scottishmoney

Chris is right generous in letting a newbie post coins for sale here, most forums would have made the newbie post 25 posts and wait a month after registering.

The only area of my numismatic pursuits where I make an exception for acquisitions, Scottish of course: James V, Groat, third type, S-5378 Charles II Merk, 1673, first coinage type.

This last piece is the end of what I will publicise as far as acquisitions: A very rare this nice Charles II Four Merks or "Dollar" from 1681. And the yellow stuff, well, we will just keep that my little secret. Sorry.

Can you image the other side?

Even with my decent vision I canna see wha'ever said piece is. Might wanna make a bigger image size.

I have watched bidiots bid on "best known" Churchill crowns - most people would pay people to take those ugly abominations. I wonder how many 1967 Pennies are rotting in "best known" holders?

I have a proof 1860 SL Dollar in an NGC tomb that I cannot photograph because of the tomb. Those new NGC holders with the nibs are even worse, they show the edges all right - at the expense of the face and reverse of a coin.

Indeed it does appear to be a very worn Byzantine bronze coin, in reference to the earlier post though, it does appear as though it was placed in the mount upside down.

Authentication is a nice feature, but fakes have been found in PCGS and NGC holders, read up on the Micro-O mintmarked Morgan Dollars in the USA. Grading is one's opinion - I may or may not agree. I have bought Scottish coins in slabs and cracked them out - they were overgraded by British standards, and IMHO American grading is more generous for wear etc. I prefer to buy the coin and not the slab. Many collectors now go for high graded TPG coins, but all I think they are doing is paying more. That is what separates a purist collector from those that are more speculative, a purist collects the coin for what it is, not for what someone else's opinion of it is.

Have a lookie heres: Scottish Coinage

I can just imagine what the assurance/insurance on that beast is too.

With some things, like 19th century medals, it can be virtually impossible to find the medal with it's original case. There was a certain 1904 Louisiana Purchase medal I wanted for several years, but wanted it with at least the original box. It turned up finally, and even with the original paperwork describing the medal, the designer, how it was minted etc. Crazily, it turned up in Northern England of all places. On the other side of the water from where it was issued etc, and with all the original box and paperwork. It does happen, you just have to be intrepid.

Not having specifically seen an 1893, I would definitely put on the search area on feeBay etc. that term in the hopes that one will turn up. I see empties for the Maundy sets appearing every so often and occasionally the 1937 etc.

There are some very dangerous(convincing) forgeries that are coming out of Bulgaria these days, there are well known and documented makers of them continuing to crank out Athenian tets, Macedonian coinage, Thracian coinage etc. I would check out wildwinds.com to research these further.

Curiously the only time I have heard of the BRM darkening coins was the farthings in the early part of the 20th century to prevent them from being confused with the Sovereign coins. They were close in dimension, and in the right circumstance whence the farthing was brand new it could have been confused for a coin worth 960 times as much. I believe they were darkened prior to leaving the mint, up until the mid 1920's by which time Sovereigns had all but disappeared from circulation.

I wonder if the old pennies might make good skeet targets?

I would like to find a victim to send my coins too, but the postage is quite the killer. Maybe I could put them all in assorted little baggies and hand them out to kids on halloween.

Lot of people saved them, because they thought they were going to be valuable someday. Problem is, the BRM cranked them out in huge numbers and they will never be rare. I have myself a couple of bags of halfpennies and pennies that total about £50 or so that I wish I could get rid of.

The worst of the downturn will hit about mid to late 2009 after the full effects of all the turmoil have hit the fan and spread. Nice choice materiel that appeals to collectors that are usually not affected by market turns will continue to have firm prices, but a lot of lesser materiel will decline in value.

Happy New Year all!

Slainte Red Riley: Just couldn't resist buying this coin, there is even a "hair" version of it.

The pound will continue, and the Euro will be adopted in Slovakia.

This appears to be what is referred to as a model crown, actually it was 19th century play money.

They are scarce, but can be found. The Mackenzies printed up a fair few of them, an' tried to circulate them on the mainland in Inverness, where they were retired quickly. Most of what are about are remainders, or half dones like my example. I purchased this one probably 8-9 years ago whence I was still actively collecting the notes. Now I only collect Scottish coins actively, but keep the notes as lookers. This note is unusually well printed for the day, with a double embossed pressing for the red ochre and black inks. Curiously as you will see, Stornoway is spelled as Stornaway. This note was printed in London. I would suggest haunting Spinks, Britishnotes.co.uk and Ian Gradon for these, they come up from time to time.

Ta a Scot, our wee doshes are kaypers and nae for the lettings: Like 'at one aye?