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Have a favorite coin collecting story? Want to share?
BryceM
Posts: 11,737 ✭✭✭✭✭
Care to share an experience that:
- Changed the way you see things?
- Started a new friendship?
- Made you laugh?
- Made you cry?
- Made you rich?
- Mad you collect something new?
- You couldn't believe?
- Surprised you?
- Completed a goal?
Positive vibes only, please. There's enough dealer bashing, TPG bashing, politics, and other stuff other places if that's your thing.
5
Comments
I got a cool collection story. A while back when I don’t know much about coins I walked into a local coin shop in my town. The guy who ran the shop was named Brad. I usto be really into wheat cents so I would buy them form him. One day he came up to me and said, I got something cool to show you. He pulled out a penny in a coin flip and said it was a 1909 s vdb and was worth $1000. At that point I Never knew such a small bit of copper could be so valuable. I usto think age was what brought value but after the moment when the Brad showed me that coin I began to educate myself more on the history of coins and the rules of collecting. Thanks to Brad showing me this 1909 s vdb I now feel I have a great understanding of not only the coins but the history that makes them valuable 👍
None of the above. I met Walter Breen and bought his Coin Encyclopedia from him at a coin show. He was like a 1960s hippie who got old and didn't seem to change much. He was very enthusiastic about numismatics, and if he had the time, would speak with you about any aspect of it. At the time, I thought it was flattering that the guy who spent so much time researching and writing this book would speak with me about coins as if I was the most important person in the world.
A big 'wow' moment is when John Danreuther spoke with me in great deal about the differences between the 1888 and 1889 Liberty Nickel in various grades of Unc. His depth of knowledge was amazing. He just wanted to teach me about these coins, there was no condescension or anything of the sort in his talk. It's a neat thing when someone who is the smartest person in the room chooses to share some knowledge with you.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Started my collecting career buying three 1995 DDO Lincoln cents at $200 a pop from the back of CW.
Luckily cherrypicked my way into the black and have learned alot along the way across alot of collectibles.
All the highs and lows have me looking forward to 2022 and beyond with greater knowledge and anticipation.
I see a B&M, PM/coin buying, 20 show a year, online store in my future.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Coin collecting has been a constant thread through over seventy years of life which includes working in four countries and ten states, not to mention travel to many other countries and states. Through it all, from selling papers as a kid, to buying slabs as an old codger, coins have been an interest, enjoyment and entertainment, covering most of the points in the OP. Cheers, RickO
Went to a local coin show about 3 or 4 years ago and was looking for Buffalo nickels. One dealer had several nice ones that I looked at, one was marked as a 1913-D Type 1 in AU. I have certain things that I look at on a Buffalo to determine it I like the coin. I look at the date, LIBERTY, and the horn. I looked at the coin in a hurry and decided I liked it. I bundled it with a couple of other Buffalos and we came to a price. Price on this 1913-D was marked at $50 and got it for a little less in the bundle. When I got home I was going through my new purchases and realized that it was not a Type 1 but a Type 2. I guess I hadn't even looked that closely at the Mintmark. I am an honest person but had no idea how to find this guy again or that I could even pick him out of a lineup. Still have the coin, had it graded a couple of years ago and it came back AU-Details /cleaned. It is a real beauty though.
I lived in Manhatten from ages 7-18 and as an avid collector, went to Stack’s on many Saturday mornings. One time, when I was about 12, i bought something there - sorry, I can’t remember what it was - and when I got home, I checked my change that I’d gotten from my purchase.
One of the coins was a Mercury dime from 1942. I’d never seen a 1942/1 overdate before, but it looked like it might be one. I wasn’t sitting down, but was definitely on the edge of my seat! I excitedly checked out my Redbook and got out my magnifying glass. I couldn’t believe my eyes - I’d gotten a 1942/1 dime in change from Stack’s! I must add that in the back of my mind is the thought that I might have cleaned it at some point.
