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First purchase of 2019 ... A Columbian half dollar in a pouch

BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,486 ✭✭✭✭✭

At the beginning of the year, someone started a thread about “first purchases for 2019.” That series seems to have gone to back page, so I decided to post my purchase by itself.

Here is an 1893 Columbian half dollar with the pouch in which it was issued. I have little doubt that this is the original coin because it is toned on way that one might expect for a coin that has been in leather for many years. This is one of the more common pouches which simply reads, “Columbian Exposition 1492 – 1892 Chicago.”

According to Anthony Swiatek, who is a former ANA president, dealer and authority on U.S. commemorative coins, there were no official exposition holders and mailing envelopes. There were, however, a number of holders that banks and other private concerns issued. Sometimes a pouch like this contained a Proof-like coin, and this is one of those examples. It is NOT a Proof coin by any means. The coin has a light rub on the obverse so it is only a Choice AU, but the toning and the luster are quite attractive. This close to the color of the piece when viewed in person, but not exactly.


Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?

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    CoinstartledCoinstartled Posts: 10,135 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very cool coin and holder.

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    MorganMan94MorganMan94 Posts: 1,330 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Love the holder, great find!

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    SeattleSlammerSeattleSlammer Posts: 9,959 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Cool pouch. :star:

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    ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 16, 2019 8:26AM

    Great buy! That pouch doesn’t look a day old!

    I wonder if there are any photographic history of the pouches?

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    U1chicagoU1chicago Posts: 5,619 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That’s very cool; nice first purchase of 2019!

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    thebeavthebeav Posts: 3,755 ✭✭✭✭✭

    For the 1/2 ton of Columbians I've owned, (almost....a large dealer here, back during the first boom, saved them from the 90 stuff. I bought almost a half bag of them.) I've never had a pouch......Very cool !

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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 33,486 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Zoins said:
    Great buy! That pouch doesn’t look a day old!

    I wonder if there are any photographic history of the pouches?

    The dealer, Anthony Swiatek, himself, made the comment that the pouch looked like it had been brought here on the Star Trek transporter. ;)

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    ashelandasheland Posts: 22,694 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice pick up!

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    lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 7,831 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That's about as cool as a Columbian Half can get!! Thanks for sharing!

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
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    ParadisefoundParadisefound Posts: 8,588 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very well kept ...... the leather pouch and the coin too. Congrats! :)

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    KeithMS70KeithMS70 Posts: 192 ✭✭✭

    The pouch’s is beyond cool

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    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 27,521 ✭✭✭✭✭

    nice I like :)

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    Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow, very nice, congratulations !!! :)

    Timbuk3
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    thisistheshowthisistheshow Posts: 9,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Amazing!

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    NicNic Posts: 3,343 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Love the pouch! Never saw one before.

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    kazkaz Posts: 9,067 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Neat to see such anincredibly preserved leather pouch. Interesting toning on the coin, too.

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    JBNJBN Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very nice/very interesting. Thanks for posting.

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    SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,257 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I dote on that pouch.

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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 8,976 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That pouch is in phenomenal condition.

    I've never seen one before.

    Thanks for posting.

    “I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    JustMe2JustMe2 Posts: 179 ✭✭

    @BillJones said:

    @Zoins said:
    Great buy! That pouch doesn’t look a day old!

    I wonder if there are any photographic history of the pouches?

    The dealer, Anthony Swiatek, himself, made the comment that the pouch looked like it had been brought here on the Star Trek transporter. ;)

    That would be an incorrect analogy as the transporter moves stuff through space and not time :wink:

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    ZoinsZoins Posts: 33,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 16, 2019 11:07PM

    @JustMe2 said:

    @BillJones said:

    @Zoins said:
    Great buy! That pouch doesn’t look a day old!

    I wonder if there are any photographic history of the pouches?

    The dealer, Anthony Swiatek, himself, made the comment that the pouch looked like it had been brought here on the Star Trek transporter. ;)

    That would be an incorrect analogy as the transporter moves stuff through space and not time :wink:

    Yes, you would need to bombard it with chronometric particles ;)

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    ttownttown Posts: 4,472 ✭✭✭
    edited January 17, 2019 3:55AM

    Cool💎 I like it🎊 You must have been a bad boy, about time it got here.🎉

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mER2fGuSqF8

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    Namvet69Namvet69 Posts: 8,676 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Beam me up Scotty. I would definitely choose a display slab for the coin and holder, side by side. Peace Roy

    BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall

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    spacehaydukespacehayduke Posts: 5,476 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This was a great coin to see in hand, opening up the pouch and out it came, I got to hold it between my thumb and index finger and enjoy its beauty. Thanks for posting Bill!

    Best, SH


    Successful transactions with-Boosibri,lkeigwin,TomB,Broadstruck,coinsarefun,Type2,jom,ProfLiz, UltraHighRelief,Barndog,EXOJUNKIE,ldhair,fivecents,paesan,Crusty...
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    SwampboySwampboy Posts: 12,886 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congrats on your find Bill.
    I wonder how old the pouch is exactly and if it might not even date to the exposition.

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