Favorite addition would have to be this freshly minted little guy:
Coins wise, while my focus continues to be directed towards new and some previously undocumented varieties in Mexico portrait 8 Reales series, here are 3 additions that give me that warm and fuzzy feeling:
First one was an eBay gamble based on poor seller's photos that paid off and an over-assayer variety to boot!
1801 Mexico 8R FT/M P63 ex:N63
Second is an ex-Huntington sale 1808 Ferdinand VII from @Senator32 in P58
And the most recent addition from @Boosibri of a nice toned 1779 8R in P63
@Abuelo said:
Favourite coins for 2020? Too early to say...
Normally I'd agree with that, but with no shows and having already searched through upcoming auction listings, I'm going to go ahead and award my favorite purchase of the year to this 1926 Guatemala 10 Quetzales, purchased as NGC MS63, now PCGS MS63+, ex. Clapp/Eliasberg. I will be pleasantly surprised if I find something better in the next 6 weeks.
My favorite acquisition of this year was a Dutch sharpshooters medal struck during the art nouveau period.
All my other favorites probably have been posted, already. However, this Bayreuth taler only shared the spotlight with two other sister coins. The coin is heavily graffitied, but its engraver, Peter Paul Werner, is of note.
Honors flysis Income beezis Onches nobis Inob keesis
This is like asking me to select a favourite within my children but so far (as I have a couple of coins on the way) these are my 2020 coins (in no particular order):
I would say that the Iturbide 2 reales is the most important as it is very rare, nearly impossible in MS, and I was looking for one for decades. But all of these have a special reason to be on the list and I could not eliminate any of them. And as I said, likely will add to the list as the year is not over.
I bought other coins that I like a lot (I only recall ever buying and keeping one coin that I did not like as I needed it to complete a series) but there were not rare enough or historically significant enough to make it to the list.
Really nice example of a Japanese Trade Dollar for the world chopmarked crowns type set. Nearly PL reverse:
Beautiful example of a chopmarked Pillar 8 Reales:
A previously untracked example of a Cap & Rays 8 Reales with a 'Wedding Chop', plated in the first reference work on the subject in English, F.M. Rose's 'Chopmarks':
1930 Canada cent in PCGS SP66 Red. Ex. Cornerstone Collection. Only five examples graded by PCGS. ICCS graded it as SP-67 Red in an old embossed holder. Solo finest graded by both services.
Numismatic author & owner of the Uncommon Cents collections. 2011 Fred Bowman award winner, 2020 J. Douglas Ferguson award winner, & 2022 Paul Fiocca award winner.
@bosox said:
1930 Canada cent in PCGS SP66 Red. Ex. Cornerstone Collection. Only five examples graded by PCGS. ICCS graded it as SP-67 Red in an old embossed holder. Solo finest graded by both services.
As a Canadian the red large and small cents are things of beauty. I also like very much the 50 cent series from 1921 and earlier.
Most of my pickups this year (for my core collections) are modern and probably would not interest most of you, so I won't post them. (But modern patterns are generally rarer than some of the old ones because of tighter security.)
Here is probably the most historic item I purchased this year. You may recognize it's sister from the Buttrey-Hubbard catalog. This one was unknown to the Mexican numismatic community until recently.
Here's the Heritage catalog description:
Republic Presentation Coin Case 1879, An amazing custom case with golden central plaque detailing the gift of the case from J.A. de Mendizabal to Francisca Temple de Ajuria to in 1879. At this time Francisca, and Jonathan Temple's widow, controlled the lease of the Mexico City mint, previously held by her father, Jonathan Temple de Ajuria, until his death in 1866. During the time of her lease (in 1879) Francisca was given this case by the Director of the Mint, Jose Antonio de Mendizabal, the case presumably containing silver and copper coins dated 1879 and gold coins dated 1872-75. Extremely rare.
One other case is known and is pictured on page 250 of A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, issued by Whitman Publishing Company in 1971. The pictured case, however, is somewhat different from the one we offer, in particular in the style of the flowers on the lid and the round shape of the gold plaque in the center of the outside cover. The other case was also awarded to a different individual than Francisca Temple de Ajuria.
While our case does not contain the coins that it originally held, it remains, with the other similar case, a fantastic historical item of Mexican numismatics, and comes housed in the original velvet case that protects its fabulous detailing, replete with delicate flowers, small stars, and an overall floral pattern.
Edited to add: there were no coins inside. A nice project would be to add toned UNC specimens of each of them, including the gold.
The setting up of other roads To travel on in old accustomed ways I still remember the talks by the water The proud sons and daughter That knew the knowledge of the land Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways
@bosox said:
1930 Canada cent in PCGS SP66 Red. Ex. Cornerstone Collection. Only five examples graded by PCGS. ICCS graded it as SP-67 Red in an old embossed holder. Solo finest graded by both services.
Amazing piece!
Yorkshireman,Obsessed collector of round, metallic pieces of history.Hunting for Latin American colonial portraits plus cool US & British coins.
Comments
.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Here are my three for the year.
Those are pretty cool @KingOfMorganDollar
One of these days I'll have to add some escudos to the collection, too.
@jimhopkins1919 nice coins! Do you have any info on the Habsburg Collection?
8 Reales Madness Collection
Thanks!, I won that in a Stacks Bowers auction back in August. Here is a write up from them about it.
http://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=Habsburgs-Unending-Empire
Got the one I wanted the most but wish I had bid higher on a couple more.
Favorite addition would have to be this freshly minted little guy:
Coins wise, while my focus continues to be directed towards new and some previously undocumented varieties in Mexico portrait 8 Reales series, here are 3 additions that give me that warm and fuzzy feeling:
First one was an eBay gamble based on poor seller's photos that paid off and an over-assayer variety to boot!
1801 Mexico 8R FT/M P63 ex:N63

