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Japanese Edo Era Shakudo Tsuba

Japanese Edo Era Shakudo Tsuba
Photo Credit: subjaudio

Japanese Edo Era Shakudo Tsuba

Buy It Now Price: $225 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-A stylized wave motif and delicately gilt flowers adorn this gorgeous 18th century shakudo tsuba (samurai sword guard) from Japan’s Edo period.

-This old Japanese shakudo tsuba measures 5.5 cm (2.17 inches) long by 4.4 cm (1.73 inches) wide.

-The body of this tsuba is made from shakudo, a traditional Japanese alloy containing 93% to 97% copper and 3% to 7% gold.  The unique, velvety-black patina of shakudo is a hallmark of high-end antique Japanese metalwork.

-Japan experienced major social changes during the Edo era (1603 to 1868 AD).  Although the militaristic samurai were ostensibly near the top of feudal Japanese society, the increasing prosperity of merchants and artisans allowed them to flaunt their wealth via eye-catching luxury goods.  It is possible that this tsuba was just such an item, meant to reflect the wealth of its affluent owner (who may not have been a samurai).

-The craftsmanship of this shakudo tsuba is absolutely superb.  The elegance of the central wave design provides a subtle, yet interesting contrast with the etherealness of the flower border.  There are many surviving antique Japanese tsuba, but few of them attain this level of aesthetic sophistication.

-Because most of this tsuba is made from shakudo, it actually possesses a not insignificant intrinsic value.  According to my best guess, there is anywhere between 0.5 and 3 grams of gold locked up in this piece.  With spot gold trading at around $1,200 a troy ounce, the item has an estimated melt value between $19 and $93.  Of course, it goes without saying that you would have to be crazy to scrap such a lovely antique Japanese tsuba.  But it is nice to know that your investment downside is protected nonetheless.

-I don’t think you can look at this shakudo tsuba without being struck by its stylistic similarity to the famous woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai titled The Great Wave off Kanagawa.  That seminal print was completed in the early 1830s while this particular tsuba probably dates from the mid 18th century to very early 19th century.  Both works were obviously incubated in the same cultural and artistic milieu.

-I believe that antique Japanese tsuba are really undervalued investment vehicles.  And this shakudo tsuba underscores my argument.  How can such an artistically outstanding, historically important piece be so cheap – a mere $225?  And if that price is still too high, you can always make the seller a lower offer!

 

Cons:

-It is really difficult to see any cons with this wonderful old Japanese tsuba.  I suppose you can argue that the metal surrounding the central blade hole has been banged up a bit.  Of course, that also speaks to the item’s age and authenticity, as well.

 

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Crystalline Gold Nugget in Quartz from California

Crystalline Gold Nugget in Quartz from California
Photo Credit: nuggetsbygrant

Crystalline Gold Nugget in Quartz from California

Buy It Now Price: $450.44 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This stunning crystalline gold nugget in quartz comes from Sierra County, high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of northern California.

-This gold in matrix specimen weighs 4.28 grams, which is actually fairly sizable for this type of gold mineralization.  It is about the size of a quarter cut in half.

-Gold was first discovered in California in 1848, which spawned the famous California Gold Rush.  Although easy to access placer gold deposits were exploited at first, by the late 19th century California miners had to venture deep underground in pursuit of the elusive precious metal.

-Matrix is a mining term that refers to the native rock surrounding a valuable ore.  Gold in quartz matrix is not only exceptionally beautiful, but also in extremely high demand by mineral collectors.

-This particular crystalline gold nugget was found in the historical Alleghany gold district of California, very close to the renowned Original Sixteen to One gold mine.  These goldfields are famous for their widely scattered gold-bearing quartz veins, which can vary in thickness from just a few inches to more than 20 feet wide.

-This crystalline gold nugget retains its delicate, intricately branching shape.  This is in stark contrast to gold nuggets recovered from alluvial (river) deposits, which have been compacted and worn smooth via centuries of hydraulic action.  Crystalline gold is the rarest form of natural gold – rarer even than placer gold nuggets (which are incredibly rare themselves).

