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coinsbygary

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Journal Entries posted by coinsbygary

  1. coinsbygary
    2013 has been a very good year for my collection. In 2014, I plan more of the same with the exception that I will have to scale back my new purchases significantly.
    2013 has been a phenomenal year of upgrades to my Netherlands eleven-coin Queen Wilhelmina 10 Gulden set. In comparison to other years, 2013 has also been the best year for upgrades since starting this set in 2009. I began 2013 with three coins below my target grade of MS-65 and now there is only one MS-64 left to upgrade. At the end of 2012, four of the seven coins were NGC top graded coins and today that number is seven of eleven! Thats right, all three of my upgrades in 2013 coins were on top of NGCs population report meeting my secondary goal of buying the best coins available. Naturally, these types of goals carry over from year to year since it is impossible to predict when buying opportunities will occur. Thus in 2014, I will make upgrades to this set as new coins become available.
    In 2013, I started a new custom set entitled, The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics. I am very proud of this set and aggressively purchased new coins, tokens, and medals for it in 2013. Today that set has 49 coins with accompanying owner comments for most of the pieces. In 2014, I plan to scale back my new purchases somewhat and complete the owner comments. As an aside, I sent an email with a link of my set to the editor of the E-Gobrecht, the monthly newsletter of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club and he may feature my set in his newsletter soon.
    My Morgan Dollar and Inspirational Ladies sets were slow goes in 2013. However, a few of the pieces I added, I had been searching a long time to obtain. My goals for both of these sets in 2014 will be more of the same, except that Id like to be a little more aggressive in completing my Morgan Dollar set.
    No getting around it, domestic purchases will trump coin purchases in 2014. I put off too many things for too long to ignore them any longer. I was brutally reminded of this when my 18-year-old dryer broke down a few days ago. Consequently, my wife and I promptly went to the Best Buy store to purchase a new washer and dryer set. As far as the house goes, Im still paying off a loan to repair the flooding in my basement from a year ago. Furthermore, this coming year I plan to add new gutters. Mind you, these are only a few of the things I will need to do for the house in 2014.
    At any rate, upgrading coin photos with my new macro rig purchased in 2013 and owner comments are free activities that will keep me connected to my collection in 2014. However, to end 2013 with a bang and begin 2014 with austerity, I added a rare and expensive coin to my seated set that will become the cornerstone of that set. Please enjoy this photo of a recently graded MS-62 Bavarian 2-Taler coin commemorating the completion of Ludwig's canal (my rare and expensive cornerstone). May you all have a healthy and prosperous 2014.
    Gary

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  2. coinsbygary
    I know my December piece is a little early, but Ive been working feverishly on my owner comments for The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics custom set. I just finished the owner comments for this token last night and its history is so interesting to me that I had to post it. Ill post the other supporting pictures on the chat boards.
    NY 1863 NEW YORK F-630AM-1a CHRISTOPH KARL:
    There are coins in this set that are difficult to describe, and this 1863 store card is one of them. That said, I will convey the little I known about Christoph Karl in my owner comments. Then taking into account the historical context of this token, I will give a plausible explanation of the allegories present on this beautiful token from New York City featuring Germania, the national personification of Germany.
    Due to the hoarding of hard currency during the Civil War, merchants issued tokens and store cards in lieu of coins for use in their stores. Most of those tokens included the name of the establishment and its merchandise on the token. Other tokens were political in nature. However, this token gives only the name of the proprietor and the business address in New York. After numerous Google searches I found two sources stating that Christoph Karls establishment was either a liquor store or a saloon. I also found that Christoph Karl was born in Bavaria in 1824 and that he immigrated to the United States sometime between his birth in 1824 and 1859. In the following paragraphs, I will offer a theorem as to how and when Christoph Karl came to the United States using the allegory illustrated on this token.
    Starting in February of 1848 in France, a wave of nationalist political uprisings against the European autocracies erupted across the entire continent, including the German Confederation (1815-1866). The revolutionaries had hoped to usher in a new era of democracy and social reform in Europe. For many reasons, the revolutionaries failed to bring about the reforms they were fighting to gain. Following their loss, many of the revolutionaries fearing for their lives fled their homes to start anew in other countries. With the nickname Forty-Eighters, thousands of Germanic people immigrated to the United States. Many of those immigrants settled in the northern states due to their objection to slavery. I believe that Christoph Karl was among the Forty-Eighters settling in New York City.
    The obverse of this token features Germania seated close to a body of water with hills in the background. She is stretching her right arm over the land in an altruistic, calming manner. Behind her is the standard of the German Confederation with the tincture matching that of the black, red, and yellow colors of the German Confederation Flag. The shield is representative of the German Confederation arms with a double-headed eagle against a yellow background. Germania is wearing a more generic mural crown as opposed to a royal or imperialistic crown. At the base of the shield are oak branches representing strength and independence. Above the shield is the hilt of a sword showing a readiness to fight if necessary. The reverse features a harp representing harmony or perhaps unity. An oak wreath surrounds the harp with a radiant five-pointed star at the opening reminiscent of the approved, but not fully embraced, 1848 German Confederation Coat of arms.
    Not deterred by their earlier failures, I believe many of the Forty-Eighters took up the battle against the autocracies of Europe from their adopted homelands. Being a naturalized American citizen, Christoph Karl could now exercise his right to free speech without fear of reprisal. The lack of hard circulating currency during the Civil War was the perfect opportunity for a proprietor like Christoph Karl to continue to speak out against the reigning autocracies of the German states. Thus, I believe, given the absence of the business name on this token, that it should be numbered among those tokens making a political statement. Coins and tokens are excellent mediums in which to promote political causes. With the likelihood that a number of Germanic people and those sympathetic to the cause would frequent Christoph Karls establishment, this token was likely effective in promoting the cause of an independent German state.
    The picture substituting for the reverse of this coins owner comments is an 1848 painting of Germania, the personification of Germany. In it, the standard is that of the liberal nationalists and the rays of a rising sun is the beginning of a new era. Germanias crown of oak leaves denotes heroism, her breastplate, strength, her sword, power, and the hemp branch a willingness to make peace. At Germanias feet are broken chains, symbolic of being set free. To the right of Germania is the 1848 German Confederation Coat of Arms. Notice the similarity between the star on the token and the picture. The arms are very similar in meaning to the imagery of the harp.
    One of the things I find interesting concerning Germania is the way differing groups manipulate her for their own purposes. For instance, the revolutionaries were using the imagery of Germania on this token to promote their cause. On the other hand, the Prussians with the 1871 Victory Thaler manipulated Germania to strengthen Emperor Wilhelms status. These two positions could not be more opposed to one another.

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  3. coinsbygary
    Novembers Coin of the Month (Volume 3 Number 3) column features an NGC PFUC-69, 1994 Canadian $200 gold coin (KM# 250) commemorating the Literary Legacy of Canadian Lucy Maud Montgomerys 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables.
    This coin featuring a bust of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse and a young girl seated underneath a gazebo on the reverse is 29mm in diameter and weighs 17.135 grams. The mintage of this coin is 10,655 and the serial number on the certificate of authenticity that accompanies it is 03174. This coin unlike most gold coins has somewhat of a greenish hue. This is due to the alloying of gold with silver rather than copper. Thus, this 22-karat gold coin has a silver fineness of .0835 and a gold fineness of .9165 with an AGW of .5049 oz.
    The Canadian $200 coin I have pictured commemorates Anne of Green Gables-A Literary Legacy. The reverse depicts a young girl in a garden seated and relaxed underneath a gazebo daydreaming of adventure inspired by the novel Anne of Green Gables. Suddenly, in this girls imagination, Anne literally leaps from the pages of her book. Thus, no one should underestimate the potential of a good book to inspire the person reading it. This is especially true of the novel, Anne of Green Gables, the tale of an orphan, Anne Shirley, who against all odds overcame her circumstances and fulfilled her dreams.
    Oftentimes when I want read a book and/or meditate, I particularly like to find a good place to be alone in an environment where I can relax. I remember returning to Maryland from a family vacation in which we detoured off the main route to drive north on Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western Virginia. Noticing a place to stop with a spectacular view of the valley below, we pulled over to allow us more time to take it all in. While there, I found a place to sit alone with my Bible where I had had a wonderful time of reading, meditation, and prayer in an environment that was especially conducive to those types of activities. In this manner, I can totally relate to the young girl on the reverse of this coin.
    The following three paragraphs are copied from the COA that accompanied this coin and give the history behind this commemorative:
    Lucy Maude Montgomery, born November 30, 1874, was raised by her maternal grandparents Alexander and Lucy Macneill, in their old-fashioned Cavendish farmhouse in Prince Edward Island, Canada. That was her home from 1876 to 1911. It was there where she wrote her first novel in 1908 and procured immediate international acclaim: A different environment, she said, would have given a different bias. Were it not for those Cavendish years, I do not think Anne of Green Gables would ever have been written.
    Perhaps no other Canadian literary character is more famous or has captured more hearts than Lucy Maud Montgomerys red-haired girl Anne Shirley. Pulled into many predicaments by her romantic imagination and daring streak, Anne Shirley unvaribly emerges more humble, yet wiser and more determined to follow her own path. From an abandoned and lonely girl, Anne grows into a confident and responsible young women who retains the passion of her youth and love of her childhood home, at Green Gables.
    Designed by Canadian artist Phoebe Gilman, the reverse of the coin depicts a young girl sitting under a gazebo, daydreaming about adventure and life in the Prince Edward Island countryside, inspired by the Anne of Green Gables novel. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, by Dora de Pedery-Hunt.
    In summary, it is primarily when a person is seated and relaxing in a place they like to be that they ponder and formulate their dreams. Often they will receive inspiration encouraging them to pursue their dreams from a good book. Although first published in 1908, the book Anne of Green Gables still stirs the imaginations of young girls today. This then is the lasting legacy of Anne of Green Gables and the message in the imagery of this coin that resides in my seated imagery collection.
    To the left side of this months photo collage is a picture of Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery and her book. To the right is a picture from the Public Television series of Anne Shirley, the main character of Anne of Green Gables.
    Enjoy!
    Gary

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  4. coinsbygary
    A long search finally yields for me the 1838 Hard-Times, Am I Not A Woman And A Sister Token.
    Ive been on the prowl for the Hard-Times, Am I Not A Woman And A Sister token for some time. After looking through numerous E-Bay listings over time, Ive finally bought an example I am happy with. Most of the tokens I rejected were problem tokens or had a weakly struck date on the reverse. Many more were of a lower grade than I was seeking, and all were raw until now. This token is problem free with wear and toning that is consistent with its VF-30 grade.
    The token was struck by Gibbs, Gardner & Company of Belleville, New Jersey in 1837 (dated 1838) during The Financial Panic of 1837. The token primarily circulated in New York and there are an estimated 500-1000 tokens that remain today. There is an accompanying, Am I Not A Man And A Brother token of which just three examples are known to exist.
    My token is a near copy of a late 18th century Conder Token which circulated in Great Britain before slavery was abolished there. Hoping to lay the groundwork for an abolitionist movement in the United States the design of the Conder Token was adapted for use here. In the Red Book Guide of United States Tokens and Medals it is suggested that this token was the inspiration for Sojourner Truths famous 1851 speech, Aint I a Woman. Since she lived in New York she was likely familiar with these tokens that generally circulated from 1838-1843.
    I have a lot of reasons for wanting this token, but the primary reason is that I have a good number of African-American friends, and I am trying to understand their perspective on American History as it pertains to slavery and race relations today. Therefore, this token will be the centerpiece of my research along with my 1860-O SS Republic shipwreck half-dollar. That ship laden with silver and gold was heading from New York to New Orleans when it sank in hurricane off the coast of Georgia. The money on board was intended by Northern investors to purchase land in the South during the re-construction period following the Civil War.
    When I look at this token, it is a somber reminder to me of a people stripped of their dignity and basic human rights. The inspiration of this token then is as a symbol in the never ending struggle and will to be free. Therefore, this token will be included in my Inspirational Ladies custom set.
    Gary

