Blackhawk

The contest is closed and a winner has been chosen. Each poster was assigned a number based on their posting order, then an online random numbers generator used to choose one from the group. The number chosen was #11 - SMS. Congrats SMS...please PM me your address and I'll get the coins in the mail.

...and a Brazilian 1873 40 reis - XF or so. Last but not least, a US 1947-D wheat cent in BU/red

Post on this thread to win the coins shown below. Winner will be selected randomly from all posters on May 2. 1904R Italy 1 centesimo, brown uncirculated 1965 Congo aluminum 10 francs, unc. with a couple of scratches...maybe caused by a counting wheel? 1901 Great Britain farthing, blackened finish - unc. with some stuff around the lettering on the reverse.

The thing that looks like a bunch of sticks tied together with an axe head attached is a fasces...there's more about it here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces#Origin_and_symbolism A lot of countries have used the fasces on their coinage. I believe that I've seen it on 18th or 19th century French coins as well as some from San Marino and Italy.

That's very neat Constanius! I don't know much about the Masons, but they do have some neat stuff. Once in a while the local coin shop gets a Masonic watch fob, etc., in and they've got little hinged compartments and the like on them. Pretty cool.

The difference is a number in the date. The different character on the top coin is a 9, the character on the bottom coin is an 8.

You might remember his wife "Frau Blucher" from the movie Young Frankenstein.

I've picked up a few different Masonic mark pennies over the years, but none as curious as this one. The design on the obverse is somewhat like the bust on old Corsican coins, and I haven't seen one with the denarius denomination (if indeed that;s what it is) before. The mark on the keystone resembles the Chinese 5, but I don't think that's what it is. I believe that the Occident chapter is in Canada. I know that Masons don't like to talk about these things, but I do think that this one has a neat design.

Here's my newest toner...it came out of one of those aftermarket coin holders that they once used for put together mint sets.

There is also a process using acid to take the babbitt (sp.) from bearings off the supporting surface. You may be able to learn more about that be doing a Google search.

I haven't tried it, but there are products on the market that are sold to hunters and target shooters as solvents that remove lead build-up from the gun barrels. I think that I'm going to pick some up and see if it removes lead solder from a coin. I'm sure that you'd have to soak a coin fror quite some time...even if it did work as advertised.

Your find appears to be a civil war token like the one in this auction...link.

I just got this nickel.

Sure, that's what they all say.

My secret Santa send me two very beautiful silver coins from Portugal...thank you! I also got a nice chocolate coated card and rabbit nickel from Tiffany.

I've been doing business with Art for quite some time and have always been happy with our dealings.

Always a pleasure to do business with Harri.

It's not here yet.

Cool Tiffany!

Hi Tiffany, Other than the CC coins I probably have most of the others on your list. I won't get a chance to look tonight as I'm going to bed (didn't sleep at all last night and then went to a flea market all day today), but will check when I awake. Bill