Wanna see some nearly-500-year-old, attractively toned silver coins (most of which cost me <$20 e

lordmarcovan · September 21, 2015 4:52PM

Yes, since we're talking about 16th and 17th century hammered silver coins, this post strays into semi-OT non-US territory.

But I thought I'd share my latest sideline collection. Figured maybe some of you toned coin enthusiasts might like 'em. They're really old and cool and... dirt cheap, for the most part.

Case in point: both of the following cost me 18 bucks and change each, after shipping.

That was with some lucky bidding, but still, it is not difficult to find these for less than twenty bucks, and nice ones under $30-40 or so.

It's like that guy who puts those "same price as a pizza!" stickers on his coins. But here are some really nice oldies in that pizza pricerange.

Here's the set:

Hungarian Denars

lordmarcovan · September 21, 2015 4:56PM

PS- I stole this wild little 1580-dated toner for less than ten bucks! $8.24, to be precise.

Now who could possibly pass that up, huh? That was a no-brainer, I say.

This 1574 was pricier... by forty cents more, costing $8.64.

I was fortunate to stumble across them on eBay when a large old collection was obviously being broken up. Most of the ones I have so far came out of Slovenia.

Zoins · September 21, 2015 5:29PM

Gorgeous coins lordmarcovan! Love the look and history of those!

How and where do you find them?

lordmarcovan · September 21, 2015 5:34PM

<< Gorgeous coins lordmarcovan! Love the look and history of those!

How and where do you find them?

>>

Just search "Hungarian denar" on eBay. Or "denar". Of course the latter term might get you lots of Roman denarius hits. Maybe "Hungary denar". There are plenty out there.

I had thought about collecting these last year but never got it off the ground. Then I was searching for Roman coins with the "denarius" keyword, and came across the seller in Slovenia who had a ton of these. He called them "denarius" rather than "denar", and there they were. I knew it was time to start that sideline set I'd long thought about. Nice cheap fun.

Positives:

400-500 years old, with dates on the coins (the pre-1503 ones are undated)SilverCool designCheap as a pizzaOften come with nice toningRelatively simple to collect by date, with no real "stoppers" (or so I'm told) Negatives:

SmallOften crudely struck But those negative factors don't bother some people. Also, they're pretty common, but that keeps them affordable and easily obtainable.

There ya have it.

Zoins · September 21, 2015 5:40PM

Very nice coins and a great find. Congrats!

Sounds like it could be a fun set to work on too!

TopographicOceans · September 21, 2015 5:48PM

I've picked up some of those over the years.
Yours are pretty cool. It looks like mine have been dipped

lordmarcovan · September 21, 2015 6:16PM

Nice detail on that one, though. I've been told that the post-1570 pieces like that decline in quality, so yours seems pretty decently struck, even if it's not a toner.

coinsarefun · September 21, 2015 7:57PM

Those are very pretty looking toners and of course I like them even better
because they are Hungarian, like me

ricko · September 21, 2015 8:30PM

Interesting old coins LordM.....might look at acquiring a couple of those. Could be addictive...Cheers, RickO

bosco5041 · September 21, 2015 9:12PM

What's not to like about them coins. I wouldn't mind owning a few myself.

oih82w8 · September 21, 2015 10:35PM

What are the size (diameter and thickness) of these coins?

lordmarcovan · September 21, 2015 10:38PM

<< What are the size (diameter and thickness) of these coins? >>

They're roughly the size of a US half dime.

Quite thin, as are most hammered coins of the period.

oih82w8 · September 21, 2015 10:40PM

Thanks. I was sorta thinking along similar sizes on these the little darlin's.

Broadstruck · September 21, 2015 10:45PM

They should have had "Better than Goulash" stickers on the holders

DaveWcoins · September 21, 2015 11:04PM

Super-cool. Thanks for sharing.

rhedden · September 22, 2015 12:00AM

Coins like these make me wonder why I pay $500 or more for a 19th century US coin that is of similar rarity. I guess the answer is "liquidity," but there's a limit to how far one can go before it gets silly. These historic coins offer a ton of bang for the buck- can't argue with that.

lasvegasteddy · September 22, 2015 12:04AM

interesting price point for what these coins are....

looking at that one...sorry but i had to
looks like a baby gollum on his momma's lap there

JJSingleton · September 22, 2015 12:29AM

I like them a lot. And what a great bargain for the history and eye appeal.

lordmarcovan · September 22, 2015 12:40AM

LVT - must confess I had similar thoughts about the baby on that one. It does look like a changeling. Maybe a skullfaced little old man.

