• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

jgenn

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    466

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    5

 Content Type 

Journal Entries posted by jgenn

  1. jgenn
    Somehow this coin got rotated almost 180 degrees in its holder.
    I put in some strong bids but was not able to win any coins in several world coin auctions this Fall. For the 8 reales collector, it was a special time because quite a few ultra rare varieties were on the block. A 1733/2-MXF in VF-35 sold for $18,800 in Baltimore and a 1778 MoMF in XF sold for over 14000 euros in Barcelona.
    Last month I was able to take Friday off and visit the Baltimore Show. I enjoyed the dealers room and got some opinions on a few of my ungraded 8 reales. None of the dealers I approached were very interested in the coins that I brought to sell and I didn't find any that I really needed to add to my collection.
    What I did accomplish was to submit two coins to NGC for re-holdering. One coin I knew was going to be handled for free because the label was wrong. That was the Thaler that I bought at the previous Baltimore Show. The holder was terribly scratched so I really wanted the new holder more than the label correction.
    My other coin somehow got rotated almost 180 degrees in its holder. I bought it that way so it was nothing that I did to it. It wasn't loose in the insert and I tried to get it to shift by tapping the case with no luck. Fortunately, the NGC representative accepted it as a free re-holder, too. So the 'fix' is to take it to a show and get NGC to agree to re-holder it for free. The return postage was paid by NGC.
    The coin in question is a 1758 Écu minted in Bordeaux, France. It's part of my growing world silver crown collection. At the time it was minted, France was embroiled in the Seven Years' War, fought in Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines. In the US we call it the French and Indian War. It had a huge impact in North America when it concluded in 1763 -- France was forced to cede all of its North American territory East of the Mississippi to Great Britain and Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain as well. A few years later the nascent United States of America would claim all of this British territory south of the Great Lakes for its own. In 1803 Napoleon sold the rest of the French Territories to the US with the Louisiana Purchase, ending French colonialism in North America.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  2. jgenn

    Two goals in one!

    By jgenn,

    An overdue report on my January world coin activities.
    I'm not sure if it's the same with US coins but I think the January Heritage, Stack's Bowers, Triton and Goldberg auctions have the best selection of rare and premium quality world coins of the year. Unlike last year, when I was completely shut out of January's world coin auctions, I scored a few goals this time around. One coin was literally two goals in one. I wanted to add a Swiss Thaler to my collection of world crowns and I've also been on the hunt for a city view type coin. My new coin is a Basel Thaler Dav-1746, KM# 126, undated but circa 1676 according to Heritage or 1737 according to Numismaster, with a lovely city-view reverse.
    Basel joined the Swiss Confederacy as its eleventh canton in 1501, shortly after the conclusion of the Swabian War in which the Swiss armies outfought the armies of the House of Habsburg and the Swabian League. It remained a Prince-Bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire until joining the Swiss Reformation in 1528. The Treaty of Westphalia of 1648 offically separated the Swiss Confederacy from the Holy Roman Empire. Basel was one of the first areas to be conquered by Napoleon in 1793 leading to the collapse of the Swiss Confederacy and reorganization into the short-lived Helvetic Republic of 1798-1803. Today, Basel is a popular destination for cruises on the Rhine river.
    The obverse of this nicely toned coin features the bishop's crosier, or staff of office, as enshrined on the Basel coat of arms, within an adorned circle. The reverse is the city view, showing the city and the bridge over the Rhine with lesser Basel in the foreground, founded to guard the bridgehead. This variety is unique in the complete lack of lettering on the city view side as well as absence of Basel's heraldic animal, the winged worm known as the basilisk, unless you consider the curvilinear ornamentation surrounding the coat of arms as a very abstract representation of the creature.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  3. jgenn
    What do you think of this type of coin presentation?
    I love the look of old historic maps so I thought I would try to use one as the background with a coin of, roughly, the same period. My coin is a 1629 Scudo of Odoardo Farnese, the Duke of Parma and Piacenza, from 1622 - 1646. The map is from 1699, by Phillip Lea of Cheapside, London. I think the map helps to set the coin in its historic, as well as geographic, context.
    ~jack
    edit: I posted a larger image to the chat board.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  4. jgenn

    Light and Shadow

    By jgenn,

    Sometimes a strong lighting angle can bring out a coin's best appearance.
    The lamps that I use for my coin photographs are too bulky to allow placement near the camera lens so I have to experiment with different angles in relation to the plane of the coin's surface. I have a couple of small LEDs lamps on order that will allow me to get close to a perpendicular angle, but until they arrive I have to make due with what I have.
    I've read advice that for coins with portraits, you should try to light the face in a natural way -- as if lit from above by sunlight. Here's my best attempt at that on a young Catherine the Great from a 1764 Rouble minted in Saint Petersburg.

