A local coin shop had this for sale at a modest premium above melt. 1982 Saint Kitts-Nevis $100 GOLD. The gold content is about the same as a traditional Sovereign. The Krause World Coins catalog states that 250 were struck with a brilliant (uncirculated) finish, and only 15 like this one were struck as proofs:
My dark side pursuits started off as a somewhat peripheral endeavor, but quickly became enamored with South/North Peru and early Peru Royalist/ Republic period. A medley of a few examples I’ve got decent pictures of.
Very scarce 1862-So Peso. Key of the series and a coin which comes across the block very infrequently. Heifetz and Santiago (Christensen 1986) included examples, Norweb didn’t have one. I can find four coins that have sold in the last 25 years. Tough coin and a nice AU58.
OK, to come is at long last my 1844 Chile 8 Escudos. I was worried it would come back "details" from ATS but got the MS61, sadly with NO PL designation even though it is extremely so & not showing up on my iPhone 11S photos. This coin just back today.
Love that Milled British (1830-1960) Well, just Love coins, period.
@Abuelo, interesting piece, nicely struck/preserved. I do believe that's a well-executed example of one of the numerous contemporary counterfeits of this series, for which 1836 is definitely the most frequently-targeted date. For those familiar with these, some of these CCs of course come really crude with blatantly non-regal design elements. This one is more faithful than usual, but a close comparison will show some differences. Here's yours compared to a definitively "regal" 1836 (if you compare the surrounding years, that is the standard "look" - eagle punch, etc.)... it should be apparent:
@realeswatcher it is very likely that you are right. In my experience coppers were heavily counterfeit, some well, others not even close and grotesque.
You can see these 2 eagles
Just to show another example to your point (yet the other coin here is another 1/8 instead of a 1/4 real) but the style is different as you point out. Yet many of these contemporary counterfeits did circulate heavily (as this example) so is difficult in many cases to tell for sure. And as these coins were minted in large numbers, likely many varieties exist. That said, I have the suspicion that you may be right.
@marmac said:
My dark side pursuits started off as a somewhat peripheral endeavor, but quickly became enamored with South/North Peru and early Peru Royalist/ Republic period. A medley of a few examples I’ve got decent pictures of.
What an interesting collection of early Peruvian Republican coins. Congratulations!
Among others, the last 8 Reales struck in 1824 under Spanish rule, the first 8 republican 8 reales (peso de San Martin, also called Peso Peru Libre), a very nice example of the scarce 1839 1/4 real de Arequipa (only year of issue), and notably, a North Peru 2 reales (also very scarce). Nice representative selection.
@Eddi thank you for the compliment. The period of back and forth control between Royalists and Republic forces along with the Peru-Bolivia Federation period I've found to be a really fascinating period and have tried to focus on those segments in history with my Peruvian efforts. I've managed to acquire a few other critical examples from these periods, though unfortunately don't have any good pictures of the pieces at present time.
I know few others like moderns, and especially not from Latin American countries, but here is an exceedingly rare set with some attractive coins - I have not seen another or for that matter ANY uncirculated 1999 Trinidad 50c or dollar coins with the proof sets much scarcer than the authorised mintage of 3,000. And the country has a very "Latin" name: Trinidad
The BU sets are extremely prooflike and this is a Royal Mint striking(s). Find another - LOL!
In any case this is a Bahamas 1999 "Brilliant Uncirculated" Set:
For good measure here is the proof set, also 1999 Trinidad:
I will probably do a separate post on this...
Love that Milled British (1830-1960) Well, just Love coins, period.
I recently added a second 1831-CR 1/2 real to my collection. While relatively inexpensive when it can be found, the denomination has proven particularly difficult to me. As such I've settled for some holed pieces, including a 1833 provisional example from Honduras. There exists a proper CAR issue from Honduras dated 1830, but it's very rare (4 known according to A Monetary History of Central America). There are 5 die pairings each of 1824-NG and 1831-CR.
