*****

(5/16/19: This thread got trashed when I accidentally deleted some images, so I'm repurposing it as a construction draft for new writeups.)




Main galleries:

"Eclectic Box" Gallery (on CollectiveCoin - the current lineup)

"Bygones" from the Eclectic Box (gone, but not forgotten)

Last update: January 3, 2019
Number of coins as of last update: 48
Number of coins as of this update: 49

As always, thanks for looking.

~Robertson ("Rob") Shinnick (aka "LordM")
St. Simons Island, Georgia, March 27, 2019

 

Greece (Ionia, Phokaia): electrum hekte, ca. 478-387 BC

Greece (Thrace, Pantakapaion): bronze Æ21, ca. 310-303 BC

Greece (Spartans in Taras, Calabria, Italy): silver drachm; Athena and owl, ca. 302-281 BC

Egypt (Ptolemaic Kingdom): silver didrachm of Ptolemy VI ("Philometer"), second sole reign, ca. 163-145 BC; Cyprus mint

Roman Republic: silver denarius of moneyer L. Furius Brocchus, ca. 63 BC

Roman Empire: silver denarius of Vespasian; commemorative issue struck by Titus ca. 80-81 AD

Roman Empire: bronze sestertius of Antoninus Pius, struck ca. 159 AD

Roman Empire: silver denarius of Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, struck ca. 196-202 AD, Laodicea mint

Roman Empire: silver denarius of Julia Mamaea, mother of Severus Alexander, struck ca. 222-235 AD

Byzantine Empire: gold tremissis of Justinian I, ca. 527-565 AD

Sicily (Norman Kings): gold tari of Guglielmo I ("William the Bad"), ca. 1154-1166 AD

 

Sicily (Norman Kings): gold tari of Guglielmo I ("William the Bad"), ca. 1154-1166 AD

England: silver penny of King John, ca. 1213-1215, from the Gisors hoard found in Normandy

PCGS XF45; population 3 with none higher as of 8/12/2019.

Great Britain (England): silver groat of Henry VI, first reign, Calais mint, ca. 1422-1461, from the Reigate Hoard found in Surrey

PCGS XF45; population 5 with 5 higher as of 8/12/2019.

Obverse: Crowned facing bust within polylobate border; cross patonce mintmark.
Reverse: Long cross pattée, plain cross mintmark.
Issuing authority: Henry VI, King of England, in his first reign (1422-1461).
Composition, diameter, weight: silver, 27-28 mm approx., 3.85 g.
Grade, certification: PCGS XF45. Cert. #37681942. Purchased raw.
Reference attribution: Pinecone- mascle issue, ca. 1431-1432/3, Seaby-1875, North 1461.
Provenance: Ex- Patrick Jenkins ("Paddy54"), CoinTalk forums, 15 March 2019. Prior provenance to Gordon Andreas ("Andy") Singer, Greenbelt, Maryland. Pedigreed to the Reigate Hoard [*PDF] found in Surrey in 1972.

Notes: the Lancastrian Henry VI of England gained the throne as a mere nine-month-old infant in 1422, upon the death of his father, Henry V, the great warrior king of Shakespearean fame.

He was deposed and imprisoned in 1461 as a result of the Wars of the Roses, and supplanted by the Yorkist Edward IV. Henry was restored to the throne in 1470, but imprisoned again when Edward retook power. He died, probably murdered, in the Tower of London in 1471.

Henry VI was also the disputed king of France from 1422-1453, during this turbulent period when English kings ruled lands in both countries.

This handsome groat (fourpence) was struck in France, at Calais, circa 1431-33, and buried in a pottery jug with over 900 other coins in Reigate, Surrey, England, where it was discovered in 1972. Numismatic study of the hoard indicated the burial to have taken place in about 1454 or 1455. Many of the coins were very well preserved.


https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital BNJ/pdfs/1978_BNJ_48_10.pdf PCGS XF45. Cert. #37681942. https://www.pcgs.com/cert/37681942


Lithuania: silver half-groschen of Sigismund II Augustus of Poland, 1550; Vilnius mint

PCGS MS63; population 5 with 8 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Papal States: silver testone of Pope Paul IV, ca. 1555-1559

Presently uncertified; ex-Nomisma Spa, eAuction 9, Lot 592.

German States (Teutonic Order): silver 1/4-thaler of Grand Master Maximilian of Austria, ca. 1615

PCGS XF45; population 1 with 1 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Mexico: silver 8-reales "cob" of Charles II, ca. 1665-1682, from the 1682 "Johanna" shipwreck off South Africa

Presently uncertified; ex- "@Paddy54", CoinTalk forums.