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  5. coinsbygary
    Garys Coin of the Month (Volume 3, Number 2) features a coin commemorating the 25th wedding anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Elizabeth of Bavaria. The obverse of this coin portrays an image of their conjoined busts and the reverse features a seated image of the goddess Fortuna. This coin (KM#X5) grading MS-63 by NGC resides in my newest custom set entitled, The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics.
    In 1879, the Austro-Hungarian Empire issued a 2 gulden commemorative coin to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of Franz Joseph I of Austria to Elizabeth of Bavaria. Equivalent to 2 Austrian Florins or 2 Hungarian Forints, the coin is 36mm in diameter and weighs 24.69 grams. It has a silver fineness of .900 and an ASW of .7144 oz. Minted in Vienna, Austria, this coin has a mintage of 275,000.
    The central device on the obverse of this coin are the conjoined heads of Franz Joseph I wearing a laureate crown signifying honor and Elizabeth wearing a diadem signifying royal power or dignity. The obverse legend translated into English is Franz-Jozef by the grace of God emperor of Austria and Apostolic king of Hungary, Elisabeth empress and queen. Inscribed on this coins edge is its denomination at 2 Gulden/2 Forint.
    The central device on the reverse of this coin is Fortuna, the Roman goddess of chance or lot. Fortuna appears seated on an ottoman representing the oracular seat from where she steers the destinies of men as signified by the rudder in her right hand. Cradled in Fortunas left arm is a cornucopia representing abundance. As portrayed on this coin, Fortuna is regarded as the bearer of good fortune, fertility and abundance. The reverse legend translated from Latin into English is Fifth period of five years of the marriage ceremony 24th of April 1879.
    Unfortunately, for Franz Joseph and Elisabeth history records quite a different destiny for this couple than what the coin suggests. One could even make the argument that due to their vastly differing personalities, they should not have married in the first place. Nevertheless, they were married anyway on April 24, 1854.
    Now Franz Joseph had a lackluster personality and was devoted to the formality and tradition of the Hapsburg royal court. Conversely, Elizabeth was more of a free spirit, and abhorred the obligations that came along with being an empress. Consequently, even though Franz Joseph loved his wife dearly, Elizabeth did not respond with the same affection.
    Elizabeth nicknamed Sisi by her family and friends felt emotionally constricted by the formality of the Hapsburg court. I also believe that the stressful expectations placed on her eventually led to her obsession with beauty, anorexia, and various other health issues. In Elizabeths defense, Franz Josephs mother princess Sophie was very domineering towards her son and against their marriage. Additionally, Sophie had not allowed Elizabeth to raise her own children and separated them from her at birth. Though hated by her subjects in Austria, Elizabeth was loved by the people of Hungary. Consequently, I believe that Elizabeths love for Hungary and her influence on her husband were contributing factors in the Austro-Hungarian compromise of 1869. This agreement gave Hungary a certain degree of autonomy and made Elizabeth and her husband the king and queen of Hungary.
    Franz Joseph over the tenure of his reign presided over the gradual eroding of the Austrian Empire as many of the ethnic groups represented within his empire sought autonomy and independence. Furthermore, Franz Josephs mother, princess Sophie, exercised undue influence over Franz Joseph until her death in 1872. The effect of that influence placed a wedge in the relationship between Franz Joseph and Elizabeth. Later, somewhat estranged from each other, circumstantial evidence led to persisting rumors that they were both involved in extra-marital affairs.
    Tragedy was an ever-present reality in the lives of Franz Joseph and Elizabeth. This started with the death of their first-born child, Sophie at the age of two in 1857. The murder-suicide of their only son and heir to the throne crown prince Rudolf and his lover followed in 1889. The Mayerling incident named after the hunting lodge where the murder-suicide occurred was personally devastating to both Franz Joseph and Elizabeth. This incident also destabilized the empire, as Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Franz Josephs nephew, became the successor to the throne. Early in his reign in 1853, Franz Joseph survived an assassination attempt on his life. However, Elizabeth was not quite as fortunate as an Italian anarchist assassinated her in Geneva, Switzerland in 1898. In 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo and shortly thereafter Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia thus igniting a chain of events that erupted into World War 1.
    In summary, I wish to make two closing points. First is that I find it fascinating the degree to which this dysfunctional family directly affected the history of the world, including the number of people who have died in World War 1. My next point relates to Fortuna and one of two possibilities, she either is capricious in the way she directs destinies OR she is no god at all. I choose to believe the latter. Until next month, Happy collecting!
    Gary

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  6. coinsbygary
    Have you ever held a coin in your hand and just admired the intricate details and the spectacular kaleidoscope of colors? Then you try to image your coin just to find that the image looks nothing like the coin. Well I just bought this beautiful Conder Token for my seated images set and for the life of me I could not get the color in the picture to look like the token in my hand.
    I tried different lighting and angles to no avail. I tried different edits in my raw format editor, nothing doing. My last hope was that I could figure out something in Photoshop Elements, but first I had to try to identify the problem by analyzing the token. The surface underneath the toning is proof-like in nature and by tilting the token at the right angle I can make out small glimpses of the tokens original mirror-like surface. Next there are splashes of pink toning on this token. Interestingly, my pictures regardless of the settings, picked this feature up well. However, the reddish hue of the token always turned up as a sickly pale orange. Now there are elements of orange in the color of this token, but certainly not this pale, and not over the entire token's surface. The reverse is more brown and I had no trouble reproducing the color of the reverse.
    In photoshop elements I tried all the auto-fix features and the auto color tool made the token look horrid. On NGC holders the insert is white, so I often use the remove colorcast tool against the holder to set my white balance. On PCGS holders this can be usful to remove the blue tint that often accompanies that holder. The remove colorcast improved the tokens appearance somewhat and I went on to check other tools in photoshop.
    After removing the color cast I went on to the brightness-contrast tool and the lighten-darken tool, but still couldnt get rid of that pale orange coloring. In the enhance colors tool I tried adjusting the hue and saturation levels, but the change in color would not match that of the token. Finally, I tried the correct skin tones tool and met with the success I am posting right now. Now I could do a stare and compare with assurance that the token in my hand closely resembles the picture on my computer monitor.
    In the end there is no substitute for the human eye as all man-made, reproduced images fall short of the coin in your hand. We can only do our best and this one is my best. I often marvel at Gods wonderful creation when I think of the human eyes ability to capture color, details, and the panorama and color of a spectacular sunset! There is no picture that does a beautiful sunset justice.
    Gary

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  7. coinsbygary
    An article in this weeks Coin World, a coin I collected 35 years ago in New Caledonia, and my new custom set, The Use of Seated Imagery in Numismatics gave me an idea for a little experiment.
    I normally do not advocate the cleaning of coins, but in the case of PVC residue there is little you can do for a coin to return it to its natural finish without first removing the residue. This week in Coin World, I read of a man who had cherry-picked an 1841-O, Small O, Closed Bud, Seated Liberty Dime on E-Bay for $99. Estimates however, place the value of the dime at between $10,000 and $15,000. There was only one problem the coin was encrusted in some type of ugly residue.
    The new owner of the dime deciding to remove the residue himself by first dipped it in acetone and then rinsing it with water before patting it dry. Still not pleased with the coins appearance he dipped it in olive oil and the residue fell off the coin like a sheet. He then submitted the coin to PCGS with a final grade of XF-40.
    The hunt for coins to populate my new custom set led me to an internet post concerning seated coins. There I saw a coin that reminded me of one I collected while serving in the Navy. Everywhere we put into port, I collected at least one of every circulating coin of that country. Then, I placed all the coins I collected into a binder with PVC plastic inserts. Acting in ignorance, I was unaware of the harmful environment I was placing my coins.
    In response to the aforementioned post, I retrieved a 1977, New Caledonia, 2 Franc aluminum coin from my binder to photograph and insert into the thread. After years in a PVC insert, the coin had a brownish tacky haze over the entire surface of the coin. I photographed the coin anyway and posted the pictures. Coincidently, the same day I posted my coin I read the aforementioned Coin World article and had a great idea for an experiment.
    The first part of my experiment was to take my inexpensive coin and bath it in olive oil. I dont have acetone, but that didnt matter since I thought that acetone would be a little harsh on a coin struck with a metal as soft as aluminum. Immersed in olive oil I gently rubbed the surface of the coin while watching the oil get darker with sediment from the coin. Then I rinsed the coin with water and patted it dry.
    The next step in my experiment was to do a stare and compare. For this, I replicated the lighting, camera position, and camera settings exactly as before. The only edits I made were in a raw picture editor where I adjusted the white balance and increased the exposure and the clarity of the photo. For each photo, the edits were the same. Afterwards, I placed all the photos together into a collage for a comparison.
    Amazed at the results the coin now has more of its original luster and color. Additionally, it is much brighter and attractive. Before the bath, the coin looked dull and listless. Gone is the tackiness feel of the coins surface. Overall, I consider my little experiment a smashing success.
    In summary, I am not sure I would have attempted to clean a coin as valuable as the dime in Coin World instead I probably would have sent it to NCS. However, for coins I do not intend to certify I think the olive oil bath is the way to go. Today, for better or worse I am a little less scared of cleaning my coins.
    Gary

