2024 Year in Review: Post your favorite acquisitions
Boosibri
Posts: 12,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
When I reflect on 2024, it feels like a down year for me in terms of meaningful acquisitions. But, when I go through what I have acquired, I can't complain one bit about adding several meaningful coins to my collection. Personally, I think the last few years have spoiled me in terms of great collections coming to market, and the opportunities offered to my by the few dealers that I work with. In retrospect, I would call 2024 a very good year following a run of great years.
There are five coins that I added which I would call meaningful additions to my core set. I enjoy the research of these coins as much as I do the ownership. Many of these coins I have posted census or historical information on, linked below:
1868 Chile Copper Patter Peso ex. James B Longacre, PF66. Acquired from CNG's sale post ANA.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1107300/1868-chile-copper-proof-peso
1794 Netherlands West Indies 3 Gulden, ex. Lissner, MS63. Acquired in the March Schulman sale with the help of MrEureka. A rare (about 20 known) crown made for the West Indies Company destined for Curacao.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1103045/the-1794-dutch-west-indies-3-gulden-acquisition-and-the-census
1914 El Salvador Proof Peso, PF64, ex. Millennia.
1867 Paraguay 10 Reales, PR55. From MrEureka
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1106541/the-curious-case-of-the-1867-paraguay-10-reales
1891 Dominican Republic 5 Francos. MS65 ex. Rudman and @bidask. This coin arrived the first week of January, and I completely forget that this is a 2024 acquisition.
A few other adds to make it an even 10 coins added this year:
Emergency Dollar on a rare host from the Cope Collection
MS Chilean Volcano which becomes very difficult post 1822. This is a slightly modified type vs. the earlier dates.
Colorful and high graded Peru 5 Pesetas
MS66+ Chilean Condor
Finally, I reacquired the only MS Jamaican 6S 8P which was included as part of a deal on one of the best coins I bought last year, the silver proof Chilean Condor.
Comments
A coin from Mongolia:
Mongolia 50 Mongo 1925 (Year 15)
Silver, 27.0 mm, 9.98 gm
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
I had a great year looking back. My acquisitions had it all for me, rarities, oddities, provenance, tough dates, and gold.
The 1832 provisional 2 reales and the 1829 Estado de Guatemala 1 real are both rare issues that I'm happy to have examples of.
The 1832 CAR 2 reales and the 1828 8 reales are tougher dates and I'm particularly happy with the appearance of the 8 reales.
The SP Rutherford coin is extremely pleasing in hand, and features evidence of repunched digits in the date and legend that I haven't found many other examples of.
The counterstamped 8 reales is still a mystery to me, and one I'm hoping to solve as time goes on.
Finally my most recent acquisition, and last of the year is a gold escudo. As just the second gold coin in my collection, it marked a new denomination for me.
2024 is the fifth full year I've focused on collecting Central American Republic coins. On the one hand I've clearly accomplished quite a bit, but at the same time I feel as though I've just scratched the surface in terms of what there is to learn about and collect. This is what makes it so fun to pursue for me and I'm looking forward to many more years like this one, if I can manage to keep finding coins!
In no particular order, my top 6 for the year.
Beautiful selection of coins gentlemen!!!
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These are some of the ones bought this year...
2024 was a great year!!!
I purchased a little over an ounce of gold a long while back (years ago) and sold it at the more recent highs. Took the money and purchased a dream coin that came up for sale. For someone that has a small collecting budget like myself this is a big purchase. Buying a coin of this value will not happen very often in my collecting years/decades to come or maybe never again. The coin now resides in my bank vault with a few other of my favourite coins.
As most of you know I collect only early milled 1 reales (Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Jamaica and Colombia) so without question adding this 1760 Colombia 1 Real (14 to 15 examples known) is a big accomplishment:
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Editing sucks it deleted my original post but was able to re-list the post for my 1760 Colombia 1 real pick up. I apologize to those that left likes.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
I acquired two major additions. The first was my Canada 1908-C sovereign in PCGS SP-65. I previously posted pics of it in another thread here.
