Help with Straits Settlements 10c coin 1886 and Mystery Canadian 5c

Teknowaffle

Hi all.

I have been a lurker on and off for the past 7 years, and have enjoyed the forum.

I would like some help on a coin.

I am mainly a collector of US coins, however many years ago a family friend gave me a collection of about 3-400 world coins. My wife and I are moving to her home country of Sweden, and we are getting some extra money saved up, so I am selling some of my dupes and these world coins.

I came across this 10 Cents Straits Settlements 10 Cent coin, and I haven't been able to find much information on it. I have found info on the number minted (409k) but have only found one on ebay listed for sale, it is in terrible shape, and listed for almost 300 dollars.

I want to make sure I have a good assessment of the condition of the coin, and what I should expect to sell it for.

I have some pictures here:



I estimate it as a very good to fine, but I am not an expert.

Now this coin I have a feeling was a 5c coin that ground down, and then a commemorative design put on the back:

JamesMurray

I think ebay is a decent guide for pricing on standard items but kinda goes out the windowon oddities. This one according to Krause has a mintage of 790,000 and prices from $12 in Fine to $400 in UNC. VF @ 20 and XF @ 85. That one looks somewhere in the very fine but not extra fine ballpark but i wouldnt expect book money on ebay or anywhere else really.

Teknowaffle

Whoops, 790k. Lexicdys I am.

Thanks for checking Krause. The only one I found on eBay was this:
(Click if you want to go to an ebay listing)

And that price seemed a little, well, absurd.

JamesMurray

I think the sellers reckon because it's a country or territory that doesnt exist anymore or is under other rule etc the price goes up , a lot of them put big price tags on hoping for an offer. Some of these strait settlements coins can be rare/expensive , maybe the seller thinks therefore they all must be.
Thats a real nice love token , cool to see a Canadian one

Teknowaffle

So I can give wife a nickel so she knows I love her.

AWESOME!

And her birthday is just around the corner...

JamesMurray

In the pic , its upside down , turn it around and you'll see initials , i can make out the D , theres usually at least two initials.Its exactly what it it is though,a really nice example too.

theboz11

Looks like "A" "O" "D" for the initials in that order. Thanks for posting it. lovely piece.

santelia

Yep, hang on to the love token. It may prove to have more value than the Straits Settlement coin, to the right collector. I've got a couple of Straits Settlement pieces, and didn't have a lot of trouble finding them. I also don't believe they were bought for anywhere near Krause prices. As for the token, there is a Token and Medal Society (TAMS), there are specialist dealers in love tokens, and if you hit the jackpot, you can find a collector with a spouse with those initials!