Where is the JamminJ NumismaticYearInReview?
JZrarities
Posts: 2,583 ✭✭✭
Been patiently waiting for 12 months...
It January 2nd already.
WELL?
It January 2nd already.
WELL?
0
Comments
Last year about this time I posted my top ten coins bought during the year 2004. It was a fun and interesting (at least to me) retrospective so why not do it again this year! This thread has coins I ranked ten through one for the year. I've tried to mix up the types as much as possible to keep duplication to a minimum. Some are downright scarce coins, others are more common ones in unusual states of preservation and other I just happen to really really like.
As always, comments are welcome! Here we go...
Coin No. 10: 1807 Austria copper 30 kreuzer, Vienna mint.
One of these had been on my list for quite a while, I just liked the idea of owning a nice big honkin’ copper coin. Struck the year after the demise of the Holy Roman Empire, the legends list so many titles that they almost plead “I’m the emperor and I’m still important!” It came from a dealer price list and I paid way, way over catalog for it as I had never seen a nice one. Surfaces are smooth, brown and somehat glossy with a touch of red hiding about the legends and the beaded border of the reverse. Many small carbon spots limit the grade. I’d like to add the copper 15 krezuer to keep this one company.
Coin No. 9: 1843 Germany/Nassau gulden
This one came from the mid-year Long Beach show just sitting in a dealer case waiting for me to come by and scoop it up. I have a fancy for some of the pre-empire German coins so this one has plenty of soul-mates in my collection. The highlight is the color which could be a bit lighter but features with nice shades of green & blue throughout with some red & yellow towards the rims. Luster is nice beneath the toning. I think this coin is quite a bit better than the slab grade indicates, he’ll probably take another trip to Florida one of these days.
Coin No. 8: AH1327/6 (1914) Ottoman Egypt 5 qirsh, Heaton Mint
This one came from a local dealer’s shop. It actually took two tries for me to buy, I passed the first time (it’s tough paying full catalog for a country as unpopular as Egypt) regretted it, and was happy to take it home on my next visit. I collect an occasional Ottoman coin as a sidelight and this one is the highlight of my mini-collection. Highlight of this coin is it’s wonderful, crusty originality. The toning is hardly monstrous but adds a splash of color towards the rims and adds an authoritative “I’ve not been dipped” to the whole coin. Strike is typical for these with some weakness on the toughra. Super luster!
Coin No. 7: 1904 E Germany/Saxony 2 marks, Muldenhutten mint
This one was from e-bay, won for the opening bid (somewhat over catalog) with no competition. I have a small collection of German Empire 2 and 3 marks coins, with this coin being a proud survivor of a recent culling of that collection. This is one of the more common crowns, struck in fairly large quantities and saved as a commemorative of the King’s death. I didn’t do a good job of capturing the toning but in hand it is wonderful. A sea of shimmering metallic cyan swimming on the fields with semi-prooflike surfaces below. Technically the coin is superb. I like to add a similar looking two mark coin from Saxe-Meiningen to keep this one company.
Coin No. 6: Taisho 3 (1914) Japan 1 yen
This one was from a local shop, the owner marked it up from the written price after looking it over. Actually purchased in late December of last year it missed the cut off for the 2004 top ten, hence it’s inclusion here. It’s my first Japanese coin and inspired yet another collecting theme. One year type and the most common of the large size silver yens. Bright white with blazing, creamy luster highlights this one. A full strike nicely brings up the detail on the dragon. Reverse contact marks limit the grade but in my heart it’s a 65. I hope to grow my quasi-type set in the coming year.
Coin No. 5: 1696 Austria/Salzburg 1 kreuzer
This one came from an online dealer’s web store. One of my primary collections these days is gemmy Germanic (especially Austrian HRE) minors so this is obviously a prized addition. While a common type, it’s the only coin in my collection from the 17th century to make the grade of MS67. Blast white with fully prooflike surfaces. Hardly a mark anywhere to be seen. The strike is full although the dies were missing some detail on the lions and the tassels about the coat of arms.
Coin No. 4: Taisho 3 (1913) Japan 50 sen
This one came from our own gmarguli. I was doing some photography for him and figured I should snag this one before it went to e-bay. It’s highlight is amazing color with a background of subdued violet which explodes to vibrant blue (reverse) or through blue to golden-brown and magenta. Technically superb, with blazing luster a full strike and lovely clean surfaces. Without a doubt the most appealing Japanese coin I've ever encountered, it really sets the bar high for any others I acquire next year.
Coin No. 3: ND (circa 1552) Holy Roman Empire/Nijmegan Ecu
This one came from a local dealer, same as the Egyptian coin, and another it took a few shots before I pulled the trigger at the Autumn Long Beach show. My current number one collection is a run of thaler sized coins with portraits of Holy Roman Emperor from Charles V-Francis II. Charles is one of the tougher emperors to get as he spent most of his time in Spain, delegating Austria to his brother Ferdinand. I hesitated as this coin is Dutch but eventually came around as at the time the Dutch lands were subject to the Emperor’s authority. After getting it home I couldn’t believe it took several shots to buy! It’s a nice, crusty circulated coin with original surfaces. It’s on the way back from NGC with the grade of F15 which seems a bit harsh to me. He’ll be heading back to Florida for another look, VF20 seems a fair grade to me.
