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NGC Certified 1882 French 100 Franc Gold Coin

Photo Credit: rarecoincollector

NGC Certified 1882 French 100 Franc Gold Coin

Buy It Now Price: $1,675 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This NGC certified 1882 French 100 franc gold coin, which was struck at the apogee of the Third Republic’s power and prestige, represents a compelling alternative investment.

-This French gold coin is massive. It has a diameter of 35 mm (1.38 inches) and contains nearly 1 troy ounce (0.9335 troy ounces or 29.03 grams) of pure gold. This is comparable in size and weight to a pre-1933 U.S. double eagle $20 gold coin!

-The obverse of this French 100 franc gold coin depicts the personification of Genius writing the French constitution while the reverse features the denomination and date within an elegant wreath of acorns and oak leaves. The back of the coin is also inscribed with the timeless motto of the French Republic: “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité”, which translates as “Liberty, Equality, Brotherhood”.

-This 1882 French 100 franc gold coin is scarce, with a mintage of only 37,000. This is a very low mintage compared to similar contemporary gold coins, like the U.S. double eagle. For example, in 1904 alone the Philadelphia mint struck over 6 million gold double eagles; the San Francisco mint struck an additional 5 million specimens in that same year. The total mintage for the entire French 100 franc series from 1878 to 1914 is only around 418,000 examples, compared to over 100 million U.S. Liberty Head $20 gold pieces!

-This coin is certified AU-55 (About Uncirculated – with just a touch of wear on the highest points of the design) by NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation), a respected third-party grading service. You can be assured that the coin is genuine and as advertised.

-In spite of its rarity, this 1882 French 100 franc gold coin sports a premium over its melt value of only 38%! There is $1,213 worth of gold in the coin (with spot gold hovering around $1,300 a troy ounce), meaning that you are only paying a modest $460 for the considerable numismatic value of this impressive 136 year old coin. The low premium over its bullion value helps to limit your investment risk.

-This 1882 French 100 franc gold coin circulated during the height of France’s Belle Époque, a pre-World War I golden era where theater, music and the arts flourished. This coin even could have been used in the 1890 purchase of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting “Red Vineyard” for 400 francs – one of the few paintings the famous artist sold during his lifetime!

-In light of its low mintage, good condition and historical significance, I think this 1882 French 100 franc gold coin would make an excellent, low-risk investment at the asking price of $1,675.

Cons:

-It is possible to find certified French 100 franc gold coins in better, uncirculated condition. However, I actually prefer AU-55 or AU-58 specimens because they often have better eye appeal compared to the same coin in MS-60 or MS-61. Eye appeal is a primary consideration for rare coins and tends to drive their investment returns. If you want an uncirculated 100 franc coin with similar eye appeal to a good AU-55 or AU-58 example, you will need to step up to an MS-62 or better coin. These will cost an additional $400 to $1,000, depending on the exact date and condition.

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1944 English Sterling Silver Art Deco Cigarette Case

Photo Credit: Dart Silver Ltd

1944 English Sterling Silver Art Deco Cigarette Case

Asking Price: $199.72 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This sleek Art Deco cigarette case was made in Birmingham, England in 1944. It is impressively crafted from solid sterling silver and has a gilt interior.

-This Art Deco cigarette case measures 12.8 cm (5 inches) long by 8.6 cm (3.4 inches) wide. It weighs in at a hefty 191.3 grams, or 6.15 troy ounces. This is exceptionally heavy for a vintage cigarette case and is an important indicator of quality construction.

-Sterling silver cigarette cases were popular from the late 19th century right up until the 1970s. Today they are a favorite of vintage tobacciana collectors.

-Given its gross weight of 6.15 troy ounces, this art deco cigarette case contains approximately 5.69 troy ounces of pure silver. This is worth about $93 with the spot price of silver hovering around $16.40 per troy ounce. Therefore, the case is trading at a premium of around 114% over its melt value, which is very reasonable for a 75 year old vintage item in almost perfect condition.

-The British city of Birmingham was famous for the quality and abundance of its sterling smallwares in the 19th and early 20th century. This included jewelry, snuff boxes, liquor labels and card cases, along with a multitude of other silver trinkets.

-The styling of this vintage Art Deco cigarette case is a sight to behold. An engine-turned diamond pattern alternates with elegant linear design elements, inviting the viewer’s eyes to dance across its silver surface.

-Non-smokers who are interested in antique cigarette cases can adapt them to modern times by using them as billfolds, wallets or business card holders. Honestly, any slim item that you might want to store would pair well with this sterling silver Mid-Century masterpiece.

-I feel that antique sterling cigarette cases are one of the most undervalued areas in the antiques market today. And this example – with its heavy gauge silver, excellent construction and superb Art Deco design – is well worth the $200 asking price.

Cons:

-This Art Deco cigarette case is too big to easily fit into your pants pocket. If you opt to use it as a wallet or billfold, you will have to keep it in a jacket pocket, suit pocket or a purse.

-This vintage sterling silver cigarette case is monogrammed. A lot of collectors don’t like monogrammed silver, but I don’t see it as a significant deterrent. Instead, I view monograms as part of the history of a piece.

-The maker’s mark for this Art Deco cigarette case is “EJE”. Unfortunately, this mid-century Birmingham silversmith’s mark has yet to be identified. The desirability of the piece would be slightly enhanced if the maker were known.

