Not US nor a coin but there's only one in the world and I received it yesterday
pointfivezero
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50 years ago I was an awkward, uncoordinated teenager lacking any social skills. I found refuge in my bedroom and took solace listening for hour upon hour to the very early Elton John masterpieces - 11-17-70, Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water among others. His music helped me survive a very painful adolescence.
Fast forward 50 years and I'm still a little awkward and uncoordinated but I'm still standing. With this history, I took great interest in the Royal Mint auction for a one of a kind Elton John Medallion, with all proceeds going to his charity foundation. The auction ran for two weeks from late April to early May. I did not post anything here (nor did anyone else as far as I can tell) as I wanted to to limit my competition. Here is a short YouTube link about the medallion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnzEtH-Re5U
At five kilograms of handcrafted .999 silver with gold plating and a one of a kind piece of numismatic art, I knew I stood little chance of winning against a worldwide audience in this hyper-enthused collector's market. But like a lottery ticket, at least it would provide me with two weeks of wishful thinking and hopeful dreaming.
On the morning of May 7th, my dreams came true with an email from the Royal Mint announcing I had won the auction. Choosing not to curse my luck, I waited until now to post this thread having received the medallion yesterday. It's more stunning (and much heavier) than I could have imagined. Here are a few pictures of the moment:
Tim
Comments
Every collector seeing this: Priceless.
PawnStars Rick: "I'll give you melt."
peacockcoins
That's quite a medallion - All 11 pounds of it. Congrats on winning!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
A really neat piece. Congrats!
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Congratulations!
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.
congrats.
we ALL need some cathartic victories to get us through this crazy race.
for this victory, i'm glad it came in the form of a so-so-called dollar; the biggest one i've seen to-date!
Great story! Congratulations!
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Sometimes I think the karmic balance of the world finds perfect harmony ...
... that looks and sounds like something that SHOULD be yours.
Congratulations!
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
That is totally cool- congratulations!
Thanks all - the only problem with the damn thing is it won't fit under my pillow. Here is my one ounce Elton coin in comparison:
Amazing! That is cool in so many ways.
Will you be sending it to PCGS?
"Levon likes his money..."
Nice
The Royal Mint website shows it sold for the open... is that the case? If so, I think you absolutely stole it. The pre-auction speculation indicated it'd sell into the six-figures.
A wonderful piece which crosses several collecting/societal interests; congratulations!
Well, as a matter of fact....
Actually, it's 185mm in diameter. I don't think there is a holder anywhere that can handle it.
WOW, congrats.
Did you get a sinking feeling when you saw that UPS punch to the package?
Yep. I was the only bidder although 25 others went through the painful registration process. I set my max bid and went to bed (the auction ended at 3 AM PDT) fully expecting to wake up a loser.
Incredible. Congratulations, maybe there really is a Santa Claus on numismatics... the Royal Mint's ineffective marketing!!
Thanks - that dent certainly caught my attention immediately. Fortunately, it was a box in a box in a box. Made this old warehouse guy smile. This is one mint that knows how to pack an item:
That original packaging is too legit anyway!
Not to mention, it came with a personal letter from the Royal Mint CEO and the Head of Commemorative items, along with an historical EJ booklet. Quite a package.
That's a monster !
Really nice !
Stoked for you!
Congratulations.
Thanks @thebeav @SurfinxHI @golden
Still can't believe it. I do feel like I won the numismatic lottery.
Tim
Very cool!
That certainly tops the coolness scale! Congrats.
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That’s awesome. You look quite pleased with yourself.
What a great item! Congrats!!
Lol - haven't stopped smiling since it came in the door!
Good for you, man! That thing is bigger than a CD.
We're all happy it went to the right guy. I love that they took a picture of Elton John holding it. Adds to the "provenance."
Now you need to find a way to get him to autograph the booklet.
👏congrats 👏
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"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Thanks @DCW
When I spoke to the Royal Mint personnel, I told them to tell Elton I was sorry it not generate more revenue for his charity but I wanted him to know it went to one of his biggest fans. I've seen him in concert many times but always from the nosebleed seats.
As an FYI, there was an option to pick the medallion up at the Mint and receive a personal tour. Although we chose the shipping option, the tour invitation is still open and will be on our agenda if and when we visit Europe.
Wow, very cool. Congratulations. I like your story and your recreated image, should print that off and include it in the original box and paperwork. That thing is massive! You didn't wipe off EJ's fingerprints from the holder did you?
Congratulations and such an amazing one of a kind piece of artwork. And you have a video of
the mint producing it. That is spectacular. After reading your description and experiences as a young
adolescent growing up, I don’t think it could we went to a more deserving person
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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Thanks and yes, Elton's fingerprints are intact. I just need @DNADave and a healthy ovary to make my very own Reginald Dwight....
(unapologetically borrowed from Sheldon Cooper's line on reanimating Leonard Nimoy in the Big Bang Theory)
Appreciate the kind words @coinsarefun. I really don't feel deserving but promise to be a good steward of this beauty.
Super cool and a hearty congratulations!
I love stories like this.
You are certainly a highly deserving destination for this fine and unique piece.
Thank you for sharing it here.
👍👍👍
Happy, humble, honored and proud recipient of the “You Suck” award 10/22/2014
Very, Very nice. Congratulations!
I met Tiny Dancer and married her.
Cool piece. I bet it blew the people at the mint away that you won with one bid.
"A dog breaks your heart only one time and that is when they pass on". Unknown
That's great! I love that feeling when you score a coin you want really badly. I'm very happy for you.
Now stop looking at it all day and get back to work!
Congrats. Don't drop it on your toes, it's not good
Such a great feeling to get something so prized and unique. Congrats
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Ran a needle through Yellow Brick Road back in the mid 70's. The wife and I got to see him in concert a couple of times in Houston. Quite the showman. Big congratulations!
Congratulations!!! Wow!!! What an amazing score, and a fantastic story to go with it. A real treasure, both personally and as a unique work of art. Cheers, RickO
Thanks again to this wonderful community for the kind and supportive comments. I certainly wish I had this kind of fellowship in my life during my younger years. You are a wonderful group of people.
Fun! Congratulations!
U.S. Type Set
Congrats! Owning such an item is a life-long dream come true. Elton John is one of the most distinguished and greatest (if not the greatest) musicians of our time. He is on his farewell tour in the US at this time until at least 4/28/22, at which time he will be 75 years old. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth ll on Oct. 6, 1998. nee: Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
Yes and if one gets the chance to catch the tour, it’s a great retrospective chronology of an amazing life lived to the fullest. I went to his Bay Area stop.
What a fantastic win! An example of you gotta participate in order to win. That is quite the hulk of metal. Thanks for sharing. Peace Roy
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That’s an incredible win!
I’ve always been a big Elton fan. One of the early influences in my life that inspired me to learn piano.
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