-
To reserve these coins:
My email: – davewnuck@gmail.com
My Phone - (203) 231-1213
Free Shipping.
Did the Pilgrims have bathrooms?
Many of us- myself included- tend to think of the 1600's as a time when humorless people in pilgrim-style hats would sit around and say things like:
"I doth go to the washroom posthaste ".
And yes- I am aware that there was no indoor plumbing in the 1600s. That is what we creative types call, "poetic license".
But while reading an antiques publication recently, this image stopped me dead in my tracks:
(see above)
It depicts the fire that swept through the Amsterdam City Hall in 1652, the same year Massachusetts silver coinage began. Even though it is a horrific scene of destruction, I found it fascinating to see images of what life might have really been like – as opposed to the Norman Rockwell view of that time that has been seared onto our brains.
Coins do that for me as well. What is that you say? Some people counterfeited coins back in colonial times? And clipped the edges to save a little silver from each coin they handled? And they hoarded coins because they didn't know how the Civil War would turn out? And used mostly foreign coins in commerce because the US mint did not produce nearly enough coins to satisfy the needs of the nation during our first few decades? These little tidbits of information help me paint a more accurate, more vivid picture of their lives, not the whitewashed version we learned in school.
Maybe that's why one of my favorite expressions is:
"In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these"
-Paul Harvey
The “Making the Grade” Featured Coin
1652 Pine Tree Shilling. PCGS graded VF30.
Small planchet. Noe-19, Salmon 5-B, considered to be rarity-5. 70.53 grains, per the PCGS tag. Perfectly centered and full dentillation on both sides. Quite a tough die variety, though you are paying little or no premium for that. $4800.
----------------------------
New Listings
1901 Indian Cent. PCGS graded Proof-65 Brown.
A stunner, quite possibly from an original proof set. As noted Indian cent expert Rick Snow has said – many of these vibrantly blue toned Indian cent proofs were wrapped in suphur-containing paper by mint workers prior to being mailed to those who ordered them. Often the paper was discarded once received. Occasionally it is retained, and this can be the result. This coin has an Eagle Eye seal of approval, though it will have to be re-stickered by Mr. Snow. In addition – this coin is accompanied by PCGS TrueView images. $995.
1970-S Lincoln Cent. Small Date. NGC graded Proof-66 Red & Brown.
Rainbow toning at the periphery. Very unusual as such. $195.
1908 Liberty Nickel. PCGS graded MS62.
Stunning gold, green, blue and red pastel coloration – so unusual on Liberty nickels. $250.
1825 Bust Half Dollar. PCGS graded AU55.
O-106, considered to be rarity-2. A ring of deep gold at the periphery fades to near white at the centers. $595.
1833 Bust Half Dollar. PCGG graded XF45.
Deep blue and gray toning, with some dirt still hiding in some of the letters. This coin is accompanied by PCGS TrueView images. $275.
1899-O Barber Half Dollar. PCGS graded AU55.
Another freshly graded coin from an old-time collection. Just back from PCGS, and with a fresh TrueView image to boot. Some AU55 Barber halves look XF at first glance; this AU55 looks fully uncirculated at first blush. $850.
1878-S Trade Dollar. PCGS graded VF35.
I purchased this coin raw from an antique dealer and sent it in myself. Just a choice, original coin. $250.
1925 Peace Dollar. PCGS MS66 CAC.
Stunning green obverse toning over booming luster. Oh man – beautiful toning on a Peace dollar is as rare as civil discourse about our president-elect. $1200.
World Coins, Exonumia, Flotsam & Jetsam
1653 Austria Thaler. NGC graded MS61.
Salzburg. Davenport-3504. A blue-green stunner. There is tremendous value in hand selected silver dollar size European coinage of the 1600’s through the 1700’s like this one. $975.
Group of Four 17th Century Contemporary Counterfeit Irish Tokens. [Uncertified].
Forgeries and fantasies of Irish tokens from the 1600's. Consists of: Nottingham, John Blunt; Thomas Burrowes (2); together with a lead squeeze coupling the rev. of John Trewman’s Nottingham token with the obverse of a Halfpenny of Philip Allen of Highgate. An interesting study group, both to learn more about this tumultuous time in Irish history and to research any possible connections with the enigmatic St. Patrick's coinage that circulated here in America. $295.