I hadn't thought about Gollum, but now that you've mentioned him (and provided photographic evidence), I think you might be onto something!

WillieBoyd2 · September 22, 2015 12:41AM

The first coin is going to have a 500th birthday next year.

It is in such nice shape that it makes one wonder where it has been.

crazyhounddog · September 22, 2015 12:43AM

Really nice and what a score!!!

asheland · September 22, 2015 12:45AM

Cool coins.

lasvegasteddy · September 22, 2015 12:53AM

<< LVT - must confess I had similar thoughts about the baby on that one. It does look like a changeling. Maybe a skullfaced little old man.

I hadn't thought about Gollum, but now that youve mentioned him (and provided photographic evidence), I think you might be onto something!

>>

did mom kinda have that " medusa look " going to you too?

lordmarcovan · September 22, 2015 1:17AM

<< did mom kinda have that " medusa look " going to you too? >>

She is a tad skully lookin' herself.

Here- the 1526 has a better baby. A fine, fat li'l fella.

Wooh- that was a real pricey one. Set me back $26.55 after shipping.

lasvegasteddy · September 22, 2015 1:37AM

the 1st one
they're sitting between L & K...perhaps representing a "Leprosy Klan"...wear gloves when you handle that one...just sayin

the 2nd one
they're sitting between B & A...perhaps representing "Buttered up Angels"

Wabbit2313 · September 22, 2015 2:17AM

Those coins are really cool!

ElKevvo · September 22, 2015 2:37AM

Thanks for posting these Rob! Nice photos too. There are a lot of really cool medieval coins available...as mentioned in the OP they can be crudely struck and small but the prices are often affordable. I have several different types in my collection and enjoy them all.

K

mr1931S · September 23, 2015 2:08AM

Interesting pieces at a great price but how does one establish authenticity?

ronctx · September 23, 2015 3:16AM

<< Interesting pieces at a great price but how does one establish authenticity? >>

I was about to ask the same question, how would one know if they are real as compared to modern day made?

Really like the toning on these. Nice.

lordmarcovan · September 23, 2015 3:51AM

Counterfeiting is just not a real issue with this kind of material.

One, it would be harder than you might think.

Two, when the real thing is common enough to be bought and sold in bulk lots, and I'm routinely able to buy them for less than twenty bucks- sometimes less than ten bucks - (and prices haven't changed much since I bought my first one in the early 1980s), then there really isn't that much incentive for anyone to counterfeit them.

SkyMan · September 24, 2015 12:37AM

Fun looking coins, particularly for the price!

johnny9434 · September 24, 2015 5:40AM

nice pick ups. its different to

lordmarcovan · September 30, 2015 5:19PM

Here's a 1505. It's not as nicely toned as some of the others I've posted, but decent enough.

It's also one of the earlier dates in the range (1503 being when they started dating these, I believe).

And I think it might be the earliest dated coin I've had in nearly forty years of collecting. (Not the oldest, of course.)

Still under 20 bucks, delivered. ($19.99 after shipping, to be precise. Not bad.)

I'm looking forward to getting the 1504, because those have the old-style medieval "4" on them (which is a little curlicue, shaped just like one of those breast cancer or "support the troops" ribbons.)

TopographicOceans · September 30, 2015 8:30PM

<< 

<< did mom kinda have that " medusa look " going to you too? >>

She is a tad skully lookin' herself.

Here- the 1526 has a better baby. A fine, fat li'l fella.

>>

That's my favorite. Pretty toning and Mom looks like she warning of the Zombie Apocolypse 191 years early.

I wonder if this is her dad

ricko · September 30, 2015 9:15PM

The more I see these, the more I am becoming interested.... may have to violate my 'no more ebay' policy....

Cheers, RickO

Wanna see some nearly-500-year-old, attractively toned silver coins (most of which cost me <$20 e

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Wanna see some nearly-500-year-old, attractively toned silver coins (most of which cost me &lt;$20 e

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Wanna see some nearly-500-year-old, attractively toned silver coins (most of which cost me <$20 e