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  8. coinsbygary
    Garys September Coin of the Month (Volume 3, Number 1) is a continuation of Augusts column and features an NGC AU-53 Spanish Provisional Government 1870(74) DEM, 2 Peseta (KM# 654). Last month I examined this coins link to the ancient Roman Empire. In this month's column, I intend to investigate the coins technical aspects and historical context.
    The Spanish Provisional Government 2 Peseta is 27mm in diameter and weighs 10 grams. This coin has a silver fineness of .8349 and an ASW of .2684 ounces. With a mintage of 14,893,000, one might think that this coin is readily available in MS condition. Yet NGCs highest grading coin is an MS-61 example selling in 2011 for $1,955.00. The apparent rarity of MS coins seems to imply that nearly all the Spanish Provisional Government 2 Peseta coins circulated. Today, examples of this coin are generally available in VF condition.
    This coins engraver is L. Marchionni and his initials L. M. are to the left of the large date on the coins obverse. The large date 1870 is not the year of this coins minting, but rather of its authorization. The year of this coins minting is engraved into two small stars at each side of the obverse legend. On the left star is the number 18 and on the right 74 signifying the year 1874. Those two obverse stars also serve as the coins mintmark with six points representing Madrid.
    In the unsettling times after Spains Glorious Revolution of 1868, it was especially important for the people to have confidence in their currency. For Spains third decimal coinage the weight of the 2 Peseta and the initials of three assayers appear on the coins reverse. The initials D. E. near the left rim of the coin represent assayers E. Diaz and J. Escosura. The Initial .M. to the right represents assayer A. Mendoza. The weight of the 2 Peseta coin appears as a ratio. Thus, the phrase 100 PIEZAS EN KILOGRAMO is properly translated 100 pieces in a kilogram and represents the weight of the 2 Peseta at 10 grams (1000 grams/100 pieces).
    Once a dominate world power, Spains influence around the world and in Europe had already begun to decline by the beginning of the 19th Century. Napoleons occupation of Spain early in the century led to a fierce war for independence by Spains nationalists. Seizing on the opportunity presented by Spains troubles at home, many of Spains new world colonies declared their own independence.
    After the death of King Ferdinand VII in 1833, Queen Isabella IIs uncle, Infante Carlos, challenged her succession to the throne. This led to the First Carlist War (1833-39) between the followers of Carlos and those loyal to Maria Christina serving as Isabella IIs regent. In the end, the loyalty of Spains army to Maria Christina and Isabella II proved decisive in Isabella II remaining on the throne.
    By the middle of the century, there had already been a number of civil wars in the political struggle for control of Spain. When Isabella II came of age and began to govern her capriciousness and ineptitude made her unpopular as a sovereign. This in turn led to The Glorious Revolution of 1868 and Isabellas removal from the throne. Two years of anarchy followed before the appointment of Italian Prince Amadeo of Savoy to the throne in 1870.
    Amidst this political instability and national glum, Spain needed the proverbial shot in the arm to give her hope. Therefore, I believe the design features of the Provisional Government 2 Peseta were intended to do just that by appealing to Spains deep roots in Roman culture and her proud heritage.
    The obverse of the Spanish Provisional Government 2 Peseta features Hispania, Spains national personification in a reclining position representing freedom. Hispanias left elbow is resting on the Pyrenees Mountains and at her feet is the Mediterranean Sea and Gibraltar. This imagery represents Hispanias sovereignty over all of Spain. In Hispanias extended right hand is an olive branch representing peace over all the land. On Hispanias head is a mural crown representing European heraldry. In classical antiquity, the mural crown of city walls and turrets were an emblem of tutelary deities who watched over a city and represents security. In ancient Rome, the mural crown was a military decoration given to the soldier who first successfully climbed the wall of a besieged city and placed his armies standard on it.
    The reverse of this coin features a coat of arms reminiscent of Spains former imperial glory. The pillars to the left and right of the arms are the Pillars of Hercules representing the Straits of Gibraltar. One pillar represents the Rock of Gibraltar to the North and the other either Mount Hacho or Jebel Musa on the African Continent to the South. The ribbons on which are inscribed the words Plus Ultra are Spain's national motto meaning Further Beyond and refer to Spains exploration and colonization of the new world. The crest underneath a common crown represents Spains five ancient kingdoms. The top left quarter represents the Kingdom of Castile, the top right Leon, the bottom left Aragon, the bottom right Navarre, and the pomegranate at the bottom, the Kingdom of Granada. It is also interesting to note that this coat of arms was only in use when there was no one on the throne as in the years 1868-70 and 1873-74. Otherwise, the crown above the arms would have been an imperial or royal crown as opposed to a generic four turret mural crown.
    Unfortunately, it took some time for the symbolism of this coin to become reality. In 1873 Amadeo I abdicated from the throne after asserting that Spain was ungovernable. The First Republic of Spain followed this government and lasted only 23 months. Finally, in a bit of irony, the House of Bourbon returned to the throne in the person of Isabellas son Alfonso XII on December 30, 1874. During Alfonsos reign, Spain finally entered into a period of peace and prosperity towards the end of the 19th century.
    In summary, the imagery on coins has the power to move and inspire people by reminding them through daily commerce of their national pride and heritage. This power as I have discussed last month can be used as a propaganda tool to suppress the people or as seen this month to instill a sense of hope for the future.
    Until next month, happy collecting!
    Gary

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  9. coinsbygary
    A day at my third ANA show yields four treasures (five, if you include the complimentary PCGS luncheon Lincoln Cent) and the opportunity to meet and spend the day with fellow coin enthusiast Yankeejose (Dave).
    Greetings all, Ive been to the ANAs Worlds Fair of Money three times and have found each show unique and enjoyable in different ways. This years show marks the first time I have attended a show with a fellow coin enthusiast. It also represents the first time I have personally met someone I had previously only known from an on-line forum.
    Months ago upon discovering that we were both attending the show, Dave and I began to make plans to meet each other. Dave, compliments of PCGS, secured a ticket for me to attend PCGSs award luncheon as his guest. For this, I will always be grateful, for I not only heard interesting stories told by numismatists like David Bowers, but I was spared of having to buy overpriced food at the bourse floor concession stand!
    Let me begin by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed Daves camaraderie and our conversation about a common passion, collecting coins! The person Dave references in his post concerning the gold buffalos was attracted to us because in his own words he overheard us having a so-called intelligent conversation. His comment flattered me a bit, but he was right in another sense in that I rarely have the opportunity to speak intelligibly with anyone about coins. Cyber-talk and chat windows are OK, but there is nothing like face-to-face contact with a fellow collector. Thank you Dave, I very much enjoyed our intelligent conversation!
    Now, as alluded to in Daves post, my account of the ANA show:
    I always start my day at any coin show by taking care of business, which includes a submission of coins to NGC for grading. Getting this out of the way, I began the search for my target coin. This time my hunt was focused on an obverse legend 1860-1873 half-dime for my 7070 type set. I was looking for the best coin possible with a show budget of $200 cash in my pocket. I had also promised my wife a 2013 Silver Panda and I was determined not to leave the show without it.
    My first find of the show was a spectacular knock your socks off, PCGS MS-63, 1870 toner at dealer Gary Adkins booth. While I immediately fell in love with the coin, I soon realized it was well outside my budget and I thanked Gary for the opportunity to examine such a fine coin. Interestingly, Gary also had a MS-63 blast-white coin with beautiful luster and an AU-58 coin for $150 that fit well within my budget. However, it was early in the show and I wanted to see what else was out there.
    It may seem odd, but I did not find another certified half-dime the rest of the show that met my criteria. As I was walking from booth to booth, I thought about how I may acquire that fabulous toner. I determined that the only way was if Gary Adkins could process my credit card at the show. Of course, using the credit card would be the ever dangerous and altogether too easy budget buster.
    Finally, late in the afternoon, I met another dealer with half-dimes that after examining his coins I told him about the one I really wanted. His advice to me was to get my butt (my word) back over to Gary Adkins booth and hope the coin was still there! Thinking to myself, you know hes right, I went back to Garys booth as fast as I could and found all three candidates still there.
    Examining the previous three coins, I was torn between the MS-63 blast-white coin I really liked for less money and the toner I really wanted and loved. Being somewhat practical, I was having a hard time processing paying $40 more for essentially the same coin. When I explained this dilemma to the sales associate, she said, let me see what I can do. After talking to Gary, she came back with a price $15 lower! I then asked her if she took credit cards at the show, to which she answered yes, and it was a sale.
    I went with my new treasure in hand to the previous dealer and thanked him for his advice. This left me with about $200 in my pocket after buying my wifes Panda. I thought with the day a success I would take the $200 home and put it back in the bank to pay down the credit card. However, $200 in the pocket can be dangerous in the hands of an out of control coin collector at a major coin show!
    After locating Dave on the bourse floor, I found myself at the booth of a dealer specializing in tokens. I thought, lets see what he has that may fit into one of my custom sets. The first token I inquired about was the anti-slavery, Am I Not a Woman token. He had one, but it looked as if it was cleaned and I passed on it. I then examined his Conder tokens without finding one suitable for my collection.
    Finally, I asked him to show me all the tokens he had with seated images. Interestingly, he had a NGC graded AU-58 Hard-Times token similar to one I was following on E-Bay. I mentioned that the holder was a little beat up and he immediately offered to knock $10 off the price and I shelled out the required cash to purchase the token. When I got home, I found myself with a better-graded token for $60 less than the one offered on E-Bay!
    I was also taken by a raw civil war token that I found quite interesting with a seated figure that did not appear to be Lady Liberty. Rather, it seems this token features a seated woman of Austrian or German heritage wearing a mural crown and holding a sword with an American flag as her standard. At her side is a shield bearing the arms of a double-headed eagle. Well you know the rest as I added that treasure to my days inventory.
    Overall, it was a memorable day. Now for the crown jewel of the days haul, may I present my MS-63, 1870 toner half-dime.
    Happy collecting!
    Gary

