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1708 Queen Anne British Silver Crown

1708 Queen Anne British Silver Crown
Photo Credit: Y.P.B. WORLD COINS AND PAPER MONEY

1708 Queen Anne British Silver Crown

Buy It Now Price: $375 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This classic British silver crown coin struck at the Edinburgh mint in 1708 features a portrait of Queen Anne on its obverse and the Royal Coat of Arms on its reverse.

-The coin is composed of 28.3 grams (0.91 troy ounces) of 92.5% sterling silver, giving it a fine silver content of 26.2 grams (0.84 troy ounces).  Its impressive diameter of 38.6 mm (1.52 inches) makes it slightly larger than a U.S. silver dollar.

-In pre-decimal Great Britain, 240 pence = 20 shillings = 1 pound.  Therefore, the silver crown – with a value of 5 shillings – equaled a quarter of a pound.  This was a substantial sum of money in 18th century England and Scotland.  As a point of reference, it might cost a single crown to rent a nice house for a week or to hire the services of a maid for two weeks.

-The majestic crown is surely one of the most iconic coins of Great Britain.  First issued in the mid 16th century during the Tudor dynasty, the crown was struck in both gold and silver during its early years.  The gold crown was last minted in 1636 during the rule of the doomed Charles I.  This left the massive silver version as the sole 5 shilling denomination right up until decimalization in 1971.

-Queen Anne of the House of Stuart ascended the throne in 1707 and ruled until her death in 1714.  Although she began her rule as the monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland, Anne technically became the first sovereign of Great Britain after the Acts of Union was passed in 1707.

-The weight and fineness of the British silver crown remained unchanged for over 300 years, from the reign of James I (1603 to 1625) right through the rule of Edward VII (1901 to 1910).  This is a remarkable record of longevity in a world where currency debasement is the norm.

-I believe this Queen Anne crown probably grades around VF (Very Fine condition).  In addition, it has a wonderful old patina that has not been disturbed in many decades.

-Early British coinage is a favorite among knowledgeable coin collectors and it is easy to see why.  This old British silver crown captures the grandeur of early 18th century England and Scotland quite nicely.

-With a buy-it-now price of only $375, I think this 1708 Queen Anne silver crown would make an excellent investment for the numismatically inclined.  Early (pre-Victoria) British silver crowns are rather scarce these days, especially problem-free examples in good condition.  So finding a pleasing 300 year old specimen in VF condition for less than $400 is quite a bargain.

 

Cons:

-This 1708 British silver crown has a weakly struck reverse between the 4:30 and 6:00 positions.  However, weak strikes were quite common during the era and it is not too severe.  Therefore, I believe it only has a modest impact on the value of the piece.

-The coin does have some evidence of adjustment marks on the obverse.  Before modern production methods were perfected, each coin blank was individually weighed to ensure it was within the proper specifications.  Slightly overweight coins were filed down to the proper weight before being struck, giving rise to adjustment marks.  Because they are considered part of the original striking process by collectors, adjustment marks only negatively affect the value of a coin if they are extremely noticeable.

 

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Antique Wood Panels from Brittany

Antique Wood Panels from Brittany
Photo Credit: Yesteryear-Antiques-of-Oregon

Antique Wood Panels from Brittany

Buy It Now Price: $125 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This pair of antique wood panels from 19th century Brittany features a rosette motif and are hand-carved from solid European chestnut timber.

-Each one of these old French wood panels measures 12.25 inches (31.1 cm) tall by 7.55 inches (19.2 cm) wide by 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) thick.

-These antique wood panels are made from European Chestnut (scientific name: Castanea sativa), which is also known as Sweet Chestnut.  European Chestnut, a distant relative of the commercially extinct American Chestnut, is renowned for its light weight, high-strength and rot-resistant timber.

-These architectural wood panels are salvaged material.  This means that they have been recycled, which is much better for the environment than if they had simply been burned or allowed to rot in a local dump.

-Brittany, a peninsula in the extreme northwest of France, has a tradition of architecture characterized by half-timbering, stone walls and thatched roofs.  These two panels have a distinctly rustic architectural feel and would have matched quite nicely in a classic half-timbered Breton house of the 1800s.

-European Chestnut timber, much like its American Chestnut counterpart, is a rather expensive and difficult wood to source today.  Prices typically start at around $10 a board foot, but can easily go to $20, $30 or even $40 a board foot depending on a board’s dimensions and quality.

-These chestnut panels probably began life as interior decorative elements in a well-to-do Breton home or perhaps as cabinet doors in a piece of old French provincial furniture.

-These hand-crafted antique wood panels would look great on a fireplace, mounted on a wall or incorporated into a custom-built piece of furniture.

-At a buy-it-now price of only $125, I think this superb pair of antique chestnut wood panels is well worth the asking price.  The patina and wear are lovely and completely consistent with a 100+ year old antique.  This is the kind of old piece that you simply can’t replicate convincingly today, regardless of how much money you’re willing to spend.

 

Cons:

-If old wood and provincial French craftsmanship are your thing, then there is absolutely nothing negative to say about these exceptional panels.

