Egry

13 hours ago, panzerman said:

Album I Ancients-Byzantine Empire Fall to Ottomans

           II  Europe/ Medieval 900AD to 1800

           III Europe 1800-present/ Americas/ Colonials

           IV Oriental/ Islamic/ Indian/ African Dynasties

           

           

This is a great idea. I may do the same!

1 hour ago, kirispupis said:

Thought I'd start a thread for coins that are in your collecting scope, that you've thought of picking up, but for specific reasons you just haven't, and you may never.

Here are three for me. Note that the coins are obviously not mine!

Tigranes II tetradrachm

I was intrigued by these even before the market was flooded, primarily due to the comet reference but it also falls into my Kingdoms after Alexander. Initially, I was thrilled when tons of these started entering the market, but I've recently become flustered that the prices haven't fallen as much as they should. Too many stores continue to pick these up for $1k and list them for $2k. 

If they fall to $500-$600, such as what happened with the Kamnaskires III tets, then I'll likely grab one.

 

Marc Antony Denarius

I've always loved the history and the image of the galley. It's one of the few Roman coins I've really wanted. However, I've always been set back by the number of fakes of this issue. There are more fakes than at your average 5th Avenue street vendor. Occasionally I see a nice copy for what looks like a nice price, but I just don't have enough knowledge of these issues to risk jumping, and it's not a high priority enough to become informed.

 

Eukratides tet

I absolutely love the helmet on the obverse and the image on the reverse. I just can't bring myself to pay anywhere near what these have been going for, even though they've come down in the last few years. Another issue is they don't fall clearly into my collections. I just like the look of them.

 That's why I love coin collecting. The three you dislike are the three I really like, I've managed to acquire all but one so far.

34 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

But don't forget: U.S. coins themselves are also just included under World Coins here!

I wonder if that has limited the growth of the forum?

I guess there are many other forums for coins other than ancients. Depends what the aim is of the forum, unfortunately not a question I can answer.

46 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

My two cents is that people post so infrequently in the World Coins forum to begin with (compared to the Ancient Coins forum) that if one limits one's view to that forum only, nothing will get lost. When one views all topics, it's the World Coins forum itself that gets lost among all the posts about ancient coins. Medieval coins get more, for that matter.  In fact, out of the last 100 new threads started here, there have been exactly 4 in the World Coins forum. I see no good reason to fragment that forum further.

I respectfully disagree.

Most of these coins were legal tender in North America up unit the 1850's. They deserve better representation than a thread in 'World Coins'

However, I'm not going to die in a ditch about it, just a suggestion.

thanks

E

Would  it be possible to add a forum for colonial coinage for Spanish, English, Dutch, Portugese, etc? 

I feel the threads get lost in the 'World Coins' forum.

Cheers

E

2 hours ago, GERMANICVS said:

Very nice example of a Lima mint cob 8 Escudos. Very well struck with clear legends and date. I have always wanted one, but they are pricey.......

That is also quite the collection of Spanish Milled Colonial gold. Congratulations on assembling that collection. I see Colombia, Spain, Lima and Santiago. The others are probably Mexico? 

I collect Santiago mint, primarily silver, which is generally much scarcer than the gold from that mint, but also collect some gold. This is my most recent purchase.

  

Most of my milled Escudos are from Columbia , Bolivia, Chile, with a couple from Spain. Actually not one from Mexico. I just realized that. 

5 minutes ago, GERMANICVS said:

I came upon such an estimate some years ago ( but I do not recall where i found it). The estimate was that up to 1/3 of the gold, silver, and other valuable which the Spanish took from their colonial possesions never made it back to Spain.

That would make complete sense. I’ve sailed a bit (not a lot) and one key element is closely watching the forecast and winds, even then you can still get caught in an unpredictable situation.
 

Sailing back then would be like rolling the dice, and based on your stat it was a 3 sided dice. 