(ca. 1748) ) Am I Not A Man And A Brother Ceramic Medallion. 28 x 30 mm Oval.
Produced in Wedgwood's "Black Basalt" composition. Kneeling slave in chains, hands clasped, with legend AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER? around. Reverse inscribed WEDGWOOD / MADE IN / ENGLAND / 57 1748 / EC . Neatly broken in two from 2:00 to 8:00, otherwise nearly as made. $95.
1778 Contemporary Counterfeit 2 Reales. Very Fine [uncertified].
Kleeberg Unlisted. Silvered base metal. Crude portrait on this exceedingly rare variety. Mike Ringo considered it unique, and to the best of my knowledge it remains so. Ex. Mike Ringo Estate; Stack’s Schaumburg Sale 6/2009:102; Stack’s 11/2012:6905; private collection. $395.
1783 Washington and Independence Electrotype. Uncirculated [uncertified].
A well made example of popular colonial Washingtonia. $95.
1786 Non Vi Virtute Vici. Electrotype. Very Fine [uncertified].
An excellent, high quality electrotype of this rare colonial pattern. As a genuine specimen it would cost you the better part of $100k. Mercifully, you can fill this hole in your collection for even less right here. $295.
1787 Contemporary Counterfeit 2 Reales. Very Fine [uncertified].
Kleeberg 87A-M2. Brass. Lovely in its own crude way. $295.
1848 Silver Medal of the Covered Market in Brussels, Belgium by Jacques Wiener. Uncirculated [uncertified].
You've got your usual obverse scene of an angel stabbing the devil in the mouth with a giant sword. And for contrast on the reverse you have a 3 dimensional view of the interior of the famous covered market in Brussels. This market is still in existence today. Though it has been updated over the years, you can still see the similarity. This medal is in silver and is smaller than the large Cathedral medals engraver Jacques Wiener is most famous for. At 30mm and 10 grams of silver, it is a little larger than a US half dollar. $175.
“1850” Dated $50 Gold Slug Imitation. Uncirculated [uncertified].
Looped at the top for suspension. One of the many different variants of this popular design. Very likely a 20th century concoction. $65.
1854 Mexico 8 Reales. Genuine Coin; Fake Counterstamp. Extremely Fine [uncertified].
This is a coin that was altered by adding a fake countermark, designed to fool collectors. This was likely done a few decades ago, as there was a little group of these that surfaced in the 1950’s or 1960’s, as I recall. A great example to add to your reference collection.$120.
1858 Catherdral Medal – Pantheon St. Eglise in Paris - by Jacques Wiener. Uncirculated [uncertified].
59 mm, Bronze. Van Hoydonck-159. A large domed cathedral in Paris that began construction in 1757-8. Rich chestnut brown color and slightly reflective surfaces. $295.
1864 Cathedral Medal - Hagia St. Sophia in Constantinople - by Jacques Wiener. Uncirculated [uncertified].
59 mm, Bronze. Van Hoydonck-206. Considered one of the 7 man-made wonders of the world, this famous cathedral was built in 532. Added to and rebuit a number of times over the years, it was also converted to a mosque for a period of time. It is now a museum and major tourist attraction in what is now Istanbul. The medal shows two views of the elaborate interior of this medal -- a key to the Wiener medal series. I have been fortunate to offer 2 of the most desirable Wiener cathedral medals in as many months. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than smart. $1100.
1924 and Undated Contemporary Counterfeit Standing Liberty Quarters. Lot of 2. Fine or Better [uncertified].
These two cast counterfeits are much nicer casts than are typically seen, which is why I am offering them. The specimen with the indistinct date sports beautiful concentric rings of toning, while the 1924 has lots of detail remaining. $75.
Coming Soon ...
Several fresh-to-market Massachusetts Silver Pieces
1815 25c with the enigmatic “E” Counterstamp
Two Spectacularly Toned Double Mint Sets
Contact info to reserve coins:
Website - www.DaveWcoins.com
My email address – davewnuck@gmail.com
Phone - (203) 231-1213
Always Free Shipping.
