Went to a coin show a little while ago for the first time in a few years. Some general impressions: Fewer tables than in some past years. Most dealers focussed on American coinage, only a few had world coins. (normal) Lots of slabbed coinage compared to in the past. Prices seemed quite high. Lots of stuff I might not find in my local coin shop, but for those which were comparable, prices seemed substantially higher. Fewer "junk" bins to pick though at the tables, and not much interesting there. I used to be able to get lots of low-grade 1800s (and earlier) coins from junk bins at shows. Anyway, it would have been a shame to have left with all my money still in my pocket, so here are a few photos of coins I got there. Netherlands, Overijssel Province, 1766, 1 Duit I think there were 2 versions of duit that year. The normal one looks like this (1741-1769). This one has a tiny bust of Willem V below the date on the reverse, and was only made from 1766-1767 (1767 is rare). Numista says is was a circulating commemorative to celebrate Willem V being made Stadtholder. The title would become obsolete after Willem V, with his son being the first King of the United Netherlands.
Interesting coin. I like it. VIGILATE ET ORATE. 'Watch and pray' is a fitting motto for practically any point in history.
Haiti, 1829, An 26, 50 Centimes, JP Boyer I really like early Haitian coinage, but I don't run across any very often. I don't think I have any coins specific to the Western Republic, so I'm still keeping an eye out. This one is from a little after the reunification of Haiti in 1820, when the Republic of Haiti absorbed the former Kingdom of Haiti in the north.
Portugal, 10 Reis, 1732, João V A nice big early Portuguese copper. I'd love to have gotten this in a higher grade, but this is what I could find. They seem to more than double in price with each grade step anyway, so this will have to do.
Sweden, 1864, 4 Riksdaler Riksmynt, Carl XV, holed A larger silver coin, 39 mm, though only 0.750 fine. The guy wanted $45 for it but I got it down to $35. Don't know how I did. Without the hole it would be much more, of course, even in this grade. I don't love to bargain, but you have ask, right? With my local coin shops I don't even usually have to ask, and just get whatever "standard" discount they probably offer all of their regulars. With a holed coin there's a lot of leeway on the price, with only the silver value as a real floor...
Seychelles 1939, 25 Cents and 1/2 Rupee, George VI I like Seychelles silvers because they have surprisingly low mintages, but are still pretty affordable. I think these were about $20 for the pair. Only 0.500 fine though. Both have mintage about 36,000. Seychelles only has a population of about 100,000 inhabitants, so it probably doesn't require much domestic coinage.
Spain, 1809, 4 Reales, Joseph Napoleon, holed Not much to look at, but I enjoy Napoleonic Era coins. Joseph was the (contested) king of Spain from 1808-1813. He would have preferred to have stayed in his more secure former post as King of Naples, but his brother insisted...
Another Napoleonic Era coin: Austria, 1815, 20 Kreuzer, Francis I The color is a bit off compared to other silvers as it is only 0.583 fine. Emperor Francis I of Austria was formerly Holy Roman Emperor Francis II and Archduke of Austria.
i have almost the same coin. bought many years ago. must have been a popular thing to do back then with putting holes in them
@The Eidolon, I think the Haitian coin is very nice. It's definitely a keeper. Almost all that I find of that era are quite worn.
Last 2 from this show's batch: Hungary, 2 Pengo, 1929 (0.640 Ag) I really like Hungary's radiant Madonna and Child iconography. Japan, 50 sen, Showa 3 = 1928 I like to pick up 50 sen whenever I see them affordably. I still need the 3 early Meiji types, but I think I have the rest of a type set. But I still keep getting more. I also got some East Asian 1940s paper money very cheaply which I posted in the paper money forum. Thanks for reading and for all the encouraging feedback.