I have a couple Spanish reale coins that have obvious salt damage likely from a wreck, but no way of identifying which one.

Here is my only shipwreck coin of which the wreck is known. 
 

Recovered off of the Western Australian Coast in 1963 by a diver in the Explorers Club of WA.

It is from the Vergulde Draeck (Gilt Dragon) which was a VOC ship that in 1656 struck a reef off the Coast of Australia and sunk. 

Some of the crew made it to shore. The current suburbs in the area are named after the local aboriginal place names, which oddly are very similar to old Dutch words with the same translations. 
 

Wow! That is a beauty.

I wonder if there has ever been a calculation or estimate of gold minted in the new world vs what lays at the bottom of the ocean? 

Here one of my favourite Spanish silver coins, this one minted in Mexico.

I think my favourite part about old Spanish colonial coins would have to be the Pillars of Hercules, they must have symbolised wonder and adventure to those in Europe at the time. 

Spanish Colonial. Carlos I and Juana AR 4 Reales. Ciudad de México (Mexico City) mint, 1542-1555. [CAROLVS] ⵓ ET ⵓ IOH[AN]A ⵓ RGS, coat of arms; mintmark across fields / [+] HISPANIARV[M ⵓ E]T ⵓ INDI[ARVM], two crowned pillars on the sea, PLV-S VL-TR between; 4 below. AC 138; MB 18. 13.38g, 32mm, 9h. Very Fine. 

@GERMANICVS

Nice acquisition, here is mine from Santiago but just a year earlier. Interesting about this coin (and yours) they both portray the portrait of the previous king but name of the current king. Information moved relatively quickly back then but new dies didn't.

Spanish Empire, King Charles III (1759-1788 AD), Gold 8 Escudos (26.79g, 37mm), 1761 So J, Santiago mint, Chile. Obverse: Bare headed and draped Bust of Fernando VI, King of Spain 1746-1759 AD, facing to right, date below bust, legend surrounds, “CAROLUS· III· D·G· HISPAN· ET IND· REX”. Reverse: Crowned Coat of Arms of Spain used in Chile at the time of independence, legend surrounds, “NOMINA MAGNA SEQUOR So J”. KM-20. Some field marks and weak strike across the shield of arms. Details About Extremely Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Carolus Tertius, Deī Grātiā, Hispaniae et Indiae Rex”, with an English translation of “Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies”. The Reverse Latin legend is stated in full as “Nōmina Magna Sequor”, with an English translation “I/We Follow the Great Name”.

Great coins all! Maybe just maybe we could get our Colonial Coins forum topic. It seems there is a hidden interest among us! 

I love Spanish gold and silver, this will be a nice addition to the collection

I also have many reales but no photos yet. I don’t normally show prices but that’s the only pic I have ($Aud) 

Another cool addition. 

Holy Roman Empire, Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Johann Ernst I of the Ernestine line of the House of Wettin, Duke of Saxe-Weimar 1605-1620 AD, Silver Achtbrüdertaler (28.79g, 39mm), 1618, ‘Eight Brothers’ Reichsthaler, type IV, Saalfeld mint, struck under Mint Master Wolf Albrecht. Obverse: Half-length bust of Duke Johann Ernst I central amongst the busts of his seven brothers, each armoured and wearing ruff, each brother from largest to smallest: Friedrich, Wilhelm, Albrecht, Johann Friedrich, Ernst, Bernhard and Friedrich Wilhelm, inner lined border and legend beginning with initial mark globus cruciger surrounds, “D:G: IOH: ERN: IVN: DVX: SAX: IV: CL: ET: M: SVO: ET· TVT: NOM:”. Reverse: Adjusted Coat of Arms of the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg within ornate mantle, date to field either side, inner lined border and legend which begins with mint mater’s initials “WA” (ligate) and initial mark cross fleury surrounds, “FRID: WILH: ALBERT: IO: FRID: ERN· FRID. WILH: ET· BERN: F F:”. Davenport-7529.