This toning reminds me of a european collection of high grade crowns that was sold by WAG over a number of different sessions in 2021. A lot of them exhibited similar type toning that looked great at photos, but had a bit of a unnatural shine in-hand. The few examples from that collection I ended-up acquiring all bodybagged. I hope that's not the case here, but the white spots in the toning and the overall look triggered some memories. I hope i'm wrong as it appears to be a nice example.
@TwoKopeiki said:
This toning reminds me of a european collection of high grade crowns that was sold by WAG over a number of different sessions in 2021. A lot of them exhibited similar type toning that looked great at photos, but had a bit of a unnatural shine in-hand. The few examples from that collection I ended-up acquiring all bodybagged. I hope that's not the case here, but the white spots in the toning and the overall look triggered some memories. I hope i'm wrong as it appears to be a nice example.
In my Experience that brownish with bluish look is almost immediately bodybagged. It’s my understanding that it means it was exposed to a higher than normal level of sulfuric gas. Whether that’s comes from an envelope de-gassing/acidifying or something else, it doesn’t matter.
@TwoKopeiki said:
This toning reminds me of a european collection of high grade crowns that was sold by WAG over a number of different sessions in 2021. A lot of them exhibited similar type toning that looked great at photos, but had a bit of a unnatural shine in-hand. The few examples from that collection I ended-up acquiring all bodybagged. I hope that's not the case here, but the white spots in the toning and the overall look triggered some memories. I hope i'm wrong as it appears to be a nice example.
Here are a few examples from the collection:
Interesting as it is quite similar. Which service did you send to?
Love that Milled British (1830-1960) Well, just Love coins, period.
I (finally!) purchased the Garrett 4E from @bidask to join the Norweb 8E in my type set.
Here they both are side-by-side. (The actual coins are much nicer than the photos.)
I (finally!) purchased the Garrett 4E from @bidask to join the Norweb 8E in my type set.
Here they both are side-by-side. (The actual coins are much nicer than the photos.)
Since you guys brought this thread to the top, and since it is Thursday, let me go ahead and post this newp. This is the "secret purchase" I brought home from Monterrey (luckily with no tariff).
This item appeared in an offbeat auction house in Monaco a little over 7 years ago. @MrEureka viewed and bid on it for me, but as it was so hard to value, we lost it at that time. (Funny story, I was watching the live auction on my phone while headed to my NYC office on a commuter train and the train entered the Hudson River tunnel right as this lot came up and I lost my signal. So, despite being approved to bid, I could not advance my bid over and above what I had originally agreed with @MrEureka to bid for me.)
A couple of years ago, I surprisingly saw this item at someone's table at the Mexico City show and, clearly remembering it, was simply amazed to see it there. I never expected to see it again. It took a while of back and forth, but I finally acquired it this year at WAY more than the winning bidder paid and probably WAY more than I would have paid back then. But it adds depth to my collection and now joins my USA-made hookneck die in the pattern collection.
What is it you ask? It's the prototype of the Mexican eagle used in the Durango patterns and circulating coins of the 1830's that were designed in Paris by Ramon Mascarenas (assayer RM). When you hear of the French Eagle on Mexican coins, this is the source. Since it is unsigned, it is impossible to be 100% sure. And the auction company was tight-lipped about the source and any details. But it was in an auction with a very similar prototype, a bust of Bolivar for Venezuela, that was signed by Barre. The fact that it came out of France along with that other piece was strong circumstantial evidence of it's authenticity.
Interestingly, the patterns have the RL assayer, not RM as do the issued coins. Need to go back and research that bit.
The Durango eagle is, after the Hookneck, the most beautiful eagle in all of Mexican coins. The third place would be the one in the 20 gold pesos in the XX century, but not close.
Comments
My latest.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
Excellent, Potosi gold can be tough to come by, that's a nice group of coins.
Charles III Album
Charles III Portrait Set
Charles IV Album
Charles IV Portrait Set
Spanish Colonial Pillar Set
Latin American Collection
One of the eight in MS67.
The picture is not that great, yet the coin is amazing.
Happy Thursday!
I do not think I have shared this one...
Or this one...
