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...Who needs enemies, or so the saying goes. Recently, a fellow coin club friend who collects modern coins notified several club members and me of a new Canadian-minted coin that I was unfamiliar with. The UHR-proof coin he referred to is the stunningly beautiful 2023 Canadian Peace Dollar. This coin has selected rose-gold gilt surfaces with an obverse luster that pulsates as the coin is tilted in the light. Having already spent what I budgeted for coin purchases this year, I just had to grit my teeth and pony up for this coin. It was just too beautiful to pass up.
I was encouraged to see Mike publish his newest post, “The Queen and Her Coins.” Amazingly, Queen Elizabeth II is still alive today, let alone sitting on the throne. While Mike has some of Elizabeth’s more modern coins, I have two of her first coins.
Whenever I visit a foreign country, I make it my practice to cherry-pick examples of that country’s coins from circulation. For an expensive visit to a foreign country, coins make an inexpensive souvenir that only costs you the exchange rate of your dollars. They also make a memorable keepsake of your visit and interesting conversation pieces with your numismatic buddies back home! Sometimes I save examples of the circulating paper money when I travel. However, paper money is convertible back to dollars, and coins generally are not.
In December of 2019, the United Kingdom launched a series of commemorative coins based on the classic works of "The Great Engravers." The inaugural issue features the classic "Una and the Lion" engraved by William Wyon. When this coin was first issued, you could find the 2-ounce silver version on e-bay for less than $500. From then on, the resale price has sky-rocketed. Recently, I saw an NGC PFUC-68 Una and the Lion on e-bay sell for $4000.00! Fortunately, I bought mine long before the numismatic community realized what it had in this coin. Subsequently, I had mine graded by NGC at PFUC-69. Obviously, I'm pretty happy that for a change, I hit the numismatic lottery! By the way, mine is not for sale!
Late in 1983, working as a defense contractor, my wife and I moved to a small town near Munich in southern West Germany. In the heart of Europe, this was a perfect place from which to visit many other nearby European countries. Austria, France, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland were all within a day's driving distance. The United Kingdom was quite another story. In that instance, a Lufthansa to British Airways connection from Munich to London Heathrow fit the bill nicely.
The 1890 20 Kroner has a mintage of 102,000. It was minted in Copenhagen, as signified by the heart to the left of the date. The initials CS to the right of the date represent mint official Diderik Christian Andreas Svendsen. The coin struck in .900 fine gold weighs 8.9605 grams and has an AGW of .2593oz.
The 1903 Danish 2 Kroner coin commemorates the 40th anniversary of the reign of Christian IX. The obverse features a right-facing bust of Christian IX, King of Denmark. His reign, 15 November 1863 to 1903, appears around the inner circumference. Underneath the left portion of Christian IX's bust is the coins date of 1903 and a heart signifying that it was minted in Copenhagen. The initial P to the right of the date represents mint master Vilhelm Buchard Poulsen. The initials GJ underneath the right portion of Christian IX's bust is this coin's engraver, Knud Gunnar Jensen.
Before I comment on my interesting concept, I want to thank Stumpy for his generosity to me. When Stumpy noticed that I was interested in collecting Spanish coins, he sent me a message asking me if I wanted a few Spanish Olympic coins. Naturally, I was interested in the coins and accepted his offer.
Let me preface my post by stating that I was not interested in purchasing the recently sold out enhanced reverse proof ASE. That said, I think the finish on the ASE is exquisite. As such it is a remarkably beautiful coin that I would be proud to own. Still, ASE’s are not among the coins I regularly collect.
The 1957(65) 5-pesetas minted in Madrid has a mintage of 25,000,000. This copper-nickel coin weighs 5.75 grams and is 23mm in diameter. The central obverse device features a bust of Francisco Franco. The year of authorization is 1957 and the legend is translated, "FRANCISCO FRANCO LEADER OF SPAIN BY THE GRACE OF GOD." The obverse engravers are Manuel Marin and Mariano Benlliure. The central reverse device features St. Johns Eagle with a Spanish Coat of Arms. St. Johns Eagle is known by the halo around the eagle's head. The reverse legend on the ribbon held by the eagle's beak is translated, "One, Great and Free." The reverse legend on the ribbon crossing Hercules Pillars is translated, "Further beyond." On this piece the word "Plus" over the left pillar is unreadable. This defect appears mostly on coins struck before 1968. The denomination of the coin is 5 PTAS and the reverse engraver is Teodoro Miciano. The "65" stamped six-point star to the left denotes that the coin was manufactured in 1965 and struck in Madrid.
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