Great Britain (England): silver crown of Charles II, 1679; "broadstruck" mint error

PCGS F12; no population data for errors; labeled "broadstruck" by PCGS, but more likely just slightly off-center.

 

Great Britain: silver South Sea Company sixpence of George I, 1723; double-struck mint error (2nd strike 25% off-center)

PCGS F12; no population data since errors are unique, but a rare error for the type.

Germany (Nuremberg): silver medal by Daniel Dockler the Younger, 1730; bicentennial of the Augsburg Confession

Presently uncertified; ex- Künker am Dom, Germany.

Switzerland (Zurich): silver "city view" 1/2-thaler (1 gulden of 36 schillings), 1739

PCGS AU58; population 1- the only example certified by PCGS as of 3/27/2019.

Spain: gold half-escudo of Ferdinand VI, 1759-JB, Madrid mint

PCGS XF40- population 1 - the only example certified by PCGS as of 3/27/2019- also the key date for the type.

Mexico (Spanish Colonial): silver 8 reales ("Pillar Dollar"), 1761-Mo-MM, Mexico City mint

PCGS AU50; population 5 with 15 higher as of 3/27/2019.

India (Mysore): gold fanam of Tipu Sultan, AH 1200 (1786), Patan mint

PCGS MS62; population 1 with none higher- the only example certified by PCGS as of 3/27/2019.

Belgium (Austrian Netherlands): copper 2 liards (2 Oorden); Insurrection coinage, 1790

NGC MS63 BN; population 3 with 4 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Iran (Persia): gold toman of Fath Ali Shah, AH 1233 (1817), Yazd mint

PCGS MS62; population 5 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: Capped Bust quarter, large size, 1818; Philadelphia mint

PCGS F12, CAC verified; population 87 with 730 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Great Britain: silver shilling of George IV, ca. 1826-1829, mint error (struck 20% off-center)

PCGS XF40; no population data since errors are unique, but a rare error for the type.

 

United States: gold quarter-eagle ($2.50), 1843-O, Small Date variety, New Orleans mint

PCGS XF40; population 63 with 310 higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: bronze patriotic Civil War token, undated (ca. 1862-1865); battle implements and Union shield

PCGS MS64 RB; population 2 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

Japan (Meiji Era): silver and gold Nibu-Kin (2 bu), undated, ca. 1868-1869

PCGS AU55; population 109 with 63 higher as of 3/27/2019.

France: silver jeton (insurance token) engraved by Ernest-Paulin Tasset, 1869

PCGS MS63; population 2 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: silver 20-cent piece, 1875, Philadelphia mint

PCGS F12; population 35 with 967 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Hawaii (Kingdom): silver hapalua (half-dollar) of King Kalakaua I, 1883

PCGS XF40; population 132 with 690 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Channel Islands (Guernsey): copper 2-doubles coin, 1889-H; Heaton mint, Birmingham

PCGS MS65 RB; population 1- the only example certified by PCGS as of 3/27/2019.

Japan: silver yen of the Emperor Meiji, Year 27 (1894)

PCGS AU58; population 68 with 220 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Peru: silver half-dinero, 1897-JF

PCGS MS67; population 77 with 7 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Great Britain: gold half-sovereign of Queen Victoria, 1901, from the Dr. Jacob Terner collection

PCGS MS64; population 13 with 6 higher as of 3/27/2019.

 

United States: copper "Hard Times" token; C.D. Peacock Jeweler, Chicago, "1837" (struck ca. 1902)

PCGS MS63 BN; population 1 - the only example certified by PCGS as of 3/27/2019.

Philippine Islands (US Insular government): silver 50-centavos, 1921

PCGS MS62; population 25 with 72 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Greenland: copper-nickel 25-øre, 1926 (h) HCN GJ; Copenhagen mint

PCGS MS65; population 23 with 27 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Great Britain (Island of Lundy): bronze 1-puffin token issued by Martin Coles Harman, 1929

PCGS MS65 RD; population 5 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

Canada: silver dollar of George V, 1935; "Voyageur" type

PCGS MS64; population 767 with 931 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Egypt: silver 2 piastres of King Farouk, AH 1356 (1937)

PCGS MS62; population 6 with 9 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Ireland: cupronickel halfcrown (2 shillings 6 pence), 1951

PCGS MS65; population 14 with 3 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Greece: silver 30-drachmai of Paul I; "Five Greek Kings" commemorative, 1963

PCGS MS65; population 180 with 61 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Austria: silver proof 10-euro, 2008, Klosterneuburg Abbey commemorative

Presently uncertified; ex- Münzenhandlung Dirk Löbbers, Germany.

