A purchase from this evening's Heritage World & Ancients Coins Signature Sale. Text is in Arabic but expresses a Christian message: Alfonso is the Prince of the Catholics and the Pope of Rome is the Emir of the Church of the Messiah.
The mintage date of 1212 AD is significant as that was the year of the victory of Alphonso VIII of Castile and his various allies at the decisive battle of Las Navas de La Tolosa on July 16, 1212, a turning point in the Spanish Reconquista.
Spain - Sancho IV, of Castile and Leon, (“Sancho el bravo” - the wild), ruled eleven years, after overthrowing his father, Alfonso the Wise. He paled in the shadow of his father, one of the most enlightened rulers in European history.
Sancho was the subject of my thesis, I researched the coin. it out and bought it.
He was the great-great-great grandson of Fernando VII (coin above).
Minted in one of the less common mints, Berwick on Tweed…which has gotta be one of the coolest names ever! 😂
This is even more interesting because Berwick was under conflict at the time, Longshanks brutally attacked Bewick in 1296 and subsequently reinforced the walls with stone, creating a pivotal stronghold for future endeavors and placing England as the reigning power in the extremities of the Northumberland area.
@SimonW said:
Edward I, Longshanks, Ruled 1272-1307
PCGS XF45
Minted in one of the less common mints, Berwick on Tweed…which has gotta be one of the coolest names ever! 😂
This is even more interesting because Berwick was under conflict at the time, Longshanks brutally attacked Bewick in 1296 and subsequently reinforced the walls with stone, creating a pivotal stronghold for future endeavors and placing England as the reigning power in the extremities of the Northumberland area.
Really cool coin.
I will never be able to think of Edward the Longshanks without my brain immediately going to Braveheart.
@OnlyGoldIsMoney said:
A purchase from this evening's Heritage World & Ancients Coins Signature Sale. Text is in Arabic but expresses a Christian message: Alfonso is the Prince of the Catholics and the Pope of Rome is the Emir of the Church of the Messiah.
The mintage date of 1212 AD is significant as that was the year of the victory of Alphonso VIII of Castile and his various allies at the decisive battle of Las Navas de La Tolosa on July 16, 1212, a turning point in the Spanish Reconquista.
Nice pick up. There is quite a date run of these. Several better dates/rare
pieces. Never seen a complete set.
Here is my Alfonso VIII celebrating the expulsion of the from the area.
Just bought a roll of 10 1974 Panama 20 Balboas (have not received them yet). These coins are thiccer than train smoke - 4.17 oz gross and 3.854 oz ASW per coin.
I'm no expert on coin rolls. Anything special about the plastic on these big boys? Franklin Mint made them FWIW.
A few months ago I wrote a show report lamenting the lack of quality Spanish colonial or world material for n general at our biggest local show here in Northern VA……
Well, today was our smaller local show, and boy was I fired up to see these in a case.
As always, apologies for the terrible pics. I’ll post trueviews when I get them, and these will be headed to our hosts in short order.
1791 So DA Chile 2R
1838 South Peru (Cuzco) MS 8R. I absolutely love this coin.
@MEJ7070 said:
A few months ago I wrote a show report lamenting the lack of quality Spanish colonial or world material for n general at our biggest local show here in Northern VA……
Well, today was our smaller local show, and boy was I fired up to see these in a case.
As always, apologies for the terrible pics. I’ll post trueviews when I get them, and these will be headed to our hosts in short order.
1791 So DA Chile 2R
1838 South Peru (Cuzco) MS 8R. I absolutely love this coin.
It's easy to see why you got fired up, I wouldn't expect to find the 1791 Chile 2 Reales at a small local show. Nice pick up on both. As mentioned, nice Spanish Colonial material sure does seem to have evaporated from the market as of late.
1813 B Brazil 960 R
Was NGC 55, now PC 55….color is better than appears here imho
1859 R Brazil 1000 R
Was NGC 63, now PC 63
Not really sure why I crossed this to be honest other than uniformity and professional photography. Not the best allocation of resources for all you YNs out there
(The 960 Rs were crossed to go into my PCGS 960 R set)
I finished the Guatemala coin type set recently, it was a really fun, quite completable set while still being a challenge at these grade levels. (Higher grade is a VERY different story.)
A few months ago I saved this impaired wide Reichsthaler from the bishopic of Münster from the melting pot - the previous owner wanted to melt it down alogside all her modern commemoratives and some 1800's French coins. So I bought her whole collection for melt value and kept most of the pre-1900's coins.
Even though it was worn as a pin or brooche at some point of time, in my mind the damage still did not justify melting down this beautiful 1661 commemorative coin.
Would you have saved it aswell or do you think due to the damage it wasn't really worth it?
