Post a cheap coin that makes you happy.

Both of the coins below came out of a large bulk lot, which contains thousands more.

These Portuguese copper-nickel coins from the early 1900s tone so nicely, and have an appealing design. I don't get too many of the full escudos like this in bulk bags, but have gotten quite a few of the minor denominations with this same design. I've even thought about attempting to do a set of them someday.

This is perhaps a $3.00 coin. I got it for mere pennies. It's too cheap to be a keeper in any of my serious collections, but I love it all the same. Maybe I'll toss it into my February giveaway.




These largish aluminum French 5-franc pieces are commonly encountered in bulk lots. They're quite handsome, but the really fun part is when you pick one up and realize how feathery light it is! It's fun to give these to a non-collector. They never fail to be suprised and amazed. I'm gonna give this one to a favorite coworker tomorrow night, I think. This is another one that cost me just a few cents- probably less than a dime.

 

That's a nice little Philippine coin. I like those.

 

Here's another cheap-n' -cheerful cherrypick from a bulk bag. Cost me maybe 10-20 cents. It catalogs $7 in VG and $14 in Fine, but I think it has a "coolness quotient" beyond that.

(Portuguese) Azores 5 Reis, 1795, KM9.

It was overtstruck on an earlier coin. You can see a lot going on with the undertype here. The plate coin on the NGC/Krause page I linked to shows some pretty bold traces and ghosting as well- you can even read the undertype's 1776 date on that example!

You can see some of the undertype coin's date on mine, too, if you look above and to the left of the big "5". In fact, I'm pretty sure the ghost date here says "1776", as well!

Anybody know what the earlier type was? I havent fully researched that yet. When the earlier coin's design is known, it would be fun to see some of those transparent overlays, though I lack the skill and software to do those.

 

Update: the coin in the OP graded MS63 at PCGS, just as I thought it would.

Yep. I just spent $40-45+ to slab a $2-3 coin. Knowingly and deliberately.

https://www.pcgs.com/cert/37681949

 

Another cheerful cheapo. Lots of fun for not much money.



*By the way, that coin and another gold fanam (and more) are up for grabs in the June Giveaway, should you happen to be reading this in June of 2019.

 

Daaang! That was a score!

 

I'm an hour N of JAX. You from that area?

Edit- no, guess not, according to your profile.

 

I was waiting for the Ancients folks to find this thread.