Australia: silver 1-ounce bullion dollar; Australian Kangaroo, 2016-P, Perth Mint

PCGS MS70; population 4,072 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: silver proof National Parks quarter; Cumberland Island National Seashore, 2018-S

PCGS PR70 DCAM; population 869 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

 

There were 18 departures and 19 arrivals since last time, in what has been the biggest purge in my collection since 2013. It was a downsizing of sorts, since I sold off several of the best (i.e., most monetarily valuable) coins, but those gaps were refilled with some still quite appealing material, and we have a net gain of one coin, bringing the collection to 49 coins in total.

I sold those 18 coins to cover some bills- paid off both my credit cards and got money for a $1,500 car repair- but sales were so strong that I had enough money left over afterward to buy 19 new pieces to fill the gaps, and add one more! So this major reshuffling was definitely worth it.

It sure is nice to have a hobby that can sort of pay for itself, and give one something to fall back on. I'm glad I collect coins rather than spending my time and money on superhero action figures or Beanie Babies or NASCAR memorabilia or whatever. (Which isn't to suggest those pursuits aren't enjoyable and/or profitable to some folks, but... well... you know what I mean.)

Here's what went away since last time:

Greece (Corinth): silver stater; Pegasus and Athena, ca. 345-307 BC; control mark of Artemis Phosphoros with torch

NGC AU; Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5.

Greece (Kingdom of Macedon): silver "Mercenaries" drachm of King Perseus, ca. 175-170 BC

NGC Ch MS; Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5.

Roman Egypt: billon tetradrachm of Hadrian, Year 15 (130-131 AD); Hadrian receiving corn ears from Alexandria

Presently uncertified; ex-Ex- Arkadien Numismata, Switzerland.

Sasanian Empire: silver drachm of Khusrow II; fire altar with two attendants; struck 611 AD

Presently uncertified; ex- Marc Breitsprecher.

France (Duchy of Lorraine): silver "sword" type demi-gros of Antoine the Good, ca. 1508-1544

Presently uncertified; ex- Künker am Dom.

Belgium (Liège, Chapter of St. Lambert): copper communion token; memento mori, ca. 1680s

Presently uncertified; ex- Heritage Auctions Europe.

Bolivia (Spanish Colonial): silver "cob" type 1-real coin of Charles II, 1694 VR, Potosí mint

PCGS VF25; population 1 - the only example graded by PCGS as of 1/3/2019.

Great Britain: gilt copper proof halfpenny of George III, 1806, Soho mint

PCGS PR65 DCAM, ex-NGC PR64 CAM; PCGS population 1 with 1 higher as of 1/3/2019.

United States: silver half dollar, Draped Bust type, Heraldic Eagle reverse, 1807

PCGS F12, CAC verified; population 162 with 1,524 higher as of 1/3/2019.

United States: copper large cent, Coronet type, 1818; likely from the Randall Hoard found in 1869

PCGS MS62 BN; population 166 with 321 higher as of 1/3/2019.

Liberia: proof copper cent; Liberty in Phrygian cap and palm tree; first coin issued for Liberian independence, 1847

PCGS PR65 BN, ex-NGC PF64 BN; PCGS population 1- finest graded at either service as of 1/3/2019.

United States: silver dime, Seated Liberty type, arrows at date subtype, 1853

PCGS AU53; population 55 with 860 higher as of 1/3/2019.

United States: gold dollar, 1855; Type 2; small "Indian Princess" head

PCGS XF45; population 310 with 3,426 higher as of 1/3/2019.

Belgium: copper 2 centimes of Leopold II, 1874 (small wide date variety); lion and monogram

PCGS MS65 BN; population 1- the only example certified by PCGS as of 1/3/2019.

United States: silver dime, Barber type, 1901, ex-Stacks-Bowers Galleries

PCGS MS64, CAC verified; population 103 with 70 higher as of 1/3/2019.

United States: cupronickel 5 cents, Buffalo type, 1913, Type 1 ("raised mound" reverse)

PCGS MS65; population 3,978 with 2,998 higher as of 1/3/2019.

China (Republic): silver yuan ("Junk dollar"), Year 23 (1934); Sun-Yat Sen and sailing junk

PCGS MS62; population 11,601 with 25,199 higher as of 1/3/2019.

