22, 2004 6:32PM

Here's a rerun, but I thought it bore reposting on this thread.

Scanner versus camera...

Cheapo scanner I've been using for too long:

Not-so-cheapo camera I haven't been using long enough:

And that still doesn't do this little coin any justice!

AuldFartte · September 23, 2004 12:11AM

Awesome idea, LordM. If I run into any of those, I'll let you know.

ColinCMR · September 23, 2004 5:55AM

That 1/4 cent is really nice!!

lordmarcovan · September 23, 2004 7:32AM

You should see it in person. It knocked my socks off when it came out of the envelope!

The sellers image looked like my scanned picture above, only much smaller.

lordmarcovan · October 1, 2004 7:51AM

Picked up a nice Red-Brown AU+ 1901 Hong Kong cent, in a lot with five other pieces. I would've paid almost twice what I won that for, just for the cent alone- the other pieces were icing on the cake!

There was some really nice lookin' stuff in that lot- the seller is a very conservative grader, and the coins show quite a bit of luster not seen in his pictures. Needless to say, he got glowing feedback.

boz · October 1, 2004 8:04AM

<< a pile of loose coins in a big envelope >>

lordmarcovan · October 1, 2004 11:33AM

<< a pile of loose coins in a big envelope

>>

Well, most of them are in flips, polybags, or 2X2's. I'll make an album, eventually.

<< How about a picture of little Vivctoria? >>

Better late than never, eh?

bosox · October 1, 2004 3:50PM

Rob,

If you want to upgrade, sort the Ebay coin list on British Honduras.

Regards,
Rob

lordmarcovan · October 10, 2004 10:05PM

Just added the Cyprus 9-piastre. Not surprisingly, from a seller in Cyprus. The coin isn't great looking and appears to have been cleaned- normally I'd have avoided it, but practically all of these 1901 Cyprus issues seem to come this way. Guess I can upgrade it later.

The seller listed it as VF+ but it looks more like F+ to me; borderline VF at best. If he'd said up front he was gonna charge $5.00 shipping, I may not have bid, but I figure it's worth the $10.50 I paid after shipping. (Krause says $12.50 in Fine and $40.00 in VF).

lordmarcovan · June 9, 2005 1:59PM

TTT to say thanks to Blackhawk for the pretty Hong Kong 5 cents. It was previously dipped but I don't care. It's a really pretty choice AU coin and the price was right (free!).

Thanks again, Blackhawk!

lordmarcovan · November 7, 2006 7:57PM

Upgrade to NGC MS63 pending for the HK 5c piece, if Filamcoins still has it.

TTT with Victoria's Halloween picture from 2006.

7Jaguars · November 8, 2006 1:12AM

LM - that was quite dramatic, that is the difference between scanner and photo. Thanks for that. Can you imagine how folks like Spink with their relatively ugly catalogue pics (see Colin Adams pennies and halfcrowns) would do with pictures of the lots like yours?

Congrats on a nice piece.

lordmarcovan · November 8, 2006 4:39AM

That Ceylon 1/4 cent? I bought it as a BU from an auction with a really poor picture. I think it's actually a proof. That guy got glowing feedback when I saw what it actually looked like. (Even my second picture doesn't do it justice- weird lighting).

7Jaguars · November 8, 2006 7:21AM

Yes, from the pics it has a lot of proof appearance with squarred edges, sharp strike and what looks to be some substantial "wiring" - plus why would they expend so much effort for an ordinary currency strike?

'06 Krause has the proof at 100.00 but hard to say what such would be worth & very nice in any case.

rhound1977 · November 8, 2006 8:25AM

<< Upgrade to NGC MS63 pending for the HK 5c piece, if Filamcoins still has it.

TTT with Victoria's Halloween picture from 2006.

>>

They grow up too fast don't they?

shirohniichan · November 8, 2006 9:17AM

I really should go through my stuff and dig out that 1901 Cyprus 9 piastres. I was thinking of having it slabbed by NGC, but I guess I'm too lazy after all.

lordmarcovan · November 8, 2006 11:46AM

<< '06 Krause has the proof at 100.00 but hard to say what such would be worth & very nice in any case. >>

Not a bad pickup for nine bucks and some change, then.

What's the grade on your Cyprus 9-piastre, Shiroh-san? I know what you mean about being too lazy to submit stuff. I still have three unused freebie PCGS submissions from 2004 FUN!

lordmarcovan · November 8, 2006 5:31PM

Just pulled the BIN trigger on this HK 10c, without referring to Krause or anything. True, the $7.50 S&H he's gonna hit me for with PayPal is gonna be a tad steep, but it is coming from Portugal, and he's probably trying to defray some of his PP fees. I don't begrudge that. At $23.50, how'd I do, assuming the coin to be a true UNC? Even if it is a slider, I'm okay with that, since I liked the look of the coin.

FilamCoins · November 8, 2006 8:45PM

Here's the 5c you just bought from me. Glad I could help with your daughter's collection!

shirohniichan · November 9, 2006 5:36AM

<< 

<< '06 Krause has the proof at 100.00 but hard to say what such would be worth & very nice in any case. >>

Not a bad pickup for nine bucks and some change, then.

