| Slot: |
1788, Great Britain, Worcestershire Conder Token |
| Origin/Country: |
G.BRIT - WORCESTERSHIRE |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
1/2P 1788 G.BRIT D&h-42 WORCESTERSHIRE E: SCALLOPED, SILVERED |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 64 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Great Britain - Worcestershire Conder Token - 1788, D&H-42
Composition: Copper with Silver-Plating
Diameter: 22mm
Mintage: Unknown, but Common
Obverse: Bust of King George III who reigned from 1760-1820.
Reverse: A cornucopia and grouping of music instruments - including a violin, horn, and sheet music - on an altar.
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| Slot: |
1795, Great Britain, Forster's Conder Token |
| Origin/Country: |
G.BRIT - MIDDLESEX |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
1/2P 1795 G.BRIT D&h-302 MIDDLESEX - FORSTER'S E: PLAIN |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 64 RB |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Composition: Copper
Diameter: 29mm
Mintage: Unknown, but a Common Conder Token
Obverse: Crown and date surrounded by musical notation for "God Save The King", which is also the melody used for "America (My Country, Tis of Thee)".
Reverse: "WM Forster. Violin, Tenor & Violoncello Maker" along with the address in a double circle, surrounding The Prince of Wales’s crest.
Edge: Plain (some examples exist with lettered edges)
This was one of the first coins I purchased raw and had graded, it was an early addition to my NGC Registry Symphony Set.
Tokens like these were produced by private individuals and businesses in the late 18th century as population growth and the Industrial Revolution spiked demand and the government failed to supply enough coinage for every day use.
This token was made by William Forster, a highly-regarded instrument maker. Forster had an instrument shop in London, which is advertised on the reverse of this token.
Forster was also a music publisher and he entered into a deal with the composer Joseph Haydn to publish Haydn's works, including numerous symphonies, quartets, and solos.
Thankfully tokens were popular coins to collect, even back at the end of the 18th century, so this high grade piece survives today. While it may not be rare or scarce or particularly valuable, it is one of the highlights of my Symphony Set and I treasure it for that reason.
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| Slot: |
1863, United Stated, New York, Karl Token |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
CIVIL WAR STORE CARDS - NEW YORK |
| Item Description: |
NY 1863 NEW YORK F-630AM-1a CHRISTOPH KARL |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 64 BN |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
United States, New York - Civil War Token/Store Card - 1863, Christoph Karl
Composition: Copper
Diameter: 23mm
Mintage: Unknown
Obverse: Germania seated above the date.
Reverse: Lyre in wreath, surrounded by the store address and proprietor's name.
I love the design of this token, and the color it's developed over the last 150+ years. From the information I could find, Christoph Karl owned a liquor store or saloon and - along with many other store owners - issued this token because of a shortage of coins in general circulation at the time.
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| Slot: |
1956, Austria, Bicentennial of Mozart's Birth |
| Origin/Country: |
AUSTRIA - REPUBLIC |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
25S 1956 WOLFGANG A. MOZART |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 65 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Austria, Silver - Commemorative - 1956, 200th Anniversary of Mozart's birth
Composition: Silver (0.3344oz)
Diameter: 30mm
Mintage: 1,000
Obverse: The denomination surrounded by 3/4th of a circle of shields.
Reverse: A standing portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with the double date 1756-1956, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mozart's birth.
Edge: Lettering
A very scarce 1,000 proofs were minted for this silver coin, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of composer Mozart in 1956 in Austria.
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| Slot: |
1967, Austria, Centennial of the Blue Danube Waltz |
| Origin/Country: |
AUSTRIA - REPUBLIC |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
50S 1967 THE BLUE DANUBE WALTZ |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 68 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Austria, Silver - Commemorative - 1967, 100th Anniversary of the Blue Danube Waltz
Composition: Silver (0.5787oz)
Diameter: 34mm
Mintage: 26,100
Obverse: The denomination surrounded by a circle of shields. Designed by Edwin Grienauer.
Reverse: Johann Strauss the Younger playing the violin above the date.
Edge: Lettering
The Blue Danube Waltz is the common English name of "An der Schönen Blauen Donau, Op. 314", which is German for "By the Beautiful Blue Danube", written by Austrian composer Johann Strauss II.