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Bill Reiswig Nature Print Titled “Octopus Among the Pilings”

Photo Credit: BillReiswig

Bill Reiswig Nature Print Titled “Octopus Among the Pilings”

Asking Price: $60 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This calming undersea-themed print by the artist Bill Reiswig is titled “Octopus Among the Pilings”. It is an original, mixed linocut and woodblock print that was handcrafted in traditional Moku Hanga style.

-This compelling nature print measures 9.5 inches (24 cm) wide by 7.5 inches (19 cm) tall. It also has a 1.5 inch (4 cm) white margin around the work’s perimeter, making the actual printed area 8 inches (20 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm).

-Bill Reiswig is a self-taught artist living in Olympia, Washington, who specializes in nature-themed prints. Olympia, the capital of Washington state, is located at the southern end of Puget Sound. The city is not only close to the tranquil Pacific Ocean, but also to the majestic temperate rainforests of the Cascade Mountains. Both of these stunning natural environments serve as inspiration for his work.

-Bill Reiswig produces prints using traditional Japanese woodblock printmaking techniques, otherwise known as Moku Hanga. Most contemporary Western artists create Moku Hanga style prints using classic Japanese themes, such as landscapes, animals or nature scenes.

-Bill Reiswig created this undersea print from high quality kozo-pulp paper and water-based, Akua Kolor ink. Kozo fibers are derived from the bark of mulberry trees and are a key ingredient in traditional Japanese print-making paper.

-The artist has skillfully used the repeating vertical pier pilings to give this work a sense of structure and perspective. Repetitive motifs, strokes or lines are a common theme in high quality works of fine art.

-This undersea-themed print is a limited edition work, with only 40 copies created. In addition, each print is individually signed and numbered. Limited edition prints are far more desirable than those with no production cap.

-I love how the subdued oranges and pinks in the foreground of this Bill Reiswig print subtly contrast with the velvety blues of the surrounding ocean environment.

-“Octopus Among the Pilings” is a deceptively simple, yet aesthetically powerful nature print. Why decorate your house or apartment with the reproduction print of an over-exposed, derivative artwork when you can purchase an original, limited edition fine art print like this for only $60?

Cons:

-This nature-themed woodblock print is relatively small and would be overwhelmed in a large space. If you want to hang it in a large room, it would do best as part of an art grouping combined with many other works. On the other hand, it would work superbly if hung in isolation in a bathroom, entry foyer, hallway, small bedroom or other constrained space.

-If you intend to display this alluring Bill Reiswig woodblock print, be prepared to spend an additional $50 to $150 for framing costs. This will drive the total price of the art print up to around $150, which is still a bargain for a beautiful and original work.

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1920s Tourmaline & Platinum Art Deco Stick Pin

Photo Credit: okeyssecretroom

1920s Tourmaline & Platinum Art Deco Stick Pin

Buy It Now Price: $595 (price as of 2018; item no longer available)

Pros:

-Here is a magnificent platinum and 18 karat yellow gold Art Deco stick pin from the 1920s. It is set with a trillion-cut, green tourmaline gemstone and an old European cut diamond.

-This Art Deco stickpin measures approximately 2.5 inches (63.5 mm) long by 0.4 inches (10 mm) wide. The piece weighs 2.2 grams in total, or approximately 0.071 troy ounces.

-Stick pins were popular from the late 18th century up through the 1920s. A woman would wear one on her scarf or lapel. A man would use a stick pin to hold his tie in place, giving rise to the jewelry’s alternative name – tie pin. While they are not currently mainstream, there is no reason a fashion-forward man or woman couldn’t wear a stickpin today to achieve a distinctive and unique look.

-The combination of a platinum front and karat gold back is typical for 1920s jewelry, where the white look was very much in vogue. These high intrinsic value precious metals are also indicative of an exemplary piece. This is confirmed by examining the goldwork, which although relatively simple, is also superlatively wrought.

-The very unusual trillion (triangular) cut green tourmaline set in this Art Deco stick pin weighs an estimated 1 carat. At the time this piece of jewelry was created, a trillion-cut gem would have been considered a custom-cut, and would have been significantly more expensive than a similarly-sized, standard-cut stone.

-The old European cut diamond set below the tourmaline weighs an estimated 0.05 carats and is a wonderful accent piece that sets off the main stone. Although it doesn’t have a high intrinsic value, the accent diamond indicates that the jeweler who created this Art Deco stick pin wasn’t skimping on materials or cost.

-Although it is a rather simple design, the aesthetics of this Art Deco stick pin are flawless. Sometimes the best jewelry is a piece that achieves elegance with a minimum of ostentation.

Cons:

-At $595, the asking price of this Art Deco stick pin is close to the top of the range for antique stick pin jewelry. However, some of my greatest antique investing mistakes involved refusing to pay up for outstanding quality. So given my experience, I think this Art Deco stick pin is a superlative piece that justifies its price.

-The intrinsic value of this Art Deco stick pin is rather modest. The green, trillion-cut tourmaline is probably the most valuable part, with a value close to $100. The old European cut accent diamond is probably only a $10 to $20 stone. Although difficult to calculate exactly, the melt value of the gold and platinum is most likely between $50 and $70. In total, the stickpin has an estimated intrinsic value of no more than $200. However, you don’t buy an exquisite piece of Art Deco jewelry like this in order to scrap it.

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