Here is a completely unexpected end to my year. This is a bucket list coin of mine.A local co-club member of mine was a big-time fan of coins from Scotland, which is how there originally came on my radar. Paul had an impressive collection and he was very passionate about it. In my time with the club, Paul spoke several times on different segments of Scottish numismatics and always made time to sit down and talk about the subject.I first saw one of these in person at the 2016 ANA in Anaheim. Heritage sold one. The closest I came was being able to look at it in lot viewing. I attended the live session and never even got a chance to raise my hand because the price quickly exceeded my limited budget.Since that time I have bid on at least a half dozen more. Even with more aggressive bidding on my part, they all have slipped through my fingers.Recently I was browsing "The Coin Shop" on CNG. This is something I don't do often because typically they don't have anything in the "Shop" that interests me. And there it was. I know I paid high retail but you know how it goes. You have to pull the trigger when the opportunity arises. I actually purchased it for less than they have been selling for at auction so I am happy with the price.These are scarce but also highly desirable to a wide-ranging group of collectors.Unfortunately, I will not be able to share my addition with Paul. Earlier this year he had an accident in his backyard that ended his life. I know he would have loved it. This was a denomination that he didn't have in his collection.Does anybody have an idea what the H countermark could mean?Description:SCOTLAND. Mary. 1542-1567. AR Ryal (42mm, 30.31 g, 1h). Fourth period, Mary and Henry Darnley. Second issue. Edinburgh mint. Dated 1565. Countermarked for revaluation of 1578. Crowned coat-of-arms of ScotlandObverse: thistles flanking; c/m: small HReverse: Crowned palm tree, upon which tortoise climbs; scroll across field; c/m: crowned thistle.Rampling dies A9/54; Burns 1 (fig. 904); SCBI 58 (Edinburgh), 1169/1170 (same obv./rev. dies); SCBC 5425. For c/m: SCBC p. 76.Attractively toned, small “H” countermark on obverse.

Augustus II, called the Younger (August der Jüngere), was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. In the estate division of the House of Welf of 1635, he received the Principality of Wolfenbüttel which he ruled until his death. Considered one of the most literate princes of his time, he is known for founding the Herzog August Library at his Wolfenbüttel residence, then the largest collection of books and manuscripts north of the Alps.He is an important part of German history. He first came on my radar because of my fascination with Wildman coins. August II had a plethora of Wildman coins minted in his name. I have done presentations, exhibits, etc on Wildman coins enough times that it almost feels like I knew him.This is a recent acquisition that I have had on my radar for at least a year. It just made sense to add a Thaler commemorating his death to my collection since I have so many minted during his life.Here is my description:Obverse: Legend in 11 linesObverse Translation: Born April 10 1579 during the lead but accompanies his years of work. Died September 17 1666. Lived 87 years, 5 months and 7 daysReverse: Bare tree with skull at baseReverse Translation: Happy about the green foliage. So the glory of the world. dells. The advice of all things, not only to the provident and active.Subject: Death of August IIMint: ZellerfeldMintmaster: Most likely Henning SchluterNote: Dav. #6376.Composition: SilverI used Google translate for the legend translation. I’m sure it is close but as you can see it is kind of clunky. Anybody out there that wants to give a better suggestion for the translation, feel free.As you can see this piece has a Halloween kind of vibe to it so it seemed like the perfect time to close the deal on one.

From Wikipedia: A bracteate (from the Latin bractea, a thin piece of metal) is a flat, thin, single-sided gold medal worn as jewelry that was produced in Northern Europe predominantly during the Migration Period of the Germanic Iron Age (including the Vendel era in Sweden). The term is also used for thin discs, especially in gold, to be sewn onto clothing in the ancient world, as found for example in the ancient Persian Oxus treasure, and also later silver coins produced in central Europe during the Early Middle Ages.