The obverse Latin legend reads “Deī grātia, Iōhannēs Ernestus iūnior, dux Saxōniae, Iuliaci, Clīviae et Montium, suō et tutori nōmine”, with an English translation of “By the Grace of God, Johann Ernest the younger, Duke of Saxony, Jülich, Kleve and Berg, in his name and as Guardian”. The Reverse Latin legend lists the Duke’s brothers, reading in full as “Friderīcus, Wilhelmus, Albertus, Iōhannēs Friderīcus, Ernestus, Friderīcus Wilhelmus, et Bernardus, fierī fēcit”, with an English translation of “Friedrich, Wilhelm, Albert, Johann Friedrich, Ernest, Friedrich Wilhelm, and Bernard, made it happen”.

It’s been a long time since I posted. But I’ve been lurking and reading posts in the background. Life has been busy, but the best thing about coins is that they will wait for you. 

I wonder if a new forum topic called Colonial Coins could be added? It is actually one of my favourite areas especially when I need a little break from Roman. 

Here is my newest addition, such a beauty, and has been on my list for years after I came across one similar but couldn’t afford it at the time.

Let me know your thoughts on the coin and also on potentially adding a Colonial Coin section to the forum (wish list only as I obviously have no control over what is on the forum).

Spanish Empire, Peru, Philip V of the French House of Bourbon, King of the Spanish Empire in his second reign 1724-1746 AD, Gold Cob Eight Escudos (26.91g, 29mm), 1736 LN, Lima mint. Obverse: Cross of Jerusalem central quartering the field which features the heraldic devices of the Armorial of the Kingdom of Spain, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “[PHILIPPVS· V· D·G] HISPANI”. Reverse: Pillars of Hercules divides the mark of value “8”, Assayer’s mark “LN” and date “736” (1736), exergual waves below, Royal Crown above, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “ET· IN[D·….REX· A]NO 736”. KM-38.2; Calico-2151.

2 hours ago, Limes said:

It appeared to be a match with this fake one, posted on Forum. Our knowledgable member @maridvnvm pointed it out, and without him I would have never noticed it because of the applied wear on my issue. He made a gif of the reverse, showing the match. I hope he won't mind me sharing it here. 

You might look at the photos of the fake issue shown on Forum, and compare it to the one you are offered. In that case, you can at least rule out that it's not a match. 

This is a pic of the one I’m offered. Any thoughts? 
 

On 7/16/2023 at 8:20 PM, Limes said:

Two fakes (insert cry emoticon), which fooled me. Fortunately more experienced members of the community were kind enough to inform me, and helped me on my quest. Great people! Both coins were compensated for. The denarius of Drusus was quite a recent purchase. 

out of curiosity what was the key attribute in the Drusus that indicated a fake? To me the wear is uneven, looks possibly tooled. 
 

I’m not that familiar with the Drusus denarius other than I do have an option to buy one that is in much better condition (however it does have provenance as being sold in a reputable auction if that means anything anymore).

One German, the other a resultant of the same German.

Germany, Prince-Bisphoric of Münster, Christopher Bernhard von Galen, as
Prince-bishop of Münster 1650-1678 AD, Silver ‘broad’ Thaler (28.98g, 48mm),
MDCLXI (1661 AD). Obverse: Helmeted Coat of Arms of Christopher Bernhard
von Galen, legend surrounds, “PROTECTOR· MEVS· ET· IN· IPSO· SPERAVI·
QVI· SVBDIT· POPVLVM· MEVM· SVB· ME· Psal 143”. Reverse: Nimbate
and robed half-length figure of Saint Paul facing forward, holding sword and
resting within the clouds, city scene of Münster below; “S· PAVL PATRON”
above, “MONAST· WESTPH AD: OBED· REDVC TVM” in inner exergue,
border and outer legend surrounds, “à Rmo. CELsmo. DD. CHRISTOPH· BERN·
EPo. ET· PRINCIPE· MONAST· Ao. MDCLXI”. KM-75; Davenport-5603. A
very honest example – evenly worn and complete in design, often seen with
problems due to its broad flan, Very Fine.

