Great Britian Crown

GoldCoinLover

A few months ago I was at a pawnshop in morongo Valley, CA. There was this old man selling coins. He was selling a $5 coin (really old coin, around 1820) which was about G-4 (That's what he graded it, probably more like Poor 2)

He had lots of people at his table because of the coins, and was bragging that he owned a coin shop and had been selling coins there for some time. Among the coins he was selling was a great britian crown coin of the 1700's (I believe?) I am no expert of these type of coins, but the coin looked like it was in great condition. Probably uncirculated or better. And the price? Only 10 bucks. How could he afford to sell a coin like this in such great condition for a price so low?

I remember what it looks like, but I don't have a picture of it. If someone happens to post a picture of the coin I can confirm if that's the coin or not.

Thanks for your help everyone!

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Probably uncirculated or better. >>



How can it be better than uncirculated?

Ten bucks for an "uncirculated or better" Brit crown from the 1700's. Umm, yeah. Right.
That should tell you how authentic it was.

Now the 1820 crown in very low grade would possibly be cheap. I sold the Olde Dead King one that I had on my Holey Coin Vest (think it graded around G4, with a hole, and was ten bucks or less.)

hetman

Maria Theresa Taler

Philip

You mean these were minted in Britian... is that a mint of Austria?

GoldCoinLover

<< <i>Maria Theresa Taler >>



I'm pretty sure it was a Taler. It might be britian, I'm not sure. All I know is the coin was from the 1700's, was a large coin, and was pretty cheap despite it's condition. It could've been a reproduction. I think it might be a "Maria Theresa Taler", if you could post a pic of that coin.

Placid

Vancouverite

Actually they were minted in Britian as well as many countries around the world. All of them bare the date 1780. These coins are "trade dollars" used for trade between many countries as well as the unofficial currency of many countries in the Middle East. The estimated mintage is 800 million. However it is possible that there might actually be a few billion of them.

GoldCoinLover, you seem to be very interested in gold bullion. You may want to check out the 1915 Austrian official restrike ducat (0.1106 oz pure gold) and 4 ducat (0.443 oz pure gold) coins which are very attractive and readily available in proof-like and proof strikes just like the Maria Theresa.

edit: The 4 ducat has the exact same diameter (39.5 mm) and also a similar reverse as the Maria Theresa Thaler.

GoldCoinLover

Thanks Placid, yeah, that looks like the coin I saw at the swapmeet so cheap. Thanks for the heads up on the ducat. In a few more days I'm going to go to las vegas (are there any good coin stores there?) and if I find a coin store I have $220 bucks to burn on a old US Gold coin. (Hoping to find a good certified one)

lordmarcovan

OK, a Maria Theresia restrike makes more sense. You can get UNC examples for as low as six or seven bucks, sometimes.