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

Giveaway Lot #260906-09

United States: 1954-S bronze Lincoln Wheat cent (NGC MS66 RD), Omaha Bank Hoard pedigree


Numista-908.

NGC cert. #1568109-011.

A full Red Gem Mint State example of the Lincoln Wheat cent, certified MS66 RD by NGC. This coin is also pedigreed to the Omaha Bank Hoard. This was a tricky coin to photograph and my images do not properly show the luster, so I’ve uploaded a supplemental low-resolution animated GIF.

 

Giveaway Lot #260907-01

Crusader States: ca. 1163-1201 AD silver "helmet" denier of Bohemond III of Antioch



Numista-55126 (Class C or similar variant). A medieval "helmet" denier of Bohemond III, Prince of the Crusader State of Antioch. He was also known as "Bohemond the Child" or "Bohemond the Stutterer". Hand-hammered in debased silver, or perhaps more technically billon.

Obverse: Mailed and helmeted bust left; crescent left, star right.

Reverse: Cross pattée; crescent in one quarter.

Diameter: 18 mm. Weight: 0.89 g.

There is an interesting CoinTalk discussion thread about these coins here.

Ex-Andrew Caldarone, dba Aegean Numismatics, 7 September 2026, with their tag.

 

Giveaway Lot #260907-02

(LOT: 7 coins) United States: seven copper-nickel Jefferson nickels, 1946-1955, all Brilliant Uncirculated


Numista-44. This seven-coin lot consists of Jefferson nickels from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, all Brilliant Uncirculated. The coins have nice luster which does not come through in these subpar photos. Some have subtle champagne-gold toning.

The dates are: 1946-D, 1946-S, 1947-D, 1953, 1953-D, 1954-S, and 1955-D. I removed the coins from the previous staple-type 2x2 holders they were in so I could photograph them (very poorly). They have been put in Guardhouse safety flips. The original holder on the 1946-S stated it has a "lamination error", but I didn't notice that, so it must be subtle. That, or I just didn't look closely enough.

I think this lot was from @Eric Babula, along with the other coins he donated back on 19 May 2026, but I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t recall the specifics.

 

Giveaway Lot #260908-01

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". They assigned it the serial number 89583301133. If you copy that number onto your clipboard, you can verify the certification here.

There is only a truly tiny speck of gold here, but it's a fun novelty. I can only imagine how impractical these must have been to use in commerce, but I suppose they can't have been worse than the gold dust that miners used during the California gold rush.

Ex-"redbeards_treasure", eBay, 13 August 2026.

 

Giveaway Lot #260909-01

(LOT: 46 coins) United States: bronze Lincoln Wheat cents, Red Brilliant Uncirculated (1955-D, 1956-D, 1957, 1957-D)


Numista-908. This 46-coin group lot consists of the leftovers of several partial rolls of full Red Brilliant Uncirculated later-date Wheat cents that I discovered in forgotten tubes at the bottom of one of my desk drawers.

There are four date-and-mint combinations present within this assortment:

1955-D (12 coins)
1956-D (12 coins)
1957-P (10 coins)
1957-D (12 coins)​

Total: 46 coins.

Some of the 1957-P coins are a tiny bit streaky, but there are some real full Gem beauties in the other bags.

 

Giveaway Lot #260918-01

United States: 1835 silver Capped Bust half dollar


Numista-10637. Here's an early half dollar in somewhat lower grade. It has several old scratches, but those are mitigated by the grey toning which gives it pleasant eye appeal despite its issues.

Ex-@Mr. Numismatist, dba Karst Coins & Exonumia, 18 September 2026.