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

Giveaway Lot #260119-05

(LOT: 4 coins) Four pieces British coins, 1951-2012, including two proofs, plus "mystery goodies"

This lot kind of assembled itself out of a batch I was sorting. Since the coins are all British, that was an easy enough reason to group them together.

I suspect a lot of the other lots in my giveaway prize list will attract more attention. But if you opt for this lot as your prize in one of my giveaways, and you end up winning it, be sure to remind me, and I will sweeten the package up considerably with other "mystery goodies" to make it even more appealing.

That being said, there is still some fun stuff in here. Despite the relatively modest monetary value of this lot, I will make up for that in mystery goodies when the time comes.

Coin #1 of 4: Great Britain: 1951 copper-nickel crown (5-shillings) of George VI, Festival of Britain commemorative

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image

This type is Numista-10641. This handsome large coin was struck for the Festival of Britain in 1951. The reverse features the popular classical Saint George & the Dragon motif originally designed by Benedetto Pistrucci in the 19th century. Not seen in the images is a lettered edge, which reads: “MDCCCLI CIVIUM INDUSTRIA FLORET CIVITAS MCMLI”, which translates to: “1851 By the industry of its people the state flourishes 1951”.


Coin #2 of 4: Great Britain: 1970 copper-nickel proof shilling, Scottish reverse type

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Numista-882 or -919 (I don't see a difference?) This shilling is from the final year of the old predecimal (pounds-shillings-pence) monetary system. No predecimal coins were struck for circulation in 1970- these were only issued in proof sets. This piece has nice mirrors and cameo proof contrast, which does not show entirely in my photos.


Coin #3 of 4: Great Britain: 2000 nickel-brass proof 1-pound coin, Welsh dragon type

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Numista-1396. Nice Deep Cameo proof. There were proofs struck in both nickel-brass and in silver that year, and I am not entirely certain which this is! The coin has a somewhat silvery color, as you can see in the pictures, but also just the faintest yellowish tinge that made me assume it is the nickel-brass type.

Coin #4 of 4: Great Britain: 2012 nickel-plated steel 10-pence

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - "Shield" diagram

Numista-25746. This modern series had an unusual design feature. If you have a full set of the denominations, you can lay the different coins next to each other, to form a larger picture of the royal shield. I'm not so sure the concept works for me, but I give them full marks for creativity and originality.

All four pieces donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-01

India (Vijayanagara Empire): ca. 1336-1646 gold bele (1/10 fanam) "World's Smallest Gold Coin", ICG certified


Numista-67603.

This is a gold bele, or 1/10 fanam. A full fanam is tiny, but these gold beles are extremely tiny! This gold coin of the Vijayanagara Empire, an Indian Hindu dynasty (1336-1646), is no larger than a sesame seed!

It is certified and encapsulated as genuine by ICG and described as "The World's Smallest Gold Coin".

There is only a very small speck of gold here, but it's a fun conversation piece.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-02

Canada (Nova Scotia): 1823 copper halfpenny token of George IV


Numista-4913. According to Numista regarding this type: "When British coppers could not be obtained the provincial government ordered their own issues through the colony's agent Smith, Forsyth & Co. of Liverpool without the authority of the British Government." The mintage was 400,000 pieces.

I have always liked these "thistle" type coins. This is a decent example with nice surfaces. Varieties exist; this one has a hyphen between NOVA and SCOTIA on the obverse.

Ex-Dan Pecoraro, Table #153 at the 2026 FUN show in Orlando, Florida, 11 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-03

United States: 1876 silver Seated Liberty quarter


Numista-316352. A reasonably wholesome circulated example with medium grey color.

Purchased at the 2026 FUN show in Orlando, Florida, 11 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-04

Greenland: 1926-HCN♥GJ copper-nickel 25-øre of Christian X


Numista-6960.

Struck for Greenland at the Royal Danish Mint under the rule of King Christian X of Denmark. What could be more appealing than a polar bear on a Greenland coin?

This is a nice example, too, and Uncirculated as far as I can tell. The coin has subtle luster and is lightly toned. (The obverse photo is slightly out of focus- sorry about that.)

