Now that I think about it, I have several Chopin Pieces from Poland marked "Probe". Does the Polish mint (or DID the Polish mint) consider proof issues to be Probe (test pieces)? Perhaps they are patterns before the "Proof" issues were minted?
Anyway, I'm after the last Austrian Gold coin I need to complete my set of Austrian Music coins (composers). I ordered one on Ma-Shops because the dealer says he accepts PayPal. (I would pay a premium) but his invoice wants international bank transfer. My bank doesn't do that so we'll see if we can come up with "plan B". The price has dropped somewhat with the price of gold so it is a bit more affordable...and the exchange rate from $ to Euro is a bit "better" (from MY perspective anyway.)
My collecting has been terribly neglected, but now that we have sold the Florida house, I hope to be a little less tied up with renters, bills, worry and all the "fun" stuff that comes with owning a rental property. Never again!
Just a non-related interesting piece of coin show trivia...we moved out of Rhode Island (the smallest U.S. state) about 2 years ago into Massachusetts. I recently learned why there were never coin shows in Rhode Island. Apparently a "big wig" politician had some coins stolen at a R.I. show, so he ran a law through making shows illegal. Or so I was told. I haven't been to a show in years as my interest in collecting is so specialized...but Boston has a couple of big ones each year. Maybe sometime I'll go. It's only about a 45 minute train ride into Boston and a short walk to the hotel where they are held. . I'll start saving my pennies...oooops...I mean my "cents".
Alan Massachusetts
Be well, everyone. Alan Massachusetts, U.S.A.