Sometime later, I went back to Stack’s and sold the dime to them for $75 - a boatload of money! And when I did so, in my full-of-myself, high horse voice, I asked “Don’t you check your change?!” I don’t recall what the response was, but it felt like it was something to the effect of “Shoo fly, go away.” 😄
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
When Q. David Bowers was preparing his Red Book Series book on Double Eagles, I had sent him my unique 1850 Double Eagle for examination. I was honored when I found my name in the credits of the book when it was published.
Years later I wrote to him on another matter and added the comment that, "I thought you might be interested to learn that (subsequent to the publication of your book on Double Eagles) numismatic researcher and author Karl Moulton wrote identifying the coin as a "First Strike" or "Trial Piece" that had been in the personal collection of James B. Longacre. ..... I believe the J.B. Longacre pedigree (as a first strike) is much more significant than the C.W. Green listing as a proof..."
In responsive correspondence, Q. David Bowers commented, "The Liberty Head Double Eagle is one of my favorite series. You certainly have a spectacular 1850!!! Also, it seems you have a very nice library and I'm delighted that a number of my volumes are included in it."
[In my original letter I had written:
"As I was reading earlier this week from my copy of your recently published book "Lost and Found Coin Hoards and Treasures," which you had signed, it occurred to me how much enjoyment I have had over the years reading your numerous books and columns in periodicals such as "Coin World" and the "Numismatist." ..... Out of curiosity I took a brief inventory this morning of the numismatic books currently on my shelf and noted upwards of a dozen that you had authored... .....
As I glanced though those titles it brought back many fond memories of my interest in and acquisition of specific coins related to the books you authored which as I had read and reviewed them made acquiring those coins all the more interesting and educational." ]
When I was younger I used to search dealer junk boxes for pre-1850 coins and would spend time trying to ID them. Over time, I ended up with a number of different German States issues and learned a little about their history, locations, etc.
About 10 years later, I was working on a project with a plant in Germany. Somehow a discussion turned to the local history of the area and I was able to add a great deal to the conversation. It turned out that I knew more about the history than the German engineers. If you've ever worked with German Engineers, they don't like to be second best in anything, especially to an American talking about German history. During the next trip a few months later, one of them made it a point to tell me about the local history in great detail (he did his homework, and I was able to learn something, so it was good).
So it turns out that buying 50 cent dreck from junk boxes allowed me to impress my German colleagues with my understanding of German history.
From the files of good things on eBay: I learned about various grading companies (outside of the top four) and started searching for them on eBay. Some duplicates I would resell. This is how I met a few others who were doing the same. We shared our eBay coin hunting experiences and that led to a friendship where some of us continue to discuss coins.
QDB stories.
In the early days of Stack-Bowers online auctions, I was bidding on a Conder token. It was a high MS farthing in the Middlesex hangman series. Bidding was aggressive, it went live, and I won it either with a live bid or my max reserve (don't remember which). I got something like a 'you won this lot' type of message when it closed, then the new lot came up and so on. And a few minutes later I went to my list of watched items, and lo and behold it listed this farthing that I won, as a loss at the same bid price I allegedly won it at. So I emailed Stacks and explained, and noted how hard these are to find and it might never come up again so this was bad (I have since got a few from specialized dealers). And who replied, well it was QDB himself. He sent a very nice email and apologized and said their tech was new and sometimes it makes mistakes but nothing they can do to fix this mistake and please bear with them as they make it better. Wow someone admitting a mistake what is up with that? So I thanked him for his honesty and we somehow got into a series of emails discussing various things. I remember that somehow in this string we talked about Boston universities, how his family preferred Harvard to my MIT.... These B&F emails lasted for a couple days, the legendary QDB............
In one of the recent FUN shows in Tampa, I was going up to my room at the hotel sometime around 8 pm after being out for dinner and entered from the main lobby on the first floor, only one in the elevator. Door opens on 2, in walks QDB and Christine Karstedt in animated conversation. I for some reason apparently looked like I was there for FUN, QDB stopped his conversation with C and said 'are you enjoying the show'? Of course I said 'yes' and then he said, 'what do you collect'? I told him one of the series I was collecting. He said something like 'that can be challenging' door opened on their floor, he said 'have a good evening', and off they went. This was like 15 seconds but he made pleasant conversation with a stranger in an elevator, well, just because I guess.