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  10. coinsbygary
    Garys Coin of Month article for August 2013 (Volume 2 Number 12) features an NGC AU-53 Spanish provisional government 1870(74) DEM, 2 Peseta. Divided into two parts, this article will examine the link between the 1870(74) 2 Peseta and Hadrian's empire some 1,700 years earlier. Part 2 will be more focused on the technical aspects of the 2 Peseta coin and its historical context following the ouster of Queen Isabella II from the Spanish throne.
    The use of persons on coins to represent a place or a concept dates back to ancient Greece. Copying the Greeks, the Romans used deified feminine personifications on their coins to represent the various regions of their empire. By utilizing those personifications in creative ways, their coins became tools to disseminate propaganda. Without an alternate means of mass communication, circulating coins were quite effective in spreading propaganda from one person to another.
    The use of coins to manipulate a subjugated people continued during Hadrian's reign as Roman Emperor (AD 117-138). For instance, the presence of the Hadrian's bust on the coin's obverse and a deified personification on the reverse effectively raised Hadrian's status to that of a god. Believing Hadrian to be a god, the people who feared him as such were more likely to be compliant. However, in Judea this type of propaganda rarely worked because the Jews did not worship the Roman gods, much less the Roman emperor. This eventually led to Hadrian's hatred and persecution of the Jews.
    For the most part, Hadrians reign was a peaceful one with the exception of a major uprising in Judea. Furthermore, Hadrian had powerful allies in Rome to represent his interests and cover his back. These factors allowed Hadrian to travel extensively throughout the Roman Empire focusing on public works projects, and thereby solidifying his reign. Moreover, everywhere Hadrian went he issued coins to commemorate his visit and his public works projects. In doing so, the people of each region would be constantly reminded of Hadrians so called benevolence towards them.
    The area of the Iberian Peninsula then known as Hispania, and today includes both Portugal and Spain enjoyed many privileges granted to it by the Roman Empire. Among those is an intricate network of roads, aristocrat status for the ruling class, numerous public works and construction projects, and a robust economy brought about by trade with Rome. Additionally, this area served as a training ground for the officers of the Roman army. Interestingly, Italica near Seville in Hispania is the recognized birthplace of both Hadrian and his predecessor, Trajan.
    This brief history of Hadrian dovetails nicely into the allegorical context of the ancient coins issued during his extensive travels. The positions of the deified personifications on the coin are the key to understanding the various allegories. For example, a Judean coin issued after putting down the Bar Kokhba revolt (AD 132-135) shows a deified personification representing Judea standing before Hadrian pouring out libations from a patera (a shallow bowl) in honor of Hadrian. On a coin featuring Britannia circa AD 134-138, a subdued Britannia appears seated on a rock loosely holding an upright spear with a shield resting on the ground by her side. Interestingly, some historians are suggesting that she is actually sitting on Hadrians Wall signifying the defensive barrier built by Hadrian to protect Britain from the invading Scots.
    On the ancient coin pictured in my collage with the 2 Peseta coin, Hispania appears in a reclining position holding a laurel branch signifying triumphant victory. The reclining position also represents something altogether different from the previous poses I described. For a person to be depicted reclining they had to be free. For it is only a free people who reclined at the table while the servants served them. Therefore, it seems that the allegory of this coin is Hispanias reward for their loyalty to Rome.
    Of all the regions in the old Roman Empire, there was perhaps none more influenced by Roman culture than Hispania. Now more than 1,700 years later, the lingering effects of Ancient Rome became apparent in the obverse devices of Spains new coins issued shortly after the Glorious Revolution of 1868 and the ouster of Queen Isabella II.
    What seems to have been more a military coup than a revolution resulted in the establishment of a Spanish provisional government in the place of the deposed monarchy. Once in power, that government proceeded with the difficult task of forming a new and permanent government. This was to be no easy task, especially considering the rivaling political factions (liberals, moderates, progressives, carlists, and ) sitting at the negotiating table.
    Along with the provisional government came a new monetary system, the third decimal coinage. Hailing back to the Roman use of coinage, Spains new coins needed to send a powerful message that would resonate with the Spanish people. Thus, in that the design features of the 2 Peseta are almost identical to that of the ancient Hispania coin is no coincidence.
    While the features on the reverse of the ancient Hispania coin and the obverse of the Spanish 2 Peseta are nearly identical, the allegory of the 2 Peseta is quite different. This starts with subtle differences in the obverse devices of the 2 Peseta.
    On the ancient coin, a reclining Hispania is holding a laurel branch and in doing so is freely giving glory to Rome and Hadrian. On the Spanish 2 Peseta, a reclining Hispania is extending an olive branch of peace to a free people of all political stripes.
    Unfortunately, forming a fair and equitable government for all the people is a difficult task that Spain grappled with for some decades to come. This causes me to be thankful for the 200+ year old government we have here in the United States and not take it for granted.
    In summary, the desired effect of the allegory in the design features of the 2 Peseta coin failed just as they did with the Judean coin. In spite of this, while we have many more avenues to disseminate propaganda today, coins will always be an effective means to do so. Remember, the old cliché that states, A picture is worth a thousand words. Also, remember that as long as coins are issued by governments, their design features will be politically motivated.
    Please join me next month when I will have much more to say about this fascinating coin.
    Gary

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  11. coinsbygary
    To fully grasp this post, please read the recent thread posted by Six Mile Rick
    The following is only my opinion to two points MV has made. One, that third party graders have done harm to the hobby, and two that he enters this discussion as a dealer making his living through a brick and mortar coin shop. First, I do not begrudge a person who makes a living by selling coins to profit from them. Second, I have been a collector for more than 40 years and have witnessed the evolution of the market. Change and progress, although at times less personal, will occur, and if we dont adapt, we will be left behind.
    In the past I submitted my want list to my local dealer and he located the coins for me. Now I can dial up an 1893-S Morgan Dollar at any time on E-Bay without waiting for a dealer to locate one. Additionally, the dealer to keep your business educated you at the point of sale. I had a friend who bought a 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent from a coin shop. At the point of sale the dealer showed him the diagnostics on his coin to determine that it was genuine. As a collector who has witnessed change, face to face interaction is what I miss the most. In its place these very boards and blogs have helped to fill that void. It was through these boards I have learned the diagnostics of the 93-S Morgan to determine that my NGC graded VG-10 93-S which I purchased on E-Bay from a dealers web site is genuine .
    As to third-party graders, Chinese counterfeits are by far much more harmful to the hobby than either NGC and PCGS combined. In fact these two company which are also in business to make a profit are through the certification process protecting the hobby from these harmful fakes. Anything they certify as genuine is protecting the collector from financial loss by their guarantee. This brings security and confidence to the market place that is worth a premium to the submitter.
    When it comes to moderns MV is correct in that the mintages will prohibit the value of the coin to increases significantly UNLESS that coin is a condition rarity. For instance, if Rick was to crack out his dime, MV is correct in that it is only worth 10 cents. However, lets say out of 140 million dimes there are only 100 graded as high as MS-67 you have something not every dime collector could have driving the price higher. This is possible only because PCGS and NGC are respected in the market place having their grades assigned by professional numismatists with their guarantee to the collecting community of grade.
    Finally, from the perspective of a collector of both US and world coins the NGC Registry brought about by technology and change, has SIGNIFICANTLY increased my knowledge and enjoyment of the hobby. In fact were it not for the registry I may not be a collector of world coins today. The competitive nature of the registry is also a factor in the drive for high grade moderns. In fact MV might see it as a means to extract more money from the collector. I choose to see it as a means to preserve a numismatic legacy.
    Gary
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  12. coinsbygary
    This months column is a companion piece to last months, and features a Denmark NGC MS-64 1890-CS 20 Kroner gold coin.
    The 1890 20 Kroner with a mintage of 102,000 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 obverse of this coin features a right facing bust of King Christian outside-affiliatelinksnotallowed The initials HC at the base of Christian IXs truncated neck represent the coins engraver, Harald Conradsen. The coins reverse features a seated image of Dania with her left forearm resting on the upper rim of a shield engraved with the Danish coat of arms. In Danias right hand is a scepter representing Denmarks sovereignty. A sheaf of corn behind Dania represents Denmarks agricultural economy and its main export. Finally, at the feet of Dania illustrating Danish naval prowess is a dolphin, which denotes good luck and fair weather.
    There is a cliché with some validity which asserts that perception becomes reality. For example, the wings of Libertys headdress on the Mercury Dime were to signify freedom of thought. However, the public perceived the coin to represent the Roman god Mercury and thus the Winged Liberty Head Dime is forever known as The Mercury Dime.
    Born of a Danish fascination with mermaids, this cliché also applies to the Danish 20 Kroner commonly referred to as the Mermaid Coin. Although the image on the reverse of the 20 Kroner is clearly not that of a mermaid, it can appear like a mermaid in the imagination of the person viewing the coin by merging the tail of the dolphin into the feet of Dania.
    Denmark as a seafaring nation would naturally be attracted to anything concerning the sea. Add to this the charm of maritime folklore and it is easy to see the connection between the Danish people and the Mermaid Coin.
    Danish author Hans Christian Anderson tapped into the essence of this when he published the popular childrens fairytale The Little Mermaid in 1837. Later in 1909, commissioned by brewer and art collector Carl Jacobsen, sculptor Edvard Eriksen fashioned a statue based on The Little Mermaid. Now an iconic symbol of Copenhagen, the life-size bronze of The Little Mermaid sits on a rock in the harbor off Langelinie Promenade.
    Here in the United States, most of us identify more with the 1989 Walt Disney adaptation of The Little Mermaid. My daughter was only five when this movie first came out and I well remember her fascination with mermaids.
    I also remember back then when my daughter and I were shopping at the grocery store. As we were walking by a small display near the tuna fish aisle, my Little Girl pointed and said, Daddy, mermaid. Wrapped around her little finger, I tore off a redemption coupon from the Chicken of the Sea display offering a mermaid doll in exchange for a certain number of tuna can labels. You can well imagine what happened after that. Let us just say we ate a lot of Chicken of the Sea tuna for a while!
    Many of the coins in my collection remind me of fond life experiences and this coin is no exception by reminding me of the aforementioned times I had with my daughter. Furthermore, as shown in this column, one of the beauties of numismatics is that the interpretation of allegorical images is often in the eyes of the beholder. While artists and engravers have their own ideas about the allegorical messages of their coins, it all comes down to how you perceive the coin in your hand!
    Until next month, happy collecting!
    Gary

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  13. coinsbygary
    For the most part, I am not an error coin collector except that I think coins displaying clashed dies are rather cool.
    In numismatic circles, I understand that there is discussion as to whether a clashed die is an error coin or not. My opinion lies somewhere in between and I think that the error occurred to the dies when they clashed together without a planchet. Subsequently, every coin thereafter correctly struck with that die pair carries the image of that one error.
    A clashed die occurs when the hammer die, usually the obverse die, clashes against the anvil die, usually the reverse die. The striking force of the dies clashing together leaves portions of the opposing dies image on the face of each die. This then transfers to every subsequent coin thereafter using that die pair.
    Since I have purchased a macro photography rig much like the one THE BRG COLLECTION uses to image his coins, I have methodically gone through my collection to re-image my coins. I still have a ways to go, but I have made significant progress. I have been particularly anxious to re-image the smallest of my coins, in other words my Type 1-3 gold dollars. The Type 1 gold dollar at 13mm and the Type 2 & 3 at 15mm stood to benefit the most from macro photography.
    The things I saw in my coins using macro photography that I had missed before have fascinated me. That is particularly true about my NGC MS-62 1857 Type 3 gold dollar. While I knew that it was a clashed die coin because of the outline of the obverse bust on the reverse, I had not noticed the transference of the letters ERTY from Lady Libertys headdress to the reverse. When I saw it, I thought to myself, How cool; now why had I not seen this before?
    Describing how this happened gets very interesting because the coins are an exact mirror of the dies. If the coin has incuse details, the die has those details in relief. Where the coin has details in relief, the die has those in incuse. Interestingly, the word LIBERTY in the headdress of my gold dollar is incuse on the coin. Therefore, the obverse die, which is in relief, struck the open field of the reverse die leaving an incuse impression. This then transferred to my coin in relief. Did you get that? I had to read this sentence several times to make sure I got it right.
    What is particularly neat is that this die clash flattened the ERTY relief of the obverse die except where portions of the R were protected by the incuse 7 of the reverse die. Wow! Can you tell I get excited about this stuff? Only a coin geek like me and perhaps some of you will find this fascinating. I am posting two pictures on the chat boards, the one will show the outline of the bust on the reverse and the other the fine details of what I have been describing. Remember when viewing the detailed photo that this coin is only 15mm in diameter. Its amazing what you can see using macro photography.
    Gary
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  14. coinsbygary
    Ive sent many coins to NCS for conservation over the years with mixed results. Sometimes conservation brings out different surface conditions that were hidden before, both the good and the bad. However this time, I hit the conservation jackpot!
    A few months ago a person on another forum posted an 1870 Spanish Provisional 2 Peseta coin that he had just acquired. Upon viewing the coin, it immediately became a must have coin for my seated collection. I looked on E-Bay for a suitable coin for my collection, but discovered that it is a conditional rarity. This coin is very common and easy to come by in VF or lower grades, but becomes very rare in MS grades. In fact there is only one NGC graded mint state coin at MS-61, and that coin sold at Heritage in 2011 for nearly $2000.
    Shortly thereafter I found a suitable raw coin on E-bay that by the listing pictures I thought might be mint state. I won the auction with a very reasonable bid, given that the coin is scarce in higher grades. I was flabbergasted when the coin arrived housed in a PVC flip. I took the coin out of the flip and discovered to my horror the green PVC deposits on the surface of my coin and some type of tacky goop that covered the rest of the coin. The residue on the coin was so bad that it left an impression inside the flip. The E-Bay listing picture gave no indication that this was coming.
    Since I got a good deal on the coin, rather than send it back, I thought to send it to NGCs conservation service for conservation and possible grading. Well I got the coin back a few days ago and let me tell you I was amazed with the results. Not only was most of the green gone, but the patina on the coin was preserved. The conservation also brought out many of the coins details that unfortunately makes it clear that this coin is not mint state. Irregardless, I am very happy with the coin graded AU-53 and its definitely a keeper.
    Look for yourself, and see if you dont agree with my appraisal of this coin with a before and after comparison.