This a one-year type and the mintage was 310,000 pieces.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-05

(LOT: 4 pieces) Two unusual World coins and two interesting Latin American tokens, 1600-1976

Item #1 of 4: India (Travancore) ca. 1600-1860 silver chuckram

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Numista-22586. This is a tiny coin from the Indian Hindu dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Travancore. Sorry the photos are a bit out of focus.


Item #2 of 4: Colombia 1921-RH 2-centavos leper colony token (Lazareto)

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Numista-6830. Per Numista, these tokens were a special coinage issued for use in the three government leper colonies of of Agua de Dios, Caño de Loro and Contratación. The hospitals were closed in the late 1950s and patients were allowed to exchange these special coins for regular currency at any bank.


Item #3 of 4: Yemen (Arab Republic) silver 1/8-riyal, AH1372 (1953)

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Numista-19674. An interesting pentagonal silver coin struck under Ahmad bin Yahya, the reputedly tyrannical King and Imam of Yemen, who some called “Ahmad the devil”. The coin bears two dates in Arabic. It has the date ١٣٦٧ on the obverse (1948), indicating the accession date of the king, and the date ١٣٧٢ on the reverse (1953), indicating the actual year the coin was struck.

Item #4 of 4: Panama (San Blas Islands) 1976 brass "5 coconuts" token

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Numista-82488. This is a charming token with a colorful backstory. How often do you see a coin or token with the denomination of "5 coconuts"? Never, except for on this one!

According to Numista: "This token was issued by John Mann, one of the few non-Indians allowed by the Kuna (San Blas) Indians to run a business on their islands. [He] issued these tokens as currency in order to replace coconuts as a medium of exchange. However, the tokens had very limited circulation; the Kuna Indians hoarded them at first, and then discovered tourists would pay more than the face value of five coconuts (25 cents) for them. So the Indians sold them to tourists.

All four pieces in this lot were gifted to me by @Mark Metzger in the 2025 CoinTalk Secret Santa exchange. He expressly selected some interesting and unusual pieces for me to give away, and I've gained a lot of enjoyment and knowledge by researching these.

 

Giveaway Lot #260121-01

Roman Empire: ca. 240-244 AD bronze sestertius of Gordian III, Pax reverse


This is a large Roman bronze sestertius of the young emperor Gordian III (238-244 AD). The reverse features the goddess Pax Æterna, the eternal personification of Peace.

The type is RIC319(a), I'm told. (Here is the Wildwinds link and here is the OCRE link.) This variety was struck in Rome in the year 240 AD (according to Wildwinds), or circa 241-244 (according to OCRE).

Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: PAX AETERNA SC, Pax running left, holding branch and scepter.

Diameter: 30.3 mm. Weight: 15.3 g.

This coin was donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260121-02

Roman Empire: ca. 98-117 AD silver denarius of Trajan


This is a silver denarius of the Roman emperor Trajan (98-117 AD). The Roman Empire reached its zenith and its greatest geographical span during the reign of Trajan. You might say it was their "high water mark".

Rome mint, 18.1 mm, 2.51 g.

I'm told the variety is RIC 332, which would date the coin from 114-117 AD.

Obverse: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate and draped bust right.

Reverse: PARTHICO PM TRP COS VI PP SPQR, Felicitas standing left with caduceus and cornucopia.

This coin was donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-01

(LOT: 2 coins) United States: two first-year nickels (1883 No Cents Liberty and 1913 Type 1 Buffalo)

Both of these coins are the first types from the first years of issue. If you are just starting out on a Dansco #7070 or similar Type set album, you could fill two of the "nickel" holes in your album with this one lot.

Coin #1 of 2: United States: 1883 copper-nickel Liberty nickel (Type 1, no "CENTS" on reverse)


Numista-18294. This is the first type of the Liberty nickel, from early 1883, when the coins did not have the word "CENTS" on the reverse below the wreath. That was added later in 1883. This is a very nice example; on the cusp of Mint State if not actually there. It is one of those coins that is difficult (for me) to determine whether it is an AU58+ "super slider" or if it actually makes Mint State (in which case I'd guess MS63). Regardless, it has the luster and eye appeal of a Mint State coin. It would be a great example for a Type set album.