Clearly these 2 experiences speak to his character and consistent with the pleasantness and enthusiasm he displays in his books.
Best, SH
Successful transactions with-Boosibri,lkeigwin,TomB,Broadstruck,coinsarefun,Type2,jom,ProfLiz, UltraHighRelief,Barndog,EXOJUNKIE,ldhair,fivecents,paesan,Crusty...
In the late 1980s, I met an interesting fellow who showed me a small batch of magnificent toned Ike dollars in PCI slabs. He told how he had acquired them and subsequently sent them to PCI. The story was appealing and with edge-of-your-seat details.
He owned a paint store in Salt Lake City and was as interesting to look at as he was to hear.
It wasn't until years later I met truthteller (an older member from this forum who sadly is now deceased). After a discussion with him, I could lock down details the Salt Lake City dealer stated that were, at best, misleading, and at worse, were down and out fibs/lies.
It was also about this time many of those toned Ikes crossed (back when PCGS accepted crossovers from other grading companies outside of just now NGC) to PCGS.
It was Jim Barlow (of the Kennedy Center) who coined the nickname "Peacock Ikes". A word, by the way, the sensors of PCGS back in the older forum days wouldn't allow unless you knew the secret code on getting away with it!
Anyways, it was a fun and interesting time and one that made me slightly more suspicious of "stories" when the discovery of toned coins (i.e., Appalachian Hoard nickels) comes to market.
peacockcoins
This one surprised me. I was on jury duty one time, in downtown Seattle. I was walking around killing time over lunchtime, and a bum approached me and asked me if I wanted to buy some old coins. He opened up his hand, and displayed 20 average circulated Mercury dimes. I asked how much he wanted, and he said 30 cents each. I said sure, I'll take them. I handed him the cash, and he gave me the dimes. As I was walking away, back toward the courthouse, he yelled 'Hey, will you be here tomorrow? I can bring you more'. I said sure. The next day, I hung around the corner for 90 minutes but he never showed. End of story.
Dave
Great idea for a post----
Once at a local very small show in the mid 80's I stood next to guy who wanted the same coin I did. A nice circulate US Philippines 1917-S 10 centavo. I let him have it and we struck up a conversation as we both collected the same coins.
over a few years I sold him a few lots of coins here and there. Usually on memo.
Over time he invited me to his home about 50 miles from where I was to look at his collection, and talk coins
He had over 40,000 coins and Steve Alpert a well known Token Dealer in his living room cataloging his large Token collection.
I was impressed. He had traveled the world buying coins among other things too.
He owned apartment complexes in Los Angeles, not too shabby.
As we talked over lunch he told me had a terminal lung disease (I was sad) and he would be consigning his U.S. philippine
collection to an area dealer. He wanted to let me know where he was disposing the collection through so I could have first shot at it. He was selling everything so his wife would not be stuck with it. Wow what a nice thing to do.
I found the dealer and told him the story as he knew the man well. I proceeded to buy at least 90% of the coins.
This made my collection as many where GEMs. I eventually started to get them graded when PCGS started in 1986.
Today I have alot of Number one Registry sets in large part because of that collection.
If you recognize my Avatar photo it is the Patch of General MacArthurs "Sixth Army" who invaded and took back the Philippines in WWII. This is the Name of My registry sets.
Krueger
I've got a bunch of stories I can think of, but I'll write four (it was going to be two, then three, but now four) for now.
In 2004, when the Smithsonian was taking down their coin exhibit, I got to be part of the crew up in the vault putting coins back in their places after staff members brought them up from the exhibit floor (thanks for getting me the invite, @MrEureka!). Knowing when my time in the vault had to end to get back home, I made a comment about missing out on seeing the rarities up close and personal (1804 dollars, 1933 double eagle, UHR double eagle, 1849 double eagle). Not too long after, someone tapped me on the shoulder and said "come with me." We went down to the floor and I was told to pull the 7 coins out of their case and into a small box. The box would remain unlocked as I carried it across the museum floor (the museum was open and busy) to the staff elevator and back to the vault. And yes, there was a guy with a gun next to me the whole time. As a little keepsake, I got to keep the three mirrors that were behind the 1804 dollars allowing you to see the reverses.
