1909 Matte Proof Lincolns in the Trash (updated with QDB's side of the story)

JesseKraft

I once briefly heard that QDB accidentally threw out (in the trash) something like 100 proof 1909 Lincolns. Anybody know anything about this?

1909 V.D.B. Matte Proof Lincoln Cent, donated by Victor D. Brenner. Plate coin in Breen's Proof Encyclopedia.
American Numismatic Society, 1909.242.1

1909 Matte Proof Lincoln Cent, donated by J. Sanford Saltus. Plate coin in Breen's Proof Encyclopedia.
American Numismatic Society, 0000.999.4585

Relaxn

Unrelated but I lost a high end 1916 MPL about 10 years ago and have yet to find it or see it re-surface anywhere.
It happens

oih82w8

it does happen, just don't bring up the you know what that was discarded some time back by a forum member.

zas107

Curious what you are referencing. Must’ve been something pretty expensive. At least it wasn’t a Stella or something like that I’m sure *wink

JesseKraft

@zas107 said:
Curious what you are referencing. Must’ve been something pretty expensive. At least it wasn’t a Stella or something like that I’m sure *wink

I'm being quite literal. I was at a local club meeting (Atlantic County Numismatic Society) years ago and we had a guest speaker on (if I'm remembering correctly) counterfeit detection, but was also an expert on Lincoln cents. One of the members of the ACNS (who is also a member here but hasn't posted much lately) asked, "How many 1909 matte proof Lincolns did Bowers throw in the trash?" as if he already knew the answer. The guest speaker kind of sheepishly and reluctantly answered, "about 100."

Jimnight

291fifth

Which landfill did they go to? Notify the History Channel and they can make a multi-year series about coin hunting in landfills!

TurtleCat

Did they end up on Oak Island? Stay tuned for the next two dozen episodes...

Mission16Redux

@TurtleCat said:
Did they end up on Oak Island? Stay tuned for the next two dozen episodes...

Ugh. I watched that show only long enough to realize those guys couldn't find their a$$ with 2 hands and a map.

SoCalBigMark

Yeah those Donkeys can play some wicked hide and seek.

abcde12345

@Jimnight said:

DCW

@291fifth said:
Which landfill did they go to? Notify the History Channel and they can make a multi-year series about coin hunting in landfills!

"The Lost Proofs of QDB"

BuffaloIronTail

@291fifth said:
Which landfill did they go to? Notify the History Channel and they can make a multi-year series about coin hunting in landfills!

OR..........Let Geraldo know and he can make a show about "Al Capone's secret proof Lincolns".

(Or something similar)

Pete

2dueces

People have searched for that treasure for 200+ years. Someone a long time ago found it, kept his mouth shut and lived a rich life. Instead of searching in the hole, they should search in the tax records.
Pirates didn’t bury any treasure ever! They split it with the crew, drank, gambled and partied in a safe port and went back to Pirating when they were broke. I could think of one or two better ways to spend millions than dredge a swamp. But that’s just me.

ricko

I have not heard the story about the MPL's and QDB....But the Oak Island rubbish has gone on for years and years... and is nothing but a made for TV hoax....I knew of that since I was a young fellow....Cannot believe people still follow that TV show....Cheers, RickO

IkesT

@JesseKraft said:

@zas107 said:
Curious what you are referencing. Must’ve been something pretty expensive. At least it wasn’t a Stella or something like that I’m sure *wink

I'm being quite literal. I was at a local club meeting (Atlantic County Numismatic Society) years ago and we had a guest speaker on (if I'm remembering correctly) counterfeit detection, but was also an expert on Lincoln cents. One of the members of the ACNS (who is also a member here but hasn't posted much lately) asked, "How many 1909 matte proof Lincolns did Bowers throw in the trash?" as if he already knew the answer. The guest speaker kind of sheepishly and reluctantly answered, "about 100."

Well, he is still around - why not ask him?

Would be interesting to know the full story.

JesseKraft

I just email Dave and he got back to me pretty quickly:

Hi Jesse!
Here is the real story.
In 1967 I was at Paramount International Coin Company in Englewood, OH, north of Dayton.
I was in charge of buying. Fred Vollmer (still active today) had a bunch of Matte Proof cents for sale—many duplicates, dozens altogether. We agreed on a price.
The package arrived, and someone on staff took off the multiple paper wrappings on the outside of a coin box and spread the contents out for me to see.
I looked them over, found them to be of beautiful quality, and sent a check to Fred.
Fred then called and said that I had paid for only part of the shipment.
How could that be?
Fred checked at his end and found that a clerk had put the cents in a long cardboard box and had sealed it. Then it was found that some had been left out, so the clerk spread them out on top of the wrapped box and added other layers of wrapping paper. When the box arrived the clerk at my end threw away the wrappings and gave me the cents.
Somewhere in a solid waste facility north of Dayton some Matte Proof cents probably remain today.. Fred and I discussed the loss and each of us agreed on a compromise settlement.
Nostalgia!
DAVE B

(note: Vollmer actually retired several years ago.)
(edited to add: It seems that several MPLs of different dates were thrown out, not 100 1909s like I had heard. Still crazy!)

Timbuk3

OMG !!! 😖

thebeav

Can you imagine packing coins like that ?

oldabeintx

@thebeav said:
Can you imagine packing coins like that ?

I've seen bad, but not that bad. It was very nice of QDB to compromise, must have been a strong relationship.