This modern Chinese 10-yuan commemorative from the Auspicious Culture series ("Longevity") charmed me the first time I saw one a year or so ago, but I didn't buy it. (As a "serious numismatist", I think I'm supposed to scoff at modern colorized coins, right?) But it came to mind again, and last night I broke down and bought one. I just really like the quintessential Chinese character of those little bats flying around the gilt enamel peach design, which looks like antique lacquered art. I just found it beautiful, for some reason. 60,000 of these were minted, half of which went into sets. Bats and peaches on the same side of the same coin. Who could have predicted that?
Nice coin! We are often told that modern coins with adornments aren't for serious numismatists. But I tend to disagree. There are plenty of beautiful modern coins. One person's tacky is another's cool. I've posted this before, but here is one of my gilt moderns that I really like.
I alway's preach to collectors, especially new ones, don't let someone else tell you what to collect. I think a very structured narrow collection is boring. If that works for you though, go for and good for you. I have pieces such as this one I bought simply because I like it. I think your China piece is neat but not for me. That's one of the great things about this hobby in my opinion. We can all do our own thing.
It's part of a new series (totem animals) that started in 2018. I have both and bought them from a seller in Kazakhstan (via eBay). There are four versions of the 2019 owl coin: ~100 Tenge: no gilding, BU, base metal (right now around $10) ~200 Tenge: gilding, prooflike, base metal (right now around $25-$30) ~500 Tenge: gilding, proof, 1 oz silver (right now around $75) ~5000 Tenge: gilding, proof, 25 oz silver (I haven't seen these for sale, likely super pricey) Here is my thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-collection-continues.349335/
The bat theme appears in Hong Kong 1997 commemorative 5 dollar coin Supposedly it's 5 bats of happiness surrounded by the character longevity. That said, bats aren't very received at the moment with the virus associated with them...
Totally agree that one should collect what appeals (budget allowing or I'd have a nice Una and the Lion among other things). There is a certain snobbery in disparaging 'modern crap', some of which is quite appealing. And one thing I've loved about your 'eclectic box of ##' is that there IS room for things that appeal on a visceral level. Personally, having serious lack of focus though a few 'serious' sets, I have everything from 500 BC-2020 modern crap. If everyone liked the same thing life would be boring, and things would never change. Not to mention prices would be more hideous than they already are on some things! #moderncrap #usedtobemoderncrap
I do have a funny rule that an NCLT commemorative design should tell us something or celebrate something about the country that issued the coin. So for example, that Egyptian-themed coin from Fiji would not work for me, though it would if it were from Egypt. Or if it were a Fijian coin with a Fijian theme. There's nothing wrong with celebrating someone else's culture (or pop culture) on your coins, but I prefer it when countries "stay in their lane", so to speak. I want a Chinese coin to look Chinese, and a coin from Oceania to have a native South Pacific theme, not a picture of JFK or a superhero, if you know what I mean.
Yes, there are some odd combinations out there. I have some stuff that doesn't make sense no matter how you look at it, such as the Fiji piece. I like anything with an Ancient Egypt theme. Going back to high school that was always my favorite part of history.
