I have been admiring everyone's top 10 list and finally, have time to consider my own. My #1 is the easiest one to pick. It's a coin that I just can't stop looking at. The photo can not convey the true quality. #'s 2-9 were much less easy to put in order. #1 German States - Hamburg Obverse: The Annunciation Obverse Legend: AVE MARIA GRATIA. PLENA. DOMINVS Reverse: The Nativity Reverse Legend: PVER NATUS. EST. NOBI E FILIVS. DATVS. EST Note: Ref. G#1586. Prev. KM#F85. Composition: Silver Diameter: 59mm Weight: 56.5gm (1635-1668) 2 Thaler, (referred to as a Double Show Thaler or Tauftaler) The Annunciation, the announcement of Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus design on the front and John the Baptist, baptizing Jesus Christ with three people watching on the back! Our research tells us that the front has a Latin legend that means "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women" and the legend on the back may be German and might mean "Christ receiving his baptism from the leader in the Jordan" #2 German States - 1619 - Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel Thaler Obverse: With D.G. in titles Reverse: Wildman with tree in right hand Note: Dav.#6303. Composition: Silver This is a piece that I purchased raw and submitted to NGC. If came back as MS62. The planchet flaw really adds character in my opinion. #3 German States - 1587 - Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel Thaler Goslar Mint MB-190, DAV-9064, Welter 578 Lichttaler - Light Thaler Obverse: 6-fold shield of arms, 3 helmets above, titles of Julius Reverse: Wildman facing holding lit candle in right hand, tree trunk in left divides date Ruler: Julius Composition: Silver #4 German States - 1551 - Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel 1/4 Thaler Heinrich the Younger 1514-1568 Obverse: Bust Left Reverse: Wildman in the center. If this 3rd edition of SC of German Coins 1501-Present is accurate, the mint may be Riechenberg. Apparently somewhere on that coin should be "stag rampant left holding ingot hook." Or maybe the Goslar mint - some sort of symbol that looks like a necklace (a V shape) with a cactus hanging at the lower part of the V. One of the earliest Wildman coins. #5 Spain - 1808 - 30 Sueldos Balearic Islands, Majorca Obverse: Value, ruler, date Reverse: Diamond shaped arms Ruler: Ferdinand VII Composition: Silver #6 German States - Friedberg - 1747 CPS 2/3 Thaler Obverse: Crowned double-headed eagle with two shields below and one on breast Reverse: St. George standing on dragon, shields at left and right Ruler: Johann Eitel II Composition: Silver #7 George IV. 1821 Bronze Medal. By B. Pistrucci. Diameter: 35 mm Weight : 23 grams Obverse: GEORGIUS IIII D.G. BRITANNIARUM REX F.D. Laureate bust left with PROPRIO JAM JURE ANIMO PATERNO; INAU GURATUS DIE JULII XIX ANNO MDCCCXXI. Reverse: King enthroned at right being crowned by Victory with Britannia, Hibernia and Scotia attending. Eimer: 1146a - Official Royal Mint medal by Benedetto Pistrucci BHM 1070, F 272.1. Struck for the coronation of George IV. #8 Russia 1796 KM 5 Kopek #9 Wilhelm II bronze "Count Von Zeppelin Berlin Flight" Kienast-47. by K. Goetz. Issued for the long-distance trips of the Zeppelin airships. Obverse: GRAF FERDINAND VON ZEPPELIN His bust facing, head half to right Reverse: Airship in clouds with rising sun flying right, above nude child seated inscribing commemorative plaque. Diameter:65 Weight: 128.8 #10 Japan WWI Allies Medal JAPAN: Taisho, 1912-1926, AE medal, year 8 (1919) Diameter: 55mm Commemorating the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I, Allegorical representation of Peace standing right, in oriental attire and with drapery billowing around, holding laurel branch; doves at feet and flying above; in background to right, gate and façade of Versailles Palace // Flags of the five allies of WWI: Great Britain, United States, Japan, Kingdom of Italy, and France; all within wreath comprised of oak branch and palm frond.
#2 is probably my favorite. I agree that the planchet flaw adds character and almost seems part of the tree itself. I also love that reverse. Great coins all around!
Fabulous coins Chris! I love those "Wildman" German States coins/ really nice! Congrats on a super 2019 , thanks for sharing!!!! John
I had an unexpected end to 2019. For a while, my bucket list has included a pre-1800 8 escudos. They come up regularly at the big auction house but they usually either go for way more than I am willing to spend or they are low quality. I finally pulled the trigger on this one. I wasn't expecting to add another quality piece this year. It would definitely make my top 10 so I now have a top 11 for 2019. Obverse: Uniformed bust right Obverse Legend: CAROL . IIII . D . G . HISP . ET IND . R . Reverse: Crowned arms within Order chain Reverse Legend: IN . ITROQ . FELIX . AUSPICE . DEO . Ruler: Charles IV Composition: Gold Fineness: 0.8750 Weight: 27.0674g Charles IV gold 8 Escudos 1794 NR-JJ, Nuevo Reino mint. Antique golden surfaces with a trace of red toning.
Thats a nice 8 Escudos, I have a Carlos IV AV 8 Escudos from Popayan Mint/ Colombia, still need Neuvo Reinos Mint.