ikaros

I hope they are still doing those Saturday! Lovely items

I imagine they will be. I'm going back tomorrow (too much to see in just four hours today) and will ask, if you like. There are a lot of go-wobbly-in-the-knees coins on display there. Whurf.

 

Nice Half Crown you posted above. The reverse on those are really attractive in any condition.

Thanks--I love detail like that. And it's such high relief, too.

OOh I relly love that first one! 

It's got lustre like the day is long, and the device has an almost frost-like finish to it ('course, that probably goes with being minted that day ), and that whole mid-19th century look and feel... it really is a great piece. I wish they allowed photography inside the hall, I'd love to get a quick movie of them making the coins. Alas...

Here's the first couple from the CSNS show in Columbus--the freebies being done by Gallery Mint. I think I've said before that I don't "get" ancients, but I love their take on the style. I believe both are being done in pewter.

 

First is the milled coin. The "third side" reads "GALLERY MINT". They're being minted on a hand-screw press, on-site.

 

This one is undated, and basically a homage to the ancient hand-hammered coins. These are also being done on-site, with a hand-held die and one smart blow from a heavy mallet. The scan really doesn't catch the real character of this coin. The relief is unbelievable--as you can see since it's going out of focus in the scan.

 

Well, there's the first couple. More to come.

Oh no! I need to change my vote!

Let's have a two-fer!

 

Here's a lovely 1964 50 kopek piece. Unseen in this image is the lettering around the edge: ПЯТЬДЕСЯТ КОПЕЕК 1964

 

Here's a lovely half-crown from the same year. I love the detail on the reverse.

 

Oh, heck, let's make it a three-fer and bring her daddy into it. Another one whose reverse is very cool.

 

Got a couple more half crowns, but I'll hold those for another post.

Hi great coins Ikaros, are you after a Churchill crown? becouse I'v got a couple I could give you one? they are cheap and easy to find over here, and underated, but  they are nice coins.

That's on my list, definitely! If it's not any bother, I won't turn the offer down.

Here's one of the Canadian PLs I picked up this week. The schmutz on the obverse is on the plastic, not on the coin. Nice frost. More when I can get some decent images.

 

Woo! Just retired a '47 Jefferson to a well-deserved rest.

Beautiful design. I've always had a thing for square coins.

When I got this, I began contemplating a "non-round" collection. Just what I need, one more category!!

I love the sea shells on the four corners it gives the coin the look of classy silverware.

Doesn't it, though? This is one of the nicest non-portraiture coins I've seen. Many of those err on the side of too much simplicity; this one doesn't fear complexity. I'm sure the engraving process was agonizing...

That's a great coin. I had not seen one before. I agree that the scrollwork is terrific.

It's a hefty little hunk of metal, too. The relief on it is just wonderful.

And here's a new addition to the birth-year set: a Netherlands Antilles five cent piece. I just love the heck out of all the detail on this--the scrollwork reminds me a little of that on paper money.

Oh, absolutely. I mean, yes, I will go out of my way to ensure that the Kennedys I get for the folder are all strictly MS60+ or proof, but my foreign sets are as yet just for fun, and I don't know a whole lot more about them than that I like 'em, so the Big Bargain Bins are absolute treasure troves as far as I'm concerned. It all goes back to the key feature of a coin being that it makes me happy.

 

I got lucky when I first started collecting coins back in '74 or '75--we were doing a flea market back then, and one of the regular weekly guys was a coin dealer who taught me to love the coins for themselves, not to think of them as investments first. Started me on Jeffersons, which is great for the total beginner--no dates of exquisite torture like the Lincolns or Merc dimes, no volatility due to precious metal speculation, older coins could be had in decent shape without too much financial agony (and let's face it, to an 11-year-old in '75, five bucks was generally a thundering lot of money!).

And now, another from my latest expedition. This one was not a bargain bin find: from 1963, the Australian florin:

I love the intricacy of the reverse design on this one.

