Do You Have a "White Whale" Coin?

Aethelred · February 6, 2014 8:34AM

A conversation I had at work today got me thinking about what I call "White Whale" coins. These are coins that you have wanted for a long time, perhaps even obsessed over, like Captain Ahab on his fatalistic quest for Moby Dick.

I am not quite sure when it happened, but I think I own all of the coins that may have been "White Whales" at some point. The only possible exception might be a nice Judaea Capta Sestertius of Vespasian or Titus, or a nice Prutah of Herod Philip. Beyond that I can't think of anything.

What about you?

ajaan · February 6, 2014 9:00AM

Churchill Crown PCGS MS66 or higher.

Aethelred · February 6, 2014 9:13AM

<< Churchill Crown PCGS MS66 or higher. >>

Not exactly what I had in mind, but okay.

Jinx86 · February 6, 2014 9:59AM

<< Churchill Crown PCGS MS66 or higher. >>

Ha, had a good laugh at that.

As for world coins that Id consider "White Whales,"....wow never thought of that. I collect very few world coins. Just high end examples when I find them, 2-3 a year.

And I cherry pick the ones I do find.....

Guess I could use a 2 Kronor to go with my 1 Kronor. Im slowly doing an MS Norway Type Set.

coinkat · February 6, 2014 10:01AM

White guppy... white whale... close enough.

Seriously. I suppose so but I doubt it would be limited to one.

EVillageProwler · February 6, 2014 10:25AM

These two are mine:
(both images are from the sellers)

worldcoinguy · February 6, 2014 12:25PM

No white whale yet. I don't have the patience to save up for it.

Zohar · February 6, 2014 12:53PM

One day...

NiceCurrency · February 6, 2014 1:48PM

<< These two are mine:
(both images are from the sellers)

>>

what are we looking at here?

marcmoish · February 6, 2014 9:38PM

hey z - you have a bunch o' mini white whalers so no need to despair...but I'd like that one too

EVillageProwler · February 6, 2014 9:43PM

NiceCurrency,

The two pieces are Anglo-Saxon hammered pennies. The first coin (smaller image) is from the reign of King Aelfred the Great, of Wessex, S-1057A.

The second piece (S-1186) is from Harold II, the last king of Anglo-Saxon England, who ruled from January to October, 1066. His defeat by William the Conqueror ushered in the period of Norman England.

EVP

TwoKopeiki · February 6, 2014 10:28PM

Is that a Hall Guldiner, Z? I remember seeing these from time to time when looking through German auction catalogs like Lanz München and H. D. Rauch.

EVP, that Harold II is a jaw dropper!

<< Churchill Crown PCGS MS66 or higher. >>

That one is tougher to find than a lot of people realize.

There are a number of tough dates that I still need to track down for my sets, but "the whale" is already in the collection - 1814/3-Mo HJ 8 Reales. There are only 3 that I am aware of. One that I picked-up in the Jose Leunda sale a few years back (VF35), one that a fellow long-time Mexico collector recently sold in a private sale (XF40) after having it reside in his collection for about 20 years, and another in low VF that was documented as part of another private sale a number of years back.

Zohar · February 6, 2014 10:50PM

<< Is that a Hall Guldiner, Z? I remember seeing these from time to time when looking through German auction catalogs like Lanz München and H. D. Rauch. >>

Yes, many come post mounting as Jewelry pieces. If I can get a nice XF, I will be very happy.

STLNATS · February 6, 2014 11:42PM

There are several coins to round out series (papal medals/roman folles) of ongoing interest but the only real "white whale" I'm pursuing is a piece of currency: Latvia 1919 25R series A. This is perhaps the rarest piece of Latvian currency (including the rare sower issue) and is last note I "need" for my collection to be complete (with the exception of a few serial number block letters which are not separate varieties/types). I actually purchased a repaired example as part of a collection in 2000 but it was stolen from the post and I've not really seen one since. Perhaps one day...

EVillageProwler · February 7, 2014 12:22AM

<< 

<< Is that a Hall Guldiner, Z? I remember seeing these from time to time when looking through German auction catalogs like Lanz München and H. D. Rauch. >>

Yes, many come post mounting as Jewelry pieces. If I can get a nice XF, I will be very happy. >>

That is an issue for which I will also be happy with a gem-quality circ. I believe a nice US-grade low AU is a five-figure coin? Not a rare coin, just rare in nice quality.

