An absolute wonder coin newp for the type set

tradedollarnut

bidask

Wowee

ChopmarkedTrades

Very nice. Does this issue often come lightly struck on the reverse?

Yorkshireman

Nice, and I don;t even like copper.

jmski52

You done good. Real good. I appreciate your taste in great coins, vicarious is better than nothing. Thanks for posting!

tradedollarnut

The coin’s modern history is both recent enough to still be cherished in its discoverer’s memory and distant enough to be the stuff of half cent legend. In the spring of 1977, Fred Weinberg of Numismatics Ltd. was in Switzerland on a typical coin-buying mission, gathering up American gold coins of the sort that accreted in Swiss banks and shops in the mid 20th century. On this particular trip, he was invited to a small coin show by Swiss dealer Heiner Stuker. After traveling perhaps an hour from Zurich, Weinberg arrived at a dimly lit and perfectly round building housing a motley assemblage of small-time dealers, most of whom were closer to the hobbyist end of the continuum than its full-time professional opposite. Nearly all of the coins were offered on velvet trays resting upon tabletops. Weinberg circulated the room, volleying in his limited Schweizerdeutsch to each of the gathered vendors “Habben ze Americanisha Gold Munzen?”, the inquiry for “do you have any American gold coins?” [“haben Sie amerikanischen Goldmunzen?”] After buying some of the usual United States gold issues, the young American reached the table of an older couple in clothes more evocative of farming than numismatics. Their eyes lit up upon hearing the question, followed by a flurry of unintelligible Swiss German. Upon realizing Weinberg’s skill in their native tongue had been exhausted, the wife of the couple gestured to a valise, and the husband produced two American coins: a slightly worn key date 1916 Standing Liberty quarter and the presently offered half cent. After a momentary lapse of reason during which Weinberg considered and dismissed the possibility that what he was seeing was tantamount to a numismatic mirage, he pulled one more arrow from his linguistic quiver: “vass iss da price?” The coin was acquired for the Swiss francs equivalent of about $1,200. Weinberg’s traveling companion, Heiner Stuker, later spoke to the couple and gathered that “the copper coin has been in this village for a long time, passed down from family,” as Weinberg recalled in 2013

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-2RWXG/1794-liberty-cap-half-cent-cohen-7-rarity-5-high-relief-head-mint-state-67-rb-pcgs

TennesseeDave

It's hard to believe that a 225 year old copper coin has survived in such great condition. I'm not a copper collector either, but I might be if I could collect such beautiful pieces. Congrats

Justacommeman

That is a stone cold killer coin

m

Cameonut

Wow, hard to believe a coin like that even exists today!

yosclimber

Here's the story of the 1977 purchase in Switzerland direct from @FredWeinberg in 2013!

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/10482683/#Comment_10482683

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1794-1-2c-high-relief-head-rb/35055

Swampboy

Truly a coin one would pay to see
Congratulations @tradedollarnut

NSP

@tradedollarnut said:
The coin’s modern history is both recent enough to still be cherished in its discoverer’s memory and distant enough to be the stuff of half cent legend. In the spring of 1977, Fred Weinberg of Numismatics Ltd. was in Switzerland on a typical coin-buying mission, gathering up American gold coins of the sort that accreted in Swiss banks and shops in the mid 20th century. On this particular trip, he was invited to a small coin show by Swiss dealer Heiner Stuker. After traveling perhaps an hour from Zurich, Weinberg arrived at a dimly lit and perfectly round building housing a motley assemblage of small-time dealers, most of whom were closer to the hobbyist end of the continuum than its full-time professional opposite. Nearly all of the coins were offered on velvet trays resting upon tabletops. Weinberg circulated the room, volleying in his limited Schweizerdeutsch to each of the gathered vendors “Habben ze Americanisha Gold Munzen?”, the inquiry for “do you have any American gold coins?” [“haben Sie amerikanischen Goldmunzen?”] After buying some of the usual United States gold issues, the young American reached the table of an older couple in clothes more evocative of farming than numismatics. Their eyes lit up upon hearing the question, followed by a flurry of unintelligible Swiss German. Upon realizing Weinberg’s skill in their native tongue had been exhausted, the wife of the couple gestured to a valise, and the husband produced two American coins: a slightly worn key date 1916 Standing Liberty quarter and the presently offered half cent. After a momentary lapse of reason during which Weinberg considered and dismissed the possibility that what he was seeing was tantamount to a numismatic mirage, he pulled one more arrow from his linguistic quiver: “vass iss da price?” The coin was acquired for the Swiss francs equivalent of about $1,200. Weinberg’s traveling companion, Heiner Stuker, later spoke to the couple and gathered that “the copper coin has been in this village for a long time, passed down from family,” as Weinberg recalled in 2013

