I went to a local auction today
SYRACUSIAN
Posts: 6,461 ✭✭✭✭
and I bought way more coins than I should have. 
Most important acquisition was a 1828 phoenix KM 4, one year type, mintage 12000, the first modern Greek coin.
It was struck in the primitive equipment of the knights of Malta, that was bought from the newly appointed Greek government
for a grand total of 100 gold sovereigns.
Minting new Greek coins, was extremely important for the new state.The dies were engraved by an Armenian jeweller.
This is the only silver coin from that period, as precious metals were virtually inexistent,
and the "phoenix" was chosen for its "rebirth from the ashes" symbolism.
It has original surfaces ,great luster and very attractive toning.
The reverse grades MS64, the obverse MS61 ,among others,due to its weak strike in the upper part of the bird.
A very difficult coin to grade, if unfamiliar with its minting process.
An upgrade from my PCGS AU58, this one went almost 50% above Krause unc.
The phoenix was replaced as a denomination by the drachma in 1832 with the arrival of King Otto.
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Next, is two coins from the Ionian islands.
A silver 30 lepta from 1834 , first year of issue , superb rainbow toning on the reverse side that the scan cannot show,
this coin is the size of a 3d and features Britania on the other side.
KM34 ,bought at 6 (six) times above Krause unc value, this one should grade MS63-64.
I also bought a 1819 2 lepta (2/5 obol) unc, nice chocolate brown, I'm guessing MS62 BN ,paid twice its Krause unc value.
Still waiting for a full red proof version of this one , to join the other two, bigger denoms that I already have in PR65RB.
Next, shown together,a couple of coins from Cyprus, George V, 1927 1 piastre ,(my guess) MS62-63BN,and a 1/4 piaste 1926 MS61-62BN.
These went at Krause unc prices.
And back to Greek coins: 1870BB 1 lepton , KM40, two year type and much scarcer than the other. Krause unc x2.
This is a tiny coin (16mm) but I wanted a big scan to show an interesting detail:
as you can see there's a fingerprint. What you don't see, is that this is an old fingerprint , that has now turned into a magnificent blue!
So, this coin is a wonderful mixture of blue, pink some brown and red, (that the scan cannot show) bought at twice its unc Krause value.
It should grade MS63BN,there's too little red to get an RB.
A couple of drachmas from 1910 and 1911 (I already have quite a few of these, but I keep buying them, I like them a lot)
The white 1910 went close to Krause,contrarily to the much scarcer 1911, a toner, splotchy but nice overall, Krause unc x4.
There's one more coin, a 1874A 20 lepta, really nice toning, but I need to convert a couple of bitmap images and I don't know how.
Overall a nice experience, I had the chance to see again some fellow Greek collectors and we all had lunch together afterwards,
offered by the auctioneer in the hotel's restaurant for a further 2 hours of great laughs and dirty gossip .
edited to add that I think I blew my whole 2004 coin budget.
Most important acquisition was a 1828 phoenix KM 4, one year type, mintage 12000, the first modern Greek coin.
It was struck in the primitive equipment of the knights of Malta, that was bought from the newly appointed Greek government
for a grand total of 100 gold sovereigns.
Minting new Greek coins, was extremely important for the new state.The dies were engraved by an Armenian jeweller.
This is the only silver coin from that period, as precious metals were virtually inexistent,
and the "phoenix" was chosen for its "rebirth from the ashes" symbolism.
It has original surfaces ,great luster and very attractive toning.
The reverse grades MS64, the obverse MS61 ,among others,due to its weak strike in the upper part of the bird.
A very difficult coin to grade, if unfamiliar with its minting process.
An upgrade from my PCGS AU58, this one went almost 50% above Krause unc.
The phoenix was replaced as a denomination by the drachma in 1832 with the arrival of King Otto.
------------------------------------------------------------
Next, is two coins from the Ionian islands.
A silver 30 lepta from 1834 , first year of issue , superb rainbow toning on the reverse side that the scan cannot show,
this coin is the size of a 3d and features Britania on the other side.
KM34 ,bought at 6 (six) times above Krause unc value, this one should grade MS63-64.
I also bought a 1819 2 lepta (2/5 obol) unc, nice chocolate brown, I'm guessing MS62 BN ,paid twice its Krause unc value.
Still waiting for a full red proof version of this one , to join the other two, bigger denoms that I already have in PR65RB.
Next, shown together,a couple of coins from Cyprus, George V, 1927 1 piastre ,(my guess) MS62-63BN,and a 1/4 piaste 1926 MS61-62BN.
These went at Krause unc prices.
And back to Greek coins: 1870BB 1 lepton , KM40, two year type and much scarcer than the other. Krause unc x2.
This is a tiny coin (16mm) but I wanted a big scan to show an interesting detail:
as you can see there's a fingerprint. What you don't see, is that this is an old fingerprint , that has now turned into a magnificent blue!
So, this coin is a wonderful mixture of blue, pink some brown and red, (that the scan cannot show) bought at twice its unc Krause value.
It should grade MS63BN,there's too little red to get an RB.
A couple of drachmas from 1910 and 1911 (I already have quite a few of these, but I keep buying them, I like them a lot)
The white 1910 went close to Krause,contrarily to the much scarcer 1911, a toner, splotchy but nice overall, Krause unc x4.
There's one more coin, a 1874A 20 lepta, really nice toning, but I need to convert a couple of bitmap images and I don't know how.
