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1899 Farthing

JCMhoustonJCMhouston Posts: 5,306 ✭✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
This one just arrived today, an 1899 in NGC 65, blackened at mint. I got this one really cheap on the 'bay last weekend, the seller had the title right but had a picture of an 1876 in MS62. I emailed him to confirm which was being sold and he confirmed this was the one with the wrong picture on the auction. So I got this for about half of what I expected. It's a pop 1/0 coin at NGC, I've probably sent in 4-5 Blackened Vicky farthings trying for a 65 and never made one in spite of my best efforts, NGC seems to hate these as much as they do Matte Proofs. NGC has graded a total of six MS65's in the Old Head blackened series (1897-1901), four of these are 1901's, this one, and AZlarrys 1900.

image
JCM-Houston
World Collection
British Collection
German States Collection

Comments

  • WWWWWW Posts: 2,609 ✭✭✭
    Excellent score and I like the look of this one very much.
  • ZoharZohar Posts: 6,678 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very cool. Congrats.
    Habsburg Talers
  • StubbyMcNumbthumbsStubbyMcNumbthumbs Posts: 1,259 ✭
    Very nice!

    Shame about the 4 cuds on each side. image
  • HussuloHussulo Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭
    Very nice catch J!
    CoinsGB (Free British coin reference website) | Gold Sovereigns
  • Rickc300Rickc300 Posts: 876 ✭✭
    Why were they blackened? I have some German silver 1/2 marks that were blackened to prevent hoarding during the first world war but I have no idea why copper would be blackened... Can you give us a reason?

    TIA,

    Rick
    Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Freedom is a well armed lamb contesting that vote. Benjamin Franklin - 1779

    image
    1836 Capped Liberty
    dime. My oldest US
    detecting find so far.
    I dig almost every
    signal I get for the most
    part. Go figure...
  • JCMhoustonJCMhouston Posts: 5,306 ✭✭✭
    Supposedly so they could be easily distinguished from the 1/2 Sovereign.
    JCM-Houston
    World Collection
    British Collection
    German States Collection
  • AethelredAethelred Posts: 9,291 ✭✭✭
    I am a sucker for blackened Farthings, that is a pretty example.
    If you are in the Western North Carolina area, please consider visiting our coin shop:

    WNC Coins, LLC
    1987-C Hendersonville Road
    Asheville, NC 28803

    wnccoins.com
  • AethelredAethelred Posts: 9,291 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Supposedly so they could be easily distinguished from the 1/2 Sovereign. >>



    I am not saying you are wrong, but it seems like there would have to be more to it than that. During World War II British Pennies were darkened to keep people from saving them. Could there have been some economic reason during that era that would better explain this?
    If you are in the Western North Carolina area, please consider visiting our coin shop:

    WNC Coins, LLC
    1987-C Hendersonville Road
    Asheville, NC 28803

    wnccoins.com
  • JCMhoustonJCMhouston Posts: 5,306 ✭✭✭
    It's possible Aethelred, I'm really just repeating what Peck wrote. I haven't seen any of any documents from the era that explain it though.
    JCM-Houston
    World Collection
    British Collection
    German States Collection
  • mumumumu Posts: 1,840
    I LOVE the reverse design on these. Yours has that awesome chocolate color that you see on older coins to boot. What do they blacken them with?
  • wybritwybrit Posts: 6,988 ✭✭✭
    What do they blacken them with?

    Sodium thiosulphate, possibly.

    And that is a very nice example. I like the black farthings too.
    Former owner, Cambridge Gate collection.
  • newsmannewsman Posts: 2,658 ✭✭✭
    Beautiful coin -- you totally ripped it, though I don't feel sorry for the seller.image
  • AZLARRYAZLARRY Posts: 1,189 ✭✭
    Nice addition to your farthing set Jeff. NGC is very tough on blackened Vicky farthings, PCGS is even harder on the series. They have never graded one above MS64, and only a couple of them at MS64.
    image
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