I also just got this Canada cent. The pics are taken through a CCCS plastic grading flip, so they are not the best. It will go off to PCGS soon. 1859 Canada cent, Double Punched Narrow 9, Type 3 (DPN9 #3) in CCCS MS-62RB (hopefully goes 62 Brown at PCGS). Not the prettiest cent you'll ever see, but a scarce variety overall and rare in this condition. PCGS has only graded 22 of these in total and none above AU-55.
http://www.victoriancent.com
I had another great year and spent way too much money.
Prices haven't deterred my buying of rare coins that I need for my collections! Tangible investments have a great future, especially when they are also your passion.
The year started out at Stacks with two varieties of Mexico Late Series 2 Maravedis from the Syd Martin Collection. I now have 3 of the 4 varieties.
Then, a great coin from the Goldbergs, the finest currently known at NGC MS65: 1733 MoMF 8R ex. Patterson, Canaparo, Millennia, & Peh. A fairly common coin in a very uncommon condition. Thanks goes to @MrEureka for flying out west and sitting through a long, slow auction for this one.
The fun continued at the Stacks Americana sale where I upgraded my silver First Steam Coinage medal (USA):
And added a unique obverse die trial for the (Soho Mint) Myddelton Token (USA) ex Richard Margolis and the plate in his monograph on this token. (I had good bids on 30-40 of Margolis' French coins, but ended up with only 1. VERY strong prices on those.)
The EMO Collection Auction at the ANA provided another few goodies. The extremely rare 1824 Zacatecas cuartilla in fantastic condition, albeit with a planchet crack:
Picked up my earliest-dated silver (presentation) cuartilla, another Zacatecas piece:
And picked up a high-grade, very rare private cuartilla pattern:
I ended the year with the finest currently known 1873-Mo 5 Peso copper off-metal strike:
There was a LOT of cool stuff in between, but I won't bore you all with them.
There are a few "secret" pieces that I'm not going to reveal until they have been certified.
Overall not a shabby year, and one which will be hard to best.
I think 2025 will be a net-selling year for me.
Holy shit, guys. You don't disappoint.
Great addition, everyone!
8 Reales Madness Collection
WOW Pruebas!!! It is like looking at museum quality coins. Thanks for sharing.
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Great looking 1859!!! Please share the 1908-C that coin I believe has a mintage of only 636 (2nd rarest Canadian Sovereign only to the famous 1916-C).
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
http://www.victoriancent.com
A somewhat slow year for me in terms of acquisitions too, but I ramped up in the back half of the year; lower volume, but strong highlights. All chopmarked pieces, as it's been my main focus for nearly a decade now.
(1894) Guatemala C/S on an 1871 Peru Sol
(1589-98)-Mo Mexico Cob Four Reales. Currently the oldest chopmarked coin known to me.
1824-Mo Mexico 'Hookneck' Eight Reales. One of two known chopmarked examples of the type, and the far more convincingly chopped example of the pair.
1866 Colombia Peso. Currently a unique example with chops, and beautifully preserved.
1808 India (Madras Presidency) Half Pagoda Overstrike. Another unique host, on a historically interesting type!
Amazing how all those coins from around the world traveled to China in (I assume) the 19th Century.
The Indian coin is awesome.
I'd like to have a high-grade denomination set of the Jamaican countermarked pillars, but only the 5P is probably within my price range. Especially the AU 4R in the NGC census, though don't know what it looks like.
Based on surviving cobs and period records, chopmarks seem to have been in vogue in China by 1625 or so. Any host predating 1600 is rare, but cobs from the late 1610s and early 1620s are quite well known.
One of my goals for 2025 Peru with Jamaica countermarked 1 real. I think they exist for 1757 and 1758 I could be wrong?
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Some really neat coins in this thread. 2024 was a net downsizing year for me, but I did pick up a handful.
Władysław II the Exile, Denar, 1140s. So tiny, yet detailed. Similar but smaller and better made than a contemporary English penny.
1711/2 Taler NGC 63. This one may be my favorite of the year.