Wonderful strike @Abuelo
A local coin shop had this for sale at a modest premium above melt. 1982 Saint Kitts-Nevis $100 GOLD. The gold content is about the same as a traditional Sovereign. The Krause World Coins catalog states that 250 were struck with a brilliant (uncirculated) finish, and only 15 like this one were struck as proofs:
Newest addition to my 1776 set.
Very nice, I had pursued that one
Charles III Album
Charles III Portrait Set
Charles IV Album
Charles IV Portrait Set
Spanish Colonial Pillar Set
One recently crossed and imaged-
Not necessarily new, but in celebration of the sun shining in the PNW today.
My dark side pursuits started off as a somewhat peripheral endeavor, but quickly became enamored with South/North Peru and early Peru Royalist/ Republic period. A medley of a few examples I’ve got decent pictures of.
@marmac beautiful compilation! Hard to beat those designs.
@scubafuel thanks, a couple of them probably even look familiar
Very scarce 1862-So Peso. Key of the series and a coin which comes across the block very infrequently. Heifetz and Santiago (Christensen 1986) included examples, Norweb didn’t have one. I can find four coins that have sold in the last 25 years. Tough coin and a nice AU58.
Latin American Collection
Fantastic addition
8 Reales Madness Collection
OK, to come is at long last my 1844 Chile 8 Escudos. I was worried it would come back "details" from ATS but got the MS61, sadly with NO PL designation even though it is extremely so & not showing up on my iPhone 11S photos. This coin just back today.
Well, just Love coins, period.
Mexican coppers are so difficult to find straight graded so I'm quite tempted.
@Abuelo, interesting piece, nicely struck/preserved. I do believe that's a well-executed example of one of the numerous contemporary counterfeits of this series, for which 1836 is definitely the most frequently-targeted date. For those familiar with these, some of these CCs of course come really crude with blatantly non-regal design elements. This one is more faithful than usual, but a close comparison will show some differences. Here's yours compared to a definitively "regal" 1836 (if you compare the surrounding years, that is the standard "look" - eagle punch, etc.)... it should be apparent:
@realeswatcher it is very likely that you are right. In my experience coppers were heavily counterfeit, some well, others not even close and grotesque.
You can see these 2 eagles
Just to show another example to your point (yet the other coin here is another 1/8 instead of a 1/4 real) but the style is different as you point out. Yet many of these contemporary counterfeits did circulate heavily (as this example) so is difficult in many cases to tell for sure. And as these coins were minted in large numbers, likely many varieties exist. That said, I have the suspicion that you may be right.
The turn for the 1834...
Love the adjustment marks.
What an interesting collection of early Peruvian Republican coins. Congratulations!
Among others, the last 8 Reales struck in 1824 under Spanish rule, the first 8 republican 8 reales (peso de San Martin, also called Peso Peru Libre), a very nice example of the scarce 1839 1/4 real de Arequipa (only year of issue), and notably, a North Peru 2 reales (also very scarce). Nice representative selection.
@Eddi thank you for the compliment. The period of back and forth control between Royalists and Republic forces along with the Peru-Bolivia Federation period I've found to be a really fascinating period and have tried to focus on those segments in history with my Peruvian efforts. I've managed to acquire a few other critical examples from these periods, though unfortunately don't have any good pictures of the pieces at present time.
It’s Thursday somewhere…
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
I know few others like moderns, and especially not from Latin American countries, but here is an exceedingly rare set with some attractive coins - I have not seen another or for that matter ANY uncirculated 1999 Trinidad 50c or dollar coins with the proof sets much scarcer than the authorised mintage of 3,000. And the country has a very "Latin" name: Trinidad
The BU sets are extremely prooflike and this is a Royal Mint striking(s). Find another - LOL!
In any case this is a Bahamas 1999 "Brilliant Uncirculated" Set:
For good measure here is the proof set, also 1999 Trinidad:
I will probably do a separate post on this...
Well, just Love coins, period.
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
I recently added a second 1831-CR 1/2 real to my collection. While relatively inexpensive when it can be found, the denomination has proven particularly difficult to me. As such I've settled for some holed pieces, including a 1833 provisional example from Honduras. There exists a proper CAR issue from Honduras dated 1830, but it's very rare (4 known according to A Monetary History of Central America). There are 5 die pairings each of 1824-NG and 1831-CR.