In 2005, I was at the Baltimore show in March on my 18th birthday. I saw QDB and introduced myself, and at some point my birthday came up. He walked me across the bourse floor to the Whitman table, pulled a copy of one of his books, and signed it as a birthday present.
I went to Philly twice to do photography for The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint (https://smile.amazon.com/Secret-History-First-U-S-Mint/dp/079483244X). On the second trip, the first stop was the Mint. If you've been there, there are GIANT signs out front telling you not to take any photos and listing the penalties if you do. As I walked up the stairs with suitcase full of photography equipment I met a few Mint police officers:
Them: Can we help you with anything?
Me: I'm here for, uh... (looks at sign)... the photography project. I'm just going to wait for my escort to come out.
My escort comes to the door, whispers something to one of the officers, and they open a different door and let me right in, skipping the security line, much to the chagrin of everyone else waiting to get in. That was a fun day, @Coinosaurus!
@TomB was the first person from the boards I ever met in person, and he got me introduced to coin shows. When I was in college, I took flying lessons and one of the requirements was to fly a solo flight of a certain length to another airport (well, 2 other airports, but that's beside the point). Tom didn't live far from an airport that was the right distance for me to go, so I flew over there and he picked me up and we went to his house for a little bit of show and tell before I headed back home. It was the first flight I ever took that had any purpose beyond just training and meeting requirements.
Great story @airplanenut. My 17 y/o son is a couple flights away from his cross-country solo. After that, all that's left is the checkride for him. Exciting times!
Awesome! I’m a wee bit past that now, but while I’ve made many memories since, those early training flights still provide many of my fondest flying memories.
I'm in the middle of a nice coin story right now with the discovery that one of my Seated Liberty halves that I've had for perhaps a decade turns out to be the second known example of a very rare die pairing. After diagnosing the coin I checked its estimated rarity, expecting it to be an R-3 or R-4, or maybe an R-5 if I'm lucky, and then reading that it's a unique R-8...WHAT?!!!...NO!! Where did I go wrong with the diagnosis? But I didn't make any mistakes! It's the real deal! A perfect match with the diagnoses and pictures (pinches self again).
I'm still on a numismatic high. An even better one than when I found a 1921 Mercury dime in change as an eight-year-old.
Or my finding a love token made out of an 18th-century bust dime in a $3 junk box. Or scoring an excellent EF40 1846-O tall date half and a nice AU50-ish 1895-S Morgan dollar from a seller off eBay for way less than half their book value.
congrats!
BHNC #203
Here’s one that made me upset and may make some cry, especially the hardcore IHC nuts.
Several years ago, probably 5 or so, I was visiting my grandmother. She had just recently found out I was a coin collector; I think it came up in a conversation she was having with my mom.
So she brought out and old coffee can she had with approximately 15 mixed coins in it. All were raw and loose - nothing in any sort of holder. Pretty typical group of coins you’d expect a non-collector to have stashed away - clad Kennedys, SBAs, a few circulated Morgans and Franklins. Then she shows me two Indian Head cents, both 1884. Both were uncirculated and had nice even brown coloring.
She told me those two coins were found on the corners of a foundation while redoing the old barn on the property her and my grandfather had for a long time and the home my mom grew up in.
I would think about those two cents from time to time and wish that they were in individual holders.
I just recently went to visit her again. This was the first time seeing her since she showed me the coins. So I asked her about the coins and the cents specifically. I told her about the benefit of having them certified and encapsulated in protective holders and I asked her if she would allow me to send them to get certified for her.
She said that she gave them to my little cousin at some point because he wanted to show them to his friend and she never saw them again.
Very sad as I’m sure those two cents held a lot of sentimental value to a lot of my mom’s siblings. I know my mom was definitely upset when she heard about what happened to the coins.
Another one that had me very disappointed.
Quick back story...