The Blue Danube was first performed in February, 1867 at a concert of the Wiener Männergesangsverein (Vienna Men's Choral Association), and it has been one of the most consistently popular pieces of classical music since.
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| Slot: |
1972, Poland, Fryderyk Chopin |
| Origin/Country: |
POLAND 1810-1994 |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
S50Z 1972MW PROBA FRYDERYK CHOPIN P-325A |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 66 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Poland, Silver - Commemorative - 1972, Chopin Proba
Composition: Silver (0.3074oz)
Diameter: 30mm
Mintage: 14,622
Obverse: Stylized portrait of Fryderyk Chopin.
Reverse: Stylized eagle with wings open within circle. Also, the date and denomination.
Proba coins: According to the Standard Catalog of World Coins: "In Poland, rejected coin designs are often minted in silver in large numbers for sale to collectors. These coins have the word PROBA on them, usually stamped incuse. The coins struck in nickel are not available to the general public. Of the 500 pieces struck, 250 pieces are distributed among the members of the Polish Numismatic Society and the other 250 pieces are distributed between various banks and museums." (39th Edition, George S. Cuhaj, Editor)
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| Slot: |
1975, Austria, 150th Anniversary of Strauss' Birth |
| Origin/Country: |
AUSTRIA - REPUBLIC |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
S100S 1975 JOHANN STRAUSS |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 67 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Austria, Silver - Commemorative - 1975, 150th anniversary of Strauss' birth
Composition: Silver (0.4938oz)
Diameter: 36mm
Mintage: 208,600
Obverse: The denomination within a circle of shields.
Reverse: Monument with standing statue of Strauss with his violin, celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth.
Edge: Lettering
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| Slot: |
1975, Germany, Death of Bach |
| Origin/Country: |
GERMANY - MODERN 2 |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
S20M 1975 E. JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 65 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Germany, Silver - Commemorative - 1975, 225th Anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach's Death
Composition: Silver (0.4200oz)
Diameter: 33mm
Mintage: 72,157
Obverse: German State Emblem above the denomination.
Reverse: Musical score below the dual date.
Edge: Lettering
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| Slot: |
1976, United States, Bicentennial |
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
QUARTER DOLLARS - WASHINGTON |
| Item Description: |
25C 1776-1976 D |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 67 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
United States, Washington Quarter - 1976, Bicentennial Design Variety
Composition: Copper-Nickel Clad
Diameter: 24.3mm
Mintage: 860,118,839
Obverse: A Portrait of President Washington under the inscription "Liberty" and above the date. Designed by John Flanagan.
Reverse: A military drummer facing a victory torch encircled by 13 stars. Designed by Jack L. Ahr.
Struck to commemorate the bicentennial of our country, these dual date (1776-1976) quarters were released in both silver and clad compositions, and both proof and non-proof strikes. Not only was the quarter reverse given this one year design change, but the half dollar and dollar coins also carried a new one-year design for the bicentennial.
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| Slot: |
1981, Canada, National Anthem, Gold |
| Origin/Country: |
CANADA - 1968 TO DATE |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
G$100 1981 NATIONAL ANTHEM |
| Grade: |
NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Canada, Gold - Commemorative - 1981, National Anthem
Composition: Gold (0.5002oz .917 pure)
Diameter: 27mm
Mintage: 102,000
Obverse: Elizabeth II bust facing right. Date and denomination.
Reverse: Canadian National Anthem music notation.
On July 1, 1980, the Canadian Parliment decided to adopt the song "O Canada!" as the national anthem. This coin commemorates that song, featuring the notation for the first few opening notes on the reverse.
My dad gave me this coin from his personal collection when I started collecting in 2010. I had it graded in 2012 for inclusion in my Symphony Set.
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| Slot: |
1985, Italy, European Year of Music |
| Origin/Country: |
ITALY |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
S500L 1985R EUROPEAN YEAR OF MUSIC |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Italy, Silver - Commemorative - 1985, European Year of Music
Composition: Silver (0.2953oz .835 pure)
Diameter: 29.3mm
Mintage: 96,000
Obverse: The muse of music. An inspired design featuring musical elements such as the staff, a hand harp, and what appears to be the outline of a violin or guitar body. In Greek mythology, Euterpe was first named the muse of music. Later she was referred to as the muse of lyrical poetry. She is credited by some with inventing the double-flute. Designed by M. C. Colaneri.
