Actually Ionian State and history in Krause is wrong too, but this is my favorite coin, a large 2 Oboli copper. Thought it might be a good way to say hi I'm new around here :wink: PCGS undergraded it AU55 :roll:
Very nice coin. This one I've never seen. 1819, correct? I always find it difficult to get good images of copper coins. Yours is pretty good.
Yep the big 1819 copper; since I've been on eBay, never seen one (2 Oboli) in any condition come up for sale. The Obol seems much more common. Had a heck of a time imaging the coin, toning is dark and under fluorescent light looks an even chocolate brown, believe it or not.
The nicest Obol I saw on eBay was an AU+ that had some blue corrosion in the fields, went for $150 anyways. There's a lower grade one for sale right now, currently at $10.50, here's their auction pic there are subtle differences in design between the different sized coppers, particularly in the face of lion. the original design is Venetian (winged lion with halo and quiver) with some tweaking by the British (stance, curly tail).
I normally go for the moderns, but have to say this is a really interesting coin, thanks for posting about it.
Since I'm showing off, I just won the smallest of these coppers on eBay for $35 Hopefully it won't look white in person, bad color in pic probably kept the bidding low... but I already knew the seller (Jeff Zarit), and he's a good guy, so went for it :wink:
this date is 10 TIMES rarer than earlier dates (mintage figures weren't retained on a date-by-date basis). But very few were collected and preserved in the prior century, so finding them in near-mint state is actually quite difficult. edited to add: I'm a net buyer of this material, not a net seller (different story with modern US). So if anyone has AU-MS examples for sale, feel free to email me for an offer (please include pic). Regards, Crito "NO BS (bullshiat) guarantee" on all transactions. If it's not EXACTLY as described, all your money back including shipping charges.
The Greeks have a word for it. Pretty coins! I looked them up in Krause. I was totally unaware of the series. I see now, of course, that the catalog does not do them justice. Your scans are compelling. I will definitely keep an eye out for something like this at an ANA convention when I go next. Michael
Thanks Marotta, very undervalued series, though some mintages are rather high. The coins circulated heavily, making AU/BU examples tough to find. Also, the salt air on the islands corroded most of these coppers, so finding circulated examples without porosity isn't particulary easy either. If you can pick up a problem-free specimen at Krause prices, it's a bargain IMHO. Now if Zarit would just send my #$%& coin, I'd be a happy man. Slow shipper, I guess sure did charge my card quick, though.
Well, I can't say I haven't seen a 2 Obol for sale on eBay anymore. A problem free VF30 just ended. Krause lists a value of $50, the auction ended at $125. Which gives you an idea of how far off they are on this one. Their prices are about right for the more common 1 Obol, however. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4941&item=1949573180&rd=1
Another 2 Obol auction just ended on eBay (when it rains it pours, I guess). I'd grade the coin XF40. Krause price $100, auction hammer price $200. They need to fix their price guide. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4941&item=3010048052 And I didn't even bid on it :lol:
The most unusual denomination in the Ionian Islands coins is the silver 30 Lepta.I have one dated 1857. The Ionian Islands coins of 1819-62 are sought after by British Commonwealth coin collectors such as myself.
