It has become an annual tradition on Coin Talk for some members to post their top 10 acquisitions of the year. I see that the folks over on the Ancients side of CT are well underway with their lists. This will be by my 3rd year participating. It seems easier this year to narrow it down to 10. That may be because of a smaller sampling of significant purchases this year. The first one is my indisputable number 1. 2-9 are in no particular order. As always, this list is heavy on German States coinage. That is my main collecting focus. If you would like, vote in the poll to let me know what your 3 favorites are. I always like to see others’ opinions. Comments are always welcome and encouraged. #1 1591 Happiness in Marriage and the New Year Medal by V. Maler ex. Erlanger As I said, number 1 was without a doubt my favorite purchase this year. It would probably lead about every year in my past as well. If you want to read the write up I did on this piece it can be found here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ex-erlanger-nürnberg-medal.385422/ #2 1586 Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Thaler My fascination with Wildman coinage is well documented on Coin Talk. This is one of the more scare types in my collection. GERMANY, Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel (duchy). Julius. 1568-1589. AR Taler – “Brillentaller” (42mm, 29.08 g, 3h). Goslar mint. Dated 14 June 1586. Coat-of-arms surmounted by three elaborately crested helmets / Wildman standing left, holding a lit candle and uprooted tree trunk; skull, hourglass, and spectacles hung from right arm. Ophthalmologia XI.83 (this coin illustrated); Welter 579; Davenport 9065. Lightly toned, areas of weak strike, a few flan flaws, traces of mount. VF. From the Dr. Jay M. Galst Collection. Ex Hess-Divo 266 (25 October 1995), lot 642. “On the Brillentallers we find spectacles depicted along with a skull and an hourglass sand clock, which may signify the temporary nature of all earthly goods and encourage penitence and self-evaluation. The symbolism of the spectacles is unclear, but may signify that the Duke’s subjects should open their eyes and participate in the then raging battle between the Protestants and Catholics and, with the help of the spectacles, find the right camp.” Opthalmomogia p. 413 #3 1776 Lubeck Thaler This one was kind of an impulse purchase. I had not come across the type prior to this but I found it very appealing. It reminds me a lot of the coinage of Malta from this era which I also collect. Obverse: Half-length facing figure of St. John with lamb, shield of mayor's arms in baroque frame below in front, date at end of legend Obverse Legend: MONETA. NOVA - LUBECENSIS. Reverse: Crowned imperial eagle, shield of city arms on breast, mintmaster's initials below tail Reverse Legend: IOSEPHUS. II. - ROM. IMP. S. AUG. Note: Ref. B-197a; Dav. 2422. Arms of Mayor Daniel Haecks (1765-78). #4 Scotland 1582 James VI 30 Shillings Scottish coins are at the top of my list of coins to look for at coin shows. This one showed up in a Heritage auction and I was actually able to get it relatively affordably. It is a pleasure to view in hand. Appears much nicer than photos will ever show. James VI 30 Shillings 1582 VF30 NGC, S-5487. 22.29gm. Fourth Coinage. Highly engaging, with sleek gloss from circulation layered in a steel patina. Light doubling in the strike is noted to James's bust and sword, while a single flan crack extends from approximately 9 o'clock toward the center. Obverse: Left facing half-length depiction of James VI in armour. Lettering: IACOBVS · 6 · DEI · GRATIA · REX · SCOTORVM · Translation: James VI, by the Grace of God, King of Scots Reverse: Crowned arms of Scotland, flanked by 'IR' and mark of value. One 'X' of the mark of value is above the others. Lettering: HONOR · REGIS · IVDICIVM · DILIGT · 1582 · Translation: The King's power loveth judgement #5 Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1752 IBH Thaler I have developed a growing loving for Mining Thalers. It doesn’t hurt that many of them have Wildmen on the reverse. This one was picked up raw and is on the way to NGC. Yield thaler 1752 IBH, Zellerfeld. Yield of the 'Duke Friedrich August Bleyfeld' mine. Obverse: Landscape with field rods from a building on the right to Schachtgöpel on the left, which is behind a mining dump, in front of it a column with a princely hat between clouds, above the metal sign for lead Reverse: Two wild men hold coats of arms under a princely hat. Welter 2725, Fiala 2588, Davenport 2167, Müseler 10.3 / 57, KM 942. #6 Albania 1926R 5 Frangi Ari I have been on the lookout for one of these for a while. It has a very appealing reverse to me and is a nice big chunk of silver. Ruler: Zog I Obverse: Head of King Zog I facing right Reverse: Man with plow left, value below Edge Lettering: FERT FERT Engraver: Giuseppe Romagnoli #7 Denmark 