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  15. coinsbygary
    Garys May coin of the month features a 2008 Latvian 20-Lats gold coin commemorating the 15th anniversary of the renewal of the Lats currency following Latvian independence from the old Soviet Union.
     
    Though this coin commemorates Latvian Independence, it also celebrates motherhood by utilizing a 1922 design conceived by sculptor Teodors Zalkalns, but never used. Additionally, this coin has the distinction of being named the Coin of the Year in 2010 by Krause Publications. Krause Publications is a leading publisher of several numismatic books and periodicals.This months column is a tribute to mothers and motherhood. The first segment focuses on the motherhood aspect of this coin, and describes the coins design using copied narratives from other sources. The second will tell of my mother and my wife and is a grateful acknowledgment of them and their self-sacrifice for the sake of their children.This NGC MS-67, 2008 Latvian 20-Lats coin minted by the Austrian Mint has a mintage of only 5000. The diameter of the coin is 22mm and weighs 10 grams. This coin has a gold fineness 0.999 and has an actual gold weight of 0.352739 Oz.The gold Coin of Latvia shines with the promise of a good fortune and happiness in the future. It is also a special sign of recognition of an outstanding Latvian sculptor, since it carries out the project conceived by Teodors Zalkalns (Grinbergs until 1930; 1876--1972) in 1922 to create a 20-lats gold coin. The plaster model of the coin preserved in the archives of the Latvian National Museum of History contains symbols that are of great significance to Latvia. Zalkalns images of mother belong to the classical treasures of Latvian sculpture. The sculptures created during World War I and modeled after a refugee from Courland are a potent symbol of the nations suffering and transcending that suffering. The obverse of the coin also features a woman in a headscarf, which to any Latvian signifies motherhood: when a baby was born, the husband presented the wife with a headscarf. A woman used it to cover her head whenever she ventured out in the world. Folk tradition has it that a person who is lost can find the right way if she turns the headscarf inside out and ties it anew; that a knot in one of the loose ends can help one remember, and if such a knot is tied when a star is falling, ones wish will come true. All these good things are tied to the mother image. Mother is the symbol of never-ending cycle of life, linking the past, present and future generations.The feminine principle gives life to an individual and likewise is at the core of the family and state. The feminine principle unites the spiritual with the material; the symbols on the reverse of the coin, bread, apple, vessel with a curdled milk beverage and a jug of milk also signify fertility and plenitude. A knife, symbolizing masculine action, is placed next to the feminine images.Part II:The instances my mom exhibited love and self-sacrifice to my sisters and I are too numerous to tell. However, two examples stand out prominently in my heart.When I was young lad of about six or seven, I was diagnosed with flat feet. To remedy this situation, I was fitted with special shoes that at the time cost my parents $50. Today to pay $50 for a pair of shoes is a bargain, but in the mid 1960s that was a considerable amount of money for my parents to pay.From my perspective, I hated those shoes, which I had to wear all day long and only came in one style. When I was younger, I never appreciated what my parents had done for me. Since then I have discovered there are things your parents do for you that you dont appreciate until you walk a mile in their shoes. Today, still flat footed, I wish I had those shoes as mementos of my parents love and self-sacrifice.While my siblings and I were young, my mom chose to stay at home and take care of us rather than pursue a career. Then, after we were all older, my mom went to work and eventually earned a degree. As a son, I could not be any prouder of her. They say you cant have your cake and eat it too, but my mom proved otherwise. Today my mom is enjoying retirement as a china painter who is so skilled in her craft, that she holds classes to teach others the art of china painting. As an adult child, I still value her opinions and perspectives on life.My wife proves that you dont have to be super-mom to be a good mom. Though my wife could never fill the role of a soccer mom, she gave our two children all the love she had. Now that both my children are adults they understand this, and they love and appreciate her for it.Because of health issues, the pregnancies of both my children were hard on my wife, and in particular, her pregnancy with my son. There were several times we rushed to the emergency room thinking my wife had miscarried thankfully to find it was a false alarm. Nevertheless, these incidences led to mandatory bed rest, no lifting, no climbing stairs, nothing but bed rest.Thankfully, we received support from the people of my church with meals and things of that nature. Moreover, our pastor met us for prayer each time in the emergency room. However, regardless of the support we had, my sons life depended on my wifes obedience to her doctors instructions. Displaying the very essence of motherhood, she faithfully followed them all and my son was born a full term, strapping young boy!I am a blessed man to have had the mother and wife I have. I learned the character traits of love and self-sacrifice from my mother and now my wife and I have tried to pass them on to our children. I can tell you that we are all the better for it. One thing I have discovered common to all good mothers is that the needs of their children always come before their own. This then is the essence of motherhood. Happy Mothers Day!GaryTo see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  16. coinsbygary
    A wonderful day with my with my wife culminated with the addition of an 1834 Bust Dime to my 7070 type set.
    Going to a major coin show is a treat that occurs all too infrequently for me. The last time I went to a major show was the August 2011 ANA show, so I was particularly eager to attend the Central States Numismatic Society show on Thursday April 25. Typically, I like to attend major shows on either a Thursday or Friday because I find that the crowds are much smaller, and the selection of coins is better earlier in the show. Anyways its a good excuse to play hooky from work!
    Over the years, I have learned that to get the most out of attending a show requires a little preparation. The first thing I did in preparation for the show was to establish a budget. This is especially important because you can easily spend a lot of money before you know it. Next, I prepared a couple of submissions for NGC in order to save the cost of registered shipping to Florida. Finally, I prepared a want list. With so many distractions on the bourse floor, a want list of coins with desired grades helps you to stay focused.
    With that, my wife and I hopped into the car for a short drive to Schaumburg, Ill., just west of Chicago and OHare International Airport. Once registered, the first thing we did was drop off my submissions at NGCs table. Next, I sought out a dealer that I had bought a coin from several years ago. That dealer ( Osburn Rare Coins) so impressed me that his is one of the tables I always visit. After a little chitchat, I showed the representative a want list for the type coins I still needed to fill my 7070 type set. He then pulled out every coin he had available that fit my descriptions.
    One of those coins, an MS-61 1838-O Seated Liberty Dime had me salivating, but alas; my budget did not allow for it. Nevertheless, it is always fun to dream since the New Orleans Mint opened in May of 1838 with the striking of 30 Seated Liberty Dimes. Another dime with die clashing caught my eye, but it too was outside my budget. The only dime within my budget was a XF-40 1834 Bust Dime, and it was a sale. Interestingly, most dealers do not like to process credit cards at coin shows, so I paid for the coin with cash. Paying in cash has its advantages because when its gone, its gone! Spending my entire budget on one coin, the only thing my wife and I had left to do was enjoy the show.
    As we were gingerly walking across the bourse floor, we stopped at the ANAs table to say hi, and before I knew it, my wife signed up as an associate member. For her membership fee, she came away with a few very nice parting gifts. She ended up with two very old canceled bank drafts, two old stock certificates, a Buffalo Nickel, and a Liberty Head Nickel.
    One of my favorite things to do at a coin show is to view the educational exhibits. The exhibits there had something for everyone, including US and world coins, medals, tokens, and notes. While my wife and I were perusing an exhibit of two-cent pieces, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator filled us in on the history of the two-cent piece.
    The day, however, was not without a certain degree of drama as the fire alarm sounded, and we were asked to evacuate the building. While we were on the way out, I wondered how they were going to secure all those coins. Oh well, at any rate, it was a perfect time for us to go to the IKEA store only a few blocks away to purchase three Jansjo desk lamps for my new macro photography rig. (I will have more to write on that later, but my coin photography has made a quantum leap).
    Just a word to the wise if you have never been to a major show, never buy anything in the concession area, they will rake you over the coals! For instance, my wife and I were resting in the concession area enjoying our overpriced sodas when I overheard a fellow collector complain that he paid $12 for a sandwich, chips, and a drink. Since we were going to the IKEA store anyways, we had planned to eat in the cafeteria there. There my wife got an order of baby-back ribs, and I got an order of Swedish meatballs, complete with drinks, for $17!
    Usually at these events, my wife placates me with a smile, since this is really not her thing. I'm like a pig in slop, and she's like a fish out of water. However, this day was pleasantly different. After we returned from the IKEA store, we walked from table to table, as she pointed out the coins she liked, and I answered her questions. This made my day!
    My wife loves teddy bears, so naturally, she was drawn to the Pandas, and in particular, this years Pandas. Since my budget was essentially busted, I promised her a Panda when we return for the ANA show in August.
    Another show highlight was the conversation I had with the founder of Wings concerning the grading of world coins. For those of you not yet aware (I myself only found out about this recently), Wings is attempting to become a CAC like service for world coins. Down the road, it will be interesting to see if this service takes off.
    Finally, our day complete and our bodies exhausted, we returned home after an enjoyable day together. Please enjoy the picture of the 1834 dime I am attaching taken with my new rig and stay tuned for a special Coin of the Month to be released on Mother's Day. So then, until next time, happy collecting.
    Gary

