LINCOLNMAN

Thanks Bob. And thanks for identifying the subject reference, I'll see if I can track it down. I thought/hoped that someone must have tackled this comprehensively. Trying to keep the set reasonable. I read that an ancient was found here by detectorists, so I need to draw the line somewhere. Anything and everything must have been used. Started as an extension of my colonial type, which started as an extension of my federal type. Keeps me out of the bars.

An interesting (to me anyway) tidbit is that counterfeit coins, especially of GIII, turn op frequently. Yet, the major TPA's won't slab them unless they're a Machin's Mills or "local" product. Seems very silly - a local counterfeit is ok but not a contemporary counterfeit produced in England. An important part of our history just doesn't make the cut.

As I continue to noodle around the internet, it seems that a "doubloon" may have different relative values, but I find 2 (not 4) escudos to be the most common, same as the pistole. Also, the Louis d'Or was also called a "pistole", so the vernacular "pistole" was applied to other coins with similar gold content as the 2 escudos. BTW the "half Joe" (the 6400 reis) of Portugal appears often, so it may have been among the more popular coins used for large transactions, whereas I would have assumed a Spanish or Spanish colonial dominated. The term "Joe" refers to Johannes V of Portugal, who appears on the obverse of many of these, although I would guess that the term was applied loosely to coins of similar weight or showing other monarchs. A "Joe" is a 12,800 reis coin - I've decided to hold off on that one as I've seen more references to the "half Joe" (& budget). Roger, I haven't run into a comprehensive source, yet. PCGS has a registry set defined, but it includes some dubious (based on VERY limited knowledge) components, like the Netherlands ducat. Since foreign coins were used extensively, almost exclusively, in the early going, I'm surprised that this collecting area seems somewhat neglected, although I've only scratched the surface. C4 gets into these, but has anyone tackled the whole subject? I'm having great fun with this and have added types found in Jamestown and Williamsburg and by detectorists, many of which are unusual, being from countries like Germany, Sweden, and Hungary.

I've been working on a type set of foreign coins that were commonly used in the colonies, or for that matter in the United States into to the 19th century. Since gold was not "common" I've delayed including gold in the set, but being a typical obsessed collector, I need to keep feeding the set and am turning to gold. I've come up with: 2 escudos, "pistole" 4 escudos "doubloon" Portugese "moidore", 4000 reis. 6400 reis of Johannes V, "half Joe" Guinea Louis d'Or Any comments? Many thanks.

After spending several months sorting out my finances and acquiring a few other things of interest, I would upgrade my type set and add early gold in no particular order, depending on availability. No super condition or other super rarities, not something I would want to tie up that much money. Leave that to the billionaires.

None.

As a collector of Lincolniana for many years I thought I had seen it all. Very interesting. Thanks for dusting this off and posting.

Someone check my math. 6m sounds like a huge number. I'm getting 85 mines per square mile. I get about 4 square miles covered by Magawa in 5 years with a normal US workers schedule. Surely mines are concentrated in certain parts of Cambodia, so figure maybe 170 mines per square mile on the those areas. Assuming Magawa worked in the areas of greatest concern. he should have discovered about 10 times the number of mines. I'm still willing to make a donation if the correct number of mines is closer to 600,000. And yes I'm a little bored today.

I just looked at the list of job openings. Lots of support openings. Openings across the spectrum. Ancients to comics. Looks like NGC is experiencing a ton of demand from multiple quarters. I wonder what this tells collectors.

China?

FWIW one can enter the tracking number to at least make sure one's package is safely tucked away. I sent a coin in for conservation 20 days ago and the package has been in storage at NGC for 18 days. From the posts above it looks like I will need patience. I sent a foreign coin in not too long ago and the turnaround was fine. I suspect there is a glut of modern new issue backing things up. Is it that time of year?

One has to wonder what is the retirement lifestyle? Out to stud?

My new fact for the day, thanks.

I have a tie: a 1937 Australian crown my father brought back from his service in the Pacific during WWII; a 1902S dime given to me by my mother when I first started collecting 60+ years ago.

IMO we see something like this today in the grading of 18th century coins, .I'm shopping for a nice wreath cent for my type set and there is a very noticeable difference in, let's call it eye appeal, within a given numerical grade. The justification no doubt has to do with "as minted" considerations as well as the "charming" nature of these relatively crude old coins, which I agree with to an extent. Perhaps a different method of grading should be applied to these early issues which are plagued with planchet, environmental, and striking issues, perhaps something more like the way ancients are graded or simply described. Perhaps describe as genuine and not altered, or perhaps net graded as well for those who are unable to trust their own eyes. I've also seen hints that very rare coins are given a numerical grading break as well, although the numerical grade for these mega coins may be largely irrelevant.

Questions like this inevitably end up discussing preferences rather than market value. In a free market, I'm not sure one can argue that anything is undervalued, although we all have opinions about which series is underappreciated. Differences in collector preferences are healthy and expected. BTW I think coins in general are undervalued compared to pop art, baseball cards, and designer purses, to name a few crazy (IMO) money magnets, but the market speaks. Most of the time I don't listen but just shake my head.

A favorite of mine. Large and a great design IMO. Well done.

I keep everything on a spreadsheet. I use PR for all proofs (as does eBay). Use SP for SMS as it looks cooler (eBay does not).

I should have elaborated. I put a 1965 SMS together as part of my type collection (I like to use first year coins to add interest). Ended up with a mixture of NGC and PCGS. All of the NGC coins are graded MS[xx] and all the PCGS coins are graded SP[xx], which I assumed is for "Specimen". Both NGC and PCGS identify the coins as "SMS". I'm inclined to think that NGC is more conservative not treating these as Specimens, reserving that term for specially prepared and exceptional coins. Could have researched of course but thought it would be of interest, and I'm congenitally lazy.

I noticed that NGC designates SMS coins as MS whereas PCGS uses SP. Rationale for either?

Re Eliasberg: At that rarity and price level, to me the coin would be everything. Much lesser coins, provenance could add to the value as a point of pride or interest, sort of a curiosity like an old slab.

Guess 64/ $8,500.

The title of the list is an odd choice as it appears that only living persons are included. Should just say 2020.

I collect anything in the category of coinage that circulated in the US, although I try to stick to more commonly recognized coins or examples of coins found in archeological digs (e.g. look up Jamestown coins) or by metal detectorists. I also stay with 18th century or earlier examples. In other words, I'm more inclusive than exclusive. I suggest you use a a liberal definition of "US Colonial" - you'll have a lot more fun. Finding these coins isn't always easy and more often than not they're raw and tough to price.

Whether a coin should be submitted depends on more than cost, as mentioned above. As a collector I have coins graded so that my collection is uniform and protected. This often means that I don't buy raw coins (such as modern type) as the economics work far better and there is relatively little wait time when the coin is already graded. The raw coins that I do buy and have graded tend to be foreign coins that are virtually impossible to find graded, in which case I'm sure the economics are poor, but I end up with an attractive and secure set. Of course liquidity is a major factor for anyone as sooner or later you or someone will almost certainly want to liquidate your collection. In this world of fakes and altered coins, I would guess that the dollar/grading threshold is pretty low for coins that are often misrepresented, such as a low-end 16D Merc.