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

Giveaway Lot #250907-19

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


ANACS cert. #7469191.

Numista-2835.

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

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-20

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


ANACS cert. #7707568.

Numista-2835.

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.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-21

(LOT: 6 coins) Canada: 1967 Canadian Centennial prooflike set (w/4 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), as is the “Goose” dollar. Comes in the original Royal Canadian Mint cellophane pouch, though the external paper envelope has not survived.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-24

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.

 

Giveaway Lot #250907-25

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.

 

All future additions to the list from here on down will be listed in no particular order.

 

Giveaway Lot #260119-01

(LOT: 2 coins) Irish & British halfpennies (1694 & 1855)

Coin #1 of 2: 1694 Ireland copper halfpenny of William & Mary


Numista-41084. These often come rather poorly preserved. This particular piece has a few areas of roughness but is actually better than a lot of them I've seen. I previously owned one in about this condition but it also had a hole in it. This coin bears the conjoined busts of the dual monarchs, William and Mary.




Coin #2 of 2: 1855 Great Britain copper halfpenny of Queen Victoria, "young head" type


Numista-12806. The first portrait type for Queen Victoria, showing her as a young woman. These handsome copper halfpennies were struck until 1860, when they were replaced by slightly smaller bronze coins of a new design.



Both coins were donated by "Dafydd" on CoinTalk, January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260119-02

(LOT: 4 medals) Four pieces British medals and model coin, 1840-present

There is some nice exonumia in this lot. I decided to bundle these pieces together into a single lot due to their similarity in theme (i.e., British exonumia).

Item #1 of 4: Undated (ca. 1840) Great Britain brass "Prince of Wales Model Half-Sovereign"

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - Image of envelope

Numista-56768. Early in the reign of Queen Victoria, there were a number of interesting "model" coins produced. I think some of them were proposed designs for coins of the realm. This one bears the denomination of "half sovereign", despite the fact that it is struck in brass and a half-sovereign was a gold coin. Rather than being catalogued as patterns, they're considered counter tokens (gaming counters). This particular "Prince of Wales Half Sovereign" is an undated type, circa 1840. There were later pieces of the same design which had dates in the 1850s under the bust of Victoria.

This piece also comes with interesting provenance. According to @Dafydd in Wales, from whom I acquired it, it came came from the collection of the British-born US mathematician and Rhode Island representative Rodney David Driver (1932 -2022). His collection was formed from the 1960s to the 1980s and was sold by Leu Numismatik. Included is an old paper collection envelope with scrawled inscriptions, but that appears to have someone else's name on it: someone named Frank in Maine- perhaps the person from whom Driver acquired it?

Donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.


Item #2 of 4: 1899 Great Britain silver-plated bronze medal from the Greater Britain Exhibition

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image

Numista-479806. This somewhat smaller (16.8 mm) yet attractive medal features the old head of Queen Victoria, who would reign another two years until her death in 1901. It was struck to commemorate the Greater Britain Exposition of 1899. Most of these were issued with holes for use as jewelry. This particular piece exhibits some light prooflike flashiness not seen in these photos.

I found this in my "holey" coin collection, and have no recollection of where I got it.


Item #3 of 4: (1936) Great Britain gilt bronze medal for the proposed coronation of Edward VIII

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - Image of flip

This medal was struck for a coronation that never happened! It proclaims the 12th of May 1937 as the coronation date of King Edward VIII of Great Britain. Edward became king on January 20, 1936, upon the death of his father, George V. But he abdicated on December 11, 1936, so that he could marry the American Wallis Simpson. So Edward ruled for less than a year, succeeded by his younger brother George VI, and his coronation proclaimed on this medal never came to pass.

I cannot find a match for this piece on Numista. Most of the proposed Edward VIII coronation medals shown there seem to be of much higher quality. This has the look of a cheaper souvenir from the period, perhaps made for tourists or the general public. I find it amusing that some of the gold plating has rubbed off, giving King Edward a shadowy "beard"! (He was beardless.) Someone obviously carried this for a while. Still, it's not a bad looking piece.

Ex-Dr. Mark Reid, at The Time Machine table at the 2026 FUN show in Orlando, Florida, 11 January 2026


Item #4 of 4: Undated (ca. 2020s) Heritage Mint "Battle of Edington" medal, 24-karat gold plated proof

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - Image of case

This handsome medal commemorates the Battle of Edington, where Alfred the Great defeated the Vikings in 878 AD. It is undated but fairly modern: as of January 2026 these are still for sale on the Heritage Mint website. @Dafydd, from whom I received this, said that it was designed by his friend and fellow Welshman, Kevin Ashman, who is a historical author who writes novels about Roman and Dark Age Britain. Ashman worked for a short time at the Royal Mint where his son still works. @Dafydd says that this particular piece is currently "the only one in the USA and ever likely to be."

Donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260119-03

(LOT: 3 coins) Three Virenium coins from the Isle of Man, Uncirculated and Proof, 1979-1981

(My photos of this three-coin lot are less than ideal, but they'll have to do.)

All of these Isle of Man coins bear the image of the ancient three-legged triskelion symbol, superimposed over a map of the island.

Coin #1 of 3: Isle of Man 1979-PM Virenium 1-pound, Pobjoy Mint (Uncirculated version, First Day issue)

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - Image of certificate

Numista-6873. This coin and the others were struck in Virenium, an alloy patented by the Pobjoy Mint in the United Kingdom. Virenium is intended to have the look and stability of a precious metal, and in fact these coins (especially the proof below) do look like gold at a glance. And the two one-pound pieces here seem to have stood the test of time over nearly 50 years without toning. This coin was released on the first day of issue, and comes with the original Pobjoy Mint certificate indicating such.

Coin #2 of 3: Isle of Man 1979-PM Virenium 1-pound, Pobjoy Mint (Proof version)

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - Image of certificate

Numista-6873. This is the proof version of the type above. It is very flashy and beautiful, and looking at the queen's portrait at a glance, you could mistake it for a proof gold Sovereign. Really quite an attractive coin.

Coin #3 of 3: Isle of Man 1981-PM Virenium 5-pounds

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image

Numista-29261. This larger (36 mm) five-pound piece is also struck in Virenium, though it has a very slightly different appearance than the pair of one-pound pieces above. Unlike those, this one did not come with any mint packaging, so perhaps that is why. It seems to have picked up a bit of toning, which I find attractive. It is also quite flashy.

I do not know if this was a Proof or Uncirculated striking, but I suspect the latter. Nevertheless, it is rather prooflike.

All three pieces donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260119-04

(LOT: 2 items) Two pieces of very early proto-money, circa 3,000-400 BC


This lot consists of two pieces of very early proto-money, which were small items used in exchange that predated the actual invention of true coinage.

Item #1 of 2: The first item is an ancient Sumerian piece of Shell Ring Money which dates between approximately 3,000 to 2,000 BC and is more than two millennia older than the earliest coins. It consists of a ring carved from a seashell.

Ex-Mark Metzger, CoinTalk, December 2025. (Was part of his "Secret Santa" package to me.)

Item #2 of 2: The second item is a piece of ancient Celtic bronze "arrowhead money" from Istros in Thrace (now modern Romania). The dawn of coinage had only just begun when this piece was cast. The front of it is grooved while the back is plain and flat. It differs a little from the one pictured on the page for Numista-69017, but I'm sure there was some variation in these. Numista says: "Arrowhead Money was used as currency before the introduction of the coins in the Eastern Danube region and the Black sea area by the Eastern Celts. Struck in the ancient city of Istros."

The arrowhead money is mentioned on one of @dougsmit's pages about cast proto-money.

Purchased at the FUN show in Orlando, Florida, 11 January 2026. The flip cites prior provenance to CNG Sale 50 on 23 June 1999.

 

Giveaway Lot #260119-05

(LOT: 4 coins + more) Four pieces British coins, 1951-2012, including two proofs, plus "mystery goodies"

This lot kind of assembled itself out of a batch I was sorting. Since the coins are all British, that was an easy enough reason to group them together.

There will be more to this lot than the four coins you see here.

I suspect many of the other lots in my giveaway prize list will attract more attention. But if you opt for this lot as your prize in one of my giveaways, and you end up winning it, be sure to remind me, and I will sweeten the package up considerably with other "mystery goodies" to make it even more appealing.

That being said, there is still some fun stuff in here. Despite the relatively modest monetary value of the visible portion of this lot, I will make up for that in mystery goodies when the time comes.

Coin #1 of 4: Great Britain: 1951 copper-nickel crown (5-shillings) of George VI, Festival of Britain commemorative

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image

This type is Numista-10641. This handsome large coin was struck for the Festival of Britain in 1951. The reverse features the popular classical Saint George & the Dragon motif originally designed by Benedetto Pistrucci in the 19th century. Not seen in the images is a lettered edge, which reads: “MDCCCLI CIVIUM INDUSTRIA FLORET CIVITAS MCMLI”, which translates to: “1851 By the industry of its people the state flourishes 1951”.


