Lord Marcovan Giveaway Prize List (for my "pick your prize" contests)

This is a listing of available prize options for my monthly "pick your prize" giveaways.

To enter one of these contests, read this thread first, and pick a prize you like. Then click here and go to the most recent "pick your prize" contest seen on the list. You may enter the contest there.

Numismatic Regards,
~Robertson ("Rob") Shinnick ("LordM")



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
LordM Giveaway archive



Note: Items here are intended as giveaways and thus not technically for sale. However, there have been one or two occasions where someone has really wanted something off this list and offered to buy it from me. I'm OK with that. If you see a "must have" lot and want to buy it instead of taking your chances in the random drawings, just contact me. Of course if you're patient and luck shines on you, you could get it for free instead!


Keep scrolling through this thread to see everything that's on offer. Pick one item for your monthly contest prize choice.

Items initially posted to this thread are in chronological order by age. Later additions will be in no particular order.

 

Giveaway Lot #250906-02

Greece (Ionia, Miletos): ca. 550-490 BC silver 1/12 stater; lion and stellate pattern


This is a small silver twelfth-stater coin from Miletos (Miletus), an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia, in what is now modern Turkey.

It is very early and dates to the Archaic period, around five to five and a half centuries BC, not much more than a century after the dawn of coinage.

The obverse portrays the head of a roaring lion and the reverse has an incuse punch, as many Archaic coins did; in this case, an ornate stellate pattern.

Diameter: 10 mm. Weight: 1.00 g.

Ex- Ephesus Numismatics, 2 December 2024, with their tag.

 

Giveaway Lot #250906-04

Roman Empire: ca. 164-182 AD silver denarius of Lucilla, wife of Lucius Verus


A Roman silver denarius of Lucilla (b. ca. 148-150 AD, d. 182 AD). She was the wife of the emperor Lucius Verus, who ruled from 161-169 AD. She was killed by command of her brother, the later emperor Commodus, in 182 AD, after being implicated in a failed conspiracy to assassinate him.

Obverse: bust of Lucilla, facing right.

Reverse: Juno Lucina seated, facing left.

18.2 mm, 2.76 g.

Ex-World Coins of South Florida, from their table at the January 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250906-05

Roman Empire: ca. 177-192 AD silver denarius of Commodus, Roma reverse


A Roman silver denarius of the emperor Commodus, who ruled from 177-192 AD.

Obverse: young, beardless bust of Commodus, facing right.

Reverse: Roma standing, facing left, holding Victory in her hand.

17.7 mm, 2.31 g.

If you're interested in pop culture, the emperor Commodus, played by actor Joaquin Phoenix, was the villain in the 2000 Ridley Scott film Gladiator. It's not the most historically accurate portrayal, but it's entertaining. The historical Commodus was indeed reputed to be rather villainous.

Ex-World Coins of South Florida, from their table at the January 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250906-06

Crusader States: ca. 1163-1201 AD silver "helmet" denier of Bohemond III of Antioch


A medieval hammered silver "helmet" denier of Bohemond III, Prince of the Crusader State of Antioch. He was also known as "Bohemond the Child" or "Bohemond the Stutterer".

Obverse: Mailed and helmeted bust left; crescent left, star right.

Reverse: Cross pattée; crescent in one quarter.

Diameter: 18 mm. Weight: 1.03 g.

Ex-Ephesus Numismatics, 9 December 2024, with their tag.

 

Giveaway Lot #250906-07

(LOT: 3 coins) 1474-1992 Spain & USA: trio of Christopher Columbus-related coins


This is a 3-piece lot of coins relating to Christopher Columbus and the European discovery of the New World. One of them is from Columbus' own time.

Coin #1 of 3 is a circa 1474-1504 AD billon blanca coin of Ferdinand & Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, who financed his expeditions to the New World in the 1490s and early 1500s. Diameter: 18 mm.

Coin #2 of 3 is a United States 1893 silver Columbian Exposition commemorative half dollar. Its type is Numista-4396. While this 1893 issue is more common than the 1892 of the same type, this is a handsome About Uncirculated example.

Coin #3 of 3 is a United States 1992-S clad proof Christopher Columbus Quincentenary commemorative half dollar. Its type is Numista-24510. The San Francisco Mint struck 390,154 proofs of this type. The faint scuff marks seen in the pictures are mostly if not all on the plastic of the mint capsule, not the coin itself.

This could be an entertaining and enjoyable lot for students or teachers.

 

Giveaway Lot #250906-08

Hungary: 1540-KB silver denar of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor


Numista-10702.

Obverse: coat of arms, * FERDINAND · D · G · R · VNG * 1540 ("Ferdinand, by the grace of God, King of Hungary").

Reverse: crowned Madonna with child in her right arm divides mintmark, PATRONA * * VNGARIE ("Patroness of Hungary").

Kremnica mint (K-B mintmark).

Fun early-dated silver and a decent example of this often crudely-struck issue. The date is clearly visible on the flan, and the reverse features the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.

Ferdinand I was King of Hungary from 1526 to 1564, and later Holy Roman Emperor.

Donated by Louie Joó (aka "tibor" on CoinTalk), December, 2024.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-01

Spain: 1721-S J silver real of Philip V, Seville mint


Numista-41559. KM-306.2, Calicó-1451.