Second is an ex-Huntington sale 1808 Ferdinand VII from @Senator32 in P58

And the most recent addition from @Boosibri of a nice toned 1779 8R in P63

8 Reales Madness Collection
These are mine:



I had been wanting a proof of this type for a while. I'm glad I got the opportunity to get this one.
Oh, and this one too.
I'm hoping next year I'll have a couple more small eagle German Empire types.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Favourite coins for 2020? Too early to say...
Normally I'd agree with that, but with no shows and having already searched through upcoming auction listings, I'm going to go ahead and award my favorite purchase of the year to this 1926 Guatemala 10 Quetzales, purchased as NGC MS63, now PCGS MS63+, ex. Clapp/Eliasberg. I will be pleasantly surprised if I find something better in the next 6 weeks.
My favorite acquisition of this year was a Dutch sharpshooters medal struck during the art nouveau period.
All my other favorites probably have been posted, already. However, this Bayreuth taler only shared the spotlight with two other sister coins. The coin is heavily graffitied, but its engraver, Peter Paul Werner, is of note.
DPOTD
Like @TwoKopeiki, my best new addition is a new family addition!
For coins, and in no order:
A Coquimbo Peso

A unique 4 escudos from the Medina and Norweb collections.

Finest extant of rarest dated Guatemalan 8 Reales

Latin American Collection
Congratulations to @Boosibri and @TwoKopeiki on the new babies.
@mvs7 I do not know, the last week has been full of interesting additions to my collection, and there still few weeks to improve on those
This is like asking me to select a favourite within my children
but so far (as I have a couple of coins on the way) these are my 2020 coins (in no particular order):
I would say that the Iturbide 2 reales is the most important as it is very rare, nearly impossible in MS, and I was looking for one for decades. But all of these have a special reason to be on the list and I could not eliminate any of them. And as I said, likely will add to the list as the year is not over.
I bought other coins that I like a lot (I only recall ever buying and keeping one coin that I did not like as I needed it to complete a series) but there were not rare enough or historically significant enough to make it to the list.
The picture on the Carlos Juana real is not that great, but the coin is incredible on hand.
@Abuelo I'm just happy you're not collecting portraits
8 Reales Madness Collection
Soon enough @TwoKopeiki soon enough
@Boosibri has been tempting me. Maybe he will succeed?
Got a couple nice Wildman Talers from NYINC auctions last year. Here is one I really like:

And no idea why I have this coin except it is beautiful!

And then this coin which needs better pics - currently out for grading and TV.


My current "Box of 20"
It's difficult to pick one coin or token from 2020. Here's a top candidate, however. I am drawn to the more remote reaches of world numismatics.
30 Sous Mallorca emergency issue during Yellow Fever epidemic.
https://bishopricquid.com/
Really nice example of a Japanese Trade Dollar for the world chopmarked crowns type set. Nearly PL reverse:
Beautiful example of a chopmarked Pillar 8 Reales:
A previously untracked example of a Cap & Rays 8 Reales with a 'Wedding Chop', plated in the first reference work on the subject in English, F.M. Rose's 'Chopmarks':
hopefully I be posting in this thread once I acquire the next great engravers release from royal mint 🤞🤞🤞
1930 Canada cent in PCGS SP66 Red. Ex. Cornerstone Collection. Only five examples graded by PCGS. ICCS graded it as SP-67 Red in an old embossed holder. Solo finest graded by both services.
http://www.victoriancent.com
As a Canadian the red large and small cents are things of beauty. I also like very much the 50 cent series from 1921 and earlier.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Two purchases which were well beyond my wildest expectations 12 months ago.