Coin #2 of 4: Great Britain: 1970 copper-nickel proof shilling, Scottish reverse type

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image

Numista-882 or -919 (I don't see a difference?) This shilling is from the final year of the old predecimal (pounds-shillings-pence) monetary system. No predecimal coins were struck for circulation in 1970- these were only issued in proof sets. This piece has nice mirrors and cameo proof contrast, which does not show entirely in my photos.


Coin #3 of 4: Great Britain: 2000 nickel-brass proof 1-pound coin, Welsh dragon type

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image

Numista-1396. Nice Deep Cameo proof. There were proofs struck in both nickel-brass and in silver that year, and I am not entirely certain which this is! The coin has a somewhat silvery color, as you can see in the pictures, but also just the faintest yellowish tinge that made me assume it is the nickel-brass type.

Coin #4 of 4: Great Britain: 2012 nickel-plated steel 10-pence

Larger obverse image - Larger reverse image - "Shield" diagram

Numista-25746. This modern series has an unusual design feature. If you have a full set of the denominations, you can lay the different coins next to each other, to form a larger picture of the royal shield. I'm not so sure the concept works for me, but I give them full marks for creativity and originality.

All four pieces donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-01

India (Vijayanagara Empire): ca. 1336-1646 gold bele (1/10 fanam) "World's Smallest Gold Coin", ICG certified


Numista-67603.

This is a gold bele, or 1/10 fanam. Even a full fanam is tiny, but these gold beles are extremely tiny! This gold “coin” of the Vijayanagara Empire, an Indian Hindu dynasty (1336-1646), is no larger than a sesame seed!

It is certified and encapsulated as genuine by ICG and described as "The World's Smallest Gold Coin".

There is only a very small speck of gold here, but it's a fun conversation piece.

Provenance: gift of Michael Swoveland, dba WNC Coins, LLC, Asheville, North Carolina, Summer 2025.

 

Giveaway Lot #260120-04

Greenland: 1926-HCN♥GJ copper-nickel 25-øre of Christian X


Numista-6960.

Struck for Greenland at the Royal Danish Mint under the rule of King Christian X of Denmark.

What could be more appealing than a polar bear on a Greenland coin? This is a nice example, too, and Uncirculated as far as I can tell. The coin has subtle luster and is lightly toned. (The obverse photo is slightly out of focus- sorry about that.)

This a one-year type and the mintage was 310,000 pieces. Though uncertified, I think this piece is comparable to the PCGS MS65 example I have in my personal collection.

 

Giveaway Lot #260121-02

Roman Empire: ca. 98-117 AD silver denarius of Trajan


This is a silver denarius of the Roman emperor Trajan (98-117 AD). The Roman Empire reached its zenith and its greatest geographical span during the reign of Trajan. You might say it was their "high water mark".

Rome mint, 18.1 mm, 2.51 g.

I'm told the variety is RIC 332, which would date the coin from 114-117 AD.

Obverse: IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GERM DAC, laureate and draped bust right.

Reverse: PARTHICO PM TRP COS VI PP SPQR, Felicitas standing left with caduceus and cornucopia.

This coin was donated by "Dafydd", CoinTalk, 15 January 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-01

(LOT: 2 coins) United States: two first-year nickels (1883 No Cents Liberty and 1913 Type 1 Buffalo)

Both of these coins are the first types from the first years of issue. If you are just starting out on a Dansco #7070 or similar Type set album, you could fill two of the "nickel" holes in your album with this one lot.

Coin #1 of 2: United States: 1883 copper-nickel Liberty nickel (Type 1, no "CENTS" on reverse)


Numista-18294. This is the first type of the Liberty nickel, from early 1883, when the coins did not have the word "CENTS" on the reverse below the wreath. That was added later in 1883. This is a very nice example; on the cusp of Mint State if not actually there. It is one of those coins that is difficult (for me) to determine whether it is an AU58+ "super slider" or if it actually makes Mint State (in which case I'd guess MS63). Regardless, it has the luster and eye appeal of a Mint State coin. It would be a great example for a Type set album.



Coin #2 of 2: United States: 1913 copper-nickel 5-cents, Buffalo Type 1


Numista-4728. This is the first type of the Buffalo or Indian Head nickel, from the earlier part of 1913. The first coins of the type (like this) had the buffalo on a raised mound with the denomination "FIVE CENTS" on it. Later in that year this feature was revised, putting the denomination into a more recessed area to keep it from wearing off as quickly. (You can see how that was an issue- the denomination on this Type 1 piece is already weak from relatively little circulation.) While not as high grade as the 1883 Liberty nickel above, this is still a decent early (Type 1) Buffalo for a Type set.