Dutch Republic, Franco-Dutch War 1672-1678, Silver 50 Stuiver or 1
Rijksdaalder Klippe, 1672, commemorative issue following the Siege of
Groningen by Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen, Prince-Bishop
of Münster. Obverse: Crowned Shield of Arms of the city of Groningen,
denomination either side of shield, date to top left of crown, legend and
outer beaded border surrounds, “·IVRE· ET· TEMPORE”. Reverse:
Uniface. KM-27.2. A bold example of a less often seen type, despite the
minor mark to the obverse, the piece is attractive and neatly struck - a
great piece of 17th century European history, details Extremely Fine and
scarce.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “iūre et tempore”, which in English may
read “In accordance with law and time”.

The History:

On the 1st of June 1670, King Charles II signed the secret Treaty of Dover, pledging English military support, in the form of 60 warships and 4000 soldiers, to King Louis XIV's war of conquest of the Dutch Republic, laying the foundations for the subsequent Franco-Dutch Wars between 1672 to 1678 AD. The beginning of the
conflict, the ‘Rampjaar’ or the 1672 ‘Year of Disaster’, saw much French success with their invasion of Dutch lands and by the end of June were dangerously close to the core province of Holland - their advance only halted when Dutch forces opened the sleuces and flooded the Dutch Water Line and much of the countryside. Seeing
an opportunity to further his influence with the court of Louis XIV, Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen, the Prince-Bishop of Münster, now joined the French side and invaded the Dutch Republic from the northeast, first occupying the provinces Drenthe and Overijssel and on the 9th of July he besieged the city of Groningen. The
formidable city walls caused a prolonged siege, and due to the aforementioned flooding of the countryside Bernhard von Galen’s troops soon were starving; after the several month besiegement, the now weakened army retreated on the 17th August 1672, ending all chances of further Münster invasion into the Netherlands and allowed Dutch forces to recapture all lost territory. This event bore a local holiday in Groningen which is celebrated annually on the 28th August, it is called "Gronings Ontzet" or "Bommen Berend" and is accompanied by festive music and fireworks.

12 hours ago, El Cazador said:

@Egry Glad to see you back in action, mate!

The best thing about coins (and coin people) is that when life gets busy they don't go anywhere until there is some free time!

Does this one count? Switzerland.

Old Swiss Confederacy, the Canton of Zürich, Silver Thaler (28.24g, 40.5mm), 1761, Zürich city mint. Obverse: Coat of Arms of Zürich (as seen on the Zürich Rathaus, supported by Lion armed with sword) featuring floral embellishment over azure half, legend surrounds, “MONETA REIPUBLICÆ TIGURINÆ”. Reverse: City view of Zürich from the south looking north, of note, three of the four major churches: Grossmünster on the right, and Fraumünster and St. Peter on the left, legend surrounds above, “DOMINE CONSERVA NOS IN PACE”. Davenport-1791; KM-143.4. A masterful piece displaying a most idyllic city scene of the picturesque Zürich city, the die engraving is superb and most realistic, displaying several key landmarks of the city as they were at the time and still are in the modern day, lightly toned and highly collectible, virtually Mint State.

The obverse Latin legend reads “monēta Reīpūblicae Tigurinae”, with a literal translation of “Money of the Republic of Tigurum”, with an English meaning of “Money of the Republic of Zürich” – of note, the city name of Zürich was associated with the name Tigurum in modern Latin contexts, a name derived from the ‘Tigurini’ people, a Germanic tribe forming one out of four pagi (provinces) of Helvetii, this word was derived from the Latin town name ‘Turīcum’. Also, the city is referred to as a Republic as in 1648 Zürich changed its official status from ‘Reichsstadt’ (Imperial City) to Republik, thus likening itself to city-republics like Venice and Genova. The reverse Latin legend reads “Domine cōnservā nōs in pace”, with an English translation of “O Lord, preserve us in peace”.