And that's all that matters. Bargain bins are my best friend. Pulled a MS Franklin out due to a very, very tiny rim ding (can't see it unless coin is turned on side)......$3.50

 

Not enough dealers have those kinds of boxes I can get 50 coins for $30 (other then Jefferson's, wheats, etc).

Wherein lies the advantage in collecting common foreign coins--few American brick-and-mortar dealers, at least around here, take foreign coins seriously (except for gold, of course--can't swing a Whitman folder without hitting a Maple Leaf, Krugerrand, Panda, &c.). So some of them have huge, largely unsearched bins of mixed foreigns typically five to ten for a dollar. Crown and Eagle here in Columbus takes British coins very seriously (oh, those gold sovereigns... whimper!), and other foreigns seriously, and they still have two large bins to wade through at 5/$1 and one at 10/$5. I walked out of there with 76 coins for $18.60--and seven pricier ones that cost me $26. Still, 83 coins for under $50 makes me a happy camper.

The 1861 Half Penny is fantastic. I'd love to have one like it.

Time for me to come clean: this was in one of the "loose change" bins. Cost me four bits. I am not going to complain about that!

Yeah, but without those gouges, it would not only have character, it would have class. Still, all a coin has to do is make me happy to land in my collection.

 

Well, okay, make me happy and be in my affordable range. I mean, heck, a Roman date ultra high relief St Gauden's would make me freakin' ecstatic.

Well, well, well. Went dumpster diving in the foreign bin at Crown and Eagle (went through the books, too) and came up with a pile of goodies--total count, about 75 coins, total damage, less than $50--and most of that was for just seven of 'em. We'll just do this one coin at a time... no, I'm not gonna throw 'em *all* up here, just the nicest ones.

 

First up is an 1861 halfpenny that--if it wasn't for the obvious scarring--would be in pretty nice shape, all things considered:

I'm with stu62, there. If it doesn't circulate, I can't bring myself to count it as coinage--as far as I'm concerned, it's a medallion, or bullion, and of no particular interest.

 

My former roommate, on the other hand, has fallen hard for SAEs. I just can't get excited over them--I love the Walker design, but the reverse is just awful.

Hah! Got one of my periodic rolls of dollars, came out with five 2001Ps, three 2000Ds, and a very sharp 80D. Heck, I was just glad to see something that wasn't 2000P or 1979!

Neat coins!!!

That Coronation Crown is my favorite Elizabeth II coin

Thanks... I don't know that I have a favorite E2 as such yet. I'm still looking to get the Churchill crown. I love the expressive simplicity of the reverse of that coin.

A nice penny. Used but not too much. 1749 -- just think of all of the places it's been since then. All of the people, famous - infamous - unknown, who may have used it.

Oh, yes. That's one of the reasons I don't mind worn coins. They've been places. I mean, how did this coin get from England to America? With an 18th century immigrant? With an Army Air Corps pilot returning from WWII with a memento? Yeah, there's no way to establish provenance, but it's cool to think about.

Here's the dean of my collection, age-wise: a 1749 penny. I can't get a decent scan off it; it doesn't look this ratty in person. Still, I was pleased to get my hands on it, even if it's nowhere near mint state. Eventually, I shall improve upon this.

Well, not only did I get an all-in-one printer/copier/scanner for six bucks today, but my first full crown, and my second oldest coin. So yay me, I'm going to share images!

 

First up is the old-timer, an 1825 George IV farthing:

This was a real sweetheart, reasonably priced and quite nice eye appeal (better than the scan)--and the only older coin I currently own is a 1749 George II penny (remind me to scan that some day).

 

Next, the 1953 Elizabeth II Coronation Crown:

I fell in love with this as soon as I saw it, especially the four-shield design on (what I assume is) the obverse. And it's my first crown! I love being early enough into my Brits that I can be excited about that.

More rolls of halves on Tuesday.  Is it wierd that I'm excited about it?

Heck, no. I remember one roll in particular in '79 or '80 that had one Franklin, five 90% Kennedys, and the balance 40% Kennedys--one roll, all silver. The only thing that could be better would be to make that hit now.