I am glad they both found a good home! The background on the two coins if you are interested:
50 Cent - Bought at the 1996 ANA from Karl Stephens already in the slab
1 Fr - Bought at the 2014 ANA also in the slab when purchased, from Wolfgang Meirer, my go to dealer for German and Swiss. Once in awhile he would have a really nicely toned coin he would pick up off the floor and resell at the show. This was one of them.
I have to start reducing some of my duplicates and as I come across some of them I am sending them to GC.
I used some of the money to buy two more French coins that arrived today. My next post.
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
So many immigrant groups have swept through our town that Brooklyn, like Atlantis, reaches mythological proportions in the mind of the world - RI Safir 1998
I bought this one raw at the 2026 FUN show last month. It is just back from NGC. The XF details grade (well, the XF part of it) was what I expected, but I was disappointed that they gave it a "cleaned" designation. I am not so much surprised that this 462-year-old coin got cleaned at some point, but I am a bit let down that NGC did not deem that "market acceptable" and give it a straight grade. I've seen worse in straight-graded holders.
Oh well. Perhaps I am just a bit too twitchy about "details" graded coins. This one certainly has the eye appeal, regardless of all that. For that reason, I'll be keeping it, at least over the short term, despite it presently being the only "details" graded non-ancient coin in my collection.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
@Syracusian said:
An old favorite, still Darkside to me. I finally gave in and bought one after following its price increases and its price drops for over 20 years.
Dimitri- yours is two points higher than mine. The OGH (old green holder) is cool, too.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Thought about that, but with what that costs, I’d quickly be underwater in that coin… and still have no guarantee of a straight grade. Still, it’s tempting.
Tough call for me… 🤔
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Comments
A purchase from this evening's Heritage World & Ancients Coins Signature Sale. Text is in Arabic but expresses a Christian message: Alfonso is the Prince of the Catholics and the Pope of Rome is the Emir of the Church of the Messiah.
The mintage date of 1212 AD is significant as that was the year of the victory of Alphonso VIII of Castile and his various allies at the decisive battle of Las Navas de La Tolosa on July 16, 1212, a turning point in the Spanish Reconquista.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
MS 65
Spain - Sancho IV, of Castile and Leon, (“Sancho el bravo” - the wild), ruled eleven years, after overthrowing his father, Alfonso the Wise. He paled in the shadow of his father, one of the most enlightened rulers in European history.
Sancho was the subject of my thesis, I researched the coin. it out and bought it.
He was the great-great-great grandson of Fernando VII (coin above).
Bought this and had no idea the value of the album was more than the coins!
Found this west indies silver 20 years ago. I think this fits in here. It was found in northwest ct area best wishes 🙏
I got this off of eBay for my Dansco Canada Type album. I'm really pleased with it.
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Edward I, Longshanks, Ruled 1272-1307
PCGS XF45
Minted in one of the less common mints, Berwick on Tweed…which has gotta be one of the coolest names ever! 😂
This is even more interesting because Berwick was under conflict at the time, Longshanks brutally attacked Bewick in 1296 and subsequently reinforced the walls with stone, creating a pivotal stronghold for future endeavors and placing England as the reigning power in the extremities of the Northumberland area.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
An 1880-P MS64 morgan dollar, my 25th slabbedw silver dollar!
"Another day, another Collectors Universe forum scrolling session."
- Someone, probably
Really cool coin.
I will never be able to think of Edward the Longshanks without my brain immediately going to Braveheart.
Neat coin/token make for the Culion Leper Colony in what was the US Philippines. I won it by accident off of eBay. No complaints
Nice pick up. There is quite a date run of these. Several better dates/rare
pieces. Never seen a complete set.
Here is my Alfonso VIII celebrating the expulsion of the from the area.
Just bought a roll of 10 1974 Panama 20 Balboas (have not received them yet). These coins are thiccer than train smoke - 4.17 oz gross and 3.854 oz ASW per coin.
I'm no expert on coin rolls. Anything special about the plastic on these big boys? Franklin Mint made them FWIW.
A few months ago I wrote a show report lamenting the lack of quality Spanish colonial or world material for n general at our biggest local show here in Northern VA……
Well, today was our smaller local show, and boy was I fired up to see these in a case.
As always, apologies for the terrible pics. I’ll post trueviews when I get them, and these will be headed to our hosts in short order.
1791 So DA Chile 2R
1838 South Peru (Cuzco) MS 8R. I absolutely love this coin.
Gotta love that Chile!
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
It's easy to see why you got fired up, I wouldn't expect to find the 1791 Chile 2 Reales at a small local show. Nice pick up on both. As mentioned, nice Spanish Colonial material sure does seem to have evaporated from the market as of late.
MS 65
MS 65
Stunning coins!
This was a gift to me. Our father's faught there on d day where he got the coin as shown here. I smiled
Not new purchases…crossover results in today.