I’ve been very casually working on a Dansco 7070 album for at least three years now. Pretty much all the easy holes are filled. Most of what is left is the more expensive coins and types that aren’t easy to find attractive and reasonably priced.
One of those open holes is the seated dollar...
I will very rarely browse seated dollars on eBay to do a little window shopping. I’ll probably only do that two times a year, maybe once. So I basically know nothing about the series.
I recently was at a coin show with no specific goals. It was the first I’d been to in at least a year so I was happy to just be there and have the opportunity to browse so many coins in person.
About 4 or 5 tables in I see a really nice looking seated dollar in a dealers case. Like I said before, I know almost nothing about the series, but I know enough about coins to know what a superbly PQ circulated coin looks like. That seated dollar was just incredible for a circulated coin. It would probably have graded in the F15 range.
It was marked at $325 and while I was looking it over the dealer said that he’d take $290 if I was interested.
I was very tempted at the time to just pull the trigger. But there were still so many tables to get to and that coin would have used up most of the cash I brought with me. I asked the dealer if that price was good for the day and he said yes.
I thought I’d quickly browse the rest of the tables and come back for the dollar if I had money at the end. So I moved on...
I got three tables down, not even five minutes later and I thought “screw it! That thing is beautiful, I’m going to buy it.”
So I hurry back to the dealers table and say I’ll take that seated dollar!
His reply... “sorry some one just bought it.”
The guy that bought it was literally walking away from the table as the dealer told me that
I’m still upset about it.
I don’t think I will find a dollar as nice as that one was for what I think is a reasonable price for a looooong time.
I guess I can take a lesson away from the experience:
IF YOU EVER SEE A COIN THAT WOWS YOU - BUY IT! DO NOT WAIT!
"The one that got away" has happened to me a time or two. Keep looking. There are others out there.
Over the years I have picked up a few treasure coins, but the first was from The Atocha when Mel's son travelled to where I live. The "story" part was getting to share the meeting with two of my children which made for a memorable memory.
There was a small-town auction of estate coins with pretty strong attendance. In looking over the lots prior to the sale, I came upon a Ziploc bag of about 400 Washington Quarters. They looked mostly XF to MS. I noticed a "D" mintmark on one and manipulated it around to see "1932" on the other side. Then I saw another one in the bag and perhaps another. I won the lot for not much over silver value.
Arriving home after the sale, I poured out the bag at the kitchen table and the whole family started searching through the quarters. The bag turned out to have six 1932-D quarters which wound-up being certified as AU58-MS62.
My wife is an esthetician.
She had alot of elderly clients. One left her a proof set as a tip or a Christmas gift. She loved the lady and asked me what she could do with it?
Strange gift for and from a woman. We laughed and put it into a drawer.
About ten years later, I heard about wide/close AM's and low and behold to my amazement it was a 1998s Close AM. Sold the entire set here on BST for around $200.
Sadly they had moved away...
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
Great thread with great stories.
Thanks to all.
Wayne
Kennedys are my quest...
I have so many from LSCC dinners, interning at the Smithsonian as a kid, meals with buddies at shows, jogging around the harbor in Baltimore with other collectors but what I truly cherish is the times a bunch of Trade collectors got together at either my or DDRs home with lots of sharing.
One memory that stands out while touring San Francisco with Originaldan we popped into one of the historic skyscrapers downtown to visit and old school coin shop. Little did we know Seth Chandler had just bought the shop and we talked coins for a few hours and then ended up at a fabulous old school restaurant for dinner with Seth. It was a special night. As a follow up connection to the story, I purchased an early Brazilin 960 Reis that day as I try to never not buy something from a B&M. About 3 months later I ended up at a private dinner with the Brazilin Ambassador to the US. He was a student of numismatics as well (ancient roman) and despite our wives silent protests we talked coins most of the night and I presented the Reis to him I had bought in SF.
The hands that coins pass though and the history is how the hobby hooked me, the thought of an Spanish 8R making it to Brazil to be over-stuck into a Reis, circulate though commerce only to end up in San Fran 200 years later, sold and taken to Washington DC to be presented to an official and taken back to Brazil is fascinating to me.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
My interest in collecting started slowly in 2000 and reached a peak in 2003/2004/2005. I ate and slept coins and tried to learn all I could.