1711 Krone With a reported mintage of 7,905, this is a scarcity, but it is also more pleasant than the pictures show. Obverse: Horseman to right Obverse Legend: FRIDERICVS • IIII • D • G • REX • DAN • NOR • ... Reverse: Small crowned arms in double order chain with divided date below Reverse Legend: DOMINUS MI HI ADIUTOR • Ruler: Frederik IV 1699-1730 Note: Dav. #A1290 #8 Regensburg 1759ICB Thaler Sometimes you can get a bargain from the smaller auction houses. Especially when they specialize in areas that you don’t collect but happen to have something you want. That happened with this piece. If this had come up in one of the big auctions it would have sold for well over my budget. Obverse: City arms Obverse Legend: MONETA REIP • RATISPON, I • C • - B • ; in exergue: X • ST • EINE • F • C • M • / 1759 / C • D • OEXL • Reverse: Armored laureate bust right Reverse Legend: FRANCISCUS D: G: ROM: IMP: SEMP: AVG• Composition: Silver Note: Dav. #2619. #9 Munster 1719 1-1/2 Thalers A beautifully engraved piece that displays a lot more luster than the photos show. At 47mm it is an impressive piece in hand. GERMANY, Münster (Archbishopric). Sede Vacante. 1719. AR Medallic 1 1/2 Taler Diameter: 47mm Weight: 42.83g A.G. Pott, mintmaster. Dated 1719 AGP. Obverse: Half-length facing bust of St. Paul, holding sword and Gospels, on band of shield; border of 19 coats-of-arms around Reverse: Half-length facing bust of Charlemagne, holding sword and orb; border of 19 coats-of-arms around. Schulze 212d; Zepernick 221. #10 St. Gaudens $20 I know, it isn’t a “world” coin. The U.S. is part of the world and this has been a bucket list coin forever. It’s a common date but I “needed” one in my collection, and this was the year. I don’t collect much gold, normally for budgetary reasons. I bought it at about the lowest point that gold was at for the year. It felt like if I didn’t buy one now I probably never would. I hope you enjoyed this and look forward to the comments. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
That is an impressive mix of coins! I may be a bit biased, but the 30 Shilling piece is by far my favorite of the lot. Of course, that might change if I took the time to read up on the history of the others.
They are all very impressive/ I really like the 1 1/2 Talers from Munster/ Scotland 30 Schillings/ Braunschweig-Wolfenbuttel Taler Congratulations on a fine "top Ten" John
Thats a truly impressive list of coins! I mainly collect the small coins of the german states for budget reasons. While the choise is hard I would say that my favorites are the Lübeck and the Regensburg Talers here.
Chris B - great year in review. I recall watching several of those pieces in the respective auctions. I am partial to the Munster piece in particular. Several competing but these were my top 3: #5, #8, and #9.
Thanks for all the nice comments. I like to see how others vote because of the diversity on this site. Some of the ones that I like the most haven't gotten much love in the voting, but I am ok with that. It's one of the things I enjoy the most about this hobby. Everyone has their own way that they collect, and things that they like. I see the St. Gaudens finally got a sympathy vote.
I have 4 St. Gaudens Double Eagles, one of the last centuries most endearing designs. Thank you Teddy Roosevelt And sadly another Roosevelt put an end to their production Result runaway inflation/ 25 Trillion dollar debt.
A very cool grouping! Most of these were new to me (in large part because I don't really dabble in German States) and it was fun seeing them! I voted only for #1 as it was quite different than the rest and just spoke the most to me (as it seems to have done for you as well). The St. Gaudens, while it didn't get a vote from me, is a great design among classic US coins. They have become more expensive the last two years with increasing gold prices, so it's good that you were able to pick one up at a relatively fair level.
I always find voting on these Top 10's interesting. So glad the Scottish 30 shillings got a lot of love. It appears to be the CT community favorite. If I hadn't purchased the Nurnberg medal it may very well have been my number 1. I figured the Lubeck Thaler would also get votes because it is simply stunning. It even looks better in hand. Many of you would be shocked to know where it was purchased. I know that I was. Sharing my Top 10 is one of my favorite things of the year. It makes me reflect on the year's purchases, but it is also nice to see what others like. My intention is to scale back in 2022 and work on research for the pieces in my collection. We will see if this becomes a reality. Merry Christmas everyone.
@Chris B, I missed this Top Ten listing when it first came out. A most impressive array of coins. I would be pleased to own any one of them. If I had to pick one, I'd choose as a favorite the Scotland James VI 30 Shillings.
