How is this for an odd lot? Found in an old box of stuff I haven't looked at in at least 2-3 years with comics and old photos and an old Milton Bradley Microvision game (circa Christmas 1979 with the Blockbuster cartridge!). An assortment from early 1700s British copper to Morgans through to PCGS slabbed modern US silver. The big copper coin with the flowers and what I think is a silver 5 Euro really interest me. Time to start the research! Nothing fancy or expensive, but a fun surprise for me. I really like the Ho Ho Ho spirit! Merry Christmas All! I hope you all find joy and forgotten surprises this holiday!
The proof finish on that Fort McHenry quarter really makes the design pop, doesn't it? I love little stashes like this, and often found them when I was hoarding coins as a beginning collector, buying anything and everything. Now that I'm more focused on just a few series/types I don't get this thrill much anymore.
Sure! And some of the other stuff that I didn't really show, lol. That little tiny copper coin (?) says "IM OF 2 SOVGN" in part on the obverse with a portrait of Queen Victoria, I have no idea what that is, I just bought those together, cheaply, the little deer coin that says SPIEL MARKE on the reverse caught my eye. I also notice a worn 1887 Seated Liberty dime and a worn 1942 Mercury dime with some Buffalo nickels and a Liberty nickel, plus some little English and Canadian silver. Then a big Malta coin and a German coin that may be silver. How fun!
It almost makes me want to search the last 20+ years of random stuff I have boxed and stuffed in the attic. Almost...
The spiele mark is "game" or play money. I think the tiny copper coin is also a British version, maybe used in a game or to teach kids how to count change. I remember as an elementary kid having little plastic pennies and such to learn to count coins. When I worked retail, I actually found one of these plastic pennies in a roll from the local bank.
The silver 5 Euro commemorates Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands - at the time they were minting those you could buy them for face value - so I bought several examples from there and Germany. Now when they mint those silver commems they sell at a premium above face value - so I don't buy them anymore.