Happy Thursday!
I got this little one on the last sale by Heritage.
Sorry, and this one is on the way...
Not the rarest, but as all republican gold, somewhat scarce.
Inexpensive and scarce. One of my own previous discoveries - TH/HJ over-assayer. The die pair with the obverse repuching on the 8 in the date.
8 Reales Madness Collection
1891 Dominican Republic 5 Franco’s
Just from auction and raw.
It appears to be softly struck esp on obverse with subdued lustre but I don’t see much wear. What do you all think?
Hard to show on iPhone pictures.
Well, just Love coins, period.
Very nice and the toning is beautiful! Kraft envelope style of tone? I like it! I prefer original toning coins -- like your crown here!
Anthony the Coinman
_Keen Collector, Avid Researcher, Occasional Dealer
_
Instagram: @anthonythecoinman
Yes me as well and I agree with your comment.
Well, just Love coins, period.
This toning reminds me of a european collection of high grade crowns that was sold by WAG over a number of different sessions in 2021. A lot of them exhibited similar type toning that looked great at photos, but had a bit of a unnatural shine in-hand. The few examples from that collection I ended-up acquiring all bodybagged. I hope that's not the case here, but the white spots in the toning and the overall look triggered some memories. I hope i'm wrong as it appears to be a nice example.
Here are a few examples from the collection:
8 Reales Madness Collection
In my Experience that brownish with bluish look is almost immediately bodybagged. It’s my understanding that it means it was exposed to a higher than normal level of sulfuric gas. Whether that’s comes from an envelope de-gassing/acidifying or something else, it doesn’t matter.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
I bought this one because it is a high grade mess! Fractures, breaks and mistakes!
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Interesting as it is quite similar. Which service did you send to?
Well, just Love coins, period.
Both services.
8 Reales Madness Collection
No longer!
I (finally!) purchased the Garrett 4E from @bidask to join the Norweb 8E in my type set.
Here they both are side-by-side. (The actual coins are much nicer than the photos.)
No words.
Not too shabby @pruebas.
Latin American Collection
Awesome coins, everybody!
My YouTube Channel
Better obverse picture of my
Dominican Republic 5 Franco’s:
Well, just Love coins, period.
Rolling the dice on this one. Hope it's not too beat up in-hand.
8 Reales Madness Collection
Since you guys brought this thread to the top, and since it is Thursday, let me go ahead and post this newp. This is the "secret purchase" I brought home from Monterrey (luckily with no tariff).
This item appeared in an offbeat auction house in Monaco a little over 7 years ago. @MrEureka viewed and bid on it for me, but as it was so hard to value, we lost it at that time. (Funny story, I was watching the live auction on my phone while headed to my NYC office on a commuter train and the train entered the Hudson River tunnel right as this lot came up and I lost my signal. So, despite being approved to bid, I could not advance my bid over and above what I had originally agreed with @MrEureka to bid for me.)
A couple of years ago, I surprisingly saw this item at someone's table at the Mexico City show and, clearly remembering it, was simply amazed to see it there. I never expected to see it again. It took a while of back and forth, but I finally acquired it this year at WAY more than the winning bidder paid and probably WAY more than I would have paid back then. But it adds depth to my collection and now joins my USA-made hookneck die in the pattern collection.
What is it you ask? It's the prototype of the Mexican eagle used in the Durango patterns and circulating coins of the 1830's that were designed in Paris by Ramon Mascarenas (assayer RM). When you hear of the French Eagle on Mexican coins, this is the source. Since it is unsigned, it is impossible to be 100% sure. And the auction company was tight-lipped about the source and any details. But it was in an auction with a very similar prototype, a bust of Bolivar for Venezuela, that was signed by Barre. The fact that it came out of France along with that other piece was strong circumstantial evidence of it's authenticity.
Interestingly, the patterns have the RL assayer, not RM as do the issued coins. Need to go back and research that bit.
I'm quite sure it's unique.
The Durango eagle is, after the Hookneck, the most beautiful eagle in all of Mexican coins. The third place would be the one in the 20 gold pesos in the XX century, but not close.