Coin #2 of 2: United States: 1913 copper-nickel 5-cents, Buffalo Type 1


Numista-4728. This is the first type of the Buffalo or Indian Head nickel, from the earlier part of 1913. The first coins of the type (like this) had the buffalo on a raised mound with the denomination "FIVE CENTS" on it. Later in that year this feature was revised, putting the denomination into a more recessed area to keep it from wearing off as quickly. (You can see how that was an issue- the denomination on this Type 1 piece is already weak from relatively little circulation.) While not as high grade as the 1883 Liberty nickel above, this is still a decent early (Type 1) Buffalo for a Type set.



Provenance: I do not remember where I got these. Perhaps from @dwhiz on CoinTalk.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-02

(Lot: 8 coins) United States: Eight silver Mercury dimes (1920-1939)


Numista-51. This is an eight-piece lot of Mercury dimes, absent the more common 1940s dates you usually find in such assortments. The dates here are: 1920, 1923, 1926, 1926-D, 1927, 1936, 1937-S, and 1939.

The 1926-D is a better date and the 1936 is higher grade; I'd say AU.

Provenance: I picked most of these from silver lots at WNC Coins in North Carolina.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-03

(Lot: 3 coins) United States: three 1964 90% silver Kennedy halves


Numista-943, KM-202. This is a three-piece lot of Kennedy half dollars from 1964, the first year of issue. All coins are from the Philadelphia mint. 1964 was the only year the Kennedy half dollar was struck in full .900 silver.

Each coin contains 0.3617 Troy ounces of silver. As such there is a total of 1.0851 Troy ounces of bullion in this lot. With silver at record highs as I type this (1/22/26), each coin here contains $34.05 USD worth of silver and the combined bullion value of these coins is over a hundred dollars. (To be precise, $102.15 as of this typing).

So it's a pretty good giveaway lot. One coin is Choice AU+ but has stains on the obverse. The other two are Brilliant Uncirculated (Mint State), and one of the Uncirculated coins is sealed in a plastic pouch from Littleton Coin Company.

Provenance: I do not remember where I got these. I think I found the spotty one in circulation from a bank roll. The other two likely came from bulk lots.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-04

(LOT: 5 coins) Five assorted United States coins (1864-2020)


If this seems like a rather odd assortment, that's because it is. These coins were what was left over after I bundled up several other assortments, so I just put them together as a "miscellaneous" lot.




Coin #1 of 5: United States: 1864 copper-nickel Indian Head cent


Numista-1108. There were two types of Indian cent struck in 1864. The first (this type) was struck in copper-nickel like all the previous 1856-1863 small cents were. Later in 1864 the composition was changed to the bronze type, which were struck until 1909. These copper-nickel cents are noticeably thicker than their later bronze counterparts.

Coin #2 of 5: United States: 1881 bronze Indian Head cent


Numista-2356. Here is one of the bronze type which was struck until 1909. This coin is in modest grade (G4 to G6, I'd say), but has no major distractions- just "honest wear", as they say.

Coin #3 of 5: United States: 1904 bronze Indian Head cent


Numista-2356. This later-date Indian Head cent is in high grade. It has a few tiny hairlines (which don't jump out at you when viewed in hand), but I'd say it has XF45 to AU50 details, glossy surfaces not seen in these photos, and pretty decent eye appeal overall.

Coin #4 of 5: United States: 2020-W "America the Beautiful" quarter, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller, "V75" privy mark


Numista-189638. This "America the Beautiful" quarter commemorates the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Vermont. The first appealing thing about it is that it has the much sought-after "W" mintmark, meaning it is a lower-mintage issue struck at the West Point Mint. In addition, it has a special "V75" privy mark added by the mint to some coins, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. The coin is Uncirculated and lustrous, though that luster does not show in these photographs.

Coin #5 of 5: United States: 1961 silver Franklin half dollar


Numista-2835. This is an average circulated Franklin half dollar containing 0.3617 Troy ounces of silver. With silver at record highs as I type this (1/22/26), this coin contains $34.05 USD worth of silver.

Provenance: I forget where I got the Indian cents from. The 2025-W "V75" quarter came from the mysterious "Quarter Master" of Quarter Notes, Ltd., who is known for his counterstamps on US quarters. (He wisely does not counterstamp the W-mint or "V75" coins.) I got the Franklin half in circulation, from a bank roll. That's the only one I have found so far by coin roll hunting.