Lord Marcovan Giveaway Prize List (for my "pick your prize" contests)

Germany (Löbau): 1921 brown gilt porcelain medal, 700th anniversary



This handsome gilt brown porcelain medal was issued in 1921 for the 700th anniversary of the city of Löbau in the German state of Saxony, which was established in 1221.

It was produced by the famous Meissen porcelain works, whose "crossed swords" trademark is visible on the obverse.

According to the tag, it is a very scarce variety, of which only about 201 to 500 pieces were produced.

It is quite large- slightly bigger around than a United States Silver Eagle or British Crown coin- and somewhat thick, too.

42 mm, Scheuch variety 1829d, Rarity-8. One tiny edge chip to the gilt finish, which is not terribly distracting.

Ex- Ephesus Numismatics, 2 December 2024, with their tag.

 

Germany (Löbau): 1921 white gilt porcelain medal, 700th anniversary



This handsome white porcelain medal was issued in 1921 for the 700th anniversary of the city of Löbau in the German state of Saxony, which was established in 1221.

It was produced by the famous Meissen porcelain works, whose "crossed swords" trademark is visible on the obverse.

According to the tag, it is a very scarce variety, of which less than 200 pieces were produced.

It is rather large, and has the diameter of United States silver dollar. It is thick, too- reportedly thicker than other porcelain medals of the period.

38 mm, Scheuch variety 1829q, Rarity-R.

Ex- Ephesus Numismatics, 9 December 2024, with their tag.

 

(2 coins) United States: pair of silver dollars (1921-S Morgan type and 1935 Peace type)



A pair of US silver dollars, each from the final year of their respective types.

The 1921-S Morgan dollar is in high grade but has some darkish, mottled toning. The 1935 Peace dollar is quite well-worn and low grade, as though it was somebody’s pocket piece for a while. Neither of these is an outstanding example, but this giveaway lot does include TWO silver dollars, so you’ve got a good bit of silver here.

This giveaway lot was donated by my sister, Elizabeth Shamblin, from North Carolina.

 

United States: 1922 silver Peace dollar



Numista-5580. KM-150.

A higher grade 1922 Peace dollar, perhaps around XF45 to AU50 or so in grade, with a few very minor circulation marks and some traces of mottled darker toning in areas.

Donated to the Giveaway Gallery by Randy Abercrombie from South Carolina.

 

United States: 1922 silver Peace dollar (ANACS MS62)



Numista-5580. KM-150.

A nice white Mint State example of this second year of issue for the Peace dollar.

Ex-Don Rupp ("ajaan" on Collectors Universe), Buffalo, NY, January 2025.

 

Venezuela: 1929 (p) silver 5-Bolivares, High 9 (?) variety



Numista-10340. KM(Y)-24.2.

A wholesome Very Fine example with even wear, original coloration, and no major distractions. This is a larger silver coin which has very nearly the diameter of a United States silver dollar, and it was in fact struck under contract for Venezuela by the US Mint at Philadelphia.

The 1929 had a relatively modest mintage of 800,000 pieces, which, though a relatively "common" date for the series, has a lower mintage total than for the later coins from the 1930s.

There are "High 9" and "Low 9" varieties for this date. I am not sufficiently familiar with the series to know which this one is, but looking at the second 9 in the date, I suspect this might be the High 9 variety? That seems to be slightly more common according to Numista, but in any event, both varieties have identical catalog values, per Krause-Mishler.

Ex-eBay, 9 December 2024.

 

Jersey: 1933 bronze 1/12 shilling of George V (PCGS AU55)



PCGS cert. #48812521. Population 1 with 3 higher as of May, 2024.

Numista-7058, KM-16. 204,000 minted.

Ex-Stacks Bowers May 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Lot 32610.

 

United States: 1939 bronze Lincoln Wheat cent (NGC MS66 RD)



NGC certification #1537006-006. Numista-908.

Nice Gem example with full original mint red and luster. In an older (pre-prong) NGC holder.

 

United States: 1940-S silver "Mercury" dime, obverse die breaks (ANACS MS63)



Numista -51. ANACS cert. #7103141.

A nice white Mint State example with ample cartwheel luster. “Obverse die breaks” noted on the slab label.

Ex-Michael Swoveland, WNC Coins, June 2024.

 

United States: 1943 steel Lincoln Wheat cent (NGC MS66)



NGC certification #343770-037. Numista-3173.

A nice Gem Mint State steel cent in an older (pre-prong) NGC holder.

 

United States: 1945-S silver 5-cents, Jefferson "wartime" issue, ex-Omaha Bank Hoard (PCGS MS66)



A nice white Gem example of the silver (technically billon) "wartime" Jefferson nickel subtype, pedigreed to the Omaha Bank Hoard.

 

United States: 1958-D silver Franklin half dollar (ANACS MS64 FBL)



Numista-2835. ANACS cert. #7469191.

A nice white Mint State-64 example from the Denver Mint, with the FBL (Full Bell Lines) designation.

 

United States: 1959 silver proof Franklin half dollar, Type 2 reverse (ANACS PF66)



Numista-2835.

