Davobenz

VERY obvious that these coins are ONE CROWN coins with that sort of design!

I once had a complete Australian silver and bronze type set, where each type was represented by the rarest date, except for the 1930 Penny. That type was represented by a 1925 penny. Condition ranged from good VF to FDC. The set was old way back in 1976 along with a 17 coin Australian gold type set, to help raise money for a deposit for our first home. Sold three ancient gold coins as well, along with a few Roman bronze and silver coins. I have rebuilt a new collection since then, but in ancient and World coins.

I once had a complete Australian gold type set, complete with an Adelaide Pound, type 2. Ten sovereigns with the first and second obverses and with the Adelaide one pound. All seven half sovereigns, all from the Sydney Mint. Five were British types but with the 'S' Sydney mint mark, and the two earliest of the first and second obverse head types, but with the distinctive SYDNEY MINT reverse design. 17 coins in all. The Sydney Mint building still exists, but as an Australian heritage museum. The set was sold way back in 1976, to help raise mone fou our first home. These days and since 1976, I have been into ancient and World coins.

I have a reasonably valuable collection (maybe $50k+) amassed over a period of 40 years or so. My rule of thumb is to collect and study what interests you, gain wide ranging numismatic knowledge (covering the whole of numismatics), and only buy what represents good value for money at the time of purchase. That way, you are in a position to much more easily find bargains. After that, FORGET about the value of your collection, either as individual coins or as a whole collection. When I die, my kids should make a a 'killing', provided the collection finds it's way to a good public auctioneer, with an excellent international reputation.

It gold 5 (value whatever it is) suggests that their goal is to rule the Wolrd Roman emperor Trajan had the title Rector orbis (Ruler of the World). Obviously, he had never heard of America or China. The Nazis had the idea as master race, to rule the whole World. They didn't. Islamic State won't either. Do you want to collet their coins? That's up to you. Perhaps I may collect I.S. coins after their regime has been consigned to history. Thats' when and why I have a few Nazi and DDR coins.

Potential value would not justify the grading and shipping fees.

I have found the strangest things in my shoes: House keys that had accidentally fallen into a shoe and had been lost for some hours - a big problem when you are living alone, because there is no one else to help you find them. As a teenager, I found a funnel web spider (atrax robustus) in a shoe - another big problem, because they are the deadliest spider species on Earth, quite capable of killing you within an hour so, with their neurotoxin. Required hospitalisation. My kid brother rather facesioisly said that I was always going to survive, because I had no brains anyway! I have an aluminium bronze pad printed colourized proof dollar (not found in shoe), that was taken from circulation - a bit of a mystery as to why it may have persisted in circulation for so long, not only because of it's mirror fields (now imparied), but also because of it's very obvious colourization.

My rule of thumb is that if the potential value when graded is less than $100, grading and shipping fees are not justified.

ikaros: At least you seem to be well heeled!

Had a look at the 20 history gold price graph. A line of best fit for a 20 year period would suggest that the spot price may go as low as U.S.$800. For investment hedge purposes, the time span you are looking at for gold, should be selected according to your investment horizon. If you want to hedge into or out of a gold positon, the best way is to use dollar price average buying or selling over a period of time, that best suits your investment needs and horizon. My first gold coin was bought when I was a teenager. I still have it, more than 50 years later. The volativity of the current price of gold, however how loud or soft, bothers me little; I only take a passing interest in it. Large peaks or troughs in the gold price just pass me by. Been there, done that.

Gold is an international commodity. All commodity prices are trending down just now. Watch the gold / silver ratio trend, as well as beyond the current downturn in the World economy. Gold should be a better hedge against inflation after that. In the last 50 years or so, there has been a downswing in the World economy, on average about every 8 years or so. In some of these downturns, gold has been countercyclical. That is, the gold price has been price in upturn, and a safe haven in times of trouble. In the current downturn however, gold has trended down as well. So just be a bit circumspect in this downturn, before before investing in gold. Over the decades, I have seen lots of upturns and downturns in the gold price. I speak from experience. My first gold coin (Sydney Mint Half Sovereign), was bouight when I was a teenager. That was 51 years ago. I still have it. Currently, I have about 35 gold coins, with a high numismatic proportion in their value. One of them is an ancient Greek stater, of Philip11 of Macedon, Pella Mint. Numismatically, I am NOT a specialist collector of gold coins. I see gold in coins as just another coinage metal, and as such, has a fully rightful place in any decent numismatic collection, but not to be revered. An investment advisor one told me that not more than 5% of your investments should be in artworks and collectibles. In that case, that means 'coins' to me.

I must admit, I have never bought a valuable coin on eBay. I like to examine every valuable coin 'in hand first, before making a decision to buy. Don't get me wrong. eBay is a great place to buy and sell coins, but it is perhaps unwise to buy highly valuable coins (say, over $100) via ebay. That way, you can put an upper limit on your risk. Also OK to buy valuable coins via eBay provided that the seller has the highest of long established professional reputations that is jealously guarded by the seller. That way, perhaps the trust situation is such, that examination 'in hand' may not be necessary, provided the sale has a full guarantee attached. In my opinion, OK to buy and sell fake coins provided that they are knowingly bought and sold as such. I have a reasonably good reference collection (both ancient and modern) of fake coins for my own education in learning in practical way, how to identify them. That is using the products of dishonest people against them. Most dealers have a reference collection of fake coins for the same reason.

There are some pretty darn good fakes out there. To settle all doubts, ring tone test it alongside a known genuine equivalent double eagle. If you haven't got another double eagle agaist which to test it, take it to a good coin dealer who knows his stuff for a good professional opinion. Weight 'OK'? Is there ANY variation at all against the correct weight? The dealer should also be able to point out variations in minor design detail (if any).

As long as the seller on Craiglist is a dealer who has a reputation of the highest order that is jealously guarded by their high level of professionalism, then OK to buy from such a source without examination 'in hand'. 1. Examine the coin alongside a known genuine equvalent, looking for variations in style (if any). If you don't have the confidence to do this yourself, 2. take it to an experienced professional coin dealer for an opinion. 3. Weigh it 4. Have it XRF* tested. Most bullion dealers have a hand held XRF testing instrument. 5. Comparative ring tone testing against a known genuine equivalent coin. This test carried out with the coins alongside each other, resting on the tips of gloved fingers over a soft surface, lest they fall. This test only useful in identifying different alloys to genuine, not fakes made from the same alloy as genuine. I prefer to always examine all valuabe coins 'in hand' before making a decision to buy. For valuable coins bought via the 'net, make sure you buy from a professional dealer with an excellent reputation, who will always offer a money back guarantee if your purchase turns out to be fake. * X Ray Florescence. The results of testing will reveal all of the elements, including those in trace amounts, in the surface layer only of the coin. Weighing should go hand in hand with such a test. Be beware that a tungsten core may be involved with fake coins, because tungsten has the same density as gold. Ring tone testing will easily identify such a gold fake with tungsten core. This test much more useful for ancient coins, because a fake ancient made from good gold is usually made from a 'pure' alloy of metals in fixed proportion. Ancient metal refining could not achieve the high standards of modern alloys in the removal of trace elements.

It seemsto me to be post mint modified by a professional jeweller. There has been occasions where the Perth Mint has produced kilo bullion silver coins with a small diamond embeded. They are made for the Chinese market to commemorate a particular year of the Chionese 12 year cyclical calendar. The diamond goes in the eye socket of the particular animal associated the that year.