I learned that many of our nations' coin archives were located a few blocks from my office in center city Philadelphia. I went there many times and became friendly with the staff. I had met Roger Burdette at the Baltimore WFOM in 2003 and my researching bug turned into a full blown obsession. By then I had joined the ANA and decided to write an article for the Numismatist. Not about coins but about the research we all do and the resources available at the archives.
I ran the idea by the person in charge of the National Archives and she literally opened the vault for me. I was allowed to handle priceless documents and go into the basement storage (Records Group 104) which was strictly off limits. I was allowed to photograph anything even though cameras aren't allowed - mostly for security reasons.
I was there in December 2005, at the same time the 2006 Franklin $1commemoratives were being minted a few blocks away. I spent a long time writing and rewriting. I sent a draft copy to Roger who was receptive and encouraging. At the end of the day, I felt the article was a little amateurish compared to other articles in the Numismatist and did not submit. My research, my visits to the archives and my interaction with RWB (as he was known here back then) surpassed anything that could be written.
As long as you promise not to tell anyone, here is a picture I took of the basement vault storage at the National Archives in Philadelphia. (it has since relocated to Northeast Philadelphia)
Still have that article? Who cares if it was a little amateurish. That's the heart and soul of the hobby. Maybe all it needs is a little dusting off. I'd be very interested to read it, in the Numismatist, preferably.
Thank you, Yes, I still have it but it's as fresh as last month's egg salad sandwich.
When I did start collecting back in 2001/2001, I was fascinated with accented hair Kennedys. A story in themselves and more to the story than we know. Yes, Mrs. Kennedy made subtle hair changes after some of the proofs had already been run; but other changes where made to the proof (serif) that she had nothing to do with. And the "9" in the accented hair proof set dime was pointed, not blunt.
I knew the "behind the scenes" information and correspondence had to be at the Archives. I actually found out more about the plan to strike 1964 Peace Dollars than I did accented hair Kennedys (which weren't acknowledged as being different for many, many years.)
I sent the information I found about the 1964 Peace Dollar correspondence to Roger for his Peace Dollar book and was very surprised when a copy arrived at my office and I was listed in the acknowledgements. Good times.
If my interest ever slightly dwindles or wanes, all I do is re-open this thread- read a story or two- and I am right back in the game.
peacockcoins
Several years ago I was at a coin show and found the exact Condor token I needed for my collection at the time. Not only was it the one I needed but it was a nice high grade example. It was $10 more than all the cash I brought for the show. I asked the man selling it if he would take $10 off but he wouldn’t budge and said all prices are NOT negotiable. He was one of the few dealers that had such a policy. I had brought some Bangladesh money I was looking to sell at the show to a foreign currency dealer. The Bangladesh money I had exchanged for about $26 and it was the current issue. I didn’t collect that country so I wanted to sell it. Unfortunately that day none of the three foreign currency dealers that usually set up were present.
I happened upon a lady who was browsing the show and she asked me what I had. I told her my dilemma about how I was $10 short but had that Bangladesh currency worth $26 in exchange value. I offered it to her for $10 but she said she had no idea about Bangladesh money and would probably just give it to one of her kids. She was just being nice but wanted to know if I really needed $10 or if I had other money I could use to buy the token from the Condor Token dealer. I told her it was all I had and that I really needed $10 as the dealer had a non-negotiating policy on prices. She reluctantly bought the Bangladesh money from me just because I was short that $10.
Later I was just walking around browsing the show even though I had no money. One dealer had a bunch of really good counterfeit coins and he invited me to sit down at his table to show them to me as an educational lesson. The lady who bought the Bangladesh money from me walked by and said “looks like you do have money” because it appeared I was looking at coins when in reality I was learning about counterfeits and being shown some examples. I wanted to say something to the lady but I was too focused studying one of the coins. I felt really bad because the lady thought I scammed her and/or lied to her.
Nice addition.