Nor patterns!
Most of my pickups this year (for my core collections) are modern and probably would not interest most of you, so I won't post them. (But modern patterns are generally rarer than some of the old ones because of tighter security.)
Here is probably the most historic item I purchased this year. You may recognize it's sister from the Buttrey-Hubbard catalog. This one was unknown to the Mexican numismatic community until recently.
Here's the Heritage catalog description:
Republic Presentation Coin Case 1879, An amazing custom case with golden central plaque detailing the gift of the case from J.A. de Mendizabal to Francisca Temple de Ajuria to in 1879. At this time Francisca, and Jonathan Temple's widow, controlled the lease of the Mexico City mint, previously held by her father, Jonathan Temple de Ajuria, until his death in 1866. During the time of her lease (in 1879) Francisca was given this case by the Director of the Mint, Jose Antonio de Mendizabal, the case presumably containing silver and copper coins dated 1879 and gold coins dated 1872-75. Extremely rare.
One other case is known and is pictured on page 250 of A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, issued by Whitman Publishing Company in 1971. The pictured case, however, is somewhat different from the one we offer, in particular in the style of the flowers on the lid and the round shape of the gold plaque in the center of the outside cover. The other case was also awarded to a different individual than Francisca Temple de Ajuria.
While our case does not contain the coins that it originally held, it remains, with the other similar case, a fantastic historical item of Mexican numismatics, and comes housed in the original velvet case that protects its fabulous detailing, replete with delicate flowers, small stars, and an overall floral pattern.
Edited to add: there were no coins inside. A nice project would be to add toned UNC specimens of each of them, including the gold.
@pruebas as always, this is fantastic!
Almost embarrassed to post my favorites after seeing all of the amazing eye candy posted before me. But, here goes...
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My sets: [280+ horse coins] :: [France Sowers] :: [Colorful world copper] :: [Beautiful world coins]
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I think your coins fit right in!
8 Reales Madness Collection
They look fantastic. Glad those coins found the right home!
My current "Box of 20"
Had a great year in pruning yet adding some nice pieces. Here are a few
Two types
My favorite coin purchase for the year.
Conder Token Gallery https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMCiunai6NjOxoo3zREkCsAnNm4vONzieO3u7tHyhm8peZmRD_A0MXmnWT2dzJ-nw?key=Rlo2YklUSWtEY1NWc3BfVm90ZEUwU25jLUZueG9n
1226-1293 Modena Grosso NGC MS62:
Not the swiss coin type I've been targeting forever but a great coin still. 1811 Bern Frank PCGS MS66.

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My sets: [280+ horse coins] :: [France Sowers] :: [Colorful world copper] :: [Beautiful world coins]
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This is a nice one. Definitely my favorite Darkside pickup this year.


My YouTube Channel
Bought raw off eBay March and submitted to PCGS shortly after.
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
amazing stuff everyone!!!
Many members on this forum that now it cannot fit in my signature. Please ask for entire list.
Not my best purchase of the year, but one I had a picture of.
Cool coin. The 58 on that thing is certainly...interesting.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
A major one for the core collection
And a nice design for my eclectic world crown set
.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Not a beauty, but not bad either and EXCESSIVELY rare - unknown until recent discovery:
Also not confirmed until this last year and extremely rare in Circulation or currency format:
Top Pop, but a beauty IMO:
Well, just Love coins, period.
From Liege Bishopric. 1438 A.D. Double Gros Lev. II-8
IOh EPS LEODIEH DX BULLO Z COM LOS
AHNO DOMINI MILLESIO CCCCXXXVIII
From Brabant, Malines mint. 1488 A.D. Demi Noble d'or Lev. II-101b
MO RO RE Z Phl ARDVC AVS BVRGOEN BRA
REFORMATIO GVERRE PAX EST ANNO 1&88
From Brabant, Malines mint. !488 A.D. Demi Noble d'or Lev. II-101a
MO RO RE Z Phl ARDVC AVS BG BRA Z LIM
REFORMATIO GVERRE PAX EST ANNO 1&88
These are recent auction wins. I hope the forum enjoys them.
Merry Christmas!! Stay Safe!
This is the only coin I bought in 2020, so I guess it's my favorite buy of the year:
Ivan the Terrible Kopeck (1547-1584), Novgorod mint.
Steve
To travel on in old accustomed ways
I still remember the talks by the water
The proud sons and daughter
That knew the knowledge of the land
Spoke to me in sweet accustomed ways
I'm seeing a pattern here...
Charles III Album
Charles III Portrait Set
Charles IV Album
Charles IV Portrait Set
Spanish Colonial Pillar Set
1966 small beads Canada Dollar

is wrongly described in the NGC holder as Large beads!!
Some great looking coins you have there!
Latin American Collection
I don't see a single one.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
8 Reales Madness Collection
Amazing piece!