Reverse: Frontal view of a pipe organ with the date and denomination below it. The inscription “Anno. Europeo. Della. Musica." crowns the entire design. The pipe organ was invented in in Ancient Greece in the 3rd century BC. Before bellows were invented, water pressure was used to create the wind required. Designed by M. C. Colaneri.
Edge: Lettering, “Repubblica Italiana”
This coin was minted as part of the European Year series, an annual celebration where a different subject or event is celebrated for twelve months, including commemorative coinage and stamps.
This was the first coin purchased for my Symphony Set in early 2012, a custom set of coins featuring musical themes, including: instruments, scores, composers, or musicians. And it is still one of my favorite pieces in this collection.
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| Slot: |
1985, Sweden, European Year of Music |
| Origin/Country: |
SWEDEN - 1855 TO DATE |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
S100K 1985 E U EUROPEAN MUSIC YEAR |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 67 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Sweden, Silver - Commemorative - 1985, European Year of Music
Composition: Silver (0.4758oz .925 pure)
Diameter: 32mm
Mintage: 120,000
Obverse: Stylized portrait of the muse of music (which can be seen in another rendering on my 1985 S500L European Year of Music coin, another piece in this collection).
Reverse: Three crowns and music notation.
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| Slot: |
1989, Austria, Gold Philharmonic |
| Origin/Country: |
AUSTRIA - REPUBLIC |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
G2000S 1989 VIENNA PHILHARMONIC |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 67 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Austria, Gold - Bullion, Vienna Philharmonic - 1989, 2000 Shilling
Composition: Gold (1oz .9999 pure)
Diameter: 37mm
Mintage: 351,000
Obverse: The Vienna Musikverein's Golden Hall pipe organ. Designed by Thomas Pesendorfer.
Reverse: Various instruments of the Vienna Philharmonic, including the Viennese horn, bassoon, harp, four violins, and a cello. Designed by Thomas Pesendorfer.
This gold bullion coin is named for the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra and is minted by the Austrian Mint. The 1oz gold version was introduced in October 1989 and is one of the world's best selling bullion coins.
Over the years various fractional sizes have been introduced, and in 2008 a silver 1oz version was introduced. Originally featuring a denomination of 2,000 Austrian shillings, the gold 1oz coin was updated in 2002 with a value of 100 euros with the adaptation of that currency. The 1oz silver coin has a denomination of 1.5 euro.
I'm a musician and audiophile, so naturally I love the music theme chosen for this coin. According to the Austria Mint's literature, music is "a harmonious ambassador whose language is understood the world over." A sentiment I agree with, rendered in a design I feel is very attractive.
I submitted this coin raw for grading.
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| Slot: |
1991, Czechoslovakia, Mozart |
| Origin/Country: |
CZECHOSLOVAKIA |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
S100K 1991 Czechoslov WOLFGANG A. MOZART |
| Grade: |
PCGS MS 69 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Czechoslovakia, Silver - Commemorative - 1991, 200th Anniversary of Mozart's death
Composition: Silver (0.2926oz .700 pure)
Diameter: 31mm
Mintage: 75,000
Obverse: CSFR quartered shield above the denomination.
Reverse: Bust of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart above the dual dates 1791-1991. Designed by J. Harcuba.
According to the Standard Catalog of World Coins: "2,620 pieces, Unc and Proof, were melted by the Czech National Bank in 1999." (39th Edition, George S. Cuhaj, Editor)
This coin was a gift from my friend Brandon for my Symphony Set.
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| Slot: |
2002, Ireland, Bi-metallic Harp |
| Origin/Country: |
IRELAND - REPUBLIC |
| Design Description: |
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| Item Description: |
2E 2002 |
| Grade: |
NGC MS 65 |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Ireland - 2 Euro - 2002
Composition: Bi-metallic
Diameter: 25.7mm
Mintage: 90,548,166
Obverse: A beautiful harp surrounded by "Eire" (which is Irish for "Ireland") and the date, 2002. This was the first year of issue for this design. Harps were independently invented and developed throughout history, with some early depictions going back as far as 400 BC by the Egyptians. Designed by Jarlath Hayes.
Reverse: A map of Ireland with the denomination, two euros. Designed by Luc Luycx.
This design was used from 2002 through 2006.
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