I've got all 9 of the circulation struck 100 Franga coins ranging from AU55 to MS64. The toughest coin is for certain the 1926 One Star variety, nearly impossible in mint state, and without spots even tougher. Does your 1927 have No Star, One Star, Two Star? Same as the 1926 dated coins, the One Star is the better variety for 1927 also.
There's a 66+ out there with honeycomb pattern toning that is vastly inferior, so we'll claim finest extant for this one as well:
This coin has a very interesting story, purchased raw in 2001. It was listed in a World Coin News advertisement in the September, 2001 issue. Wish I could remember the dealer's name, he was located in Manhattan. I called on a Friday and asked if he still had it, he told me he thought he did but would have to check his safe deposit box at the bank and to call back the following week. So I waited a couple days, and on Tuesday the following week the planes plowed into the World Trade Center. Everyone else was focused on that, all I could think about was how this coin was going to slip through my fingers. But showing the greatest of patience imaginable I didn't call this guy on Tuesday, I waited until Wednesday to call the day after 9/11. This guy was actually in his coin store the very next day even though it was located only 6 blocks from the WTC. The conversation with him that morning was unforgettable, he was kind of manic, talking 200 words a minute about the events the previous day. I told him I was surprised he came in to the shop that day, and he said it was the only thing providing any stability in his life at the moment, the coin shop, the coins, --and yes! he had the 100 Franga in the safe that I had asked about. He sent it out registered mail that day prior to receiving my check. This was a guy I had never bought a coin from before and he sent it out on a phone call after spending 20 minutes dong the "coin therapy" thing over the phone with me. Of course he got his check from me, was mailed the same day. And the coin itself? Undergraded by 2 points me thinks, and should have PL designation as well. Have a look:
I drool over this coin. I have yet to acquire a 50 FrA and was in fact out bid on a lesser specimen over the weekend. I might have bid more (it was in a 62 slab and looked like 62 graded gold) but I KNOW there are better ones out there. I just have yet to find it. The 1927 100 FrA one star is also a gap. Sigh. I NEVER get tired of looking at your coins!
My latest treasure arrived yesterday (excellent timing considering this recent topic). I had a respectable version, but this one is super sweet. In 1926 there were allegedly two versions (well, kind of-sort of three actually) of the 20 FrA listed, both minted in Rome. This is the common one, the Prince Skanderbeg (hero of Albania) bust obverse with a winged lion reverse. Both super cool designs IMO. It is in an uncommon degree of condition. It's far nicer than the one I'm replacing with it. 1927 is much easier to find in above average preservation! Now if I could only find the 1931 base metal coins in decent shape (not to mention the one star 1927 100 FrA and the 50 FrA...then I think I'll have all of Zog's non-proof/non-prova coins that actually exist--vs a couple hypothetical ones listed in Krause).
Do you still need the Skanderbeg 20 Franga with Fasces privy mark? They only made 10, it's a coin I've always wanted but never been ready to pay $10,000 for. They do come up for auction every couple of years.
It is the ONLY coin I have ever spent that kind of money on. I had a set of bullion coins I was getting rid of which funded it. In fact I swapped sovereigns for the new purchase above too. Nowadays I'd rather have interesting coins, though I'm sure most people would not consider early 1900s coins worthy. Shoot it could have funded some nice Japanese coins too...or ancients, or whatever. That said, I'd rather collect a visually appealing (to me) set, that is limited enough in scope I can finish it before I retire. What can I say, it's an illness, hoarding and OC traits don't help . Hoarding in the dragon sense is what I mean, I'm a poor dragon as I have fewer ounces, but cooler coins. A real dragon would have sold her husband's car instead. Stupid prong is just about hiding the dang fasces though. The auction photos of it were taken before slabbing and were much nicer. Plus I don't have the art of 'glamour shooting' down. It's very prooflike.
A real wowzer of a coin, --agree on the prong, in some ways the old NGC holders were superior, especially in cases like this coin. Nothing noteworthy on the edges of the coin and the most important attribute is obstructed.
Italian occupation (1939-1943). 0.50 lek 1941, stainless steel, weight - 6 g., size - 24 mm, thickness - 1,97 mm, mintage - 900000 pcs. Engraver: Giuseppe Romagnoli. Rome Mint. Such coins were released at 1939-41. Demonetized at January 1 1945. Ruler: king Vittorio Emanuele III (1939-1943).
It's not as special as some of the earlier coins on this thread, but I liked the contrast between the 1939 Albania 1 Lek and Italy 1 Lira. As if to say, "Now kids, if you go invade Albania, be sure to wear a helmet." Both were cheap ($5 + $0.75).
Too bad this was a PROVA/ should have been a reg. issue. Seem to be a lot of these on auction sites.Probably all where kept in private collections.
Lovely set. They where never removed from protective plastic! Would be neat to find a complete set like that.
That looks like a nice one! It's hard to find them in good shape, too many have been taken out and handled and put back.
