hiho

The medals that were very rare and/or mint state with no damage or traces of cleaning were sent in to NGC. As much as I like coins and medals au natural the slab does protect them in the event that I show them to friends. Consider it a form of insurance. Especially if you have friends like mine who are a wee bit clumsy. I know I am in the minority here when it comes to certifying coins, but it obviously protects them. And at least half of my collection is still raw and will remain that way. I have the best of both worlds...

Scottishmoney, you should have your own cable TV comedy show. Maybe sell some gold plated state quarter sets and other "valuable collectibles"...

TTM5 - I certified about two dozen of my better Schutzenfest medals recently and the grades that NGC assigned were very close to what I thought were correct. A few came back as AU58 that I felt were MS61-MS62, while others did far better than I imagined. Overall I was happy with the results. And I'm glad I didn't certify them all because I don't want them all encased in plastic.

I bid on a 1607 Netherlands gold ducat on eBay but it went for more than I could afford. Here it was: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...e=STRK:MEDWX:IT Maybe the new owner will join CoinPeople...

The 1894 Luzern "Pro Patria" medal is quite a beauty and I have seen it offered once or twice in the past few years on eBay. It's not as rare as you might think. I have two or three nice Schutzenfest medals that I bought years ago before I decided to concentrate on the Holy Freres designs that I could be persuaded to part with that feature feminine themes. PM me and I'll send you scans if you like.

Rod - If you ever resume your Schutzenfest auctions, either on your own website or on eBay, please let me know so I don't miss them. And don't bother telling Scottishmoney, I'm sure he wouldn't be interested in the least...

Suddenly I am nervous. VERY nervous... The good ones are nearly impossible to find, unless you have the resources to attend the European auctions. Which apparently you do... If you gather any Holy Freres medals along the way that I need that you are not in love with, I'll pay your price.

The first rule of Fight Club... I love a coin with a bit of mystery to it.

Amen.

Fantastic condition, best facial details I have ever seen on a daalder. And yes, that mustache is quite manly...

I would love to jump back into this thread but my oldest coin remains my Dutch 1666 ducat, as I just sold both of my 1638 Netherlands Daalders. Lately I have been drawn to coins and medals from the early 1900's. And a newer car...

Well said as always Grivna. I lack discipline and merely collect what interests me, and I find the Schutzenfest medals VERY interesting. Thanks for posting those photos Zohar, and welcome to CP. Your 1897 Olten is a beauty!

Numismatic foreplay...

I'm working three hours overtime on Saturday. And until college starts again in August (another 4 years ) overtime buys coins. And Schutzenfest medals. I watch your Sunday night auctions with great interest. Oh, wait, that was my secret...

I couldn't possibly be any happier with this medal. One of a kind this nice. And I am stockpiling my overtime hours in hope of relieving you and your dad of more Holy Freres gold medals that you may stumble upon.

Here's all I know about Holy Freres from grivna1726, a fellow forum member and my hero for this tidbit of information... "Holy Freres (i.e. "Holy Brothers") was a firm which was established in 1893 at St. Imier in Switzerland. The brothers, Franz Holy & Jules Holy directed it. They were watch-case manufacturers & diesinkers. They eventually branched out into medal making. Forrer lists a number of medals and it appears the firm was most active in medal making from 1903-1911 (some medals are undated and might have been produced later)." I like their medals so much that I am trying to compile a complete collection of all 50+ that they designed. Pretty much the impossible dream, but Rod and his dad have helped a LOT.

A recent addition that I am very proud to own... 1911 Olten (Solothurn) Richter # 1131 23mm gold ??? struck (restrike of R1130a, only 60 of those were produced) Engraved by Holy Freres My photos do not do it justice. The fields are flawless and mirror like, easily MS65, maybe better. Thanks again Rod!

I thought those medals looked familiar Ian. Happy to see they found a good home. I was tempted but decided to concentrate on the Holy Freres medals.

I love it when I remember that I have a coin that I had forgotten about. Not sure if it is too many coins or old age setting in that causes this, perhaps a combination of both. Nice Pisa Tallero there Ian. I wonder if I have one of those?

Beautiful.

I absolutely believe you are right, yet I look at the blob and think, "turnip". Maybe it's a sweet potato!

Finally! Not one but two 1638 Netherlands Lion Daalders, one from Utrecht..... and another from West Friesland.....

It took almost three months but Ian saved us once again. Cheers mate! Onto 1646...

NEVER! Perhaps a decent 1647 will catch my eye at the New York International Numismatic Convention on Sunday. You never know.