-The Original Sixteen to One Mine is probably the most famous gold mine in the United States. Discovered in 1896, this extremely rich mine has been in almost continuous production since that time.  The Original Sixteen to One Mine was named after the traditional 19th century exchange ratio between silver and gold.  You can view an interesting video tour of the mine here.

-Gold nuggets from California are rarer and harder to find than gold nuggets from Alaska, Australia or British Columbia.  Because of this rarity and the romance surrounding the California goldfields, gold nuggets from California have an added dimension of desirability.

–Gold nuggets are often overlooked as investments, but shouldn’t be.  Their historical importance combined with their high intrinsic value and unique aesthetics make them an intriguing alternative asset for those looking to escape the uncertainty of paper assets.

-At only $450, I think this crystalline gold nugget from California would make a wonderful addition to your gold nugget collection or tangible asset portfolio.

 

Cons:

-Because they so much rarer, crystalline gold nuggets in matrix are much more expensive per unit of weight than alluvial gold nuggets without matrix.  But they make up for it with dazzling good looks and perennially high collector demand.

 

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1937 British Proof Set for King George VI’s Coronation

1937 British Proof Set for King George VI's Coronation
Photo Credit: EnglishCoinCompany

1937 British Proof Set for King George VI’s Coronation

Asking Price: $616 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-The United Kingdom issued this magnificent 15-coin 1937 British proof set to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.

-This King George VI coronation proof set consists of 15 different coins.  Seven coins are regular circulation silver pieces: a crown (5 shillings), 1/2 crown (2 1/2 shillings), florin (2 shillings), 2 different designs of shillings, a sixpence and a threepence.  Four coins are silver Maundy issues: a groat (4 pence), threepence, twopence and a silver penny.  The remaining four coins are base metal: a brass threepence, bronze penny, half-penny and farthing (1/4 penny).

-This lovely proof set comes with its original silk-lined, red box!  Early 20th century British proof sets have some of the best original packaging of any proof sets.  They are absolutely classic – just what you would expect from an august institution like the Royal Mint.

– Before decimalization, 1 pound equaled 20 shillings, while 1 shilling equaled 12 pence.  This made each pound worth 240 pence.  Thankfully, this unwieldy medieval currency system was finally phased out with the arrival of decimalization in 1971.

-This 1937 British proof set is a pre-World War II issue originating from a time when the British Empire was still intact.  It is a universal rule that coinage from an empire near its apogee is more desirable than coins minted during its decline.

-The face value of this 1937 British proof set totals 13 shillings and 5 3/4 pence.  This would have been equivalent to around $3.37 at prevailing 1937 exchange rates, or just under 1/10th of an ounce of gold.

-This classic British proof set includes Maundy money.  Maundy money is special coinage handed out by the monarch every year on Royal Maundy, the Thursday before Good Friday.  This uniquely British tradition has persisted since King Charles II first handed out these small silver coins in 1662.

-For much of the 20th century, Great Britain only issued proof sets for special occasions.  These included the coronation years of 1902 (King Edward VII), 1911 (King George V), 1937 (King George VI) and 1953 (Queen Elizabeth II).  Sets were also issued in 1927 (in honor of a coinage redesign), 1950 (to celebrate the end of WWII austerity) and 1951 (for the Festival of Britain).  The British Royal Mint didn’t begin striking proof sets every year until 1970.

-This vintage British proof set contains an impressive number of silver coins – 11 in total.  Like circulating British coinage of the time, all of these specimens were struck in 50% silver.  Until 1920, all British silver coins had been struck to the higher sterling standard.  But the incredible expense of World War I prompted the British government to adopt cost savings measures, including a lower standard for their silver coinage.  After World War II nearly bankrupted the U.K., all silver was removed from the country’s coinage in 1947.

