I don't collect any copies of rare U.S. coins or anything of that sort, but I do have a gold 1945 Mexican 2 peso piece and an infamous Maria Teresa thaler. Both are official restrikes made by the issuing countries (though the thaler I believe was issued more specifically by a German/Austrian bank?) and as a result, don't have to include 'COPY' anywhere on the coin, though there are other signs that prove they are not original. Does anyone else here collect restrikes? I feel like it's a good way to have something very close to the original but within most people's budget. I think the gold piece is made from the original dies, too, though I don't think the same applies to the thaler. On that note, are there any other common restrikes I should know about? I would like to start collecting a few more. :whistle:
There as some restrikes of British Indian coins.. Personally, I dont like collecting them.. Also, there is a restrike of Mohur(1945) from the Indian Princely state of Rajkot. The original mohur is in gold while the restrike is in silver.
Thanks for the responses. I think I've heard of a few turn-of-the-century British sovereign restrikes, but I'm not positive, and I'm not why they would, as it seems you can usually find common-date sov's and half-sov's for pretty much spot. I'll research some of those Indian restrikes. The Austrian mint says they also have gold ducat restrikes. I'll have to check that out, too.
My favorite restrike is the one the US and Mexico struck in 1949 for Nationalist China. The San Francisco and Mexico City Mints struck 10,000,000 1898 Mexico Pesos for the Nationalist China army in 1949. I even wrote an article on them. My Article
The Maria Theresa Taler is actually made by the Austrian Mint which also produces the legal tender money. Here is some info from the mint's website: The "Levantine Taler" lost its status as legal tender in Austria in 1858, but thanks to an imperial edict of 1857 as well as the present laws of the Austrian Republic, the Austrian Mint still produces this famous trade coin, the silver Taler, down to the present day. http://www.austrian-mint.com/mariatheresienthaler?l=en (then click on "History") Christian
I have a few of the Mexican gold restrikes. Bought them because I could get gold at spot price that way. Sheerly a bullion investment
I have seen restrikes (copies) of rare U.S. coins for sale in a few of the monthly coin mags. Most all of the more popular coins 1804 dollar, 1916 SLQ, 1909-s vdb, you get the idea. I guess they're alright if you cant really afford these key dates, most people cant, to add to your collection. I guess it fills the hole, but personally, I'd rather buy a worn out, almost flat with the date barely readable 09-s vdb than buy a mint state copy.
I only have one copy, it's an 1854s double eagle but I don't think i will buy anymore. It's just not the same as having that little piece of history in my hands!!