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  5. jgenn
    I don't collect many US coins but they fit nicely into a mint type set.
    In a rare case of planning ahead with my coin acquisition strategy, I picked my US silver dollar types so that they each came from a separate mint. The set is now complete and I've created a custom set in the Thematic & Topical Coins section to show them off.
    coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=19490
    Here's a photo teaser.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  6. jgenn

    My Three Suns

    By jgenn,

    A glorious light shines on former Spanish colonies.
    Three of my favorite 8 reales are from the former colonies of the Spanish Empire in the New World. The hopeful aspirations of these newly independent nations are reflected in the beautiful sunface designs of the Provincias Unidas del Río de la Plata, Republica del Centro de America and Republica Sud Peruana. The birth of new nations is a politically contentious process -- these republics had to deal with years of internal and external strife to emerge as the nations we recognize today.
    1813 8 reales of the former Spanish Viceroyalty of the Rio del la Plata that included parts of modern day Argentina, Uruguay and Bolivia. This is the first year of issue and was minted in Potosi. The sunface design on this coin is known as the Sol de Mayo from the story that the sun shone forth from the clouds at the declaration of the new, independent government in May of 1810. The design is similar to the heraldic device called the 'sun in splendor', notable for having alternating straight and wavy rays.
    1825 8 reales of the former Spanish Captaincy General of Guatemala that included modern day Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Los Altos (which would become the Mexican State of Chiapas). This is the second year of issue as was minted in Nueva Guatemala (Guatamala City). In my opinion, the obverse design embodies the idea of the light of freedom dawning on a newly liberated land.
    1837 8 reales of the short lived Republic of South Peru that comprised part of modern day Peru and Bolivia. This is the first year of issue and was minted in Cuzco. This sunface is thought to an Inca design, perhaps representing the sun god Inti. The complex reverse design depicts a cornucopia of gold from the Peruvian coat of arms, a crowned tower that some sources cite as the Inca fortress of Saksaywaman overlooking the city of Cuzco, a volcano (perhaps El Misti, one of Peru's most active), and a ship in the ocean. Coincidentally, Charles Darwin noted volcanic activity in the area when he arrived in Lima on the second voyage of the HMS Beagle in July of 1835. Perhaps the engraver was commemorating the visit of this important voyage of discovery.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  7. jgenn
    would smell as sweet -- but a better photograph can't hurt!
    My original title for this post was 'Most Subtly Improved', a nod to Gary and Alan's recent posts about their photography, but I could't resist the Shakespearean jest. As my photography skills slowly progress I have greatly improved many of my early coin images but sometimes it's the ones with a subtle improvement that can really catch your attention. That's the case with my Pezza della Rosa or Rose Dollar and I hope you'll agree. The nature of the design is such that nearly any photograph cannot detract from its inherent beauty,
    My initial focus for collecting was the portrait eight reales of Charles III of Spain. To be honest, I have become quite bored of seeing his bust; and those of monarchs in general. When I broadened my collecting interest to all world crowns I actively sought other types of design. I became particularly enamored with the pezza della rosa, from Livorno in the Italian state of Tuscany. Interestingly, it's one of several crown sized silver coins that were minted there. Ducats or piastra were made to trade on par with the high value ducatons from the Dutch Republic. Talleros had a value equal to the thalers of the German states. The pezza della rosa, also known as pezza da otto reali, was the local equivalent of the Spanish 8 reales. As an important port and trading center, having local coins with similar values to foreign coins eased commerce and gave the ruler the seigniorage, the profit on the difference between the face value and cost to produce the coins.
    My example is from 1707, during the reign of Cosimo III, the penultimate head of the famous Medici family. Initially, I lit the coin with a typical 2:00 and 10:00 arrangement. For my slightly improved version, I positioned a Jansjo at a low angle at 12:00 and one at a slightly higher angle but also near 12:00 to light the bottom half of the coin. For these early milled, lower relief coins, I seem to get better results from a setup that tries to approximate the 'in-hand' look.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  8. jgenn

    England without a monarch!

    By jgenn,

    A relic from the 'Interregnum'
    King Charles I lost more than the English Civil War. In 1649 he lost his head and England began a period of eleven years without a monarch. Even so, crowns were still minted.
    1658 crown of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, a single year issue as he died that September. The crown is noted for its high strike quality due to the mechanized milling and press process introduced by Pierre Blondeau, former engineer of the Paris mint. The dies were produced by the Royal Mint's chief engraver, Thomas Simon. All issues show an 8 punched over 7 and many have the die crack through the lower obverse.
    Cromwell ascended to this position, king in all but name, from his distinguished service in the Parliamentarian army during the English Civil War. The resignation of Lord Fairfax, lord general of the army, who opposed the execution of Charles I, left Cromwell at the head of the most powerful faction of the new republic in 1649. He assumed full control with the title of Lord Protector in 1653. At his death, his eldest son assumed the title but could not maintain the military dictatorship. Charles II gained the throne in 1660, ending this brief period of England without a monarch.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  9. jgenn

