Germany BRUNSWICK-LUNEBURG-HANNOVER Georg II Duke & Elector (and also King of Great Britain and Ireland, plus an outdated, dubious claim to France) Taler 1729 Clausthal muint
I think of my collection as a collection on steroids. By that I mean I collect by type, but also by specialized areas of interest. Undoubtedly silver has played a key role in the development of civilization around the world. I would say that 95% of the collection is silver, with a focus on coins that served as currency across empires and nations, specifically, the 8 reales and its divisions, and the tetradrachms of Athens, specifically 5th century BC Athens, but also, to a lesser degree later periods. And, to add to the variety of the collection, I have added over the past 40 years crowns, other ancients and some minors. Here's a sampling. I am slowly photographing the coins, but I am on a slow learning curve and sometimes I just lose interest for a while, but hope to have most of the coins photographed over the next few years. Athens, tetradrachm, after 449 BC: Potosi, Philip II, 8 Reales, Assayer B: Potosi, Philip IV, 8 Reales, Transitional, 1652, Assayer E: Lima, 8 reales, Philip IV, 1659, "Star of Lima", Assayer V: Potosi, 8 Reales, Ferdinand VI, 1746, Round, Assayer q: Martinusdaaler, 1550-68, Philip de Montmorency, County of Horn: Netherlands, United Provinces, Lion Daalder, 1589, Holland:
Thank you. Later today, I hope to be able to photograph and post a bird of paradise 5 marks, unless the heat is too much, in which case it will have to wait until later this week.
1972 Jamaican non circulating Proof. A beast of a coin Currency Dollar (1969-date) Composition Silver (.925) Weight 49.20 g Diameter 45.50 mm Shape Round Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑ References KM# 60, Schön# 32
Before the heat really builds up (no air conditioning), I took some pics of the "Bird of Paradise" 5 marks, 1894. This is a coin that I purchased from Balckburn & Blackburn back in the early 80's, and it is still in the original envelope. This iconic coin is one of prettiest colonial coin designs, and this example is quite well preserved and nicely toned. Germany, 1894 New Guinea 5 Mark "Bird of Paradise" Issued for the New Guinea Company KM 7 27.8 grams Nicely toned EF
Though not an active collector of silver coins (I prefer gold), I did get a couple of well-worn examples of very scarce crowns recently: 1723 SSC Crown (39.5mm, 29.41 g, 5h). South Sea Company issue. Tower (London) mint. Dually dated 1723 and RY decimo. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Crowned cruciform coats-of-arms around rayed Garter star; SS C in alternating quarters. A hard one to find in any condition 1735 George II Crown (40mm, 29.42 g, 12h). Tower (London) mint. Dually dated 1735 and RY octavo. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust left / Crowned cruciform coats-of-arms around rayed Garter star; roses and plumes in alternating quarters. Rather messed up 5 in the date. Cleaned but a scarce crown