ANACS PF66; cert. #7707568.

A mostly white Proof Franklin half dollar with a few subtle hints of toning at the peripheries.

While there is no Cameo contrast (this is a Brilliant Proof), it has nice flashy mirrors.

Though not so attributed on the holder, this has the Type 2 reverse, with three wing feathers to the left of the eagle's perch.

Ex-Don Rupp ("ajaan" on Collectors Universe), 15 January 2025.

 

(5 coins) Canada: 1967 Canadian Centennial prooflike set (w/3 silver coins, original mint packaging)



An attractive, untoned Canadian Centennial prooflike set, with the special Centennial commemorative designs for that year, featuring native wildlife. The 10-, 25-, and 50-cent pieces are silver (.800 fine). Comes in the original Royal Canadian Mint cellophane pouch, though the external paper envelope has not survived.

 

(8 coins + plaque) Great Britain: 1970 proof set; last of the predecimal coinage



This is a lovely 1970 British proof set consisting of eight coins plus a rectangular Royal mint medal (plaque). These sets were issued with the final coins of the the old pounds-shillings-pence monetary standard, as Britain switched to a decimal system in 1970. I believe the 1970 penny was only issued in these sets.

This particular set is in the original holder, with all the associated paperwork, and even the outer paper envelope, which seldom survived.

 

Australia: 2012-P silver dollar of Elizabeth II, Kookaburra bullion coin (1 ounce, .999 fine)



Numista-26278. KM-1692.

A nice Gem Mint State Australian Kookaburra bullion dollar from the Perth Mint, with frosty prooflike contrast.

One ounce .999 silver. Mintage: 500,000. In a plastic capsule.

 

Canada: 2016 silver 5-dollars of Elizabeth II, Cougar bullion coin (1 ounce, .9999 fine)



Numista-84007.

A Gem Mint State 2016 Canadian Cougar bullion coin.

Very brilliant, with abundant cartwheel luster.

1 ounce, .9999 fine. In a plastic capsule. Most if not all of the faint scuffs seen in the photos are on the plastic, not the coin.

 

United States: 2020 American Silver Eagle bullion coin (1 oz- ICG Hurricane Helene salvaged)



Numista-1493.

This 2020 American Silver Eagle bullion coin is in Gem Mint State condition, but your first reaction upon seeing it is likely, "Wow, what an ugly Silver Eagle!"

And it is ugly. But that is because it has a story to tell.

You see, this coin is a relic of a catastrophic natural disaster: Hurricane Helene.

Starting on September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene swept into Western North Carolina and caused widespread damage and historic flooding which was even worse than the Great Flood of 1916 that affected that area. Many people died and some riverside communities were essentially wiped out.

The story pertaining to this coin was related to me by my friend Jason Foster, an Asheville, NC coin dealer, who sold the coin to me.

The story went something like this (and I'm paraphrasing, from memory):

There was a man who owned property alongside one of the rivers; likely the Swannanoa River in Buncombe County. When his home was swept away by the floods, among his possessions there was at least one 500-count "monster box" of Silver Eagles, which was washed downriver with everything else. During the recovery phase after the storm, some volunteers were out doing search and rescue or recovery work and came upon the coins. Not only were these finders heroically lending assistance in the dangerous recovery work- they were also scrupulously honest. They found out who owned the coins, and eventually returned them all. But the recovered coins presented a dilemma. They had been contaminated by muddy floodwater. Eventually one of the Asheville coin dealers who bought them submitted a number of them to ICG, which encapsulated them in special custom slabs noting the hurricane pedigree.
​

Like the Silver Eagles recovered from vaults below the destroyed World Trade Center towers in New York after the 9/11 attacks, which were subsequently certified with special custom holders, this is an interesting piece of disaster history. Even if it's not very good looking. In fact, I chose one of the scuzzier-looking ones, since if you're going to buy a coin that was contaminated by floodwater, you might as well have one that shows it, and tells that story, right?

Ex-Jason Foster, at the 2025 FUN show.

 

Canada: 2023 silver 5-dollars of Elizabeth II, Maple Leaf SML bullion coin (1 ounce, .9999 fine)



Numista-356135. KM-3304.

An attractive Gem Mint State Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coin with the enhanced security features.

Issued posthumously in 2023 in the name of Queen Elizabeth II, though she had died in September of 2022 at the age of 96.

There is an additional pair of dates in the left obverse field (1952-2022) to commemorate her 70-year reign., which was one of the longest in history.

1 ounce, .9999 fine. In a plastic capsule.

 

Great Britain: 2023 silver 2-pounds of Charles III, Britannia bullion coin (1 ounce, .999 fine)



Numista-353110. KM-2370.

A Gem Mint State Britannia bullion coin. This issue was the second Charles III Britannia type for 2023 (the first, issued for his coronation that year, featured a crowned portrait instead of the bare head seen here). The design of this coin incorporates many of the modern security features (contoured backgrounds, micro text, etc.).

1 ounce, .999 fine. In a plastic capsule. Most if not all of the faint scuffs seen in the photos are on the plastic, not the coin.