Overall a nice experience, I had the chance to see again some fellow Greek collectors and we all had lunch together afterwards,
offered by the auctioneer in the hotel's restaurant for a further 2 hours of great laughs and dirty gossip .
edited to add that I think I blew my whole 2004 coin budget.
0
Comments
09/07/2006
Shep
Good
L
<< <i>I think I blew my whole 2004 coin budget.( >>
I'll bet the budget gets increased before New Year's Eve.
Clankeye
It depends on how much you're willing to bet.
The phoenix is a terrific little coin.(946/1000 silver fine, 3.65 grams)
The legend reads (left - reverse) KYBERNHTHS (=governor) I.A.KAPODISTRIAS - 1 FOINIX (center) 1828
and (right - obverse) ELLHNIKH POLITEIA (Hellenic State) and the date 1821 in Greek characters (awka). 1821 was the year the revolution against the Ottoman empire started.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
FOR SALE Items
Many of the Greek coins in the recent Ponterio auction at CICF went for many times estimate and Krause value. Just a reaffirmation of how hot modern Greek is, even here in the U.S.
https://www.civitasgalleries.com
New coins listed monthly!
Josh Moran
CIVITAS Galleries, Ltd.
Come on over ... to The Dark Side!
<< <i> I think I blew my whole 2004 coin budget. >>
I'm sure you'll somehow manage to scare up a few more drachma.
I simply love the history and the conditions of the phoenix and the 30 lepta....superb!
Thanks for the comments. Here are some highlights of the sale (Krause prices in brackets)
1833 5 drachmas (MS64 perhaps 65) very nice $4000 ($1200)
1844 5 drachmas (owl mintmark) VF $29000 ($700 LOL )
1845 5 drachmas RRR VF $ 75000 ( $4500 )
1846 1/2 drachma choice BU (MS64) $14500 ($2200)
1847 5 lepta BU aFL (MS64RB) beauty $6300 ($450)
1847 1 drachma (rarest drachma of them all) VF $27800 ( $1500 )
1963 30 drs Royal Dynasty, pattern with ANAMNHSTIKON inscription (=commemorative) XF $7800
Crete 5 drachmas 1901 , (km9) uncirculated (MS61-62) and extremely rare as such $22500 ($3500)
Syracusian, what's the design on the reverse of the drachmas I can't make it out.
The design on the reverse of these coins , the first modern coins to be engraved by a local artist,
impressionist painter and sculptor G. Iakovidis , is a copy of the rare didrachmon of King Pyrrhus of Epirus,
295-272BC struck in Tarent. It depicts a mythological scene from Homer's Iliad.
Thetis is shown seated on a seahorse holding a shield and weapons to rearm her son Achilles.
I can hardly believe that the choice of this potentially agressive scene was a coincidence,
since it aptly heralds the nationalist spirit at a time when Greece was about to be launched in a decade of Balkan wars,
and regain most of its territories.
Now don't ask me again python, as you can see I get too emotional.
Plus, you should have been able to make it out, the coins are unc.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
<< <i>
1845 5 drachmas RRR VF $ 75000 ( $4500 )
Crete 5 drachmas 1901 , (km9) uncirculated (MS61-62) and extremely rare as such $22500 ($3500) >>
I don't know about the 1845 coin, but that Crete crown really blew me up
And I thought that Crete was easy to complete
I understand, though, that these coins are extremely tough, especially in high grade. In fact, over here to the north both early modern Greece and Crete are tough to find in any grade at all. I have a Crete 5 Lepta and it is worn in such a fashion that at first sight I thought I got the specimen shown in Krause
Now the German states do not seem mission impossible at all
First DAMMIT BOY! 25/9/05 (Finally!)
" XpipedreamR is cool because you can get a bottle of 500 for like a dollar. " - Aspirin
J.P. Divo lists it as RR, but it is in fact RRR, and definetely rarer than the owl mintmarked 1833 and 1844 5 drachmas.
I believe that the main reason for this, was King Otto's reluctance to use a new portrait engraved by Heyer.
In fact , it is possible that most (if not all) of the silver coins of this decade were produced by the Athens mint,
at the request of wealthy citizens who brought the equivalent amount of silver.
Regarding the silver coins of Crete, it's a different story.
They have a very small mintage (proportioned to the size and population of the island),
and they circulated in the entire Latin Union until the outbreak of WW2.
Take into consideration that the last Greek silver 5 drs was minted in 1876. This should explain the very low number of unc coins left.
I have an AU55, really choice and nice.
Pricewise, it's on an entirely different planet with a low end unc such as the one sold.
The 2 drs is equally scarce.Heritage recently sold a 2 drs, unc (but cleaned at some point) for $8000+.
Bronze and copper nickel coins are still available in mint state.
I now know, that there are too many coins that I'll never own in unc.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
I did not know that coins from the LMU circulated throughout the union just like euros nowadays.
First DAMMIT BOY! 25/9/05 (Finally!)
" XpipedreamR is cool because you can get a bottle of 500 for like a dollar. " - Aspirin
AWESOME COINS, DIMITRI!!!!!! Especially the phoenix. Congratulations on the additions.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." -Luke 11:9
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." -Deut. 6:4-5
"For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; He will save us." -Isaiah 33:22
I enjoyed the presentation and the effort you took to provide information and background.
Excellent thread, great coins!
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
<< <i>Plus, you should have been able to make it out, the coins are unc. >>
Dimitri, the coins are great but the image was a little fuzzy on my monitor.