In the Ancients Forum, at https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-new-solidus-valentinian-i.394127/, I recently posted my grand total of five ancient gold coins together in their tray: See the link for all the details. So I thought I'd post photos in this forum of the rest of the coins currently in that tray (temporarily retrieved for that purpose from my safety deposit box): my relatively tiny collection of world gold coins, non-ancient variety, together with brief identifications of them. I certainly don't have as many as I used to before I sold most of my older British gold coins some years ago -- at one time I had at least one of every ruler from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II, not counting Cromwell -- but I'm glad I kept some, at least. Clicking on the photos should enlarge them somewhat. (I still have all the cases they came in, but didn't photograph them.) First Row: France, Second Republic, AU (.900 fineness) 20 Francs, 1848, Paris Mint (mintage 1,544,043). Obv. Génie (Winged Genius) of France standing three-quarters right, using right hand to inscribe Constitution of 1848 on tablet set on column, holding tablet upright with left hand; date “24.25 FEV./1848” inscribed on tablet in two lines*; in left field, fasces topped by Main de Justice (Hand of Justice) with two fingers raised in blessing gesture; in right field, Gallic rooster standing left; RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE around; in exergue, signature “Dupré” [for engraver Augustin Dupré] / Rev. Denomination and year 20/FRANCS/1848 in three lines encircled by oak-leaf wreath; LIBERTÉ ÉGALITÉ FRATERNITÉ around; below wreath, Mintmark “A” [= Paris] flanked on left by privy mark of hand with forefinger pointing right, and on right by privy mark of dog’s head right (the marks of the Mint Director [for period 1846-60] and Chief Engraver [for period 1843-55], respectively)/ Edge inscription DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE ⁎⁎⁎. 21 mm., 6.46 g. KM (Krause-Mishler) 757, Yeoman 8. (Footnote omitted.) France, Second Republic, AU (.900 fineness) 20 Francs, 1849, Paris Mint (mintage 61,092). Obv. Head of Cérès right wearing wreath of oak-leaves and ears of corn (grain); in left field, fasces topped by Main de Justice (Hand of Justice) with two fingers raised in blessing gesture; in right field, laurel branch; REPUBLIQUE ⁎ FRANÇAISE around; beneath head of Cérès, L. MERLEY. F. [for engraver Louis Merley; F. = Fecit (he made this)] / Rev. Denomination 20/Francs in two lines encircled by wreath consisting of laurel branch to left and oak branch to right, tied together by ribbon at bottom; beneath wreath, mintmark “A” [= Paris] above year 1849, flanked on left by privy mark of hand with forefinger pointing right, and on right by privy mark of dog’s head right (the marks of the Mint Director [for period 1846-60] and Chief Engraver [for period 1843-55], respectively)/ Edge inscription DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE ⁎⁎⁎. 21 mm., 6.43 g. KM (Krause-Mishler) 762, Yeoman 10. [Footnote omitted.) France, Third Republic, AU (.900 fineness) 10 Francs, 1911, Paris Mint. Obv. Laureate bust of Marianne right, wearing oak-wreath encircling Phrygian cap (cap of liberty), REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE around, initials J.C.C. in lower right field [for engraver Jules-Clément Chaplain] / Rev. Gallic rooster walking left in meadow of flowers, LIBERTE·EGALITE·FRATERNITE around, 10 - Fcs across fields; in exergue, 1911 flanked by privy marks of cornucopiae to left and torch to right (the marks of the Mint Director [for period 1901-date] and Chief Engraver [for period 1896-1930], respectively). 19 mm., 3.2 g. Gadoury 1017, KM (Krause-Mishler) 846, Yeoman 65. Prussia, German Empire, Friedrich III, AV 10 marks 1888, Y. 118 Second Row: George I AV Guinea 1723 S.3631 (Rev. Crowned cruciform shields; scepters in angles) (The S. numbers are all from the annual Spink guide, formerly known as Seaby and currently in its 57th edition. The first edition I bought was the 1986 one.) George III AV Third Guinea 1810 S.3740 (Rev. Crown) George IV AV Sovereign 1826 S.3801 (Rev. Crowned shield) Victoria AV Half-Sovereign 1864 S.3860 (Rev. Crowned shield) Victoria AV Sovereign (Australia, Sydney) 1870 KM 4 (Rev. Crown over AUSTRALIA within wreath; SYDNEY MINT above) Victoria AV Sovereign 1872 S.3856A (Rev. Pistrucci St. George & Dragon) (Same for all sovereigns and half-sovereigns hereafter, until 2005) Third Row: Victoria AV Sovereign 1889 S.3866B Victoria AV Sovereign 1896 S.3874 Edward VII AV Sovereign 1910 S.3969 Edward VII AV Half-Sovereign 1910 S.3974B George V AV Sovereign 1917 S.3999 George V AV Half-Sovereign 1913 S.4006 Fourth Row: Elizabeth II AV Sovereign 1966 S.4125 Elizabeth II AV Sovereign 1980 proof in case S.4204 Elizabeth II AV Half-Sovereign 1985 proof in case S.4276 Elizabeth II AV Britannia 25 pounds 1987 proof S.4291 (Rev. Britannia standing w/trident & shield) Elizabeth II AV Britannia 10 pounds 1998 proof in case S.4480 (Rev. same) Elizabeth II AV Half-Sovereign 1998 proof in case S.4440 Fifth Row: Elizabeth II AV Sovereign 1999 proof in case S.4430 Elizabeth II AV Half-Sovereign 2005 proof S.4442 (Rev. New depiction of St. George w/sword raised, dragon to left) Elizabeth II AV Britannia 10 pounds 2007 proof in case S.4484 (Rev. Britannia seated w/trident & shield; lion at her feet) Bahamas AV (.500 fine) $50 1973 Independence Commemorative proof: KM 48 (Pinches) (Rev. Two flamingos facing in front of sunset; INDEPENDENCE 1973 above; FIFTY DOLLARS below). If people want to post any of their own non-ancient world gold coins, I would love to see them.
