I'd like to join in on the fun and post my top 10 for 2019. (1) First up is one of my earliest purchases of the year (back from the first week of January). It's one of my favorite reverse toned Morgans. The untoned obverse is a nice contrast to the color on the reverse and is super lustrous. (PCGS MS 63) Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Z69mCgP1p/ CoinTalk Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/which-would-you-choose-part-2.335542/ (2) Next we have a pickup from the Central States Coin Show. This is one of the best Morgan obverse toners that I've owned. I was pleasantly surprised to later learn it once resided in the Aurora Borealis Collection and came with a nifty nickname: "Black Leopard." (NGC MS 64 Star) Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw5mXp3lxU1/ CoinTalk Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/two-new-pickups-guess-the-grade.338311/ (3) Enough with the Morgans, let's move across the Atlantic. This Maria Theresa Thaler is a modern restrike and a common coin, but the eye appeal is well above average. This one came via an eBay auction. (PCGS MS 67) Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3qa1ulgYVF/ CoinTalk Thread: (none) (4) Heading back stateside, we have this territorial issue for Hawaii. These were designed by Charles Barber and minted in San Francisco. This is another eBay purchase. The original listing photos were difficult to read, but I was happy when the coin arrived. A bonus is the semi prooflike surfaces. (PCGS AU 55) Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3543NtAmiM/ CoinTalk Thread: (none) (5) Sticking with the US theme, here is a Panama Pacific Silver Commemorative Half Dollar. This is one of my favorite designs among all the Classic Commemoratives. The coin appears to be dipped, but the concentric toning on both sides more than makes up for it (and is some of the best I've seen on an AU graded Commemorative coin). (PCGS AU 55) Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B38fmeEAXKW/ CoinTalk Thread: (none)
(6) This year saw me looking more at error coins. The following was the best of my finds. I've dubbed it "Headbutting Lincoln" (NGC MS 62 BN) Video: none CoinTalk Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-headbutting-lincoln-cent-gtg.342903/ (7) While toned coins make up a large percentage of my purchases, I can appreciate an untoned example like this Barber Quarter. The proof-like surfaces (well almost as it wasn't quite enough to get the designation, and correctly earned a star instead) were what really sold me on this coin. (NGC MS 63 Star) Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B0zfsMinxxb/ CoinTalk Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/guess-the-grade-barber-edition.344079/ (8) The only raw example and the most modern coin on the list is this 500 Tenge from Kazakhstan. I was hooked on this new series (Totem Animals) when it began last year. This is the second and is just as intricately designed and beautiful as the first. (Raw) Video: none CoinTalk Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-collection-continues.349335/ (9+10) These were from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair (also called the "Century of Progress International Expo"). A fun pair of tokens with a nice historical tie, these had no issue drawing my interest. (NGC MS 65) Video: none CoinTalk Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/hi-ho-cheerio.350101/
Wow great coins. My favorite was that Hawaiian 50 cent piece wow amazing. A close 2nd was the toned Pan Pac. That double strike cent is awesome because....it's my birth year.
Thank you! The Hawaiian is one of my favorites too. I've been looking for the right example and really lucked out on this one. The eBay photos were hard to read, but the positive listing description made me take a risk (and I'm glad I did). Here is what the seller said: "Strong strike and the coin looks uncirculated. Exceptional definition and good appeal." And here were the listing photos:
Pan-Pac commem is lovely indeed. I've an unholdered one that I bought in haste, and with immaturity. I should have held out for a better example, but I was an impetuous fool. Wet behind the ears.......,,
Nice coins! Question: are not the 500 Tenge from Kazakhstan, minted in Germany? Or somewhere else in Europe?
Thank you! And we've all made some poor choices (I have my fair share). The important thing is to learn from those mistakes and make better decisions going forward (which I know you've done).
As far as I know, they are minted in Kazakhstan. Some sources say that initially coins were manufactured in Germany (1990s, in the post Soviet era), but production moved to a facility in Oskemen, Kazakhstan. http://www.kmd.kz/eng/company.htm http://www.kmd.kz/eng/company1.htm The article below is for a different coin, but mentions Oskemen: https://news.coinupdate.com/kazakhs...-in-celebration-of-capitals-20th-anniversary/