So it was you that beat me!

Duchy of Liegnitz and Brieg

Taler, 1607, Reichenstein mint (today Złoty Stok)

Obv: confronted busts, "through the grace of God, Johann Christian and Georg Rudolf, brothers"

Rev: coat of arms of Niederschlesien (lower Silesia) and Glogau

References: Davenport 7708, Fr.u.S. 1416
 

This piece was minted under Johann Christian zu Liegnotz und Brieg (1602-39) and Georg Rudolf zu Liegnitz (1602-53). It was minted on Reichenstein, which the father of the two dukes had bought in 1599. He got the minting privilege in 1601 from Emperor Rudolf II. After his death, the duchy was split between J.C., who ruled from Brieg and G.R., who ruled from Wohlau. From 1605-12, Christoph Tuchmann was engraver at the Reichenstein mint. 

On 12/18/2022 at 11:44 PM, panzerman said:

This topic could last forever, since the immensity of the coinage involved. Not even Elon Musk could afford a complete coll.

I will start the show with my latest addition/ ex/ MA-shops.. This coin has 4 brothers on obv./ other 4 on rev. Seems no one survived the end of the "Thirty Years War" 1618-48

AV Goldgulden 1614-WA

Saalfeld Mint

Saxe-Alte-Weimar/ Herzogtum

Johann Ernst IV 1605-26

Friedrich VII 1605-22

Wilhelm IV 1605-40

Johann Friedrich VI 1605- 28

Ernst III "der Fromme" 1605-40

Bernhard I 1605-39

Friedrich Wilhelm I 1605-19

Albrecht V 1605-40

 

Great coin. I just picked up a similar one (but different) at the last Roma auction. Here’s to hoping it makes it here before the ship sinks (but hoping the ship does not sink).

German States, Brandenburg-Ansbach (Margraviate). Sophie of Solms-Laubach, as regent, AV Ducat. Nuremberg mint, 1629. D G • FRID : ALB : CHRIST • FR • MARCH : BRAN : DVCES, three armoured, half-length, facing figures of Friedrich, Albert and Christian (children of Sophie and future Margraves), date below, divided by small shield / (star) PRVSS • ST • POM • CAS • VAN • IAG • BVRG • I • NVRN • PR • R •, oval shield of manifold arms. KM 49 (pictured coin shows legend variant); Friedberg 328 (same); Numista 230264 (same); cf. Auktionen Münzhandlung Sonntag 38, 1563 for coin with same legends but different year. 3.42g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; slight wave. Extremely Rare. 

New addition. I really enjoy these old Spanish coins.

Spanish Kingdoms of Castile & León, Ferdinand II of Aragon (as Ferdinand V of Castile & León) & Isabella I of Castile, Silver 4 Reales (13.69g, 35mm), Seville mint circa 1479-1504 AD. Obverse: Shield of Arms of King Ferdinand II ‘the Catholic’ (pre 1513 AD version) surmounted by royal crown, mintmark “S” to left field, mark of value “o IIII” to right field, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “FERNANDVS: E[T· E]LISABET [D GR]” (ND of FERNANDVS ligated). Reverse: Garlanded Yoke of Isabella over bundle of six arrows of Ferdinand, within inner lined and beaded border, legend beginning with initial mark Cross Potent surrounds, “REX· ET [R]EGINAA· CA[ST] · LEGIO[N· A]RAGON”. Calicó-561. Typical weakness of strike in parts, interestingly with incorrect spelling of ‘REGINA’, largely complete through the central devices and with clear naming of Ferdinand and reverse titulature, a notable example, near Extremely Fine for issue. 

@Cinco71 eerily good.