The 2003 Darkside Museum

Darkhorse · December 12, 2003 8:09AM

It's the end of another year, lets see the haul! Post your top 5 fave coins you've gotten this year for all to indulge in!

I will begin:
The list is in no particular order. But I put the 1971 toner at the top 'cuz it's purty. I'm not usually into the toned stuff but this coin was eye-catching, as opposed to the thousands of other coins like it collecting dust in coin shops across Canada that are just plain white.

Up next is the 1939 Canadian Royal Visit Medal. This was made by the RCM and this BU silver version is affordable and attractive.

Britannias take this spot. I finally got a whole set of 'em this year.

To commemorate my trip to Australia I picked this puppy up in Melbourne.

The wacky 20 cent Italian piece from the early 20th century sure is interesting. This piece narrowly beat out my tiny Frankfurt 1939 Kreuzer. But the Kreuzer lost marks for its somewhat archaic obverse and because it isn't as photogenic.

cosmicdebris · December 12, 2003 8:17AM

lordmarcovan · December 12, 2003 8:23AM

You're a man of discerning taste, Phil.

For my small personal collection, excluding dealer inventory,
I would choose #1, #2, #3, #5, and #7 in this pic:

laurentyvan · December 12, 2003 8:38AM

Well, I'm left without words... and as usual, without pictures.

Aethelred · December 12, 2003 9:13AM

In random order:

1786 Guinea AU-53

1816 Halfcrown AU-58

1812 Three Shilling MS-63

1804 Third Guinea AU-53

1799 Farthing MS-63 RB

Oh, and they are all in slabs!

ajaan · December 12, 2003 9:15AM

Nice 1799 Farthing.

Aethelred · December 12, 2003 9:17AM

<< <i>Nice 1799 Farthing. >>

It looks better in person, but you already know that!

lordmarcovan · December 12, 2003 9:18AM

Nice Bullhead halfcrown.

Whoever spotted that one for you must have a really good eye.

harasha · December 12, 2003 9:48AM

No pictures, but here is my list:

Half Crown Elizabeth I
1927 S US Quarter
George I Crown
1825 Vatican Scudo
George II Crown

Aethelred · December 12, 2003 9:49AM

<< <i>Whoever spotted that one for you must have a really good eye. >>

Just one?

coinkat · December 12, 2003 10:24AM

sorry but I have no scans and I'll stick to the dark side...no order

1662 Charles II Crown S-3351

1820 George IV 1/2 Crown

1746 Maundy Set

1745 Lima Shilling

1761 Pillar Dollar

Aethelred · December 12, 2003 10:28AM

<<1746 Maundy Set>>

Cheater, that is four coins!

wybrit · December 12, 2003 11:19AM

I have a top six:

1887 Farthing, BU FL

1861 Penny, Obv 5, Rev F, BU AFL

1893 Sixpence, toned rim BU

1870 Shilling, Die #18, BU

1908 Shilling, MS-64

1905 Florin, AU-55

Darkhorse · December 12, 2003 11:59AM

Yes! Yes! More photos! The dudes on the liteside should see this thread when its more filled up!

spitfirevickers · December 12, 2003 12:02PM

That Italian 20 Lira is great, its the coin that sparked my interest in collecting. My Grandmother brought it over with her from Italy in 1921 and brought it through Ellis Island. Not sure I still have it.......will have to check.....

trozau · December 12, 2003 1:23PM

2003 China 500 Yuan gold panda

1855 UK Victoria Shield Sovereign

1855 Bavaria 2 Gulden Madonna

1910 Graf Helmuth von Moltke silver medal by Karl Goetz - Kienast Opus 10

2001 US $1 bullion American Silver Eagle WTC GZR PGCS MS69

oldshep · December 12, 2003 1:51PM

Here are mine - I cheated.. there's six here:

Shep

cacheman · December 12, 2003 1:52PM

1754 Nurnberg CV Taler

1795 Regenburg Germany CVTaler

1648 Lubeck Germany CV Bank Portugaler

1780 Nurnberg CV Taler

1793 Basel CV Taler

1729 Zurich CV Taler

SYRACUSIAN · December 12, 2003 2:30PM

It's been an all-silver year for me apparently:

#5 GR 1851 1dr unc / net AU55 (under extreme magnification; the 1 drachma coins (#5 and #2) are the size of a 20 cent piece, the 5 drs are crown-sized)

#4 GR 1875A 5 drs MS63

#3 GR Crete 5 drs AU55

#2 GR 1873 1 dr MS64

#1 GR 1833 5 drs MS63 : I've been waiting 5 years for you , welcome to the club

cosmicdebris · December 12, 2003 7:27PM

We should call this thread the 2003 Darkside museum. Great coins from everyone!

Shipcoin · December 12, 2003 8:15PM

I leaved my soup overcooked at the kitchen, looking that thread, guys

Spinynorman · December 13, 2003 2:44AM

Here's the best of the worst from this year.

lordmarcovan · December 13, 2003 4:21AM

Wow!

My coins might fit in as "average" in this crowd, but my pictures have been shamed!

