Try and buy one of the collector coins that Greece issued to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the central bank. The €20 silver piece (mintage 14,000) and the €200 gold piece (mintage 1,000) were issued in 2003. But they were primarily given to employees and "higher ranks" of the bank. Especially the gold piece is very hard to get ... Christian
I did a proof set of three cent nickels about 15-20 years ago without much of a problem, but have been working on the business strikes ever since. The 1885 is the only one that I haven't been able to snag yet, but there are several within that collection that are really tough. The 1884 took years to find as well. Good luck on the proof gold, that will set you back a way if can ever find them. I tried to do a similar 1881 proof set a while back while back with all of the minor coins, but also wanted all three dollars the Trade, Morgan and the gold dollar. I have never been able to get the gold dollar. One day I'll complete that set, for now though, the Trade is one of my favorite pieces.
ones i would like to.find but hardly see are coins from some of the very small german states before 1918. Anhalt, Lubek, Waldeck-Pyrmont, Schwarzburg, plus many more of.the small duchies, principalities, kingdoms,
the 1900 to 1915 2,3 and 5 mark coins i have a lot of and have been easy to find are Prussia, Saxony, Bayern, and Wurttemburg.
Romania has done some similar type commemoratives, with ridiculous mintages like 75-100 and only for a select group of numismatists - if you have the right connections it is possible to obtain them though.
I'd really like to do an 1889 set since it was the last year of the 3c piece, the $3 gold and the $1 gold
I bet you have to buy such coins internationally. I haven't bought outside the US on ebay, but I'm sure I will someday. Maybe being in Europe and checking out some old timer shops would help you get some
I am having so much trouble finding an Agrippa or a Germanicus that I find worthy of my collection! Perhaps I am just too picky at the moment but I just can't seem to do it.
The coin shop I go to had a Polish coin with a mintage of 10 in their last auction. I always wonder who ends up with those coins with mintages like that.