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FilamCoins

1872-A PRUSSIA GERMANY 10 MARK


I bought this in honor of my German grandfather, who just turned 87. Now I'm thinking ... how do I build a collection around it? Can anybody suggest a theme involving 19th century European gold? I much prefer collecting with purpose rather than just accumulating.

Thanks

ajaan

Grandfather 87 eh? My dad is 79 I'm feeling old here.

My wife really likes gold coins. She, through me, is collecting one gold coin from every European country. The coins must be dated before 1930. All the German States count as one country - Germany.

You may want to collect one gold coin from each of the 19th Century German States.

harasha

For a comprehensive European gold collection, the gold pieces of that time, or only the ones that were the equivalent of 10 marks. However, I would suggest that you limit the collection to one country, in this case, Prussia. Maybe an example from each sovereign of Prussia, as far back as you can go.

lordmarcovan

I just bought two of those. An 1872-A and an 1872-B, both in ANACS AU50 holders, but they look far better than AU50. Neat coins.

I'm pretty sure my 1872-A is going away in a trade but I still have the 1872-B, if you need it for whatever theme you decide on. Perhaps a mintmark set of these?

Edit- whoops- mine are 20-mark pieces.

1jester

<< <i>1872-A PRUSSIA GERMANY 10 MARK


I bought this in honor of my German grandfather, who just turned 87. Now I'm thinking ... how do I build a collection around it? Can anybody suggest a theme involving 19th century European gold? I much prefer collecting with purpose rather than just accumulating.

Thanks >>



I like the idea of a theme-based collection, especially if it involves gold... I'm sure there are many who'd agree with me, take Trozau for instance (where is that maven of the barbarous relic?? ), or GDJMSP, who seems to be interested in vacuuming up every old ducat that's not nailed down, or MrEureka, who has a penchant for Central and South American gold (and Unique Canadian pieces), or speaking of Canadian gold, our long-time Yeti RareCanadian, or our very own home-grown shroom, who's helping his wife create the greatest Euro gold collection his side of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The first question I'd ask myself, if I were going to embark on a gold buying spree, is what interests me? What attracts me to this collecting direction? Do I like gold simply? Or do I want to pay homage to my granddad's roots and buy only German gold? Or perhaps go the way of Ajaan's wife and get a nice sampling of contemporary European gold? How far back in time should I go? What condition of coins should I be looking at? What can I accept? What will interest me now and in the future? What will I be able to look on with pride in 1 or 5 or 10 years? Or what will I grow tired of and want to dispose? Do I have a time limit on my collection? Am I looking for bargains or beauty?

Surely you'll be able to change your collecting direction at any time, fortunately. I guess it's very hard for me to give any good advice to you in this matter. One of the beauties of our hobby is that it affords each one of us an individual opportunity to express ourselves uniquely. We derive fun from it, and when it ceases to be fun, we alter our goals.

I've never been too impressed with German coins, but that is strictly personal decision, and subject to change. It's not that I don't like them; I do. I find them artistic in their own way, but almost like a Mercedes Benz, they're simply too perfect and therefore a bit boring to me, if you understand what I mean. I don't say this to discourage you, simply to point out that I have different interests. I'm not German, perhaps that is part of it. I have some Swiss roots, and Scottish roots. I'm very interested in Swiss coins, but not in Scottish coins. However, I'm deeply interested in coins of the Stuarts (royal house of Scotland and England). I also like medieval coins. For example, I'd be extremely excited to pursue a collection of medieval hammered gold pieces, even from Germany (I have a hammered gold piece from Frankfurt from the 1460s--it's massively cool). Or France or Italy or Holland or England or Poland. Or perhaps a collection of Byzantine gold pieces; they're very cheap and accessible and artistic. I still would like to gather a nice group of ancient Greek and Roman gold coins. Too, prehistoric Celtic gold turns me on to no end.

Enough of my useless rambling. If you want to pursue a German coin theme, by all means do it. You can do it by mintmark or type or city/region, and select a time frame. Do some research and start buying. You won't regret it.

Happy Collecting!!

lordmarcovan

(Dah. Never mind. Dumb suggestion.)

MacCrimmon

You may consider a collection based on specifics regarding the Latin Monetary Union (1865-1927), or the German Monetary Union.

They cover both silver and gold, and include quite a few countries. This is actually a study which makes for a worthwhile investigation.

lordmarcovan

Actually, my last post was a suggestion to go with the 10-franc equivalents of the Latin Monetary Union, but then I realized Prussia wasn't part of the LMU.

1jester

<< <i>Actually, my last post was a suggestion to go with the 10-franc equivalents of the Latin Monetary Union, but then I realized Prussia wasn't part of the LMU. >>



Maybe not, but to me that would make a lot of sense, if at least to juxtapose the German coins with other circulating gold of Germany's neighbors. Makes perfect sense to me.

JamminJ

I'd probably try to expand around the first coin. A few ways that immediately come to mind:

1. Expand to different German states, looking for other 10M coins from the various German States of the 2nd german empire. Downside is there are enough very tough states that completion would be a difficult goal. Upside, lots of neat designs.

2. Stick with Prussia but add 10M coins from the other two Emperors, Freidrich and Wilhelm II. Easily accomplished inexpensively but only three coins.

3. Stick with Prussia Wilhelm I, but add the two other gold denominations: 5M and 20M. Also fairly easy (5M a bit tougher) but limited size set.

4. Stick with Prussia Wilhelm I 10M, but add the other two mints B (Breslau) & C (Cleves).

5. Look all over Europe of the same period for coins with similar value, Austria 10C, Hungary 10K, Denmark, Netherlads, etc.

For myself, I'd probably do a combo of 2 and 3 looking for one of each denomination/emperor combo . Mintmark collecting bores me and I'm more interested in Germanic coinage than their neighbors, so I'd shy away from 4 & 5. Once I was dne with that, i might expand to just the major german states (Bavaria, Saxony, Wurttemburg) to keep expenses down, and them maybe add german allies: Austria, Hungary, Ottoman Empire.

Stork

GGWFH (Gold guys with facial hair)

OFEC in gold (One from every country in gold--in all our dreams perhaps)

and more seriously... European (or world) gold coins of that year or era and denomination/equivalent denomination.


Cathy


BTW: I just have to say that JamminJ's baby is just amazingly adorable!

JamminJ

<< <i>BTW: I just have to say that JamminJ's baby is just amazingly adorable! >>

Cruzi

<< <i>Can anybody suggest a theme involving 19th century European gold ? >>



How about 19th century European gold

Wish I could limit myself to one century

nicholasz219

My suggestion: get drunk and start placing bids on any gold coin you see on Ebay.

Let me know how that works out.



(Go with German States Set...classic and even educational.)

1jester

<< <i>My suggestion: get drunk and start placing bids on any gold coin you see on Ebay.

Let me know how that works out.

>>



YEah, that sounds like a plan!

Sylvestius

'Dead guys with big beards'


Well it's a good approach, i'm doing a 1780s guys in wigs collection. A collection of European royal mugshots for that decade.