-This 1937 British proof set has a mintage of only 26,402 sets.  This is relatively low, especially compared to 1950s and 1960s U.S. proof sets, which were generally issued in the hundreds of thousands or millions.

-Given the excellent condition of this vintage proof set and the fact that it is one of the few pre-modern British sets available, I find the $616 asking price to be fair.

 

Cons:

-In my opinion, the 1902 and 1911 British proof sets from the height of empire are much more desirable.  However, they are also significantly more expensive.  The 1927, 1937, 1950, 1951 and 1953 proof sets offer much more accessible price points for the aspiring coin collector or investor.

-This 1937 British proof set doesn’t include any gold coins.  Instead, there was a separately issued 4-coin gold proof set, which is highly desirable today.  Unfortunately, it is also extremely expensive (£9,500 at auction in 2018), with prices having risen considerably over the past 10 to 15 years.

-You can sometimes find these 1937 proof sets for less money, but they often contain coins that have been rubbed, scratched or otherwise compromised.  These are known in the field of numismatics as impaired proofs and should generally be avoided.

 

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Vintage Pelikan 400NN Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set

Vintage Pelikan 400NN Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set
Photo Credit: THE-ANTIQUE-SHOP-OF-RUMEN

Vintage Pelikan 400NN Fountain Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set

Buy It Now Price: $299 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This vintage Pelikan 400NN fountain pen and mechanical pencil set from the late 1950s or early 1960s has striking brown tortoise-striped barrels contrasting with gold-plated trim.

-The Pelikan 400NN fountain pen measures 5.12 inches (13.0 cm) in length.  Although I do not have the exact measurement for the matching mechanical pencil, we can see from the photo that it is slightly longer than the pen.

-Pelikan was founded in Hanover, Germany in 1832 as a supplier of paints and inks.  However, it was not until the late 1920s that the company began producing fountain pens.  Pelikan’s golden age came in the post-WWII era of the 1950s and 1960s when it produced many memorable, high quality pens.  Pelikan remains a respected pen manufacturer to this day.

–Vintage fountain pen sets are generally undervalued in today’s marketplace.  This allows the knowledgeable writing enthusiast or antiques investor to pick up some truly special pen sets at bargain prices.

-The Pelikan 400 series fountain pen was first produced in 1950 and eventually discontinued in 1956.  A revised version, the Pelikan 400N (the “N” stood for new) was briefly made in 1956.  The type featured here, the Pelikan 400NN, was manufactured from 1956 to 1965.

-This Pelikan 400NN fountain pen comes with its original 14 karat gold EF nib.  Many vintage pen aficionados consider Mid-Century Pelikans to be among the best pen-nib combinations ever made.

-According to the seller, this vintage Pelikan 400NN fountain pen and mechanical pencil set is in working order.  In addition, it appears be in excellent condition, with no visible brassing, cracking or discoloration.

-The 400 series is the iconic vintage Pelikan fountain pen from the historical apogee of the company.  According to specialist collectors’ website The Pelikan’s Perch, the Pelikan 400NN fountain pen (and its derivatives) are the “number one” vintage Pelikan pen for writing devotees.  In their own words, “If you can only have one vintage Pelikan pen, this is probably the one to get.”

-Although the Pelikan brand often sits in the shadows of more recognized luxury pen makers, like Montblanc and Waterman, it really deserves to be acknowledged as a full peer with these venerated competitors.  Because of this, I believe the $300 asking price for this beautiful fountain pen and mechanical pencil set is well justified.

 

Cons:

-While generally very robust pens, buyers of the Pelikan 400 series have to watch out for cracked barrels and collars.  This is due to a minor design flaw (a shrinking plastic cap over a static metal liner) and material limitations (a brittle, polystyrene collar).  Luckily, this particular Pelikan 400NN pen and pencil set shows no evidence of these issues.

-Although this vintage pen set is in a Pelikan case, I am dubious that it is original.  If the set was still housed in its original case, its value would be slightly higher.

 

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