Coin No. 2: 1717/6 Austria/Salzburg 2 kreuzer
This one came in the same batch as coin number 5 above. If you like a 17th century coin in MS67 you’ll love an 18th century coin in MS68! This one is blast white (as all original 18th century coins should be) with luster that just screams off the surfaces. Devices have light frosting and fields are mirrored giving a nice PL appearance. Not a mark or hairline anywhere to be seen. Just a few areas of missing detail in the tassels where the dies were not completely engraved. Obvious overdate variety as an added bonus. Probably the best roller die coin I’ve ever seen, unimprovable in my opinion.
Coin No. 1: 1733 Austria thaler, Hall mint
This one came from off e-bay sale when the went unsold. Some drama as a Paypal dispute had to be filed to get the seller to deliver but worth the wait. An upgrade to my run of Emperors, replacing a coin of the same type in an MS62 holder. Highlight is the exceptional strike with all the hair detail, feather and coat of arms detail present. Some toning, not monstrous but attractive with some hints of violet . Some hairlines hide beneath the toning but they fairly easily overlooked and do not impair the luster. This is a set I’d like to add another two coins to in the coming year.
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
<< <i>Very nice, James. Lots of great purchases.
Thanks! Several crappy ones too - but they don't make the list.
All are
My vote goes with the two Japanese. Vibriant color, radiant luster, simple/classic design, and clean open fields.
What's in store for 2006???
I copied the thread to a MSWord document (like last year) for keepers.
The boy is gettin' big!
Beautiful coins
I'd post a top 10 too, but the quality of mine just don't compare...
1/2 Cents
U.S. Revenue Stamps
Keep on sharing.
Shep
<< <i>Where is the JamminJ NumismaticYearInReview? >>
I was expecting a series of baby pictures
Of course my bias is towards the Japanese coins, but the Austria 30K is super
Cathy
Wonderful coins, wonderful photography, and as always, another superior post.
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
<< <i>Wonderful coins, wonderful photography, and as always, another superior post. >>
I was just about to say that, but Laurent beat me to it.
Thanks for taking the time to put that together. Really enjoyed it.
Can you give me a idea of the size of the 1904E 2 Mark coin? It's a beauty. Is it the equivalent diameter of the 2 Franc or 2 Lire coins of that era?
Clankeye
Your commentaries for each of the images make them more interesting.
Bob
<< <i>I'd post a top 10 too, but the quality of mine just don't compare...
Who cares? Doing one is also useful for forcing you to express in words what you like or dislike about each so you can hone your search critera.
<< <i>All are
My vote goes with the two Japanese. Vibriant color, radiant luster, simple/classic design, and clean open fields.
What's in store for 2006??? >>
Thanks!
For 2006 I'm looking to...
Add two more thalers to the Hapsberg emperor collection, hopefully one a tougher to find portrait.
Add another coin or two to my German Imperial minor type set which has been kind of languishing.
Cut back on the post 1806 German stuff and instead buy a couple of mint state Byzantine solidi.
Add another couple of Japanese coins but this is the "low stress" collection so no rush.
Keep an eye out for nice HRE minors, especially Ferdinand II, by type while selling duplicates.
That's about it!
<< <i>Beautiful pieces. I love the Austrian Thaler and the German Gulden - first copper piece that I have seen in a while that is a stunner.
I copied the thread to a MSWord document (like last year) for keepers.
The boy is gettin' big! >>
I'm flattered.
The boy is huge, 8 months and 25 pounds!
"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>
<< <i>Wonderful coins, wonderful photography, and as always, another superior post. >>
I was just about to say that, but Laurent beat me to it.
Thanks for taking the time to put that together. Really enjoyed it.
Can you give me a idea of the size of the 1904E 2 Mark coin? It's a beauty. Is it the equivalent diameter of the 2 Franc or 2 Lire coins of that era?
Clankeye >>
The 2M is 27mm in diameter. There are some great coins for reasonable prices to be had in that time frame, location and denomination.
<< <i>Thanks for posting the great images.
Your commentaries for each of the images make them more interesting.
Bob >>
The commentaries used to be more history focused but I've bought so many, say Salzburg, coins that it beacame repetative. However, every coin has its own story to tell.
17th century MS67 and early 18th century MS68 are just awesome drool inducing coins - what, were they sealed in wax for 300 years? And the Saxony Death Mark looks like he's crying tears of blue. But my fave is the 1807 30k.
Thanks for the pix.
Gene
Life member #369 of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association
Member of Canadian Association of Token Collectors
Collector of:
Canadian coins and pre-confederation tokens
Darkside proof/mint sets dated 1960
My Ebay
One of my own favorites for the year is a French Tunisian piece with similar eye-appeal to your Japanese 50 sen.
My main question here would have to echo Gene's... do you have any idea or insight into how these older coins were preserved so long in such a perfect state? Simply mind-boggling!
My wantlist & references
<< <i>Awesome pieces!
One of my own favorites for the year is a French Tunisian piece with similar eye-appeal to your Japanese 50 sen.
My main question here would have to echo Gene's... do you have any idea or insight into how these older coins were preserved so long in such a perfect state? Simply mind-boggling! >>
Older Salzburg seems to come nice more often than other states in the area. Maybe they were held onto by religious pilgirims? Also, the coins are very light so even when bagged contact marks would be few.
First DAMMIT BOY! 25/9/05 (Finally!)
" XpipedreamR is cool because you can get a bottle of 500 for like a dollar. " - Aspirin