San Marino: silver proof 10-euro, 2006-R; Antonio Canova's "Three Graces" statue

PCGS PR69 DCAM; population 10 with none higher as of 1/3/2019.

 

Hmm. All those departures above were bittersweet. Let's see what's new!

Here's what came in since last time:

Greece (Thrace, Pantakapaion): bronze Æ21, ca. 310-303 BC

Presently uncertified; ex-Lodge Antiquities.

Roman Republic: bronze semis, anonymous issue, 211-207 BC; Hispania mint

Presently uncertified; ex-Traianvs Coins.

Great Britain (England): silver groat of Henry VI, Calais mint, ca. 1422-1461, from the Reigate Hoard found in Surrey

Presently uncertified; ex- "@Paddy54", CoinTalk forums.

Papal States: silver testone of Pope Paul IV, ca. 1555-1559

Presently uncertified; ex-Nomisma Spa, eAuction 9, Lot 592.

Mexico: silver 8-reales "cob" of Charles II, ca. 1665-1682, from the 1682 "Johanna" shipwreck off South Africa

Presently uncertified; ex- "@Paddy54", CoinTalk forums.

Great Britain (England): silver crown of Charles II, 1679; "broadstruck" mint error

PCGS F12; no population data for errors; labeled "broadstruck" by PCGS, but more likely just slightly off-center.

Great Britain: silver South Seas Company sixpence of George I; double-struck mint error (2nd strike 25% off-center)

PCGS F12; no population data since errors are unique, but a rare error for the type.

United States: Capped Bust quarter, large size, 1818, Philadelphia mint

PCGS F12, CAC verified; population 87 with 730 higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: gold quarter-eagle ($2.50), 1843-O, Small Date variety, New Orleans mint

PCGS XF40; population 63 with 310 higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: bronze patriotic Civil War token, undated (ca. 1862-1865); battle implements and Union shield

PCGS MS64 RB; population 2 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: silver 20-cent piece, 1875, Philadelphia mint

PCGS F12; population 35 with 967 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Hawaii (Kingdom): silver hapalua (half-dollar) of King Kalakaua I, 1883

PCGS XF40; population 132 with 690 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Japan: silver yen of the Emperor Meiji, Year 27 (1894)

PCGS AU58; population 68 with 220 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Peru: silver half-dinero, 1897-JF

PCGS MS67; population 77 with 7 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Philippine Islands (US Insular government): silver 50-centavos, 1921

PCGS MS62; population 25 with 72 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Canada: silver dollar of George V, 1935; "Voyageur" type

PCGS MS64; population 767 with 931 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Egypt: silver 2 piastres of King Farouk, AH 1356 (1937)

PCGS MS62; population 6 with 9 higher as of 3/27/2019.

Australia: silver 1-ounce bullion dollar; Australian Kangaroo, 2016-P, Perth Mint

PCGS MS70; population 4,072 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

United States: silver proof National Parks quarter; Cumberland Island National Seashore, 2018-S

PCGS PR70 DCAM; population 869 with none higher as of 3/27/2019.

 

It will be going to PCGS, as will all the stuff that's presently raw. (Except the ancients, which have to go to NGC because PCGS doesn't grade them.)

 

I don't, usually, but thanks. It's always nice to have the specialists' view on things, since (as you may have noticed), I'm a generalist who dabbles in a little bit of everything and specializes in almost nothing.

(That's how I ended up selling the 1806 O-129 Bust half discovery coin for 75 bucks, back in 2006- before it was discovered. Oops.)

 

Less than a hundred bucks! In the slab! With a TrueView image!

Got a lot of "bang for the buck" with these 18 newps, considering I siphoned off around $4K of the collection's value in the recent sales, yet managed to knock out my credit card debt and still keep the collection the same size it was, with a bunch of fun and interesting stuff.

Without dipping back into those now paid-off credit cards, I might add. While I'll miss the beauties I sold, it was the right thing to do, and all this fun new stuff has taken the sting out of the recent downsizing.

 

Somebody in a recent post referred to the satyr on that Thracian/Pantikapaion coin as "the Wolfman", which is an apt resemblance, and pretty funny. Now instead of seeing the head of Pan there, I'll always think of ancient Greek werewolves! LOL

That coin is supposedly Uncirculated. We shall see if NGC confirms that. It is nice, regardless.

PS- as to the South Sea Company sixpence error, it's not only super cool, but also makes up a little for the loss of the sweet SSC shilling I swapped away some while ago.