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  17. coinsbygary
    As a lover of classic coins this news gives me something to cheer about!
    I know that a lot of collectors are partial to collecting our currently circulating coins which feature busts of Presidents Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Washington, and Kennedy. However, with the exception of type coins, I am not among them. I have often bemoaned the the passing of what I think were fabulously artistic coins featuring various renditions of Lady Liberty. Now for people like me there is a glimmer of hope in that coins featuring Lady Liberty maybe interspersed with our current coinage starting in 2015. This at least is the recommendation of the CCAC committee which approves all commemorative coin designs along with those of the America the Beautiful Washington Quarters. As always, because I like to collect certain coins, it DOES NOT mean that I am criticizing people who collect other coins. I have often said that diversity in collecting is one of the strengths of our hobby and I always cheer on collectors who collect different coins than I do. However, this new prospect gives me something to cheer about for me! Check this link out for information concerning this new and exciting possibility.
    Gary
    "http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=26796&et_mid=614842&rid=2214403"
    For some reason I am having a very difficult time posting this link. If you click the link and then click the news and articles tab you will see the link containing this story.
    Gary
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  18. coinsbygary
    Aprils Coin of the Month (Volume 2 Number 8) is an NGC MS-63 1896/5 Guatemala Peso (KM #210)
    The 1896/5 Guatemalan Peso is 37 mm in diameter and weighs 25 grams. The silver fineness as engraved on the coins reverse is .900 and the ASW is .7234 oz. The mintage of this coin is 1,403,000. The obverse design is engraved by Jean Lagrange who was the chief engraver at the Paris Mint from 1880-1896. The reverse depicts a representation of the Guatemalan Coat of Arms designed by Swiss artist and engraver, Johan-Baptist Frener. Johan-Baptist Frener lived in Guatemala from 1854 until his death in 1897.
    In my research of allegorical coins from around the world, I have often found that the allegories contained thereon are born of an oppressive past. Consequently, the re-occurring images on many of those coins are personifications of Liberty and Justice. Therefore, to understand Guatemalan history is to understand the allegory of the 1896/5 Guatemalan Peso.
    Before the Spaniards arrived in Guatemala, it was the ancient home of the Mayan Indians. With the Spanish conquest of Central America beginning in 1519, Captain Pedro de Alvarado under the authority of Hernan Cortes methodically subjugated the Mayans. To make matters worse Captain Pedro de Alvarado had a reputation for being both cruel and ruthless. The Mayans fought bravely for their lands, but their weaponry was no match to that of the Spanish conquistadors. After the final defeat of the Mayan Indians, Pedro de Alvarado became the governor of Guatemala. Subsequently, the entire region from Mexico all the way to Panama became known as New Spain.
    If being subjugated to a conquering enemy isnt bad enough, the Spaniards unknowingly brought with them diseases to which they themselves were largely immune. Conversely, the Mayan Indians had no such immunities, and those diseases devastated them. By some estimates, up to 90% of the Mayan population died of smallpox. Because the smallpox epidemic did not seem to affect the Spaniards, the Mayans came to believe that the god of the Spaniards was superior to their gods. This resulted in the rapid growth of the Roman Catholic Church, both in terms of political power and influence, and in an acquiescing of the Central American natives to Spanish rule.
    Generally speaking, when the church acquires political power, it opens itself up to corruption. Now I am not against the church spreading the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, but when the church veers from its core mission, it loses credibility and opens itself to corruption. This became evident when under the governance of dictators, the wealthy landowners and the church clergy held all the power, land, and money in Guatemala.
    This brings me to the reverse of the 1896/5 Guatemalan Peso and the date on the scroll in the center of the Guatemalan Coat of Arms. That date, 15 September 1821, is the date of Guatemalan independence from Spain. Afterwards, on July 1, 1823, the Federal Republic of Central America consisting of Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras declared their independence from the First Mexican Empire, which had annexed them. The bird perched on the scroll is Guatemalas national bird, the Resplendent Quetzal. This bird is a symbol of liberty because oftentimes the resplendent quetzal will kill itself rather than face capture and captivity. The crossed Springfield Rifles with Bayonets represent the willingness of Guatemala to defend itself. The crossed sabers represent honor, while the laurel wreath symbolizes victory. Interestingly, while governments have come and gone in Guatemala, the coat of arms has remained to this day.
    The liberal factions of the new Federal Republic of Central America had hoped that the Republic would bring about democratic reforms. However, the conservative factions allied with the Catholic clergy, and wealthy landowners fiercely resisted efforts at reform. This led to political wrangling and an ensuing civil war between 1838 and 1840. Consequently, the civil war led to the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America into its separate states.
    Over the course of time and regardless of who was in command, not much has changed for the people of Guatemala. That was until June 30, 1871, when Guatemalas Liberal Revolution toppled the dictatorial government of Vicente Cerna under the command of General Justo Rufino Barrios.
    Through the reforms implemented by Justo Rufino Barrios, much of the Catholic Churchs land was seized and the churchs power stripped by expelling the Jesuits and instituting the freedom of religion. Additional reforms led to freedom of the press and compulsory education. Under Justo Rufino Barrios, the economy was reformed enabling it to compete for international trade. The introduction of the telegraph to the country and the building of railroads modernized the infrastructure of Guatemala. In 1879, the Republic of Guatemala implemented its first constitution.
    Nevertheless, Justo Rufino Barrios ruled by an open dictatorship only slightly moderated by a constitution that gave him broad executive powers. In the opinion of Justo Rufino Barrios, the native Indian culture had nothing to offer to his modern society, and he despised them. Justo Rufino Barrios also dreamed of restoring the old Federal Republic of Central America back to its original form. However, he died on the battlefield trying to restore the Republic by force, and his vision of a new Central American Republic died with him.
    This leads to the significance of the allegory portrayed on the obverse of my 1896/5 peso that has appeared on Guatemalan coinage beginning in 1873. The plinth in the right hemisphere of the obverse represents the Liberal Revolution of June 30, 1871. The broken chains at the base of the plinth represent the breaking of the Conservadoras dictatorial bondage over the people. The seated female personification holding a scale in her left hand supported by the plinth represents Justice. The cornucopia in Lady Justices right hand symbolizes economic prosperity and plenty for all under the justice won through the revolution.
    In the end, I wish I could say that the Guatemalans enjoyed peace and prosperity from the revolution onward, but such is not the case. Other dictators rose to power supported by American corporations (the United Fruit Company), and the country suffered under a 36-year civil war (1960-1996). All too often, even our own government has found itself on the wrong side of Guatemalan history. However, this does not diminish the truth of my coins allegory when it is properly applied. Additionally, the churches complicit support of oppressive governments and methods has nothing to do with the Christ of the Bible and does not diminish the truth of the Bible either.
    In summary, all those who gloss over or ignore the inconvenient truths of history are doomed to repeat them. The lessons of history are there for all those who have the courage to face the truth.
    Gary

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  19. coinsbygary
    This months featured coin (Volume 2 Number 7) is a silver proof-like 1970 Netherlands 10 Gulden coin commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Netherlands liberation from Nazi Germany in 1945.
    In more than 100 years, the Netherlands has not had a male monarch on the throne. As a result, this Netherlands 1970 silver 10 gulden coin commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of liberation features the two reigning queens of the middle twentieth century. On the reverse of the coin is a left facing profile of Queen Wilhelmina, who was the queen of the Netherlands at its liberation from the Nazis in 1945. The obverse features a right facing profile of Queen Juliana, who became queen in 1948 and reigned through the twenty-fifth anniversary of liberation in 1970. The exemplary leadership of both these women in tumultuous times makes this coin an excellent choice for inclusion into my Inspirational Ladies Custom set.
    The 1970, twenty-fifth anniversary of liberation 10 gulden coin has a mintage of 5,980,000 and a proof-like mintage of 20,000. The diameter of this coin is 38mm and it weighs 25 grams. The coins fineness is .7200 silver with an actual silver weight of .5787 ounces.
    Around the rim of the coins obverse is the inscription, Juliana Koningin Der Nederlanden which is translated, JULIANA QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS. On the coins reverse is the inscription, Nederland Herrijst for which I have discovered two possible translations with similar meanings. The first is, THE NETHERLANDS RISES AGAIN and the second, THE NETHERLANDS NOT RECONSTITUTED AS BEFORE. Additionally, around the edge of this coin is the inscription God*zig*met*ons* which is translated GOD BE WITH US. Along the lower rim of the reverse is an inscription with the dual date 1945 and 1970 delimited by the coins denomination at 10G.
    This coins designer is L.O. Wenckebach, and his initial W appears just below the hairline of each profile at the rear of the neck. There are also two privy marks on the reverse near the center at opposite sides of the coins circumference. The privy mark on the right is a caduceus and represents the Utrecht Mint. The mark on the left is a rooster, which represents Mint Master Marius van den Brandhof. Mint masters in the Netherlands choose their own privy mark, and it is said that Marius van den Brandhof chose the rooster because the rooster is a historical sign of vigilance. Whether intended or not, the rooster is the perfect symbol to represent both queens portrayed on this months coin. Thus, the following paragraphs are a short narrative on both Queen Wilhelmina and her daughter, Queen Juliana.
    World War II saw the Netherlands falling to a German invasion. Queen Wilhelmina and her daughter Juliana narrowly escaped capture by leaving the Netherlands on a British warship that the Germans nearly sank as it crossed the English Channel. A naval officer commenting on the incident said I have never seen a woman so completely calm in my life. From Great Britain, Wilhelmina inspired her people and members of the Dutch underground with late evening radio broadcasts calling Adolf Hitler the arch-enemy of mankind. Over the course of the war, Queen Wilhelmina became popular and respected among the leaders of the world. Winston Churchill described her as, the only real man among the governments-in-exile in London. Queen Wilhelmina also became the second women inducted into knighthood in the Order of the Garter. While living in England, Queen Wilhelmina survived an assassination attempt that killed several of her guards. After the war in 1945, Queen Wilhelmina returned to the Netherlands and a rapturous welcome by her people.
    In the era of colonization, the Netherlands was third to only Great Britain and France in the lands they controlled. The Dutch controlled the oil-rich Dutch East Indies or current-day Indonesia. A revolt after WWII in the East Indies brought sharp criticism on Queen Wilhelmina by the economic elite of the Netherlands. Subsequently, on September 4, 1948, Queen Wilhelmina abdicated in favor of her daughter, Juliana. Shortly thereafter, the Dutch East Indies gained their independence.
    During World War II, the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands was particularly brutal resulting in a manufactured famine. As president of the Dutch Red Cross after the fall of Nazi Germany, Juliana was instrumental in the reconstruction and relief efforts for her country. Her down-to-earth demeanor endeared her to her people. Moreover, Queen Juliana had a heart of compassion towards her people. During Hollands most destructive storm in 500 years on January 31, 1953, Queen Juliana waded through water and mud to bring food and clothing to the flood victims. Queen Juliana was also an accomplished public speaker. She frequently used her speaking engagements to advocate for philanthropic causes of which child welfare issues were among her favorite topics. She is quoted as saying, A child must be surrounded with love. No one can live without receiving love, or without feeling wanted for his own sake. In fact, no human being lives without giving love.
    Overall, Queen Juliana was a very popular queen, this in spite of various scandals from within her family and her own indiscretions involving excessive political influence from a so-called faith healer. One such scandal involved a bribe taken from the Lockheed Corporation by Julianas husband, Prince Bernard. Resilient as ever, Queen Juliana and her husband survived this scandal without abdicating the throne. Always loyal, Queen Juliana loved her husband, Prince Bernhard, up until the day she died. The thing that makes her love especially amazing is the fact that Prince Bernhard was a known philanderer.
    Interestingly, there has not been a king on the throne since King William III died November 23, 1890 and Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont became the queen regent. However, when Queen Beatrix abdicates on April 30, 2013 in favor of Prince Willem-Alexander, the Netherlands will once again have a king on the throne. Now until next month, happy collecting!
    Gary