The 1850
Agreed.
I've seen that 1850 in a dealer's case at a Long Beach coin show about 15 years ago. I think the SEGS holder declares an issue or two with it; otherwise, yes- it is ultra brilliant and certainly looks to be a premium strike if not a trial piece.
peacockcoins
It was at the Detroit ANA in 1994 when I first met her.
I was invited to a fellow collectors home for a get together of Bust half dollar enthusiasts. I arrived late with a few other "Nuts" as our cab driver could not find the address and had to stop at numerous gas stations for directions (remember this was pre-GPS cell phone days!). I walked in and a group of collectors were seated around a card table with a single coin laying on a felt pad in the center. As I walked by I commented "What a neat unlettered edge half dollar!". A few seconds later a collector responded "No way! You must have seen this coin before". I commented that it was the first time I had ever seen it and was then questioned how I knew what it was from such a quick glance. I responded that it was easy as it was larger than a normal half dollar and the fields sloped down towards the edges "much like a Perkins Pancake". The owner of the coin gave me an appreciative look and we spoke at length later.
The coin subsequently ended up in the legendary collection of Russ Logan. Russ was attempting to collect the Overton series not only by die marriage but in some type of error as well!!!! When his collection was sold in 2001 I saw "her" again at lot viewing and wrote in my auction catalog, "I want this coin!" But, it was not to be, she sold for more than my budget but she did go back to the collector that owned her in 1994.
Fast forward a few years later and I see her offered in a Coin World ad with numerous other spectacular errors by a major dealer for a mid 5 figure! This was multiples of what she sold for in the Logan sale and much more than I thought the coin would ever be worth.
Then a few years hence I was at a Long Beach show and working the floor. I visited Sheridan Downey's table to view some of his wonderful half dollars hoping to find one or two for my collection. One of the people who always helped Sheridan at the conventions was at the table and asked me if I would like to see something special. Of course I answered in the affirmative and was shown the special half dollar from the collector who originally had it in 1994. He had reacquired it and I congratulated him on owning it for the 4th time. Upon handing it back to him he asked if I really liked the coin to which I replied that it was one of my most desired coins but way out of my price range. He responded with, "but you haven't asked the price". I told him I had seen the Coin World ad and knew there was no way I could ever afford it. He reiterated that a I had still not asked price. So, I finally got the hint and asked the cost and was told a VERY reasonable figure that was still beyond my budget with two tuition payments already in the budget. He then asked me if I could afford it if he offered an UNLIMITED time payment plan. I winced and again refused the offer. He then told me that he was impressed with my interest and knowledge of the coin dating back to 1994 and thought I NEEDED to own the coin. Finally I said yes to the VERY kind terms and pocketed the coin.
On the plane ride home I could not stop thinking about owning the coin but, at the time, it was the single most expensive coin I had ever purchased. I hated the thought of owing that much money. Upon returning home I went through my collection and pulled out numerous things I could do without and sold them to raise cash to pay my debt. At the next show I went to the collector and paid him in full shocking him. We talked and I explained my thoughts and thanked him again for his generosity.
I still own the coin, of course! Some day I will find another collector that "has" to own the coin when it is time for me to sell playing the good will forward.
Oh, the coin- an 1812 unlettered edge bust half dollar in AU. The generous collector-= Henry Hilgard, a legend in the bust half dollar arena.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
@BustDMs
Great story. Have a photo?
@BustDMs Fantastic story! I’d love to see it. I too own an 1812 half, but clearly not nearly as special as that. Congratulations!
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Years ago, I traveled to a big show in Atlanta.
Wad of cash coin greenhorn.
Looked to cherrypick something. It was slow and a major Buff dealer was kind enough to show me some coins.
This one was slabbed MS64 and looked like the "Five Cents" was doubled.
I kinda did a double take of my own.... coin was about $120.
Said to myself... nah... PCGS would not have missed it and certainly not the expert.
Did not purchase.
Haunted me for years, because my biggest picks have been unattributed varieties in TPG holders.
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My current favorite story is the good results I received on my first submission of coins to PCGS.