Provenance: I do not remember where I got these. Perhaps from @dwhiz on CoinTalk.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-02

(Lot: 8 coins) United States: Eight different silver Mercury dimes (1920-1939)


Numista-51. This is an eight-piece lot of Mercury dimes, absent the more common 1940s dates you usually find in such assortments. The dates here are: 1920, 1923, 1926, 1926-D, 1927, 1936, 1937-S, and 1939.

The 1926-D is a better date and the 1936 is higher grade; I'd say AU.

Provenance: I picked most of these from silver lots at WNC Coins in North Carolina.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-03

(LOT: 3 coins) United States: three 1964 90% silver Kennedy halves


Numista-943, KM-202. This is a three-piece lot of Kennedy half dollars from 1964, the first year of issue. All are from the Philadelphia mint. 1964 was the only year the Kennedy half dollar was struck in full .900 silver.

Each coin contains 0.3617 Troy ounces of silver. As such there is a total of 1.0851 Troy ounces of bullion in this lot. With silver at record highs as I type this (1/22/26), each coin here contains $34.05 USD worth of silver and the combined bullion value of these coins is over a hundred dollars. (To be precise, $102.15 as of this typing).

So it's a pretty good giveaway lot. One coin is Choice AU+ but has stains on the obverse. The other two are Brilliant Uncirculated (Mint State), and one of the Uncirculated coins is sealed in a plastic pouch from Littleton Coin Company.

Provenance: I think I found the spotty one in circulation from a bank roll. The other two came from bulk lots.

 

Giveaway Lot #260122-04

(LOT: 5 coins) Five assorted United States coins (1864-2020)


If this seems like a rather odd assortment, that's because it is. These coins were what was left over after I bundled up several other assortments, so I just put them together as a "miscellaneous" lot.




Coin #1 of 5: United States: 1864 copper-nickel Indian Head cent


Numista-1108. There were two types of Indian cent struck in 1864. The first (this type) was struck in copper-nickel like all the previous 1856-1863 small cents were. Later in 1864 the composition was changed to the bronze type, which were struck until 1909. These copper-nickel cents are noticeably thicker than their later bronze counterparts.

Coin #2 of 5: United States: 1881 bronze Indian Head cent


Numista-2356. Here is one of the bronze type which was struck until 1909. This coin is in modest grade (G4 to G6, I'd say), but has no major distractions- just "honest wear", as they say.

Coin #3 of 5: United States: 1904 bronze Indian Head cent


Numista-2356. This later-date Indian Head cent is in high grade. It has a few tickmarks and tiny hairlines (which don't jump out at you when viewed in hand), but I'd say it has XF45 to AU50 details, glossy surfaces not seen in these photos, and decent eye appeal overall.

Coin #4 of 5: United States: 2020-W "America the Beautiful" quarter, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller, "V75" privy mark


Numista-189638. This "America the Beautiful" quarter commemorates the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Vermont. The first appealing thing about it is that it has the much sought-after "W" mintmark, meaning it is a lower-mintage issue struck at the West Point Mint. In addition, it has a special "V75" privy mark added by the mint to some coins, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. The coin is Uncirculated and lustrous, though that luster does not show in these photographs.

Coin #5 of 5: United States: 1961 silver Franklin half dollar


Numista-2835. This is an average circulated Franklin half dollar containing 0.3617 Troy ounces of silver. With silver at record highs as I type this (1/22/26), this coin contains $34.05 USD worth of silver.

Provenance: I forget where I got the Indian cents from. The 2025-W "V75" quarter came from the mysterious "Quarter Master" of Quarter Notes, Ltd., who is known for his counterstamps on US quarters. (He wisely does not counterstamp the W-mint or "V75" coins.) I got the Franklin half in circulation, from a bank roll. That's the only one I have found so far by coin roll hunting.

 

Giveaway Lot #260123-01

(LOT: 4 coins) United States: four silver Washington quarters (1934, 1951, 1955, 1958-D)


Numista-54. This is an average circulated lot of 90% silver Washington quarters. Each contains .1808 Troy ounces of silver, so there is .7232 ounces of bullion in this lot.

The dates here are 1934, 1951, 1955, and 1958-D. As is typical, the earliest coin is in quite low grade while the latest coin in the batch is in higher grade.

Sourced from various bulk silver lots.

 

Giveaway Lot #260123-02

(LOT: 4 coins) United States: four silver Washington quarters (1941, 1942, 1944, 1945)


Numista-54. This is an average circulated lot of 90% silver Washington quarters. Each contains .1808 Troy ounces of silver, so there is .7232 ounces of bullion in this lot.

The dates here are 1941, 1942, 1944, and 1945. So all the coins in this lot are from the 1940s and from the Philadelphia mint.

Sourced from various bulk silver lots.