1626 Halberstadt Taler.
My current "Box of 20"
I'm not aware of a host coin dated after 1758, though it could be any year prior to that. The two you list are the ones I have seen most often, and presumably the most common.
Norway 1902 2KR purchased raw and graded by our host. I think this is my first Norwegian coin that I have posted. I suspect some might wonder if there was a fear of getting a Details grade for possibly AT. I suppose there are those moments one can just throw caution to the wind and allow the subjective nature of grading run its course.
1735 GB Shilling purchased raw and graded by our host. The George II Young Head Shillings can be difficult to find in MS. This example looks original with some very lite haymarks- mentioned only for the sake of accuracy.
1798 GB Guinea purchased raw and graded by our host. I rarely find and buy British gold as I am not actively seeking it. On occasion a gold coin surfaces whereby an exception is made. This is one of those rare occurrences as it is only the second British gold coin I have submitted. 1798 is the most available date for the series in MS.
The submission came back yesterday- The time was faster than I was expecting. I suppose the TV images might create an interesting side discussion. Selecting favorites is not one of my strengths- I thought these choices would be of interest.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Thanks. I will aim for those 2 first. Hopefully one in 2025 and another in 2026. Those 2 may be the only ones I can buy is the rarer once cost a lot more.
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I've seen 1753-1758 but the 1752 probably wasn't used due to the much lower mintage.
It’s not a competition. Everyone’s collection and acquisitions are unique and reflect their own style. There is no right or wrong, better or worse.
@pruebas
Agreed that it is not a competition… it’s just that this has been the year of raw acquisitions followed by submissions to our host-20 arrived today.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
We are all from different social classes. No shame we buy what we can. I happen to be on the lower budget side myself but that is OK.
I have a home to pay for and lots of bills and taxes as well. I am grateful to even be able to have a hobby I enjoy.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
Wow - some exceptional coins in this thread!
I was able to get examples of two of my favorite Mexican coins this year - a Buelna Carrasco sand cast peso, from an 1897 Culiacán 8 reales, and a counterstamped 1 real attributed to Vicente Guerrero's insurgent forces:
Are you taking bets?
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
OK, what do you have for sale???
Some of my favourite purchases this year. Reinvesting in my business next year but I'm sure that there'll be a coin or two bought.
Best wishes for 2025 everyone!!
Edit: not sure why the coins are not in order that I selected them. Getting ready to take kids to soccer match soon so enjoy the coins all the same
Peace
This coin is probably my best purchase of the year.
Thaler of 1704 for the death of Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Elisabeth-Julia. A memorable rare thaler with an interesting history.
Lots of activity this year. Here are a few.
Taler Custom Set
Ancient Custom Set
This has been quite an enjoyable thread, well done everyone!
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Amazing coin from Nurnberg. It is almost impossible to believe that a coin more than 340 years old could have survived in this condition. Congratulations! It is beautiful.
Added a few but probably my favorite. 1842 D RM 1/2 over 8 real.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Jim Elliot
Here are a few of my top additions for 2024:
Carthage 5 shekel / dekadrachm:
Decadrachm, Carthage circa 260, AR 38.04 g. Head of Tanit (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing barley wreath and earring. Rev. Pegasus flying r.; below, b'rst (in the land) in Punic characters. Kraay-Hirmer 211. SNG Fitzwilliam 1512 (this obverse die). SNG Lloyd 1665 (this obverse die). Jenkins, Punic Sicily IV, series 6, 446 (this coin), published 1972. Giacosa, Uomo e cavallo, pl. lxxxvii (this reverse illustrated), published 1971. Ex "Collection Y" (Jenkins); Ex NAC 9, 1996, 290; Leu 83, 2002, 129 and NAC 114, 2019, 109.
I've been trying to buy this exact coin since 2018 when I viewed upcoming lots in an NAC sale and was blown away by it in-hand. I was unfortunately outbid in the 2019 sale and thought it would be permanently off the market. But, it then resurfaced in 2023 (second chances!) but, alas, I was outbid again.
I've tried to buy a few others in the interim, including underbidding the cover coin at Noonans earlier this year. I realistically wouldn't have been happy enough with that coin and it ended up selling for nearly as much as this coin did last year. So, I assumed I was out of luck.