To reserve these coins:
My email: – davewnuck@gmail.com
My Phone - (203) 231-1213
Free Shipping.
Did the Pilgrims have bathrooms?
Many of us- myself included- tend to think of the 1600's as a time when humorless people in pilgrim-style hats would sit around and say things like:
"I doth go to the washroom posthaste ".
And yes- I am aware that there was no indoor plumbing in the 1600s. That is what we creative types call, "poetic license".
But while reading an antiques publication recently, this image stopped me dead in my tracks:
(see above)
It depicts the fire that swept through the Amsterdam City Hall in 1652, the same year Massachusetts silver coinage began. Even though it is a horrific scene of destruction, I found it fascinating to see images of what life might have really been like – as opposed to the Norman Rockwell view of that time that has been seared onto our brains.
Coins do that for me as well. What is that you say? Some people counterfeited coins back in colonial times? And clipped the edges to save a little silver from each coin they handled? And they hoarded coins because they didn't know how the Civil War would turn out? And used mostly foreign coins in commerce because the US mint did not produce nearly enough coins to satisfy the needs of the nation during our first few decades? These little tidbits of information help me paint a more accurate, more vivid picture of their lives, not the whitewashed version we learned in school.
Maybe that's why one of my favorite expressions is:
"In times like these, it is helpful to remember that there have always been times like these"
-Paul Harvey
The “Making the Grade” Featured Coin
1652 Pine Tree Shilling. PCGS graded VF30.
Small planchet. Noe-19, Salmon 5-B, considered to be rarity-5. 70.53 grains, per the PCGS tag. Perfectly centered and full dentillation on both sides. Quite a tough die variety, though you are paying little or no premium for that. $4800.
----------------------------
New Listings
1901 Indian Cent. PCGS graded Proof-65 Brown.
A stunner, quite possibly from an original proof set. As noted Indian cent expert Rick Snow has said – many of these vibrantly blue toned Indian cent proofs were wrapped in suphur-containing paper by mint workers prior to being mailed to those who ordered them. Often the paper was discarded once received. Occasionally it is retained, and this can be the result. This coin has an Eagle Eye seal of approval, though it will have to be re-stickered by Mr. Snow. In addition – this coin is accompanied by PCGS TrueView images. $995.
1970-S Lincoln Cent. Small Date. NGC graded Proof-66 Red & Brown.
Rainbow toning at the periphery. Very unusual as such. $195.
1908 Liberty Nickel. PCGS graded MS62.
Stunning gold, green, blue and red pastel coloration – so unusual on Liberty nickels. $250.
1825 Bust Half Dollar. PCGS graded AU55.
O-106, considered to be rarity-2. A ring of deep gold at the periphery fades to near white at the centers. $595.
1833 Bust Half Dollar. PCGG graded XF45.
Deep blue and gray toning, with some dirt still hiding in some of the letters. This coin is accompanied by PCGS TrueView images. $275.
1899-O Barber Half Dollar. PCGS graded AU55.
Another freshly graded coin from an old-time collection. Just back from PCGS, and with a fresh TrueView image to boot. Some AU55 Barber halves look XF at first glance; this AU55 looks fully uncirculated at first blush. $850.
1878-S Trade Dollar. PCGS graded VF35.
I purchased this coin raw from an antique dealer and sent it in myself. Just a choice, original coin. $250.
1925 Peace Dollar. PCGS MS66 CAC.
Stunning green obverse toning over booming luster. Oh man – beautiful toning on a Peace dollar is as rare as civil discourse about our president-elect. $1200.
World Coins, Exonumia, Flotsam & Jetsam
1653 Austria Thaler. NGC graded MS61.
Salzburg. Davenport-3504. A blue-green stunner. There is tremendous value in hand selected silver dollar size European coinage of the 1600’s through the 1700’s like this one. $975.
Group of Four 17th Century Contemporary Counterfeit Irish Tokens. [Uncertified].
Forgeries and fantasies of Irish tokens from the 1600's. Consists of: Nottingham, John Blunt; Thomas Burrowes (2); together with a lead squeeze coupling the rev. of John Trewman’s Nottingham token with the obverse of a Halfpenny of Philip Allen of Highgate. An interesting study group, both to learn more about this tumultuous time in Irish history and to research any possible connections with the enigmatic St. Patrick's coinage that circulated here in America. $295.