Great coins, AND great pictures, folks!

Now it's time for... *ba bitta bah*

LordM's "Picks of the Litter" post!

1) Phil's toned dollar- but only the reverse. The obverse disruptions in the toning hold it back from total perfection in my eyes, but that reverse is absolutely phenomenal. I also love the mint medal, and that Italian 20-centesimi design has always been a favorite of mine.

2) The second of Cosmic's goldies- I presume that's the 2-pound piece? Normally matte proofs don't do it for me, but it's hard not to be impressed by those. How unusual to see Edward VII with a little hair on his head!

3) Out of the ones I got this year, my pick of my own selections would be the 1893 NGC PR64 half sovereign I got from Dimitri. Like my Liteside PR64 RD 2c piece, it's not designated as a Cameo, but maybe it should be.

4) Since there were no pictures or list to choose from, I suppose that by default, my favorite laurentyvan coin of the year would have to be the 1784 Russian 5-kopeck piece, which came from me originally. It's such a huge piece of copper that you could drop a charging water buffalo with it, if you only had a slingshot and good aim! (Last I heard, laurentyvan has no slingshot, however, so the coin remains a collectible rather than ammunition).

5) Out of Aethelred's stuff, much of which I've had the privilege to see in person, it's a tough choice for me to pick a favorite. He bought the 1816 halfcrown at the FUN show, after I pointed it out to him! But for my pick of his babies, it is tough to choose between that guinea and that 3-shilling bank token piece. It's a tossup. I can't make up my mind. I do love those old goldies, but you have to see that 3-shilling piece in person to appreciate it- I assure you that picture does it no justice. It'll knock the eyes out of your head. Might only be a technical MS63, but looks way better. (Later) OK, I'll choose the guinea, but only 'cause it's gold. The 3-shilling is such a close second that I didn't decide until after I was finished typing this message.

6) harasha didn't post any pics, but I can tell you the one I would most like to see a picture of: the Elizabethan halfcrown!

7) ditto for coinkat- no pics, but if I had to choose one item to see a pic of, it would be the 1746 Maundy set. Is it toned? What grades are all y'all no-picture people's coins in? If the Maundy doesn't count as a single item, I dunno what I'd rather see most- the whole list sounds intriguing. Maybe the Charles II crown or the 1746 Lima shilling.

8) Hmm. Wybrit's stuff... that toned sixpence is awesome, and the reverse peripheral toning is mindblowing- but after careful consideration, I would have to go with the 1861 penny, which I'll bet is the most impressive in person.

9) From trozau's coins, I would choose the Young Head sovereign, hands-down, with honorable mention to the Bavarian 2 gulden piece.

10) Oldshep's Detroit/Davis Strait ship coin is my pick of that group, though the Russian (?) piece with the spacecraft and the Buzz-Lightyear-lookin' guy on it is pretty interesting. I'm not familiar with that one.

11) Hmm. Cacheman's monsters. You knew this was gonna be a hard choice, right? For me, while every one of those suckers was an eyepopper, I would have a hard time choosing between the Swiss coins for the pick of the litter- those Basel and Zurich pieces. In the end, Basel won- but only just barely. I liked its cityscape a little better.

12) Of Dimitri's Liteside coins (well, they're Liteside to HIM, LOL), I would go with the #4 piece from his old icon picture, for the sake of its toning. I have not seen those earlier-19th century Greek types before, though, so they are pretty interesting, too.

Lucky number 13) Spiny's #1, 2, #3, and #7 are the finalists in my selection. My past affiliation with Irish coinage practically demands that I pick that '43 shilling, but I will surprise everyone by choosing #1. I have only seen those Peruvian "sunburst" coins in low to middle circulated grades, so seeing a sharp, blazing UNC like that really was breathtaking.

Thus endeth the critique, for now...

Darkhorse · December 13, 2003 5:28AM

Please, LordM, you're too kind.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2208224670&category=3383

It's auctions like this that make me wanna get that 71 dollar slabbed

cosmicdebris · December 13, 2003 5:34AM

Yeah LM that's the £2.

Geez I paid $3.95 each for a half dozen of those Toned Canadians.

rareCanadian · December 13, 2003 8:53AM

My favorite this year , Molto bene Decadrachm da Syrcussa per Kimon!

Bellissimo Decadrachm Da Athens!

Decadrachm da Sichilia!

My wifes beautiful birthday gift to me, a wonderful Rhodes Tetradrachm

Very rare Aurea Septimus Severus with depiction of Circus Maximus on reverse (fleeing animals from ship shaped tent)

SYRACUSIAN · December 13, 2003 4:28PM

Very clever title editing DH, especially after the last entry.

sjbrian · December 13, 2003 11:46PM

i have'nt posted on any of the CU forums in probably over a year now. here's some common german coins i picked this year.
1908D 5 mark

1871 Ludwig II thaler

1871 Sieges thaler

1jester · December 14, 2003 12:12AM

Cool coins, Brian! Especially for metal detector finds...

The 2003 Darkside Museum

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