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  20. coinsbygary
    It is not often that I talk about my Christian faith on a coin forum, but in this instance, the two are intricately entwined and inseparable. So follow along with me as I chronicle an improbable journey culminating with three new coins for my collection.
    Oftentimes the lines between the important and the most important things in life become blurred and the important overtakes the most important. Moreover, that transition can be so subtle that we are often not aware of it.
    Every Year in the month of January, my church observes a month of prayer and fasting, and each year I participate in this at some level. This year however, I felt strongly led to fast from buying ANY coins during the month of January because over the past year I had been overextending our family finances to buy coins. A month long abstinence from buying coins would help me to determine how important collecting coins had become in my life. Subsequently, if I found that my priorities were out of order, I could then put coin collecting back into its proper perspective as a distant third to God and family. This also meant that I would have to pass on any coins from my want list that became available during the month of January. Not coincidently, it is on this point that three coin purchases I made on February 3 get very interesting.
    In January I needed three coins for my Wilhelmina 10 Gulden set to reach a goal of every coin grading MS-65 or higher. Two MS-64 examples of those coins, the 1925 and 1926, had been in my collection since its inception almost four years ago. Like many of you, I receive e-mails from E-Bay of new items on my want list. However, 99% of the time I find nothing of interest. Nevertheless, on Monday January 28 a new listing with a closing date of February 3 appeared for a MS-65 1925 Wilhelmina. I thought, praise God, if this listing had been posted a week ago I would have had to pass on it. Over the next week there did not seem to be much interest in the coin, probably due to its high opening bid. Then Sunday morning February 3, I woke up to find in my want list a MS-65 1926 Wilhelmina as a BUY IT NOW. I had to pinch myself to see if what was happening to me was true! Four years I have waited to upgrade these two coins and now in one day I could have both! The BIN was a tad high, but after a four-year wait and a lower graded coin to subsidize the purchase, I didnt waste any time in snapping that coin up. Later that day I won the other coin as its only bidder. Now my set of eleven coins has six top POPs and only one MS-64 left to upgrade.
    If those two coins were the layers of the cake, this coin is the icing. Not long ago I discovered a Guatemalan one-peso coin that I found attractive and desired for my Inspirational Ladies set. An E-Bay search produced two BINs, an 1895 MS-64 for $400 and 1896 MS-62 for $275. Oftentimes, the Numismaster Price Guide lists the values of world coins only up to MS-60, thus making it difficult to gage fair prices for high-grade world coins. After about a month of watching the listing for the 1896 MS-62 coin recycle, I thought that I would buy that coin after my fast. That was until a true auction 1896/5 MS-63 listing with a closing date of February 3 appeared on my want list. Interestingly, the one thing I could determine from the Numismaster price guide was that the over date was $35 more valuable than the plain date at MS-60. Subsequently, I set up a snip for the coin at $305, which is what I would have paid for the other coin plus $30. At the end of the auction, I won the coin for $155.50 with postage! I now had a coin that was presumably scarcer and had a higher grade for more than $100 less than the other coin. Then I realized that had I not been on the fast, I would have certainly purchased the other coin and missed the blessing. There is then a lesson in this for me to be patient and wait.
    In summary, I believe that if I honor God in my commitment to him, he in turn will honor me. More often than not, he will not honor me by allowing me to buy more coins, but he will always be faithful and bless me in other areas of my life. You see, its not about the stuff, but about the relationships, and whether its my spiritual relationship with God or my relationship with my family and friends, my relationships are more valuable to me than all the coins in the world. This truth then is the lesson of the fast.
    So until next time happy collecting, and look for a Coin of the Month column on my Guatemalan peso coming soon.
    Gary

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  21. coinsbygary
    My Coin of the Month for February (Volume 2 Number 6) is an NGC graded MS-64, 1930-B 20 Francs gold coin from Switzerland (KM #35.1). Due to an array of interesting events occurring in Switzerlands history, I have found it especially difficult to write this months edition of the Coin of the Month. Therefore, I have decided to focus specifically on the coins allegorical and historical context rather than writing a narrative on Swiss history.
    This Swiss 1930-B, 20 Francs gold coin was minted in Bern, Switzerland with dies engraved by the Paris Mint. It is 21.2mm in diameter and weighs 6.4516 grams with an AGW of .1867 troy ounces. The gold fineness of this coin is 90% and the mintage is 3,371,764. Minting of this series of coins began in 1897 and ran continuously through 1916. After this, minting continued off and on until finally ending in 1949.
    The Swiss 20 Francs coin is also known as the Euro before the Euro. In 1865, the nations of Switzerland, France, Belgium, Italy, and later Spain and Greece joined together to form the Latin Monetary Union. The main objective of the union was to standardize the weight and fineness of gold and silver coins among member nations. This allowed the coins of each member nation to circulate freely in the other member nations. Thus, the Italian 20 Lire, the Belgian 20 Francs, the French 20 Francs, the Spanish 20 Pesetas, and the Greek 20 Drachma all had equal parity with the Swiss 20 Francs. The Latin Monetary Union dissolved in 1926, while Switzerland continued to mint the gold 20 Francs coins until 1949.
    This coin known as the Vreneli or Helvetia is a major departure from the previous 20 Francs coin featuring a representation of Lady Liberty. While the personification of Vreneli also represents liberty, I think the name Vreneli captures more of the heart and soul of the Swiss people. To make my point, the name Vreneli may also represent a character named Vreneli in the story of Swiss folk hero William Tell. The name Vreneli could also be a derivative of the word Verena which is a female effigy representing the Confederation of Switzerland. The name Helvetia comes from an ancient group of Celtic people called the Helvetii and was the name given to the region by the Romans in 58 BC. Helvetia has since evolved into the female personification of Switzerland she is today. Even the name Swiss Miss is used to characterize this coin because of the apparent youthfulness of the women featured on the obverse representing the free and independent spirit of the Swiss people.
    The design for this coin came by means of a contest won by Fritz Landry whose first initial and last name appear on the coins obverse. A young woman named Francoise Engli serves as the model for Vreneli.
    With the Swiss Alps as a backdrop, the obverse of this coin features the bust of a young woman with plaited hair wearing a garland of edelweiss flowers around her neck. The name Helvetia appears over the top of the mountains. The reverse features a Swiss Cross on an ornate shield tied with a ribbon to an oak branch behind it. The shield and oak branch separate the value of the coin 20 with the denomination FR for Francs. The date and mintmark appear on the bottom rim of the coins reverse. The edge of this coin features 22 stars in relief.
    Lending to the charm of this coin is the legend of the edelweiss flower that grows in the harsh environment of the Alps. Protected by gnomes, the beautiful ice queen with a heart as cold as her name, sings her beautiful song from high atop the Swiss Alps. Lured by her lovely voice, shepherds would climb the mountains to her abode. Upon their arrival, the ice queen toyed with their hearts until she was bored with them at which point the gnomes tossed them from the mountains unto their death. This went on for many years until the ice queen met a man she fell in love with. Unfortunately, this did not sit well with the gnomes who feared that their immortal ice queen would marry a mortal man. Filled with jealousy the gnomes conspired to toss her beloved off the mountain. Hurtling to his death in the valley below, his heart burst asunder in full view of the ice queen. Seeing this, the ice queen whose icy heart was melting, shed one tear that fell from her cheek and onto the ground turning into an edelweiss flower. Later male suitors in order to show their love would climb dangerous peaks in search of the edelweiss flower. The edelweiss flower is then a symbol of love, bravery, strength, and dedication.
    In the year 1291 AD, three cantons in the heart of todays Switzerland united to form the Old Swiss Confederacy. As a comparison, cantons in Switzerland are much like states in the United States. Among the three original cantons is the Canton of Schwyz. Today the Swiss flag of a white cross against a red background is an adaptation of the coat of arms for the Canton of Schwyz. Used originally to identify soldiers from different cantons under a common banner, the flag of the Swiss Army became the flag and national identity of Switzerland after a brief civil war in 1840. Thus, the reverse of this coin featuring a Swiss Cross on an ornate shield represents the unity of the cantons. That shield tied by ribbons onto an oak branch then represents the strength and independence of the Swiss Confederation.
    In 1798, the Revolutionary French Army defeated the Old Swiss Confederation. The French then established the Helvetian Republic abolishing the cantons and imposing a new centralized government. This government was very unpopular with the Swiss people because it abolished hundreds of years of tradition. This led to a compromise in 1803 and the establishing of the Swiss Confederation restoring cantonal autonomy to 19 cantons. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 fully restored Swiss autonomy, established 22 cantons, and guaranteed Swiss neutrality. Eventually this loose confederation of cantons gave way in 1848 to a new federal Constitution modeled after the United States Constitution. Many of the principles of this constitution have been in force ever since. Thus, while US coins displaying 13 stars represents the 13 original colonies, the 22 stars in raised relief on the edge of this coin represents the 22 cantons of the 1815 Swiss Confederation.
    This coin is one of the most popular gold coins in Europe and proudly resides in my Inspirational Ladies Custom Set. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this months edition of the Coin of the Month, so until next month, happy collecting!
    Gary

