A few purchases from Frankfurt Numismatic Show

I visited the numismatic show which took place yesterday and today in Frankfurt. It was a HUGE show with a large number of dealers, many of course from Germany, but also from all over Europe. I basically went there to see if i could find some English medieval for my sons collection, or interesting roman coins to enhance my collection. The number of dealers selling Ancient coinage was very large, and the quality of the roman coins offered was frankly incredible. In all price ranges. Anyways, i was surpised to also find some US coins which i could not pass up. I picked up 2 large cents 1821 and 1824. A half dollar 1927 in good condition but unfortunately dipped (not harshly though) until is shines. This is a real problem here in Germany. People think highly of medieval coins which shine like the daty they were minted!. I also found a 1914 D nickel, the date is a bit weak but visible. lastly, i also found a 1932 S quarter. I normally would not have bought a 20th century coin since my US interest is primarily for early 19th century, but i just could not pass it up, as i got it for a very good price of 40 Euros (54 dollars).

All in all my son and i spent 2 very enjoyable days at the Frankfurt numismatic show. For me a personal highlight was a professional expertise i had from one of the major German auction houses on a 2 Gulden coin from Hesse-Darmstadt which i own. It is dsated 1848. I was told that it has only ever been auctioned once before, in the 1890's , over 100 years ago. My specimen, is possibly only the second known example. This was a verty pleasant suprise. It was a fle market purchase in Belgium from over 30 years ago. I was made an offer which i politely declined. It shall go to my sons.
regards,
Eduard

 

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Sounds like you and your son had a great time. You made out very well on your purchases also, especially the Washington Quarter, wow, thats a very nice coin for the price that you paid, alot less than it would sell for here.

 

wow you made out great on that washington quarter!

 

I know you've already heard it but you STOLE that 32-S.
I too am primarily into 19th century U.S. but would have bought a roll of 32-S in that conditiion for the price you paid.

Also glad to see that your son is interested. If you're handing your collection down to him at least he'll appreciate it.

 

Guys, thank you for your comments. Yes, i am very glad my elder son (13) shares my enthusiasm for coins. He also goes out with me metal detecting. He was hooked since we found some medieval coins together about a year ago. We have great times together. He found his first silver in the summer with a Garrett 250. He was thrilled, and me too.

I am intrigued by the 1932 S quarter. Why is this coin relatively highly valued, considering that it appears to be fairly common? I checked eBay today, and there were at least 14 listings for 1932 S quarters. Is the coin so popular? Can you please also tell me what condition this coin is in? I have no idea how to grade it.

Here are pictures of the 1827 half i picked up today at the show. As mentioned it is very bright, certainly from overdipping, but is has no harsh hairlines from the cleaning. I liked it. It is the second early US half i find this week. The other was on ebay germany. I have been infected by Bonediggers enthusiasm for bust halves!
Eduard

 

Even though they minted 408,000 of the 1932-S Washington Quarter it is a coin that isnt hard to find, but, it is harder to find in better grades. I paid about $130 for mine in F12. I'd say yours would grade a strong VF in my opinion. The 1932-D and 1932-S are always in high demand, which is why I'm so impressed by the price that you bought this one at.

 

Ditto,

...and I'll add when the U.S. started the state quuarter progam interest in ALL Washington quarters increased. 32-S and 32-D are the key coins.

Heck, I though I did good years ago at a show when I picked up an F12 for $50!

 

Eduard,

Once again, you have shared some really nice coins of yours! Thanks! I have to agree on the purchase of the 1932-S Quarter which you picked up for about a third of what it would cost here. Also, i really like the 1827 Capped Bust Half Dollar even if it has been dipped.