1813 B Brazil 960 R
Was NGC 55, now PC 55….color is better than appears here imho
1859 R Brazil 1000 R
Was NGC 63, now PC 63
Not really sure why I crossed this to be honest other than uniformity and professional photography. Not the best allocation of resources for all you YNs out there
(The 960 Rs were crossed to go into my PCGS 960 R set)
1815 B Brazil 960 R
Was NGC 58 now PC 58
Three for three, I think that's excellent. Good Job.
You know that old saying about even blind squirrels finding nuts…..
……and nevermind anyway
Just rechecked and the 1813 B was a 58. Apologies for incorrect initial info.
I strongly agree with PCGS grade fwiw, but their TV on this one is a little bland.
(Was actually 3/4 on submission including this…..)
PC 58
Anyways thanks for the kind words.
This one arrived today. It completes my "March of Time" set covering 7 Century BC through 20th Century AD.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
My most recent World coin purchase, at FUN 2026 last month.
Nothing earthshaking here, but not too bad either, I reckon.
As is typical, it has adjustment marks, but the way those got struck under the portrait and with the grey toning on the coin, they don't bother me.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
That is one impressively large coin. I like it.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
Thanks. 41 mm. I believe that’s about as big as you can go and still have it fit in a standard sized NGC slab.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
lordmarcovan, how does the silver content compare to a US Morgan Dollar?
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
March of Time - 27 Centuries in Gold
https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=36590
The French ecu was .917 fine, so slightly higher silver content than a US silver dollar.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
I finished the Guatemala coin type set recently, it was a really fun, quite completable set while still being a challenge at these grade levels. (Higher grade is a VERY different story.)
1739 1/2 Real, VG10
1739 Real, G6
1752, 2 Real, F15
1737 4 Real VG8
1739 8 Reales F15 (with Guatemala counterstamp)
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Congrats @SimonW
Great coins and a really cool type set. Well done!
I’m starting to like and appreciate cobs more and more.
An old favorite, still Darkside to me. I finally gave in and bought one after following its price increases and its price drops for over 20 years.
myEbay
DPOTD 3
Excessively rare pattern 5c in Cu-Ni. Perhaps 3-4 extant.
I also have the same without fineness.
Latin American Collection
A few months ago I saved this impaired wide Reichsthaler from the bishopic of Münster from the melting pot - the previous owner wanted to melt it down alogside all her modern commemoratives and some 1800's French coins. So I bought her whole collection for melt value and kept most of the pre-1900's coins.
Even though it was worn as a pin or brooche at some point of time, in my mind the damage still did not justify melting down this beautiful 1661 commemorative coin.
Would you have saved it aswell or do you think due to the damage it wasn't really worth it?
Nothing crazy this week. Modern world silver
Ounce by ounce the stack grows .
Very rare pattern. Last I know of one selling was this same coin in 1986.
Latin American Collection
Cool piece.
Is that a Soviet style sickle and hammer Im seeing at the bottom of the reverse?
Japanese Bu ca. 1859-68. A unique looking piece with color I like.
MS 65
Spotted this silver dollar on eBay. I thought it might look nicer than the seller's photos. What do you think?
Seller's photos:
My Photos:
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
I am glad they both found a good home! The background on the two coins if you are interested:
50 Cent - Bought at the 1996 ANA from Karl Stephens already in the slab
1 Fr - Bought at the 2014 ANA also in the slab when purchased, from Wolfgang Meirer, my go to dealer for German and Swiss. Once in awhile he would have a really nicely toned coin he would pick up off the floor and resell at the show. This was one of them.
I have to start reducing some of my duplicates and as I come across some of them I am sending them to GC.
I used some of the money to buy two more French coins that arrived today. My next post.
My new additions today. They are better in hand.
@johnjohn10 Thanks! They’re fantastic. Appreciate you chiming in with the background info. Both gorgeous coins.
Congrats on your impressive new pickups!
You are very welcome!!
I bought this one raw at the 2026 FUN show last month. It is just back from NGC. The XF details grade (well, the XF part of it) was what I expected, but I was disappointed that they gave it a "cleaned" designation. I am not so much surprised that this 462-year-old coin got cleaned at some point, but I am a bit let down that NGC did not deem that "market acceptable" and give it a straight grade. I've seen worse in straight-graded holders.
Oh well. Perhaps I am just a bit too twitchy about "details" graded coins. This one certainly has the eye appeal, regardless of all that. For that reason, I'll be keeping it, at least over the short term, despite it presently being the only "details" graded non-ancient coin in my collection.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
Dimitri- yours is two points higher than mine. The OGH (old green holder) is cool, too.
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.
@lordmarcovan resubmit
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Thought about that, but with what that costs, I’d quickly be underwater in that coin… and still have no guarantee of a straight grade. Still, it’s tempting.
Tough call for me… 🤔
Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.