(ca. 1748) ) Am I Not A Man And A Brother Ceramic Medallion. 28 x 30 mm Oval.
Produced in Wedgwood's "Black Basalt" composition. Kneeling slave in chains, hands clasped, with legend AM I NOT A MAN AND A BROTHER? around. Reverse inscribed WEDGWOOD / MADE IN / ENGLAND / 57 1748 / EC . Neatly broken in two from 2:00 to 8:00, otherwise nearly as made. $95.
1778 Contemporary Counterfeit 2 Reales. Very Fine [uncertified].
Kleeberg Unlisted. Silvered base metal. Crude portrait on this exceedingly rare variety. Mike Ringo considered it unique, and to the best of my knowledge it remains so. Ex. Mike Ringo Estate; Stack’s Schaumburg Sale 6/2009:102; Stack’s 11/2012:6905; private collection. $395.
1783 Washington and Independence Electrotype. Uncirculated [uncertified].
A well made example of popular colonial Washingtonia. $95.
1786 Non Vi Virtute Vici. Electrotype. Very Fine [uncertified].
An excellent, high quality electrotype of this rare colonial pattern. As a genuine specimen it would cost you the better part of $100k. Mercifully, you can fill this hole in your collection for even less right here. $295.
1787 Contemporary Counterfeit 2 Reales. Very Fine [uncertified].
Kleeberg 87A-M2. Brass. Lovely in its own crude way. $295.
1848 Silver Medal of the Covered Market in Brussels, Belgium by Jacques Wiener. Uncirculated [uncertified].
You've got your usual obverse scene of an angel stabbing the devil in the mouth with a giant sword. And for contrast on the reverse you have a 3 dimensional view of the interior of the famous covered market in Brussels. This market is still in existence today. Though it has been updated over the years, you can still see the similarity. This medal is in silver and is smaller than the large Cathedral medals engraver Jacques Wiener is most famous for. At 30mm and 10 grams of silver, it is a little larger than a US half dollar. $175.
“1850” Dated $50 Gold Slug Imitation. Uncirculated [uncertified].
Looped at the top for suspension. One of the many different variants of this popular design. Very likely a 20th century concoction. $65.
1854 Mexico 8 Reales. Genuine Coin; Fake Counterstamp. Extremely Fine [uncertified].
This is a coin that was altered by adding a fake countermark, designed to fool collectors. This was likely done a few decades ago, as there was a little group of these that surfaced in the 1950’s or 1960’s, as I recall. A great example to add to your reference collection.$120.
1858 Catherdral Medal – Pantheon St. Eglise in Paris - by Jacques Wiener. Uncirculated [uncertified].
59 mm, Bronze. Van Hoydonck-159. A large domed cathedral in Paris that began construction in 1757-8. Rich chestnut brown color and slightly reflective surfaces. $295.
1864 Cathedral Medal - Hagia St. Sophia in Constantinople - by Jacques Wiener. Uncirculated [uncertified].
59 mm, Bronze. Van Hoydonck-206. Considered one of the 7 man-made wonders of the world, this famous cathedral was built in 532. Added to and rebuit a number of times over the years, it was also converted to a mosque for a period of time. It is now a museum and major tourist attraction in what is now Istanbul. The medal shows two views of the elaborate interior of this medal -- a key to the Wiener medal series. I have been fortunate to offer 2 of the most desirable Wiener cathedral medals in as many months. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than smart. $1100.
1924 and Undated Contemporary Counterfeit Standing Liberty Quarters. Lot of 2. Fine or Better [uncertified].
These two cast counterfeits are much nicer casts than are typically seen, which is why I am offering them. The specimen with the indistinct date sports beautiful concentric rings of toning, while the 1924 has lots of detail remaining. $75.
Coming Soon ...
Several fresh-to-market Massachusetts Silver Pieces
1815 25c with the enigmatic “E” Counterstamp
Two Spectacularly Toned Double Mint Sets
Contact info to reserve coins:
Website - www.DaveWcoins.com
My email address – davewnuck@gmail.com
Phone - (203) 231-1213
Always Free Shipping.
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