I later learned that a collector/dealer friend bought the NAC coin in 2023 and while it took some convincing (and profit) to get him to agree to sell it, I was able to buy it from him and finally cross it off my list.
This coin is in uncommonly fine style and condition. There's a lot to say about it artistically but most notable are the dotted border being used as a necklace with the engraver "painting outside the lines". The reverse is equally well-executed with individual hairs visible on the Pegasus and a remarkable 3D effect in the top portion of the wing.
So, while it took three tries, I did finally manage to bring the coin home!
Galba sestertius:
Ex. Sangiorgi sale 7th May 1906 Sarti, lot 97; Ex. Glendining November 16, 1977 lot 21; Ex. NAC Auction 18 March 29, 2000 lot 462
This coin was a private purchase and a pleasant surprise. It has a stunning portrait of Galba and a very artistic reverse, with remarkable metal quality throughout. I bought it without any pedigree but it looked like it should have one: I have since tracked it back over 100 years.
Judaea Capta aureus from the Boscoreale hoard:
Ex Samel Collection (Künker 334, 17 March 2020), lot 2285; Leu 22 (8 May 1979), lot 225; Leo Biaggi de Blasys Collection, purchased from M. Ratto in 1952; Boscoreale Hoard of 1895.
A friend bought this coin in an auction right as the COVID lockdowns began and I was always hoping it would find its way back to market. He later found several great pedigrees and ended up selling it along with the rest of his coins. I was absolutely thrilled to buy it - it's dripping in history: Boscoreale, an incredibly historic moment in history, and a very refined portrait of Vespasian.
Circus Maximus sestertius:
Ex. Sternberg VII, Nov 24 1977, lot 713; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts, "Publication 4" Fixed Price List. January 1978; Ex. NFA XVIII lot 51
This is a classic case of a coin coming completely out of the blue. I was at the ANA show in August, walking around booths, somewhat resenting paying the exorbitant Early Bird fee as many dealers weren't set up. I made it all the way to the back of the room, well past the academic exhibits and organizations, into the nosebleed section where people were set up selling storage supplies and overpriced hotdogs.
Lo and behold, there was a lone dealer selling a handful of ancients... including this coin! I asked him if the numbers on his ticket were references or a pedigree: he didn't know. I opted to buy it anyway and brought it home to do some further research.
Claudius De Britann aureus, Ex Boscoreale and Sir Arthur Evans
From the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, private sale (30 July 2005), lot 758328; Sir Arthur Evans Collection (Ars Classica, Auction XVII, 3 October 1934), lot 1251; Bourgey (2 March 1925), lot 124.
I've been an underbidder on the last several DE BRITANN aurei and could never quite justify pushing higher as the recent coins have been lacking in one way or another. This coin showed up at auction and I knew I had to put in a strong bid: the Boscoreale toning and pedigree to Sir Arthur Evans made it a perfect fit for me, even if it's a quarter grade lower than some other coins.
This rare issue depicts the triumphal Arch of Claudius, commissioned in AD 43, dedicated in AD 51. It was a conversion of one of the arches of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct where it crossed the Via Flaminia. The arch no longer exists, but a fragment of the inscription is housed in the Capitoline Museum.
Aegypto Capta denarius:
Ex Tkalec 9th May 2011, 134; NGSA 7, 2012, 323 and Kúnker 270, 8549 sales
A second "Capta" for the year. I was first offered this coin in 2011 and passed because of how strong the price was. I was kicking myself because it later sold for much more and I assumed it would be impossible to buy. It then came up earlier this year as part of the wonderful "Dioscuri" collection and I knew this was finally the time to jump on it. I ended up paying less than I was originally offered in 2011 so I made the right choice to wait.
SmEagle1795:
I really like the coin with the crocodile. The others are great coins but that one draws me in.
NFL: Buffalo Bills & Green Bay Packers
I bought too many coins in 2024. It is not possible to list them all here. Just list some of them.
UK Mated pair mint error.
