Lord Marcovan 2024 purchases

I think maybe for my New Year's resolution, I'll try to keep a running tally of all my 2024 purchases as they happen. Might come in handy for my own future reference, particularly when it's time to do that "10 best" list at the end of the year. After last year ended, I had trouble remembering all my 2023 purchases.

January 1st, 2024: I bought this 1836 Bust dime to put in my giveaway goodies. It is a lower grade but wholesome example, with full rims both sides and light CircCam contrast.







Cost= $40.78 total.

C

 

January 2, 2024.

A nice midgrade 1859 quarter I also bought for the giveaway stash. Very original looking, with CircCam contrast and no major distractions. I handpicked this one out of hundreds of <$50 examples on eBay.





Cost= $45.00 total.

 

January 2, 2024.

Egypt: AH1356 (1937) silver 2-piastres (2-qirsh) of King Farouk (PCGS AU58)

Very nicely toned. Also bought for the giveaway stash. King Farouk was a famous coin collector.





Cost= $38.36 total.

 

January 2, 2024.

Hungary: 1550-KB silver denar of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

A fun early-dated coin, also bought for the giveaway stash.



Cost= $24.69 total.

 

January 3, 2024.

United States: 1957-D silver Franklin half dollar (PCGS MS64 FBL)

Another purchase for the giveaway stash.



Cost= $32.65 total.

 

January 9, 2024.

United States: 1863 bronze patriotic Civil War token ("Flag Of Our Union" / "Shoot Him On The Spot")

Fuld variety 203/412, Rarity-3. Also bought for the giveaways. The reverse was struck with a rusted die.







Cost= $29.50 total.

 

January 9, 2024.

South Africa: 2020 silver Krugerrand, 1 ounce .999 silver (PCGS MS66).

Nice piece of big silver for the giveaways.



Cost= $35.05.

 

Date unrecorded, but shortly after New Year.

I got this pair of silver dollars for the giveaway stash, in a swap with @Randy Abercrombie.

1896 Morgan


1924 Peace


Cost= $50.00 in trade for the pair, plus what it cost me to ship my end of the swap.

 

January 4, 2024.

Cappadocian Kingdom: ca. 96-63 BC silver drachm of Ariobarzanes I Philoromaios

Some nice BC silver for the giveaway stash, at a reasonable price.



Cost= $45.80.

 

Personally I would keep both circ cameo coins for myself (from first two posts).

 

There is one up right now, just as there usually is most months on the Contests forum. The current one is #108 as of this post.

 

I really enjoy buying nice $25-50 stuff for my “pick your prize” giveaway contests. It’s like shopping for my own collection, except I’m shopping for everyone else. It’s also a little like being a mailorder coin dealer, without the concerns over trying to make money. Sure, I lose money in the game (the postage adds up, too), but for an outlay of $25-50+ a month, I have lots of fun.

 

Oh, believe me, I’d have kept that 1859 quarter, had not my fixed-size “Box of 100” collection advanced to the point where I mostly have a minimum price point of $200+ for inclusion. But I still have fun shopping in the $25-50 range for everyone else, and I was still excited to buy that $45 coin. I’ll get just as much fun out of eventually giving it away as I would have by keeping it. (And until somebody wins it in one of the contests, I do get to enjoy owning it.)

 

Leftover Christmas tissue paper, you said?

Thanks- I was just glad not to have to photograph the coins myself. Didn’t mind the background, actually. But part of the rim on that Morgan did get cropped off.

I might reshoot it later, but given the quality of my own photography, the results might not be much better…