Now that I have carefully inspected this piece, the "newness" has worn off and it's...

(reverse pic in my previous post of eBay bucks coin.)On to the next "slaying" of the next "beast". As some of you may have noticed, I'm off my silver bullion kick and now since my recent trade with a fellow collector here for 3 other U.S. gold coins, I am now looking at different pieces of "foreign yellow metal". Most can be had for around "melt" (or less) and there is some gorgeous works of art in some of these old "workhorses" of international commerce. An obverse bust of czar Nicholas II containing .1244 ounces of pure gold. I was having a conversation the other day with a fellow collector and the topic of "surviving pieces" was being discussed. If you think of all the massive "gold" melts that have occurred along with the 1/2 dozen or so large wars since this coin was minted, I'm sure the surviving pieces are much fewer than one would think. Wow, 1899. Afterward, you have two World Wars, and a revolution or two... And coins that were just flat "worn out". 112 years is a long time for sure... How many of these have made it to "present day"??I have one more little gold coin that should ship tomorrow from Apmex (and is one that I don't yet own. "French 20-Franc Rooster" .1867 ounces pure gold), one that will accompany my roll of 2011 silver eagles. Each of these latest gold coins (3) minted by foreign mints, are much more attractive than I thought they would be. World gold coinage is a whole 'nuther ballgame and one that I would like to know more about. But the thought of additional research coupled with the creation of additional "monsters" has me tense to put it mildly.I'm gonna try to keep it to a minimum and really try to keep it all under control. My "mindset" is that if I am aware of a possible problem, I can keep it from becoming a full blown problem. Does that make any sense?? Naw, I didn't think so.Happy Collecting once again.WKF