Coming over to the dark side with my first purchase!!!

[RobertB]

Hello all.

 

Well, I finally have come over to the dark side from U.S. coins . Being sick and tired of obscene prices currently going for U.S. coins I decided to expand my horizons and look into European small gold. I must say the prices are extremely lower for what I would call more artistic and much lower mintage items. Below is a link to a Long Beach heritage auction I won. How do you experts think I did for my first purchase ( $ 264 including the juice) ? Do you think it'll slab ? I appreciate all feedback and advice.

 

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2246261057

 

Thanks,

Rob

[JamminJ]

Hi RobertB,

 

Welcome to out slow but fun part of the forum and congradulations on your new purchase! You certainly did better than Heritage's upper estmate of $1,000,000 so how bad could you have done?

 

Seriously catalog on that coin is $350 in uncirculated condition, and even though world coins usually trade at a bit of a discount to catalog you did OK as the coin looks nice (mostly due to the prooflike effect). World gold from the pre-WWI era is pretty common (NGC 67's are not uncommon and 66's are almost easy) and often comes quite nice as it was more of a reserve than circulating currency.

 

Making the best judgement I can from the photo, I would say it should slab at NGC but not at a very high grade due to the chatter in the obverse fields. Maybe something like a 63PL or a 64. Take these grades with again of salt as I am quite the amatuer but I'm sure some more savy forum members will pop by.

 

Hope you enjoy your trip into the darkside, there's literally a world of interesting coins out there!

 

-JamminJ

[GDJMSP]

Howdy RobertB -

 

You're in trouble now - for you have taken the first step into the inescapable world of world gold

 

A nice example for your first purchase But I'm afraid your hooked

[0john0-migration]

Good job with your first puchase. I think your reasons for coming over to the Darkside are similar to many of the thoughts most of us have. I am certain that you will find these coins to be very rewarding.

Welcome.

-John

[Tbirde56]

Mintage was 313,000, second highest of a design minted (with a couple small design variations) 1873-1902. Gold content is .2593 of an ounce, slightly more than a British sovereign of that time. The letters EB are the mintmaster's initials.

[RobertB]

Mintage was 313,000, second highest of a design minted (with a couple small design variations) 1873-1902. Gold content is .2593 of an ounce, slightly more than a British sovereign of that time. The letters EB are the mintmaster's initials.

 

Yes you are correct sir. I was smart enough to pick up a copy of The Standard catalogue of World Coins 1801-1900 to do some research before I jumped in. Being quite experienced from US coins I had the good sense to buy the book, before the coin(s) . Can anyone recommend any other books dealing with European gold from about 1700-1900?

 

Interestingly enough, if you compare the coin I won to a similiar US coin, in this case I used the Coronet Head Gold $5 (very close in weight) you get the following:

 

1895 20 kroner 1895 Cornet Head (including S mint)

gold weight: .2593 oz. .242 oz.

mintage ~135,000 ~1,457,000

book $ @UNC $350 $220

 

slightly more gold in the 20 Kroner and a bit more in price, but less than 10% of the Coronet mintage. Also note I paid a bit over 260 with the juice for a proof like example, how much would a proof like Coronet fetch as a premium ?

 

To me, I can't ignore the value. But, shhhhhhhhh, let's keep these things to ourselves!