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-2RWXG/1794-liberty-cap-half-cent-cohen-7-rarity-5-high-relief-head-mint-state-67-rb-pcgs

I always love to read stories about how exceptionally rare coins first made it into collector hands. Whether it was pulled from circulation, repatriated from Europe, etc., the back stories are always fascinating to me.

DelawareDoons

@tradedollarnut said:
The coin’s modern history is both recent enough to still be cherished in its discoverer’s memory and distant enough to be the stuff of half cent legend. In the spring of 1977, Fred Weinberg of Numismatics Ltd. was in Switzerland on a typical coin-buying mission, gathering up American gold coins of the sort that accreted in Swiss banks and shops in the mid 20th century. On this particular trip, he was invited to a small coin show by Swiss dealer Heiner Stuker. After traveling perhaps an hour from Zurich, Weinberg arrived at a dimly lit and perfectly round building housing a motley assemblage of small-time dealers, most of whom were closer to the hobbyist end of the continuum than its full-time professional opposite. Nearly all of the coins were offered on velvet trays resting upon tabletops. Weinberg circulated the room, volleying in his limited Schweizerdeutsch to each of the gathered vendors “Habben ze Americanisha Gold Munzen?”, the inquiry for “do you have any American gold coins?” [“haben Sie amerikanischen Goldmunzen?”] After buying some of the usual United States gold issues, the young American reached the table of an older couple in clothes more evocative of farming than numismatics. Their eyes lit up upon hearing the question, followed by a flurry of unintelligible Swiss German. Upon realizing Weinberg’s skill in their native tongue had been exhausted, the wife of the couple gestured to a valise, and the husband produced two American coins: a slightly worn key date 1916 Standing Liberty quarter and the presently offered half cent. After a momentary lapse of reason during which Weinberg considered and dismissed the possibility that what he was seeing was tantamount to a numismatic mirage, he pulled one more arrow from his linguistic quiver: “vass iss da price?” The coin was acquired for the Swiss francs equivalent of about $1,200. Weinberg’s traveling companion, Heiner Stuker, later spoke to the couple and gathered that “the copper coin has been in this village for a long time, passed down from family,” as Weinberg recalled in 2013

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-2RWXG/1794-liberty-cap-half-cent-cohen-7-rarity-5-high-relief-head-mint-state-67-rb-pcgs

Is that the same Fred that posts here under @FredWeinberg?

That is an awesome and crazy story.

tradedollarnut

Laura originally insisted that no one else would pay anywhere near the asking price so it was a bad deal. I originally insisted that I’d never pay $1M for a half cent

What can I say - the coin spoke to me and opportunity was more important than price.

Broadstruck

Wunderbar

Inspired70

Stunning! Congratulations!

1Mike1

Beautiful coin. Fascinating to think of the people who took great care of this piece.

SkyMan

Yowsah!

kaz

I meant to ask in the other thread if your type set would include copper, consider the question answered. That coin is phenomenal not least for having survived in such a condition. What incredible good fortune that it wasn't subjected to excess moisture, chemicals, coarse handling, etc. It has that inner glow I love in RB copper. Congrats and thanks for displaying it here.

SmEagle1795

A heck of an acquisition. Congratulations!

cardinal

@tradedollarnut said:
Laura originally insisted that no one else would pay anywhere near the asking price so it was a bad deal. I originally insisted that I’d never pay $1M for a half cent

What can I say - the coin spoke to me and opportunity was more important than price.

Fabulous! In terms of Half Cents, that one is like comparing the Pebble Beach golf course to a backyard turf putting green!

yosclimber

@DelawareDoons said:
...
Is that the same Fred that posts here under @FredWeinberg?

Yes - see my post 3 above yours.

DelawareDoons

@yosclimber said:

@DelawareDoons said:
...
Is that the same Fred that posts here under @FredWeinberg?

