Some nice Swiss coins from Chicago /****updated, grades posted ****
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Phil was very nice and fast, so I'm glad to share with you 4 of my new purchases. I submitted these to PCGS, but I'll have to wait quite a while for their grades, guesses are welcome.
For those unfamiliar with Swiss coins, the 1/2 franc is the size of a US dime,the one franc is of a quarter and the 5 francs is the size of a silver dollar.
5 francs 1909, superb two sided toned beauty.
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1/2 franc 1850-A ,Seated Helvetia, a perfect match in colour and quality to my one and two francs of the same date.
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1 franc 1900-B simply stunning in hand and my nicest early Standing Helvetia one franc
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5 francs 1925-B, Tell big type, these are rarely encountered so clean.
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Looking back, I kind of regret not buying that nice 1874-B 5 francs with the diebreaks.
For those unfamiliar with Swiss coins, the 1/2 franc is the size of a US dime,the one franc is of a quarter and the 5 francs is the size of a silver dollar.
5 francs 1909, superb two sided toned beauty.
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1/2 franc 1850-A ,Seated Helvetia, a perfect match in colour and quality to my one and two francs of the same date.
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1 franc 1900-B simply stunning in hand and my nicest early Standing Helvetia one franc
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5 francs 1925-B, Tell big type, these are rarely encountered so clean.
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Looking back, I kind of regret not buying that nice 1874-B 5 francs with the diebreaks.
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Comments
Cause I think I wasn't.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
<< <i>Yes Larry, but were you sober enough as to accurately grade them?
Cause I think I wasn't.
I grade better in bars
BTW, these photos are the first ever posted from my own website, it will be an architectural site, but a few hidden links,devoted to coins will be given to interested parties.
edited: formerairline will soon be free, thanks for the hosting so far
Allow me to post one more recent purchase, a very rare top pop Greek coin,1883-A 50 lepta, the only MS65 in both services, scarcest date of a two year type, it's already been posted in a recent thread, but I'm very proud of it, it took me 3 days of phone negotiations, threats, blackmails and drama before I got one ,raw of course,right before I left for Chicago.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
That 1909 5 Franc better show up as an MS66.
1850 1/2 franc seems a lock at MS66 (killer lustre could go 67). I pulled the 1900 as a toner treat. I really don't recall, but another 66 (maybe 67) seems in order.
That 1925 is another which in my estimation is another lock as a 66. Absolutely pristine reverse. The obverse is almost so.....those two ticks on the right shoulder and really very minor frost breaks on Tells face are the only distractions, and the image is much more severe appearing on the cheek than in hand. The stellar thing about this Tell is the Dripping Frost on the coin......this is what they mean by original skin. In fact, I'd bet this coin is the star of an original roll broken in the not to distant past.
As to that 1874-B? It's still calling your name....it deserves a home in Athens.....
09/07/2006
Thanks for the input and the choices Mac. Guess what, I just emailed that nice Swiss dealer to show him the photos and rediscuss a few coins that I might have been too quick to pass on. But then again, I think I have some unfinished business with you too.
Bill, next time we'll do this together.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
FOR SALE Items
<< <i>Awesome coins and images >>
Right on.
"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
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
The 1909 5FR is wonderful and I think it is a 65
The 1850 1/2 FR is exceptional and worthy of a 66 shot at 67
The 1900 1FR is a attractive coin 66 with 50% shot at 67
The 1925 5FR looks to be dripping in lustre and worthy of a 65
And you found all of these at Chicago? Congrats... well done.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Nice ones!
All I can say is WOW!
1909-B 5 francs PCGS MS64
1850-A 1/2 franc PCGS MS66
1900-B 1 franc PCGS MS66
1925-B 5 francs PCGS MS64
I'm quite disappointed with the two 64s, even though top grades were not what I was after, if they were, I would have opted for fully white coins that seem to always get higher results. The 1909 5 francs in particular was the biggest disappointment,if this is not a 66 I don't know what is. I had the chance to compare it to this NGC MS66 , and besides the fact that the latter was only toned on one side, it was also technically inferior, at least this was my opinion, I don't know what Mac who also had the chance to see both of them in hand thinks.
The 1925 5 francs is also low, I don't know what a 65 is supposed to look like anymore. The franc and half franc were as expected, although secretly I had hoped for a 67 on the 1900 franc due to its tremendous eye appeal, but like I said, it seems that this lofty grade is reserved for white coins only. Toning can hide technical defects, but this 1900 franc as can be seen in this very big photo is virtually flawless and even more stunning in hand. Oh well, such is life. If they weren't already shipped back home, I might have asked for a presidential review on the 1909 5 francs but now it's going to the safe and that's the end of it, unless I bring it with me on my next trip to the US for an on site resubmission, it's a high value coin and I think it's worth the extra hussle and fees.
edited to add that this was a regular submission, at least turnaround was very quick, a promise that Ron kept.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
If the 1925 isn't at the very least a 65, then none could possibly exist.
Colour me confused.
To quote MrEureka regarding the bodybag rate of a few months ago,
<< <i>"Speaking for myself, my bodybag rate is on the increase and it's more than annoying. " >>
; these two grades also rate high on the 'annoyance scale'.
Well, maybe I should submit it to NGC, then cross it to PCGS.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
Go ahead and bath in your glory as a proud father
<< <i>Allow me to post one more recent purchase, a very rare top pop Greek coin,1883-A 50 lepta, the only MS65 in both services, scarcest date of a two year type, it's already been posted in a recent thread, but I'm very proud of it, it took me 3 days of phone negotiations, threats, blackmails and drama before I got one ,raw of course,right before I left for Chicago. >>
LOL Blackmail and Drama. it just shows you had passion for the coins to aquire them. I know the feeling.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don