A silver one-real coin of Philip V of Spain. Medium grey toning. Struck at the Royal Mint of Seville.

Ex-World Coins of South Florida, from their table at the January 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-02

(LOT: 2 coins in booklet) India (Madras Presidency): 1808 copper 10- and 20-cash coins, Admiral Gardner shipwreck


Two copper cash coins (a 10-cash and a 20-cash), both salvaged in 1985 from the shipwreck of the Admiral Gardner, an East Indiaman ship which sank off the coast of England on January 24, 1809, carrying with it most of the original 1808 mintage of these coins, which had been on their way to India.

The coins were struck for the Madras Presidency in British India.

Coin #1 of 2: The 10 (X) cash is Numista-42953 and KM-320.

Coin #2 of 2: The 20 (XX) cash is Numista-43218 and KM-322.

Both coins do show some seawater corrosion, which is fairly typical on these. To mitigate that somewhat, they do both come housed in a nice information booklet which was produced by Rare Coin Investments in Berkshire in the United Kingdom.

Ex-World Coins of South Florida, from their table at the January 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-03

United States: 1841 copper Braided Hair large cent


Numista-982.

A decent, even brown circulated example with nice detail and no major distractions.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-04

United States: 1853 copper Braided Hair large cent


A midgrade example- I would estimate Fine details- with a few very minor rough spots but an interesting (and I think appealing) brick red patina. These photos aren't the best.

Purchased at the 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-05

United States: 1895 silver Barber quarter


An early date Barber quarter with a pleasing original look and no major distractions. About half of LIBERTY is visible on the headband.

Ex-eBay, 12 December 2024.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-06

United States: 1896 silver Morgan dollar


A higher-grade (near Mint State), mostly-white example with cartwheel luster. Sorry the edges of the images got cropped a little too closely.

Ex-@Randy Abercrombie.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-07

Philippines (US Insular Government): 1908-S silver peso


Numista-4634. KM-172.

A silver Philippine peso (.800 fine, .5144 oz), issued under United States administration. During the Insular Government from 1899-1935, the Philippines were an unincorporated US Territory.

This coin was struck at the old US Mint in San Francisco. It has slightly mottled medium grey toning and strong details.

I would estimate it to be About Uncirculated (AU50 or thereabouts).

Ex-World Coins of South Florida, from their table at the January 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-08

United States: 1917 silver Walking Liberty half dollar


Numista-4455.

A handsome circulated example of this early date Walking Liberty half dollar.

Acquired at the 2025 FUN show in Orlando.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-09

Germany (Löbau): 1921 brown gilt porcelain medal, 700th anniversary


This handsome gilt brown porcelain medal was issued in 1921 for the 700th anniversary of the city of Löbau in the German state of Saxony, which was established in 1221.

It was produced by the famous Meissen porcelain works, whose "crossed swords" trademark is visible on the obverse.

According to the tag, it is a very scarce variety, of which only about 201 to 500 pieces were produced.

It is quite large- slightly bigger around than a United States Silver Eagle or British Crown coin- and somewhat thick, too.

42 mm, Scheuch variety 1829d, Rarity-8. One tiny edge chip to the gilt finish, which is not terribly distracting.

Ex- Ephesus Numismatics, 2 December 2024, with their tag.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-10

Germany (Löbau): 1921 white gilt porcelain medal, 700th anniversary


This handsome white porcelain medal was issued in 1921 for the 700th anniversary of the city of Löbau in the German state of Saxony, which was established in 1221.

It was produced by the famous Meissen porcelain works, whose "crossed swords" trademark is visible on the obverse.

According to the tag, it is a very scarce variety, of which less than 200 pieces were produced.

It is rather large, and has the diameter of United States silver dollar. It is thick, too- reportedly thicker than other porcelain medals of the period.

38 mm, Scheuch variety 1829q, Rarity-R.

Ex- Ephesus Numismatics, 9 December 2024, with their tag.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-11

(LOT: 2 coins) United States: pair of silver dollars (1921-S Morgan type and 1935 Peace type)


A pair of US silver dollars, each from the final year of their respective types.

Coin #1 of 2: The 1921-S Morgan dollar is in high grade but has some darkish, mottled toning.

Coin #2 of 2: The 1935 Peace dollar is quite well-worn and low grade, as though it was somebody’s pocket piece for a while.

Neither of these is an outstanding example, but this giveaway lot does include TWO silver dollars, so you’ve got a good bit of silver here.

This giveaway lot was donated by my sister, Elizabeth Shamblin, from North Carolina.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-12

United States: 1922 silver Peace dollar


Numista-5580. KM-150.

A higher grade 1922 Peace dollar, perhaps around XF45 to AU50 or so in grade, with a few very minor circulation marks and some traces of mottled darker toning in areas.

Donated by Randy Abercrombie from South Carolina.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-13

United States: 1922 silver Peace dollar (ANACS MS62)


ANACS cert. #7707571.

Numista-5580. KM-150.

A nice white Mint State example of this second year of issue for the Peace dollar.

Ex-Don Rupp ("ajaan" on Collectors Universe), Buffalo, NY, January 2025.