Beautiful, really beautiful. There's just that something about gold. I've always wanted a Victoria sovereign. Though I'd probably just give it to my sister as she's a really big fan of old Vicky's.
Nice coins, Donna. I once had a Victoria 5 pounds gold coin that I sold several years ago, along with an early guinea of George III and a noble of Edward III. This was done for a worthy cause, but I do miss those coins! My world gold coins now consist most of Mexican coins (Republic 8 escudos, a 20 pesos, some 50 pesos (United States) and a 20 pesos (United States), plus other coins. Maybe I should get a tray or two.... I've posted these gold coins before, and there are others not photographed yet. 8 Escudos, Lima, 1750 R, Ferdinand VI 2 escudos, Bogota, circa 1634, Phillip IV: 8 escudos, Bogota, 1810 JF, Charles IV: 8 escudos, Mexico, 1809 HJ, Ferdinand VII: 8 escudos, Santiago, 1811 FJ, Ferdinand VII: 8 escudos, Santiago, 1816 FJ, Ferdinand VII: 20,000 reis, Minas Gerais, 1727, John V: 50 pesos, United States of Mexico, 1921:
Wow. Fantastic! I've never had any Latin American gold. I've never owned a 5-pound British coin either. I did once have several 2-pound coins, the oldest from George IV.
Those large gold 2 and 5 pound coins are impressive, especially in nice grade. My 5 pound coin came from a Davisson's auction many a moon ago. I'd love to have it back, but even if it is available, the price now would break the bank. Oh well....
DonnaML, posted: "I recently posted my grand total of five ancient gold coins together in their tray. So I thought I'd post photos in this forum of the rest of the coins currently in that tray - my relatively tiny collection of world gold coins, non-ancient variety, together with brief identifications of them. MERRY ME!
Nice hoard! This is my first gold coin, a 1915 George V Perth Mint Sovereign. Only the half sovereign is missing for my Australian pre-decimal denomination type-set.
afaik we only produced the sovereigns. In fact before 1910 Australia did not have coinage of its own, British pound was the main currency used along with various other coins from India, Mexico, Netherlands known as ‘proclamation’ coinage.
Then what's that coin in my tray that I describe as "Victoria AV Sovereign (Australia, Sydney) 1870, KM 4 (Rev. Crown over AUSTRALIA within wreath; SYDNEY MINT above)" -- the one that actually says "AUSTRALIA" and Sydney on the reverse? It's not even listed in the Spink handbook of English coins.
He has 900+ gold coins, I believe. So more than 30 for every one of mine. Which is why I said mine was a relatively tiny collection! But it's not a competition. I 'm happy with mine.
Australia was not a country until January 1 1901, before that it was a bunch of colonies, like your 13 states, however the landmass was called Australia for all intents and purposes. Although your coin says Australia, it is technically a British coin minted under the authority of the British in the Sydney mint. This quote from Numista “Colonial Australia is a term used to describe the Australian continent during the period between 1788 to 1901 when Australia was under British colonial authority”.https://en.numista.com/catalogue/australia_colonial-1.html
Nice collection @DonnaML All things considered, my gold makes up a small part of the collection. Here are a few of my favorites. Chile 1845 8 Escudos Colombia 1794 8 Escudos France 1726 Louis D'Or German States Hamburg 1817 Reformation Ducat Ottoman Empire AH1293//31 (1905) 100 Kurush 1924 St. Gaudens $20
Thank you. I guess that technically, then, the 1870 sovereign I asked about -- with a reverse apparently used from 1855-1870 (according to my 1988 Krause Mishler "Standard Catalog of World Gold Coins") -- is considered a "Colonial Australian" coin, and didn't circulate anywhere else. Which probably explains why it's not included in the annual Spink guide to Coins of England and the UK. Although I'm not sure why the Spink guide does include later sovereigns minted in Australia. Perhaps because they look the same as the ones minted in the UK, except for the mintmarks?