 

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1970s Baume & Mercier Watch in 18K Gold

1970s Baume & Mercier Watch in 18K Gold
Photo Credit: ChronoMate

1970s Baume & Mercier Watch in 18K Gold

Buy It Now Price: $1,399 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-A solid 18 karat gold case, synthetic sapphire crown and tonneau shape make this 1970s Baume & Mercier dress watch (reference 37095) a prime investment candidate.

-With a length of 37 mm (1.46 inches; including the lugs) and a width of 26 mm (1.02 inches; excluding the crown), this vintage Baume & Mercier has proportions that are very similar to that unisex 1980s icon, the Must de Cartier tank wristwatch.

-Originally founded in the Swiss Jura Mountains by the French brothers Louis-Victor and Célestin Baume in 1830, Baume & Mercier became an established international player in the watch industry by the late 19th century.  During the 20th century, the company developed a reputation for experimenting with unconventional styles that were both avant-garde and timeless.

-This 1970s Baume & Mercier watch is triple signed – a very desirable attribute for a vintage wristwatch.  The Baume & Mercier logo or name is present on the watch dial, case back and movement.

-1960s, 1970s and 1980s solid karat gold dress watches are an amazing bargain in today’s vintage watch market.  They can often be found for only $2,000 or $3,000 – less than the cost of many new mid-range luxury watches!

-This 1970s Baume & Mercier dress watch sports a 17 jewel, manual-wind caliber BM775.  Like many vintage luxury watch makers, Baume & Mercier did not produce their own movements, but instead outsourced that part of their business.  The BM775 movement is actually a rebranded 2512-1 from the Swiss watchmaking giant ETA.  These dependable movements had a long-running, 39-hour power reserve and were produced from 1975 to 1983.

-This vintage 1970s wristwatch is in beautiful original condition, with no evidence of a refinished dial, over-polished case, or other tampering.

-If I could, I would buy this watch in a heartbeat and dump it into my IRA or 401-k.  Although this investment strategy isn’t possible because the IRS forbids antiques in retirement accounts, this 1970s Baume & Mercier would still make a superb savings vehicle.

-The classic lines and minimalist design philosophy evident in this vintage Baume & Mercier dress watch is a refreshing change of pace from the excessively bold styling of many contemporary diver and chronograph watches.  Sometimes less is more.

-The fact that you can pick up a lovely 1970s Baume & Mercier wristwatch in solid 18 karat gold for only $1,400 is simply absurd – especially considering that the melt value of the piece is around $700 (with spot gold at $1,275 a troy ounce).  The asking price of this elegant watch is currently less than the cost of a single share of Amazon (AMZN: $1,887) or Booking Holdings (the parent company of Priceline – BKNG: $1,844)!

 

Cons:

-Although perhaps lacking the cachet of some luxury watch brands (Rolex, Omega, Audemar Piguet, etc.), Baume & Mercier is still a desirable (and largely underappreciated!) watchmaker.

 

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French Pre-WWI 18K Gold Mesh Purse

French Pre-WWI 18K Gold Mesh Purse
Photo Credit: jewelry-halfprice

French Pre-WWI 18K Gold Mesh Purse

Buy It Now Price: $2,067.06 (price as of 2019; item no longer available)

Pros:

-This opulent solid 18 karat gold mesh purse is from the French Belle Époque, a period of European culture and artistic dominance between 1870 and 1914.

-This pre-World War I French gold mesh purse measures 3 inches (7.6 cm) long by 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide.  Even though it is fairly compact, the purse weighs a heavy 35.8 grams (1.15 troy ounces) due to its solid 18 karat gold composition.

-This French gold mesh purse is in the Louis XV style, which was characterized by elegant ribbonwork, garland and fluting.  The Louis XV style first gained popularity during the late 18th century, but then experienced a revival during the late 19th century.  For those who are interested, I recently featured a charming set of Louis XV style French silver liquor cups that have many features in common with this mesh purse.

-This elegant French antique has period appropriate hallmarks.  It has been stamped (twice) with the Mercury head hallmark, indicating it was made in France, but then exported abroad.  This hallmark also guarantees a gold purity of at least .750 fine, or 18 karats.

-Dating a piece like this can be a bit tricky due to its use of a revival style, but I believe this gold mesh purse is from the late 19th or early 20th century.  In any case, I am certain we are dealing with a pre-World War I antique.

-The delicate ribbon and fluting decorative motif covers not only the outside of the rim, where it is easily visible, but also the inside of the rim, where it is less visible.  This is a sure sign of quality.

-With a current gold spot price of $1,290, this antique French purse has a melt value of just over $1,100.  This means the purse’s asking price is only 85% over its bullion value, which is quite reasonable in light of the item’s superb craftsmanship and age.

-This French gold mesh purse is in perfect condition, with no damage or visible wear!  Antique metal mesh purses are prone to developing snags and holes over the decades, so finding a pristine example is always exciting.

-$2,000+ might seem like a lot of money, but I assure you this sublime treasure is a worthy investment.  I would not be surprised if in future decades people talked wistfully about the days when you could own such a superlative piece for less than $10,000!

 

Cons:

-This gold mesh purse has a maker’s mark (initials: R.G.), but I have been unable to identify this goldsmith yet.  Determining the artist who created this masterpiece would increase its desirability.

 

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