Got stuck with a loser coin
Weiss
Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
I'm a fan of the 17th to 19th century-ish Indian rupees. So much bang for the buck with those little pieces. Exotic, romantic, evocative. I bought this coin raw and was enamored with it from the get-go. WilleBoyd2 was kind enough to fill in some of the blanks with this piece and it turns out it's scarce and few of them have graded.
Unlike more western pieces I'm familiar with, this one has no real fields, devices, or portraits. Couldn't read the text or even the alphabet! But I still had a hunch it was mint state. Maybe even high mint state. So I took a chance and sent it ATS.
They agreed it was MS, but gave it the unloved and unloveable grade of "61". Even so, that meant it was one of only eight MS pieces--mine, five 62s, and two 63s. Nothing higher.
So I listed it on eBay, optimistically but also with a tinge of regret. The more it hung out with me on my desk, the better friends we became. When it failed to sell in my first 30 day listing, I didn't care other than being a little miffed others didn't see what I did--or at least weren't willing to pay for it (I got a few low ball offers). So I dropped the price a bit and listed it again for 30 days. Another round of offers, some not too far off. But I couldn't let her go to anyone who didn't appreciate her. That second auction ended yesterday.
So she's going to hang out with me awhile longer. And I'm cool with that
Unlike more western pieces I'm familiar with, this one has no real fields, devices, or portraits. Couldn't read the text or even the alphabet! But I still had a hunch it was mint state. Maybe even high mint state. So I took a chance and sent it ATS.
They agreed it was MS, but gave it the unloved and unloveable grade of "61". Even so, that meant it was one of only eight MS pieces--mine, five 62s, and two 63s. Nothing higher.
So I listed it on eBay, optimistically but also with a tinge of regret. The more it hung out with me on my desk, the better friends we became. When it failed to sell in my first 30 day listing, I didn't care other than being a little miffed others didn't see what I did--or at least weren't willing to pay for it (I got a few low ball offers). So I dropped the price a bit and listed it again for 30 days. Another round of offers, some not too far off. But I couldn't let her go to anyone who didn't appreciate her. That second auction ended yesterday.
So she's going to hang out with me awhile longer. And I'm cool with that
We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
--Severian the Lame
--Severian the Lame
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Comments
8 Reales Madness Collection
Really nice example! Reminds me a little of a Tibetan coin of mine. I feel the same way about it!
I have a nice little Tibetan Tangka, as well. If you like these designs, you might like some of the Turkish Ottoman silvers (search for denominations: Yuzluk, Kurush, Zolota)
8 Reales Madness Collection
Obverse:
Persian legend. Queen Victoria with titles, Mint name and AD date (From bottom to top: Zarb Sawai Jaipur / sanat 1903 ba-ahdi malikah mu'azzamah Sultanat / Inglistan Victoria = Struck at Sawai Jaipur in the year 1903, by permission of Her Majesty Victoria Queen of England). Border adorned with a wreath flanked by two plain circles.
Reverse:
Persian legend. Ruler's name with titles and Julus formula (From bottom to top: Sanat julus manus maimanat / 24 Maharajadhiraj Sawai / Madho Singhji = year 24 of reign associated with prosperity, King of Kings, Sawai Madho Singh). Mint mark: Six-branched Jhar in the central line at right. Border adorned with a wreath flanked by two plain circles.
--Severian the Lame
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Didn't Queen Victoria pass away in 1901? How was she authorizing 1903 coins?
Seriously, though, maybe they just hadn't gotten around to changing the dies.
Neat coin. I'd have scratched my head trying to grade it, without many pictorial elements to go by. I'm glad NGC validated the MS opinion. As to MS61, that's no "loser" in this context. The "MS" is all that counts!
With a population of eight pieces in all MS grades? Shoo, ain't nobody gonna quibble over a point here or there!