NiceCurrency · February 7, 2014 12:43AM

<< NiceCurrency,

The two pieces are Anglo-Saxon hammered pennies. The first coin (smaller image) is from the reign of King Aelfred the Great, of Wessex, S-1057A.

The second piece (S-1186) is from Harold II, the last king of Anglo-Saxon England, who ruled from January to October, 1066. His defeat by William the Conqueror ushered in the period of Norman England.

EVP >>

Thank you

I was having difficulty reading anything on either coin until you pointed out those names and now I see them

worldcoinguy · February 7, 2014 12:53AM

Since Zohar threw out a white whale that he would like to add some day, here is mine. It is a sede vacante taler from the german state of Trier issued in 1715. It is quite difficult piece to find in problem free condition.

desslok · February 7, 2014 4:15AM

Here's mine:

An ultra-rare pattern piece, a rejected design of Israel's 1960 1-Agora coin. There are perhaps 10 of those in existence (or a few more, by some accounts). Twice I've seen these go on the market, and they fetched in the area of US $10K, which is not very far from the total worth of my entire collection combined. Maybe one day.

I've seen one of these in person in an auction house in Tel Aviv, but I had doubts as to its authenticity. While no one could really tell for sure, it still hammered well outside my reach back then.

shirohniichan · February 7, 2014 4:21AM

The Romanian 1876 1 leu in problem-free VF or better qualifies as my white whale coin, but a French medal is my biggest one. I've never seen one, but I've read about a gold medal of Charles XII celebrating his victory over papal armies (John Calvin gave one to Renee, Duchess of Ferrara).

shirohniichan · February 7, 2014 4:22AM

<< Churchill Crown PCGS MS66 or higher. >>

How about if we get you a roll in AU55?

ajaan · February 7, 2014 5:12AM

<< How about if we get you a roll in AU55 >>

A well circulated example would also be nice.

shirohniichan · February 7, 2014 6:57AM

<< 

<< How about if we get you a roll in AU55 >>

A well circulated example would also be nice. >>

They circulated?!

I got an AU58 example from a junk box for 20 cents, and I'm as pleased as punch. As micro-grading wasn't around way back in 1965, I wonder how many people bothered to save pristine examples.

Aethelred · February 7, 2014 9:14AM

<< 

<< How about if we get you a roll in AU55 >>

A well circulated example would also be nice. >>

I wonder what the lowest grade (in terms of just honest wear) is?

ajaan · February 7, 2014 10:00AM

<< I wonder what the lowest grade (in terms of just honest wear) is? >>

Probably a pocket piece somewhere.

Aethelred · February 7, 2014 10:17AM

One of these days I will find an AG and offer it to you!

mkman123 · February 7, 2014 10:29AM

I want a gold and silver ducaton like the one Zohar posted as well as a Order of the Teutonic Knights coin that EVP posted

ajaan · February 7, 2014 10:35AM

<< One of these days I will find an AG and offer it to you! >>

I'll offer you 10x face for it.

Aethelred · February 7, 2014 10:59AM

£2.50, I will remember that!

LochNESS · February 7, 2014 5:07PM

<< I want a gold and silver ducaton like the one Zohar posted as well as a Order of the Teutonic Knights coin that EVP posted >>

These boards definitely contribute to our Want Lists if nothing else.

LochNESS · February 7, 2014 5:14PM

<< Here's mine:

An ultra-rare pattern piece, a rejected design of Israel's 1960 1-Agora coin. There are perhaps 10 of those in existence (or a few more, by some accounts). Twice I've seen these go on the market, and they fetched in the area of US $10K, which is not very far from the total worth of my entire collection combined. Maybe one day.

I've seen one of these in person in an auction house in Tel Aviv, but I had doubts as to its authenticity. While no one could really tell for sure, it still hammered well outside my reach back then. >>

Firstly, welcome to the boards!

I love the irony in your whale being the lowest-denomination issue. I too collect patterns and essai, but was unaware of this. Thanks for sharing! And a little auction anecdote to boot! I look forward to your future posts

Nap · February 7, 2014 10:11PM

What do you do after you "catch" your white whale? I fear you may lose some interest in the hobby if you don't quickly find a new white whale to chase.

Do You Have a &quot;White Whale&quot; Coin?

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Do You Have a "White Whale" Coin?