I don't know if you are into U.S. Paper Money or not! When I was stationed in Germany from 1973 to 1977, we could purchase old U.S. Silver Certificates, Bank Notes and others from the Bank in the Train Station in Frankfurt. Have you ever inquired as to whether you can purchase any of these? I would bet the Dresdner Bank, the Bundesbank and the Deutsche Bank still hoard these and will sell them fairly cheap to anyone just by inquiring! I picked up quite a few $1 Silver Certificates at a cost of $7 for 10. I would also bet that some of these banks have some of the old Black Eagle Notes as well as $100 and $1,000 Bills and that you could purchase them fairly cheap. These are really collectible here in the U.S. and the Black Eagle Note in CU to Gem CU specimens go for hundreds of dollars whle some of the $100 and $1,000 Bills go for 5 to 10 times face value or more.

By the way, meine Frau ist vom Lich.

Frank

 

Hello Frank,

I take note of your comment about US notes. I do not collect these, but i will ask nevertheless next time i am at the bank if they have them. Who knows...Curious to know if you also managed to find interesting US coins when you were stationed here? I have been told by some dealers that in the 70's, some very interesting finds were possible here, specially with Large Cents since they were underrated by german collector and dealers. I hope you were lucky too!
Lich, where your wife is from, is not far from where i live. Greetings to her from Hessen!
regards,
Eduard

 

Wow, great buys all of them! That quarter was an awesome buy, way to go! Sounds like you had a nice time. :thumb:

Phoenix

 

Great pickups! I love the quarter and the bust half.

 

Great purchases. Enjoy them.

 

nice buys, expecially the 1932S for $54!

 

Eduard you have some great looking coins there, well done on some very good buying :bow:

 

Guten Abend Eduard,

I hope that they still hoard some of the old U.S. Notes and Bills in case you want to start collecting them! Even if you don't want to collect them, you would have no trouble selling most of them here on Coin Talk or elsewhere.

Although I never inquired about early American coinage while I was stationed in Germany, I was able to pick up lots of Lincoln Wheat Cents, Buffalo Nickels, Mercury & Silver Roosevelt Dimes and Silver Washington Quarters from change. I found my first and only 1955-P "Doubled Die #1" Lincoln Cent while there and two 1972-P "Doubled Die" Lincoln Cents which were probably Die #3's or Die 8's. The coins were quite plentiful in the early 1970's in Germany and within one year, I was able to fill a large Coffee can with them. I left all of the coins with my Mother while on leave for Christmas and sometime later, my Nephew stole everyone of mine plus my Mother's coins including the 1955-P Doubled Die. Oddly enough, the only coins that I purchased while in Germany, were old German coins from the Second and Third Reichs which I resold to another soldier in my Unit, for his Dad's Coin Shop.

Mach's Gut!


Frank

 

Hey, great job with that 32-S for $54. :thumb: Wish I could find one for that price in that condition.

 

Dang! Missed this thread while I was out of town. Another nice batch of coins - and it appears bonedigger has "infected" both of us. The more of capped bust coinage I see, the more I like all of them!

 

I have been thinking about taking a trip to Germany to see the land all my ancestors came from and it was on my list to check out some coin shops. Now after seeing what you paid for the quarter I will make a point of some coin shop stops. Are there a lot of U.S. coins in Germany????

 

If you are going to visit Germany please try not to come between november and januray. The weather is just awful....at least in our part of the country. Well, seriously now, you may wanrt to time your visit to coincide with the NUMISMATA coins shows.
They are held in Berlin, Muenchen aznd Frankfurt (that is the one i visited last week). The biggest show is supposed to be Muenchen and the next one is in March 2008. They claim it is the biggest coin show in Europe. So that could be worth your while, also to hunt for US coins.

 

March in Munich (Muechen) can be very hairy weatherwise, if 2008 happens to be a bad year! I remember the 70's there when we would see rain, drizzle, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, sleet and snow in March when coming over the mountains from Stuttgart and traveling by Augsburg to Munich. I would be hoping that they have a Coin Show in late April to Mid-May when the flowers are blooming, the trees are fully leafed out but still have that Sping green color and the mountains and valleys are absolutely gorgeous! It is a really good time to visit Germany and sample a lot of good, hearty Bier (Beer) and the some of the finest Wines in the world. Stick with the Light Export Bier and the Lieb Frau Milch Wines and you can't go wrong!


Frank