Yes - see my post 3 above yours.

Thanks!

Smudge

Has it all, even a cool reverse die crack. Congrats.

SanctionII

This coin is a prime example of the concept of:

"If you do not stop by a coin show or a coin shop to snoop you will never know what you may be missing."

I have heard this story multiple times and each time I try to envision myself in 1977 attending the small coin show that Fred Weinberg attended, seeing this coin and buying it.

Pure, unadulterated, numismatic nirvana.

Congrats on the new acquisition.

LanceNewmanOCC

@cardinal said:
Fabulous! In terms of Half Cents, that one is like comparing the Pebble Beach golf course to a backyard turf putting green!

oh come on. I just started a round of front 9 at pb on wgt just about the time as I read your post!

that little half-sister is breathtaking.
.

breakdown

I saw the St. Oswald example years ago but this looks a different level. Didn't lot view copper in the Pogue sale. This photo makes me wish I had.

hchcoin

Love it

cameoproofcoins

Fantastic. This a famous coin for half cent and type collectors.

Lakesammman

Beautiful coin, great story.

Like JK once said, one of the greatest compliments regarding a coin is to say, "That's a Pogue coin". Might be revised to TDN one of these days.

golden

Holy crap! You will never be sorry that you stepped up to the plate and bought that amazing coin.

Boosibri

Wonderful coin and backstory. Absolutely amazing!

SiriusBlack

Very awesome! From PRCC?

tradedollarnut

@SiriusBlack said:
Very awesome! From PRCC?

Yes. We just completed a 6 coin transaction

Indulger

Wholly Guacamole! that’s one nice piece of copper.... Congratulations!

Currin

@tradedollarnut said:

@SiriusBlack said:
Very awesome! From PRCC?

Yes. We just completed a 6 coin transaction

Amazing.. Great addition. Only six more to go!

tradedollarnut

@Currin said:

@tradedollarnut said:

@SiriusBlack said:
Very awesome! From PRCC?

Yes. We just completed a 6 coin transaction

Amazing.. Great addition. Only six more to go!

Actually...only 4 more. For some reason 2 aren’t yet assigned to the proper slots in the Registry.

SiriusBlack

Can’t wait to see the registry set once it’s finished. Hope you’ll open it for us to see!

oih82w8

A museum quality addition to your fabulous collection! Thank you for sharing!

Zoins

Wow, incredible coin and incredible story! I hope @FredWeinberg chimes in on this thread.

Congrats @tradedollarnut! It's a great set to build and I love how you're building this!

GoBust

Holy cow that's an amazing coin Bruce!

johnny9434

Nice I like

mannie gray

The coin is as cool as the story behind it.
Amazing.

Paradisefound

Very few can pull it off ..... it must've been love at the first sight Congrats!

privaterarecoincollector

the coin is fully red under a strong light and specimen. Its way undergraded. It doesnt look like anything else I have seen so far. And Im a sad a bit it sold.

Zoins

@privaterarecoincollector said:
the coin is fully red under a strong light and specimen. Its way undergraded. It doesnt look like anything else I have seen so far.

Great comments. Thanks.

And Im a sad a bit it sold.

Why are you sad?

ricko

That is an amazing old coin, and in superb condition. Even has a fantastic back story....Congratulations TDN on a great acquisition. Cheers, RickO

privaterarecoincollector

@Zoins said:

@privaterarecoincollector said:
the coin is fully red under a strong light and specimen. Its way undergraded. It doesnt look like anything else I have seen so far.

Great comments. Thanks.

And Im a sad a bit it sold.

Why are you sad?

because its probably the most beautiful wonder coin of my collection. It looks like it should not exist.

privaterarecoincollector

@privaterarecoincollector said:

@Zoins said:

@privaterarecoincollector said:
the coin is fully red under a strong light and specimen. Its way undergraded. It doesnt look like anything else I have seen so far.

Great comments. Thanks.

And Im a sad a bit it sold.

Why are you sad?

because its probably the most beautiful wonder coin of my collection. It looks like it should not exist.

the 1795 Ten is also not bad !

Cameonut

@tradedollarnut
Have you considered creating a showcase for your type set? I'd love to see some of the other pieces as well.

messydesk

Wow! Incredible coin, incredible story.