1904 •J• Bremen 2 marks.... a REAL one this time... (Lions)

Darkhorse

At the beginning of the month I bought a fraud, sham of a Bremen 5 Mark coin from an unscrupulous fleamarket vendor. The Bremen coin has a fantastic design that includes not one, but two awesome coats of arms. Lions, eagles, shields, crowns, stars and so on.

The more educated I become in German coins and in how to handle German people the better my coin experiences have been. I went in the local coin store (because I didn't want to travel to Stuttgart to Sonntag's) dispensed with the usual formalities when speaking with an older gentleman, then requested if we could speak English which was fine with him. I then, enthusiastically, described what I like and what I'm interested in and he then retrieved one of many folders.

Being German, and apparently a very busy man, he was direct and asked how much I was willing to spend and how much I had on me. He could tell I had some knowledge but clearly didn't want to be wasting time going to and from the vault. I told him how much I had and could get more if I wanted. Which was a satisfactory answer, he then said people come in with 30 Euro expecting to get a coin worth 300.

I asked for specifics. Prussian, Kaiserreiches, Bremen, Frankfurt and so on. My eye caught a Bremen coin. I asked about the grande in German, he said Stempelglanz. Fair enough.

After browsing some more coins I decided to splurge and get it. November and December will be expensive months for me so this may be my last coin purchase of the year, the rest of the coins I get may just end up in my Euro book.



Here she is! I rescued it from a PVC hell. Let me tell you, some of the coins I saw were in such a sorry green state it could make you cry. I think I may give this coin a quick dip to get rid of some possible residue and perhaps make this coin even more Glanzy.

What do you think of the grade? I bought it as stempelglanz (Uncirculated). Looks like it to me, possible contact marks on the high points of the shield but other than that it's in awesome shape. MS63 or at the very worst AU58. What does Krause say about this?

laurentyvan

The more educated I become in German coins and in how to handle German people the better my coin experiences have been

First off, terrific looking coin! Looks UNC, not sure about the slight color on the lions heads and a little business near the B of Bremen but a good looking piece nontheless.

Now, what have you learned about the Germans that makes buying easier?

Darkhorse

When going into a coin shop it's best to prove that your knowledgeable right off the bat, get to the point of what you want or are interested in immediately, look like you're there to spend money, don't waste the man's time. If you do this you'll have a good time and will be treated respectfully and a few Euro will be knocked from the price (as was with the Bremen coin).

I'm pretty certain that it's just toning around the Lion's head and not PVC.
I have a female room mate but she doesn't wear nail polish, hence no nail polish remover.

I've had my eye on this variety for a couple of years now.

coinrookie

KM#250
Mintage 100,000
F 30.00
VF 60.00
UNC 175.00

Steve

Darkhorse

<< <i>KM#250
Mintage 100,000
F 30.00
VF 60.00
UNC 175.00

Steve >>



No way, they have to be more common than that. I thought I saw two UNC ones on eBay last week alone.
At any rate I snagged this at 85Euro.

Here's another image

cosmicdebris

Excellent Lion coin. I wish I were there in the shop with you.

syraq

Nice coin and story Darkhorse, it looks like stempenglanz to me, but I can never be sure with your pictures.

November and December will be expensive months for me so this may be my last coin purchase of the year,


You never know.

AuldFartte

... and that's what I think about your new coin, Darkhorse

spoon

Man what a great coin! Good price too!

Darkhorse

thanks. I think I may stick with the 2 Mark series for a while now.

XpipedreamR

It's very nice.










<< <i>At the beginning of the month I bought a fraud, sham of a Bremen 5 Mark coin from an unscrupulous fleamarket vendor >>





What was this situation all about?

ColinCMR

I like the coat of arms! Nice coin!!

Philip

MadMuffin

Very beautiful coin. Judging from the picture it does look unc to me, but then it's a large coin and some of the details are quite small.

Marcel

Askari

Lovely!! The 2 Marks are typically scarcer than the larger 3 Marks, even though they share the same design. The 3 Mark denomination was more popular since it was roughly equivalent to the Thalers it replaced. The 2 Marks seem to have been more of a workhorse, since they're proportionately rarer in Unc. Yours appears to be St. and perhaps Gem. There seems to be some slight softness in strike, but that could be a matter of resolution of the pic.

If you haven't already, I suggest you subscribe to Money Trends. Their prices are much more in line with the German market than anything Krause puts out.

Darkhorse

I think the strike is fairly shallow but it still retains a lot of detail. The reverse, I think, is particularly softly struck. In fact the strongest struck imperial eagles I've seen have been on lowly 1 Mark coins.