Going into this year's Heritage Central States auction there weren't very many lots that had caught my attention. I had only flagged 4 lots on my watch list pre-sale and the one below was the only one that I felt I "needed".The bishopric of Eichstadt (Eichstätt) was located in central Bavaria, south of Nuremberg. It was established around an old Roman station by St. Boniface about 745ad. The first bishop, St. Willibald, and his sister, St. Walburga, who was associated with him, were of royal Anglo-Saxon blood. The bishops subsequently became princes of the Empire and rulers of a domain at its height of 437 square miles and 56,000 subjects. Bishop Raimond Anton (1757-1781) wrote a well known “Instructio Pastoralis,” which is still much admired. Eichstadt was secularized in 1803 and turned over to Bavaria.This (picture #2) is a Sede Vacante (vacant seat) thaler struck after the passing of Bishop Johann Anton II von Freinerg-Hopferau. Less is known of him than of his successor mentioned above.Lot Description: Eichstätt-Bishopric. Sede Vacante Taler 1757 MF-I.L. AU55 PCGS, Nürnberg mint, KM75, Dav-2208, Cahn-133. A most desirable and generally elusive taler type, featuring slate gray surface coloration with darkened toning accents around the devices.Description:Obverse: Shield within the center, date below, 15 oval arms surroundObverse Legend: CAPITULUM REGNANS SEDE VACANTE, in center: FORTIS CONCORDIA NEXUS, 10 EINE FEINE MARCK at bottomReverse: Radiant symbol above figures of Saints Willibald and Walburga, shield lower centerReverse Legend: HIC PLANTAVIT: DEUS INCREMENTUM DEDIT: HAEC RIGAVIT:, I. L. OEXLEIN fec. at bottomSubject: Sede Vacante IssueNote: Dav. #2208Composition: SilverDiameter: 43mmWeight: 27.98gSaint Willibald​Information about his life is largely drawn from the Hodoeporicon of Saint Willibald, a text written in the 8th century by Huneberc, an Anglo-Saxon nun from Heidenheim am Hahnenkamm who knew Willibald and his brother personally. The text of the Hodoeporicon was dictated to Huneberc by Willibald shortly before he died.Willibald's father was Saint Richard the Pilgrim, and his mother Saint Wuna of Wessex. His brother was Saint Winibald and his sister was Saint Walburga.Willibald was well-traveled and the first known Englishman to visit the Holy Land. His shrine is at the Eichstätt Cathedral in Germany, where his body and relics from his journeys are preserved.St. Walburga​Walburga was born in Devonshire England, around 710. She was the daughter of a West Saxon chieftain and the sister of St. Willibald and Winebald. Walburga was educated at Wimborne Monastery in Dorset, where she became a nun. In 748, she was sent with St. Lioba to Germany to help St. Boniface in his missionary work. She spent two years at Bishofsheim, after which she became Abbess of the double monastery at Heidenheim founded by her brother Winebald. At the death of Winebald, St. Walburga was appointed Abbess of both monasteries by her brother Willibald, who was then Bishop of Eichstadt. She remained superior of both men and women until her death in 779. She was buried first at Heidenheim, but later her body was interred next to that of her brother, St. Winebald, at Eichstadt. at a small church called Holy Cross around which a group of canonesses was gathered.This medal is signed I. L. Oexlein. This intrigued me because it wasn't a name that I had come across before. Turns out he was quite accomplished.Johann Leonhard Oexlein​Oexlein was a medallist and gem-engraver in Nuremberg. During his career, Oexlein often traveled to other cities for work. In 1737, he was appointed mint master at Ratisbon. Shortly thereafter, the King of Poland hired him to fit a new mint.Among his medallic accomplishments is this (picture#5 not mine) French Libertas Americana medal celebrating the United States victory over Great Britain in the Revolutionary War.So, obviously, I won this lot. The other three went to others for a multitude of reasons. The main one being that they just didn't do anything for me as this one does. I found prices at this sale continued to be very strong.After picking up the piece in the auction it made me curious about Oexlein. Unless I am missing it there isn't much information on him personally but he left quite the legacy when you consider the coinage and medals attributed to him. I just picked up the below medal (picture#6)� to go with my Thaler.UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Colonial America and Preußen (Prussia) silver Medal. Issued in 1763. The Treaty of Hubertusburg and the end of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in America)Diameter: 44mmWeight: 21.76 gBy J. L. Oexlein.Obverse: IAM REDIRE AVDET (now she dares to return...), Germania standing facing, head right, holding scepter and grain ear; mountains and plowman in the background; in two lines in exergue, GERMANIA / PACATA (...with Germany being at peace)Reverse: NVNCIA PACIS (the messenger of Peace), view of the Hubertusburg Palace; above, Fama (Rumor) flying right, blowing in one trumpet and holding another; D 15 FEBR MDCCLXIII in exergue. Edge: Plain, with a few light marks.Betts 446; Pax in Nummis 595; Olding 931; Henckel 1658.References:Davenport –�German Talers 1700-1800Wikipediacatholic.orgha.com

I am not going to rehash the history of Maundy Money. Others have recently written blogs on this but I did want to share a recent acquisition. Below is an excerpt from the Royal Mint's official web site.