Some Foreign Money!!!!

[aballein]

Ok guys..my friend brought his collection over today and these are just a few of the goodies i have found so far...any help at all would be appreciated as we know nothing about them at all..WARNING LARGE PICTURES AND LOTS OF EM

[Robert]

Aballein,

This thread probably belongs in the "Identification Help - World Coins" board at the bottom of the Forum.

In case you might not know, foreign coins in general, and Canadian/British coins in particular, have much stricter grading criteria than US coins.

That said, here we go:

#1 = Canadian large cent. One year type (1911-dated coins don't have "Dei Gratia"). Grade is VG to Fine. There are 4 vertical pairs of pearls in the head band. I only see one pair (above the eye) and maybe another. There were about 4.6 million made (compared to over 100 million 1911 US cents). Your coin probably books at $2.

#2 = 1912 British Farthing. I would say that it's at least VF and maybe XF. For grading, look at the detail in the tips of the mustache and on the leg and shield of Brittania. There were about 7.6 million made, and VF is about $1 and XF might be $3. Nice type coin.

#3 = Gr Britain penny. Condition is "Good" or so. 124 million made. Book value is about 50 cents or so.

#4 = Netherlands 1 cent, 1822. Over 18 million made. Book value in fine is $15 or so. This coin is only worth a fraction of that. As in, probably under a dollar.

#5 is French. "Napoleon III Empereur" is not *the* Napoleon but his descendant, who tried to carry on the efforts of "Big Napoloeon". Based on the mintmark location (an "A" below the eagle) I would say it's a 10 (dix) centimes coin. I can't read the date below the bust. In Fine condition this would be a $2-$3 dollar coin at best but it is not anywhere near fine condition. Another 50 cent coin I'm afraid.

#6 1903 British penny. Decent shape. Note the wear on Brittania's leg. I'd say VF for sure. Coins of Edward VII are generally slightly better coins. Over 21 million made. VF is probably a $3 coin in the books but XF would be twice that. Decent coin, albeit a bit baggy.

#7 - the curve ball. An 1808 "ten cash" coin from the British East India Company. Those are the guys who made all that money importing tea to Britain beginning in the early 1600s. No mintage numbers are given, but these are more common than you would think. They're still interesting on several levels. Book value is about $2 in fine, $6 in VF. Your coins would be VF or maybe XF in detail but the porosity would knock it down a bit.

That coin was made only in 1803 and in 1808. It was issued for the "Madras Presidency", on the SE coast of India. That was one of Britain's spheres of influence. Britain also had Bengal and Bombay. Other European countries had their own ports/regions of influence in India. The Danish had Tranquebar, the French had some and the Portuguese (who were there first I believe) had quite a few.

Note the porosity- my Krause catalog says "Nice salvaged (and cleaned) examples from the Admiral Gardner are very common." Your coin *may* have been lost at sea and recovered. I've seen some sea-salvaged coins and they tend to have a pitted appearance.


Hope this helps.