What's the grade on your Cyprus 9-piastre, Shiroh-san? I know what you mean about being too lazy to submit stuff. I still have three unused freebie PCGS submissions from 2004 FUN!

>>

I think it's AU. The scan sucks, but the coin is nice.

lordmarcovan · November 9, 2006 9:09AM

Ooo. Lemme know if you ever wanna sell that.

lordmarcovan · November 22, 2009 3:59PM

Dusted off and resurrected for 2009, with pictures... finally!

After last year's layoff forced the sale of most of my Roman Imperial collection, this one moved from a back burner to a more active pursuit. It's still a work in progress, of course. Please let me know what you think, or if you see any glitches.

If you've the time to indulge me, check out the slideshow- I think the black-background pix look good in that format, and I think I might use it for some of my other sets. Todd ("blu62vette") did most of the pictures for me. There are of course a few coins that still lack pictures at the moment.

.

pendragon1998 · November 23, 2009 2:47AM

Rob, what a wonderful collection you've built! I really enjoyed the slide show - I even slowed it down so I could have longer for each coin. You've got a wonderful variety of coins there. I had a blast looking at it.

lordmarcovan · November 23, 2009 5:47PM

I appreciate it. I put a lot of work into it. It sat on a back burner for way too long- just a clump of disorganized coins in various bags and mailers, waiting for the day when they'd finally be photographed and assembled together. It was just a loose accumulation for the first three or four years, until I decided to attempt an actual collection of it five years ago when this thread was originally posted. It's taken that long to finally get it made into a proper collection. As I mentioned, losing my Roman collection made this one my primary focus for the time being.

Thanks.

gummibear · November 24, 2009 7:56AM

That is a really neat set you are doing for her. She is much cuter than the original Vicky.

lordmarcovan · March 2, 2010 4:03AM

Newp 3/1/10

The Vickie set gets its second piece of gold.

I also bought another India rupee, but it remains to be seen if that will be a keeper or not. Looks BU in the picture, but since it is in a Franklin Mint album page and the seller imaged the whole page, the coin picture is too small to make a grade determination.

lordmarcovan · March 9, 2010 1:04PM

New pictures added to the ones that didn't have any (thanks, Todd!)

Swampboy · March 9, 2010 3:41PM

A very enjoyable Show!
Well done.

goossen · March 9, 2010 9:20PM

Nice collection!!

icsoccer · March 11, 2010 12:51PM

lordmarcovan · March 25, 2010 9:26AM

Newp, 3/25/10.

This was sort of a lateral move.

Here is the previous Canadian 5c I had (ex-ICCS EF40).

I recently "upgraded" it, and purchased the coin below. Actually, the coin I bought was technically a bit of a downgrade, but I liked the toning on it. The new coin might not be as original and is a teeny-tiny bit lower grade and has some hits on the reverse, BUT, I liked the apparent eye appeal on it, so I'm going with that one until I have the money to step up to a slabbed MS example.

I paid 27 bucks for the new coin, which I reckon is about right. What do you think?

lordmarcovan · January 10, 2011 2:15PM

Pending upgrade (thanks to HTubbs, who's letting me "trade up" a notch)

I'll be going from this (NGC MS63)

To this (NGC MS64).

lordmarcovan · February 10, 2013 4:22PM

This set has long been in need of some housekeeping and dusting off.

I'm now 11-1/2 years into it, since Victoria was born in 2001.

Recently I sold the 1901 Canadian 5c piece, because, though pretty, it was never slabbable, and the collection turned the corner towards being a slabbed set a little while ago. I likewise parted with a very nice Indian rupee because it was in an NGC "details" holder. The British Honduras 50c above is also in a problem slab, and though I like its looks generally, I've only hung onto it because it would likely be a booger to replace.

My current musing is whether or not I should abandon the "1901 snapshot" aspect of the collection entirely, and go for a more freestyle Victoria collection in general, to include other dates and countries. If I did, I wouldn't have to focus on tougher stuff like upgrading the Canadian 50c, adding the British full sovereign from 1901, getting those tough Cyprus small denominations, or finding a 1901 Straits Settlements 50c that I could both like and afford (a tall order).

If I abandoned my 1901-only stance, I could then downsize the collection, maybe even so far as a "box of twenty", keeping my favorites but making the focus more on quality in general rather than zooming in on just that one particular year. I'd probably go for a few more pieces of gold, as they'd likely be a good thing to have tucked away once Victoria Hope comes of age and it's time to sell the collection to pay for her college textbooks or wedding or whatever.

What do you think? She won't care- the decision is in my hands, since she's not got the numismatic bug. It's her collection, but mine to tinker with until she grows up. I guess you could call me the "administrator" of the collection.

So... should I get out the pruning shears? Downsize and consolidate? Or stay the course and remain in 1901?

(Hmm. Maybe even a Registry set. Note to self: check the Registry possibilities for Queen Victoria coinage...)

~*~*~ The Victoria Hope British Empire Collection ~*~*~

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~~~ The Victoria Hope British Empire Collection ~~~