    A Tale of Two Cities

    By jgenn,

    It was the best of thalers, it was the worst of thalers...
    Several city-view thalers were up for sale this November and I acquired one of Frankfurt am Main and one of Regensburg. Minted just a few years apart, they are from the last few decades of the Holy Roman Empire. Both of these were Free Imperial Cities, subordinate only to the Emperor, and had important roles in the Empire; Frankfurt was the city where kings and emperors were crowned and Regensburg hosted the principle decision making body, the Imperial Diet. Both are well struck with minimal wear but otherwise, they are a contrast in appearance.
    The Frankfurt thaler has muted luster with significant toning, somewhat uneven and with a few crusty areas in the legend. The city view is in landscape style and the toning adds a weather-like effect as if a rain storm is passing through. It's quite ornate with elaborate framing of the city arms and the radiant triangle, caduceus and cornucopias symbols.
    The Regensburg thaler is highly lustrous with only slight toning. The obverse shows the portrait of Emperor Joseph II and the reverse is a portrait of the city -- engraved on a large scale, accentuating its importance and grandeur, and features an impressive level of detail -- its precise lines are more in the style of an architectural drawing.
    I know it's a stretch to paraphrase Dickens' famous first line with any relevance to these coins, but to me it is mainly about the range of Regensburg city view coins that were on offer. I chose the one with the best eye appeal but some may regard it as the worst because of its details grade. Between the two pictured here, I appreciate the qualities of the different styles, however I find the Frankfurt view more appealing. Toning and details grades generate strong opinions among collectors. Which city view do you prefer?
    I'll post the full coin photographs with grades on the chat board.
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  10. jgenn

    Custom Sets Question

    By jgenn,

    To go big or stay focused?
    Congratulations to all the registry participants and winners. Now that the 2015 awards have been decided we can take a peek at the judges' selections, and with 90,000 registry sets out there, I know I will be viewing most of these for the first time.
    Like many of you, I spent a good portion of 2015 creating, organizing and polishing my sets. I've become a big fan of custom sets and I added four last year. I especially like the control we have over the size of our sets and I've kept mine pretty small and focused. The gallery page, where you can see fifteen coins (30 individual photos) at once including the owner's annotations, is my favorite way to view a set. But I will admit that I'm not likely to go more than two pages deep. Personal preferences aside, I wonder if keeping my sets so small was the best approach.
    One of the custom sets I created last year is the pillar dollar companion to my 8 reales busts of Charles III. Although they are chronologically adjacent, the pillar dollars are more desirable to collectors and I (and my wallet) opted for a lower average grade. But now I wonder if I should have combined them together. After all, many of the top custom sets feature considerably more coins than I am contemplating.
    I would like your opinion -- should I keep my Columnarios de Carlos separate or roll them into the Amazing 8s?
    Here's one of those pillar dollars from the Viceroyalty of Peru, Lima mint and a link to the set.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/WCM/CoinCustomSetGallery.aspx?s=19381
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.
  11. jgenn

    Second Chances

    By jgenn,

    The two year wait for the coin that I won.
    In 2013, I told the story about the auction that I participated in where I saw the lot hammer at my pre-bid price. Later, I found out that a floor bidder had the lot reopened, but by then I had stopped watching the on-line feed so I didn't get the opportunity to counter-bid (I would had gone at least one increment higher).
    Now I can tell the rest of the story. That same coin came up for auction in the Rudman Collection of Mexican Coins, Part II. It had never been entered into Isaac Rudman's NGC registry set so I had no idea that he or his agent had successfully lobbied the auctioneer to reopen the lot that I won. The good news is that on the second go-around, I won the lot for a few dollars shy of my pre-bid price from 2013.
    My goal in seeking out this coin was to bring together a nearly complete set of Charles III pillar dollars to complement my portrait collection. I was in second place to Mr. Rudman in that category but I have a few coins in my set that he did not; I was hoping to win enough to improve on his completion ratio. As it turned out, the truly rare varieties got impressive bids. Curiously, several of the scarce overdates hammered for twice what I expected -- and these were all in details grade, too. I guess they looked much better in hand or someone else felt the overwhelming need to fill in those last slots. In the end, I picked up three new examples for my set and one nice upgrade but fell short of my completion goal.
    I fully recognize that the medium grade varieties that I've acquired will be poor investments, however I see more value in making sets like these available for public view. The internet, and sites like the NGC registry, let us publish our own virtual catalogs, giving collectors an alternative to "buying the book". Not that I'm suggesting you don't acquire the key references in your chosen field but some of those classic 8 reales references are out of print and quite expensive!
    Here's the link to my previous post:
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=14583
    And here's my second chance lot (photos by Heritage Auctions)
    ~jack

    To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.