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  22. coinsbygary
    The following is my response to the thread, Last Straw, by SPHanson.
    I too was a little disappointed when my Wilhelmina set made of up of the best coins available to me didnt win an award for best world. After all I poured my heart into this set to make it the best I could complete with photos, upgrade history, and great coin descriptions. When I looked at the winning sets to see what I could possibly do to take my set to the next level, I found four of the five sets without full descriptions and pictures! What was common about these sets though was that they were all made up of magnificently rare and valuable coins assembled into great sets that I enjoyed perusing.
    I then realized that the judges couldnt pass up those sets. Lets face it a lot of awards go to people with deep pockets, but I go back to my saying that magnificent coins belong in great sets and that makes me glad there are people who have the means to bring rare coins together into sets.
    There was nothing then that I could have done to make my set a winning set this year since NGC recently started the world competitive set award a few years back. In other words, they have to work their way through a lot of great sets before they get to mine.
    Scott, in my opinion your set is worthy of an award and I can see your point. Mike, your set is testament to the fact that great sets dont have to be the top registry sets. This was evidenced to me when my 20th Century Type set won the best presented award in 2009 while being the 15th ranked set.
    Therefore, there is nothing that I will do to change my set in preparation for next year with the exception of a timely update. Furthermore, I will put up my set in light of the 1,981 views it has that it IS a great set made up of magnificent coins.
    Gary
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  23. coinsbygary
    Garys Coin of the Month (Volume 2 Number 5) for January 2013 features an NGC PFUC-68 French 100 franc coin (KM#1096) commemorating the 100th anniversary of cinema and the actress, Audrey Hepburn.
    Knowing that my daughter is a fan of Audrey Hepburn, I gave her a boxed set of three Audrey Hepburn movies in 2005 for Christmas. The titles of those movies were Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffanys, and Sabrina. Of those three movies, Audrey Hepburn went on to win an Academy Award for best actress for her role as Princess Anne in the movie Roman Holiday. Furthermore, she also received best actress nominations for her roles in Breakfast at Tiffanys and Sabrina.
    A few years later, I discovered that France issued a series 100 franc coins minted in silver and gold commemorating the centennial of cinematic motion pictures. To my surprise, I found that one of those coins featured a bust of Audrey Hepburn on its reverse. Therefore, due to my daughters fondness of Audrey Hepburn, I began a search for the silver version of the coin.
    After months of searching, I finally found one by way of a direct sale. That coin with a silver fineness of .9000, weighs 22.2 grams, has an ASW (actual silver weight) of .6423 ounces, and is 37 mm in diameter. The mintage of this proof-only coin is 15,000. The central device on the obverse of the coin is an antique movie camera. The French motto inscribed around the rim from 8:00 to 2:00 is translated, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. On the right hemisphere of the obverse are the initials RF representing the Republic of France, the denomination of the coin at 100 Francs, and the year 1995. Below the date are two small privy marks. The Cornucopia denotes that the coin is a product of the Paris Mint, and the Bee identifies Pierre Rodier as the engraver general. The central device on the reverse is a head 3/4 left bust of Audrey Hepburn. Inscribed along the upper rim of the obverse is the translated phrase, Centenary of the Cinema.
    I have always been amazed by the inventions of the 19th century that have transformed into multi-billion dollar industries today. One of those multi-billion dollar industries of course is the motion picture industry. Much of the credit for this burgeoning industry today should go to its founders Auguste and Louis Lumiere. For it was on December 28, 1895 in the basement of the Salon Indien du Grand Cafe in Paris, France that the Lumiere Brothers brought to screen the first motion pictures to a paying audience. The next time you go to the movies, consider this:
    1. The first movie screen was 9 feet wide by 6 feet high.
    2. The very first moviegoers paid one franc (about 20 cents by todays standards) for admission, which was a goodly amount of money in its day. In this regard, it appears that not much has changed since 1895 since it still costs a goodly sum to go to the movies today!
    3. The very first paid audience was treated to 10 silent films, none of which was longer than a minute.
    4. Only 33 people attended the debut of motion picture history!
    One of the persons in attendance that day was a magician by the name of Georges Melies who later wrote, we sat there with our mouths open, awe-struck, and beyond words. Interestingly, Melies himself went on to produce motion pictures of his own. Of note, he produced the iconic 1902 humorous fantasy, A Trip to the Moon. Of note for all you science fiction fans including myself, A Trip to the Moon is the first known science fiction film.
    Another thing that amazes me is how someone can take a dreadful childhood and use it to help others. In Audrey Hepburns case, she used her painful experiences as a child to bless untold numbers of people worldwide.
    Audrey Hepburn was born Audrey Kathleen Ruston on May 4, 1929 to a British father and a Dutch mother in Ixelles, Belgium. After her parents separated, Audreys mother moved her to Arnhem, Netherlands in 1935.
    From 1939 to 1945, Audrey Hepburn attended the Arnhem Conservatory where among other things she studied ballet. Audrey loved ballet dancing, but it was thought that due to her physical maladies brought on by malnutrition during her teenage years that she would not excel in it. The mistreatment and starving of the Dutch people during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands would have a profound effect on the rest of Audrey Hepburns life.
    Not dissuaded by lifes disappointments, Audrey tenaciously pursued a career in modeling. From there she used her experience in dancing to compete and win one of ten spots in a chorus line from among 4000 dancers. Shortly thereafter, she beat out Elizabeth Taylor for a starring role in Roman Holiday for which she subsequently won an Academy Award. The rest, as they say, is the stuff dreams are made of as Audrey Hepburn went on to be a successful actress.
    There is yet another aspect of Audrey Hepburns life that continued almost unnoticed by the public and unknown by me until I got interested in her coin. Influenced by her childhood, Audrey was an advocate for the long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to mothers and children in developing countries. Working through UNICEF (The United Nations Childrens Fund) Audrey was appointed UNICEFs goodwill ambassador in 1989. In 1992, Audrey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her humanitarian work through UNICEF. Audrey Hepburn died at the age of 63 on January 20, 1993. However, as a legacy Audrey Hepburns humanitarian work continues through the Audrey Hepburn Childrens Fund, first chaired by her eldest son and currently now by her younger son.
    In summary, it is not because of my daughters love of Audrey Hepburn that this coin resides in my Inspirational Ladies custom set. Nor is it as much about Audrey Hepburns successful movie career. Rather, I have included her coin in my set primarily because of Audrey Hepburns determination to overcome adversity, and then use her status as a famous actress to help people less fortunate than herself. Now until next month, happy collecting!
    Gary

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  24. coinsbygary

    Guilty as Charged

    By coinsbygary,

    I was snared by my own desire to populate a registry set by buying the plastic rather than the coin.
    I work in an industry where companies compete for what is called market share and since I work in the cell phone industry, the pool of potential new customers without cell phones is small and dwindling. Therefore, if you look at the cell phone market as a pie, the only way for my company to grow is if it can take a bite out of another's piece of the pie. For the most part, AT&T and Verizon are the 900-pound gorillas that are taking bites out of each other, and everyone else that is left. Unfortunately, for consumers, what the government has seen fit to bust up, the industry has managed to put back together. Before long there will only be a handful of companies left, and the consumer will be the one who is left out to dry.
    I think you can see where I am going with this; in order for PCGS and NGC (the numismatic 900-pound gorillas) to grow and compete, they must increase their market share of graded coins. Where collectors often sour on grading companies is in the fact that the certified coin industry is big business. However, like it or not, third party graders are in business to make money. Yes, third party graders perform a great service for the collecting community, but they are for-profit organizations which, in and of itself, is not wrong as long as they remain ethical.
    This now is where I digress into my opinion and only that. I believe that a large portion of NGCs and PCGS's business is through bulk submissions by dealers. One way for NGC and PCGS to compete is through the fees they charge to certify their customer's coins. However, there is another way for them to compete with each other that is much more subtle. Everyone knows that the higher the grade, the more the dealer can charge to the collector for the coin. As a result, if I were making a bulk submission for eventual resale, I would look for the grader who gives me the best grades. This has resulted in what I believe is a softening of the conservative grading standards of the past in order to compete for increased market share. Unfortunately, this affects the end consumer of coins, the individual collector. The pendulum will only swing back when enough collectors have had enough. Enter CAC acting as the arbiter of the swing back to more conservative grading. However, the market is much larger than the coins CAC sees, meaning it is up to the collecting community as a whole to put their foot down and refuse to buy substandard products. Yes, certified coins are the products of the companies certifying them.
    Now there is no way for me to prove the points I made in the previous paragraph since all third party graders have strict policies of the grader not knowing the identity of the submitter. Furthermore, graders are not allowed to be commercially involved in the buying and selling of coins. However, through my recent buying experience and subsequent research I believe that at the very minimum, they are unintentionally responding to market pressures. Then of course, there is the seeming randomness of human subjectivity in spite of the fact that all graders are professional Numismatists with many years of experience. Interestingly, the many crossovers and resubmissions prove that submitters believe that if they send their coins in enough times they will eventually get the grade they are seeking.
    All that I just stated premises my own personal experience. If you want to say that I bought the holder rather than the coin, then I plead guilty as charged. I am only sharing my experience with you in the hope that you will be reminded that its about the coin, not the plastic.
    Rather than collecting Silver American Eagles, I collect Silver Great Britain Britannias. My goal for the set is that they all grade MS-69 or higher. You may think that a grade of MS-69 is an easy goal to obtain, but it is extremely difficult. Because of handling and packaging at the Royal Mint, most of the coins display some sort of surface abrasions. In the four years I have been collecting these, I have four coins grading MS-68 and with my recent purchase, fourteen grading MS-69.
    Now I have a friend, who collects these and I cover his back and he mine by giving each other market alerts. Last year, he notified me of a dealer selling 2012 NGC MS-69 examples of this coin. Subsequently, I bought one sight unseen and was very happy with my purchase. This year he notified me of a different dealer offering the 2013 version of the coin at MS-69 and naturally I jumped on it sight unseen.
    This year though is quite a different story, because right out of the box the very first thing I noticed was a coin with very distracting surface abrasions. As I have previously stated I have been collecting these for years and have submitted more than just few coins for grading in search of the ever-elusive MS-69. Let me tell you I have had MS-67 and MS-68 submissions that looked better than this coin! To say I was very disappointed is an understatement.
    This is when I decided to do a little research to see if returning the coin for another would benefit me. Interestingly, my coin was one of twenty-six coins in a submission with ALL the coins grading MS-69 according to the population report. I thought to myself; why not see what the rest of the coins look like through NGCs coin verification. To my horror, all the coins I saw there had surface abrasions also. Now what do I do? Well for now, I will hold the coin until I SEE a suitable replacement. I noticed another collector (not my friend) selling a coin from the same submission on E-Bay that I am currently tracking for the purpose of seeing what price he gets for his coin.
    In summary, I guess you can be in this hobby for forty years and still have to take the bitter medicine of a hard lesson learned. Though I am currently disappointed with NGC, I still prefer them. I have nothing against PCGS, but it is NGCs inclusive US registry and in my opinion superior collector webpage that sells me on them. I also like NGCs boards and I like the Collectors Society journaling feature. I am also including a photo of peoples exhibit number one. Notice the abrasions on Britannias skirt and shield, the rub marks on the pleats of her skirt, and the cloudiness in the field around her trident. I think you will agree with me that this is no MS-69
    Gary

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  25. coinsbygary
    The Full Library of Garys Coin of the Month Journals represents much of what I enjoy about numismatics and coin collecting. Together with collecting coins, I also enjoy history, writing, and photography. All of these aspects combine into what has become Garys Coin of the Month.
    More than merely collecting coins into sets, I want to know the who, what, where, when, and whys of the particular coins that I collect. Concisely, I have a desire to know who designed or commissioned the minting of my coin. I want to know what my coin represents, or what message the coin is conveying other than that of a medium of exchange. The where of my coin centers on the nation issuing the coin and its peoples. The when of my coin brings into focus the coins historical context, and the why my desire to know for what purpose the coin was minted.
    These curiosities coupled with my love of writing and a desire to present my coins in a way that is aesthetically pleasing to myself, and others led to Garys Coin of the Month. The goals of Garys Coin of the Month are simple. First, I research the coin in hopes of discovering the five Ws associated with that coin as listed in the previous paragraph. Subsequently, I re-tell the coins story in my own words. Finally, I take high-quality photographs of my coins and edit those into collages using Photoshop Elements to create artistic images.
    One of the things I enjoy about writing is the opportunity to editorialize what I think are the main themes of a coin into its proper context. Additionally, I try to keep things simple and interesting in the hope that my readers will take away something of significance from reading my articles. Furthermore, I enjoy the feedback I receive from my readers both good and bad. That feedback consistently encourages me to improve upon my writing skills.
    The coins I have featured come from all over the world representing five continents, with a few of them hailing from island nations and colonies. Generally speaking, the coins I highlight fit into one of my custom or registry sets. Oftentimes the Coin of the Month post will be incorporated into the coins Owners Comments portion of the set that it is contained. Additionally, my Coin of the Month articles have featured proof, mint-state, and circulated coins in all types of metallic compositions.
    Please enjoy perusing my set, and in particular view all the pictures of my coins using the slide show feature. A few of my articles have been condensed to fit into the Owner Comments. The following is a link to The Full Library of Garys Coin of the Month Journals. I know I have referred to this set in a previous post, but now the set description employs this post above and JAA USA/Philippines Collection tips for sprucing up Custom sets.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=11573
    Happy Collecting and all the best for the upcoming awards!
    Gary
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