China Republic founder Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Medallion Plaque. Ca. 1925
I stuck to the German States focus this year. In order of purchase.
1732 Mainz 1/4 sede vacante taler (NGC MS-62)
1632 Lubeck 1/2 taler (NGC AU-58)
1638 Metz taler (NGC AU-53)
1666 Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1/4 taler - Death of August II (NGC AU-58)
1666 Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1/2 taler - Death of August II (NGC MS-61)
1688 Munster sede vacante taler (NGC AU-58)
I have to say 2024 was a rough year for me in coins. There were a handful of factors which meant I had substantially less budget to spend and I also lost more selling coins this past year than ever before. Most losses were due to a lack of focus and constant shifting. I have struggled to branch out into new areas of collecting. Each time I decided on a new set or bought a new coin, I would invariably feel buyers remorse after the purchase. I also bought a handful of coins which were borderline and ended with problems. All for the sake of chasing a set I just wasn't pleased with building. At the end of the day I just struggle to have middle of the road coins that are scarce. I am a type set builder at heart and I enjoy seeing early high grade coins even when they are parts of a hoard or just common in high grade. My biggest take away is really that I am happiest when collecting shillings. I don't have the funds to meaningfully collect another series in a similar way and for as long as that is true those sets will be failures.
Here's the coins I bought this year I am proud of, felt no buyers remorse for, and gave me the most satisfaction to acquire.
This first coin is a 1920 George V British Shilling in PCGS MS65. 1920 was the first year that the UK dropped down to 50% silver coinage and as a side effect they weren't experienced with the makeup of the planchets. The 1920s in general are marred with planchet and striking issues. These impact the quality of coinage available. I have owned it seems 7 different 1920s graded MS62. I spent an unreasonable amount of effort chasing them and ending up with duds each time. I finally found an MS64+ in an NGC slab. I cracked and sent it to PCGS and it graded MS65. A great upgrade for my set. This fixed an clear outlier in the quality of the set raising the lowest graded coin from a MS62 to MS64. Still work to be done yet but that particular date can finally be put to rest.
This beautiful coin came to me almost immediately after I purchased one in NGC MS65 that downgraded to PCGS MS64. I agreed with the grade and though it was very flashy looked forward to finding a replacement. CRO listed this on his site and I absolutely loved it. Graded MS66 by NGC I was fortunate for an easy cross to PCGS MS66. Everything I could want with a type example. Beautiful toning and a grade near the top of what's available.
This coin was listed at Spink and I was able to win it for quite a bit under my max bid. My prior example was an XF45 and this made for a great looking upgrade. These are very difficult coins to find and nearly impossible in MS. I will mention an MS62 came to market this year. Perhaps the first one in a decade to come available. I was the under bidder at $7k on it but just couldn't bid a cent more. This will be an example I upgrade one day but for the time being it's a great looking piece. Graded PCGS AU55.
This final example was the last coin I bought this year and one of the toughest coins for my set. I have chased several of these before at auction and just couldn't manage to win one in the grade I wanted. I could not be more happy with the win. This example elevates all of my Shilling type set and I've no intention to ever upgrade it. Last sold in 1898 it sat lovingly in a private collection for 43 years before it's owner passed. Since then it has sat patiently waiting for it's new owner to arrive. A lot of great coins from that collection. This will be one of my only Pedigreed coins that feel significant.
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Clio:
I found after decades of shifting from sports cards, comic books, stamps and coins that if you buy the key item to a series then build around that item you will likely last much longer at what you collect. I gave up on all those except coins and purchased the key date to a series and it has been 2-3 years since then and I would now never go back to that cycle of shifting here and there ever again.
If you cannot afford the key coin to a series in my opinion do not collect that series ever. You are most likely to quit just like many do with T206 baseball cards and the Big 4 in that set. I know I collected T206 for about a year at some point and just realized I will never be happy without the Wagner, Doyle error and Plank cards (figured I could own a Magie error at some point since it was not that expensive back then) so I gave up.
So build around a trophy coin is now my philosophy.
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I was happy to be able to get two rare coins, design Alex Shagin:
Coinsof1984@martinb6830 on twitter