A blast from the Numismatic Gladiator past! I found the 'coin-test' quite expanding as well. Not only from looking at what others bought, but it got me to take a slightly more serious look at the pre-Meiji coins. I'm definitely more aware of them now, and have collected quite a few more types. My coin from that contest was the somewhat scarcer Meiji era version (nabbed for a great price). I can't find my original photos but grabbed the one uploaded to the contest. Still my coin though . That one is the thumbnail below so as to not derail this thread too much. My newp is one of the shorter list of nice modern Japanese type/varieties I am likely to purchase. The varieties are either ones I don't know enough about and/or are too costly even in rough shape. I generally don't prefer 'rough shape' coins but errors and varieties are requiring it. In any case this is my latest NEWP from Heritage. The cataloger perhaps erred in putting this lesser condition but scarcer variety in the internet only segment. I was hoping to get a score, but sadly I was not the only one who saw it. Even so, at MS-62 it's the best I'm likely to buy: The 1871 gold 1 yen 'low dot' variety: And a side-by-side vs. my high dot (much higher grade and my lighting set up was different):
My first Parthian Tetradrachms from another collector over on the PCGS boards at a great price, I couldn't pass it up. Phraates IV (38 - 2 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm O: Diademed and draped bust left, wart on forehead, wearing pointed beard and torque with no end visible; all within pelleted border. R: BACILE[WS] BACILEWN ARSAKO U EUERGETOU DIKAIOU EPIFANOUS FILELLHN[OS], Phraates seated right on throne, Tyche standing left before him, presenting a palm and holding cornucopiae; year between throne legs, [month in exergue] Seleukeia on the Tigris mint. 30mm 15g Sellwood 51
Not a coin but, rather an elusive Dansco Japanese type album. I snagged this off eBay this morning for cheap.
Here is one that came a few days ago and I still don't know what it is. Aluminum, about 1.7 grams, 24 mm D. Some of the numbers look like Gujarati.
Here’s a coin I knew nothing about. Now I only know slightly more than that. But when I saw this I had to have it. Old Swiss Confederacy, 1817 Canton of Geneva, 1 Sol Thanks to John Anthony!
I've been working on my Hungarian modern type set lately. As far as modern patterns, I have a few nice examples of Soviet-era Hungarian patterns (these tended to have a mintage of 2,000 pieces). I had no post-Soviet patterns though as they are all very low mintage (typically 10-50 pieces) and don't come up for sale all that often. So, the other night when I stumbled on a reasonably priced Hungarian pattern from 1992, I had to add it to my collection. The Third Hungarian Republic was established in October of 1989 after the end of communism, and Soviet troops withdrew from Hungary starting in 1990 and were gone by June of 1991. While Hungarian coinage was struck in 1990, the majors were all one-year transition types. These were identical to the Soviet-era types except for the change in the name of the government in the legend. After these transition issues, a new set of majors for Hungarian coinage were designed for release into circulation in 1992. Radically different designs were produced to replace the 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 forint coins. Additionally the new circulating denominations of 50, 100, and 200 (silver) forint were created. Hungary 1992BP 5 Forint Pattern of KM-694 in Proof Nickel-Brass This coin is a pattern of the 1992 5 forint KM-694. Of this pattern, 50 pieces were struck with a business strike finish, and 50 were struck with a proof finish. This example is one of the proofs. The major difference between this pattern and the circulating version is the "Probaveret" legend above and to the right of the denomination - as I believe this version was accepted without additional changes. When I get it in hand I will scrutinize it further, as I have noticed the design changes in modern patterns can be very subtle.
Picked these both up in yesterday's CNG auction. The AM (Anninsk) mintmark is much more scarce than the EM (Ekaterinaburg). I wish I could find them for the book price. I think those days are over. Obverse: Crowned monogram divides date within wreath Reverse: Crowned double-headed eagle, initials below Ruler: Catherine II Composition: Copper Diameter: 45mm Weight: 58.3900g Obverse: Crowned monogram divides date within wreath Reverse: Crowned double-headed eagle, initials below Ruler: Catherine II Composition: Copper Diameter: 43mm Weight: 53.4900g