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What is the rarest coin struck in the U.S. - Thoughts from 119 years ago

1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

OUR RAREST COIN - - What do you think
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https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/511738?page=286

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Comments

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,518 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 21, 2021 7:10AM

    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

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  • joeykoinsjoeykoins Posts: 17,370 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 21, 2021 7:12AM

    To me, my guess would have to be the famous

    1913 V Nickel

    Only 5 Known B)
    Or one of my error coins. Only ONE of a kind! Lol

    "Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!

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  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I sure would like to have that 1849 Double Eagle.... Several reasons... I like big U.S. gold coins, it is rare/unique, and to actually hold such a coin would be a memorable experience. That would be an auction to watch (though it will not happen). Cheers, RickO

  • lkeneficlkenefic Posts: 8,480 ✭✭✭✭✭

    My first thought gravitated towards the 1822 $5 Gold. Yes, there were over 17k mintage, but only 3 are known to exist today...

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

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  • dbldie55dbldie55 Posts: 7,741 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    I suspect both 1849 Double eagles are unique, given we do not know where the second one is.

    Collector and Researcher of Liberty Head Nickels. ANA LM-6053
  • ColonelJessupColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 21, 2021 11:52AM

    @dbldie55 said:

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    I suspect both 1849 Double eagles are unique, given we do not know where the second one is.

    Melted by Scrooge McDuck along with the 1848 :'(

    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • ColonelJessupColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 21, 2021 12:01PM

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Wikipedia would like the English language back. I know you're a good guy, but your redefinitions are rubbish. >:)

    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,111 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Rare
    A relative term indicating that a coin within a series is very difficult to find.
    A coin with only a few examples known.
    A term sometimes applied to all coins of numismatic value (as in: Rare Coin Dealer).

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  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 14,572 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Two were known to have been struck.
    And just because an item is unique, or, for example, one of only a few known (and thus, extremely rare) doesn't disqualify it from being "rare". It's merely a matter of degree.
    If an item is "rare", it's rare, regardless of whether it's obtainable.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,518 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ColonelJessup said:

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Wikipedia would like the English language back. I know you're a good guy, but your redefinitions are rubbish. >:)

    I reckon I am not smart enough for this phone...I really dislike the small keypad...if it's called that. As long as my point comes across.

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  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,834 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @koynekwest said:
    Anything that's unique would be the rarest. Several US coins qualify.

    Exactly what I was going to say! IT's a tie for all unique coins. A population of 1 cannot be made any rarer.

    image
  • 1northcoin1northcoin Posts: 4,808 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 21, 2021 9:11PM

    A similar question was raised on a thread here some time ago, although phrased something like "Which U.S. coin is the most valuable." I opined the 1849 $20. Looks like the author of that 1901 article would be in agreement.

    Kudos to those who have pointed out the misstatement in the 1901 article as to the number of 1849 $20s minted. Where that second one is today, and/or what happened to it, remains one of the major numismatic mysteries.

    Now if anyone could unearth that story, that would be a book that would be more exciting than the 1933 Double Eagle ones that have been authored to date.

  • 1northcoin1northcoin Posts: 4,808 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @1northcoin said:
    A similar question was raised on a thread here some time ago, although phrased something like "Which U.S. coin is the most valuable." I opined the 1849 $20. Looks like the author of that 1901 article would be in agreement.

    Kudos to those who have pointed out the misstatement in the 1901 article as to the number of 1849 $20s minted. Where that second one is today, and/or what happened to it, remains one of the major numismatic mysteries.

    Now if anyone could unearth that story, that would be a book that would be more exciting than the 1933 Double Eagle ones that have been authored to date.

    @privatecoin

    Are you up to the challenge? Imagine the quest required to even attempt to write such a book. Even if the "search" doesn't reach the Holy Grail, I'll bet there would be a lot of fascinating stories found along the way.

  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,476 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Research suggests there's a photo of the 2nd coin. I would start there.

    Leo

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @rec78 said:

    @koynekwest said:
    Anything that's unique would be the rarest. Several US coins qualify.

    Exactly what I was going to say! IT's a tie for all unique coins. A population of 1 cannot be made any rarer.

    Yes-there may be a degree of rarity but there is no degree of uniqueness.

  • AlanSkiAlanSki Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Rare to me is a 43 copper and a 74 aluminum.

  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,326 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ColonelJessup said:

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Wikipedia would like the English language back. I know you're a good guy, but your redefinitions are rubbish. >:)

    Since when did we care about dictionary or Wikipedia definitions in numismatics. I thought we could make it up as we go ;).

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • WingedLiberty1957WingedLiberty1957 Posts: 2,992 ✭✭✭✭✭

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  • ColonelJessupColonelJessup Posts: 6,442 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @pmh1nic said:

    @ColonelJessup said:

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Wikipedia would like the English language back. I know you're a good guy, but your redefinitions are rubbish. >:)

    Since when did we care about dictionary or Wikipedia definitions in numismatics. I thought we could make it up as we go ;).

    DO NOT FEED THE TROLL

    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
  • pmh1nicpmh1nic Posts: 3,326 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @ColonelJessup said:

    @pmh1nic said:

    @ColonelJessup said:

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Wikipedia would like the English language back. I know you're a good guy, but your redefinitions are rubbish. >:)

    Since when did we care about dictionary or Wikipedia definitions in numismatics. I thought we could make it up as we go ;).

    DO NOT FEED THE TROLL

    “That’s the best you’ve got?” I guess so.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • LanceNewmanOCCLanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 22, 2021 3:58PM

    @ColonelJessup said:

    @oih82w8 said:

    .
    well, let me say this. obviously, neither of you are rare large cent collectors because i see NO mention of the use of NC which i think fits nicely right between unique and rare. so there!

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  • rooksmithrooksmith Posts: 1,025 ✭✭✭✭

    Vermont Coppers

    https://coins.nd.edu/colcoin/colcoinintros/VT-Copper.intro.html

    “When you don't know what you're talking about, it's hard to know when you're finished.” - Tommy Smothers
  • 1northcoin1northcoin Posts: 4,808 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Fun thread. Thanks.

  • The_Dinosaur_ManThe_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,065 ✭✭✭✭✭

    How do the Mint Records account for the creation of the 1849 Double Eagle? Because that article mentions Trade Dollars, and recently it was debated if the final 1884 and 1885 issues were created as medals rather than as coins, is there a chance that the 1849 $20 was likewise made as a medal or just a pattern piece? If so, it would be disqualified as the rarest coin.

    That being said, perhaps the debate should focus on the rarest obtainable coin.

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  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,834 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2021 1:52AM

    @The_Dinosaur_Man said:
    How do the Mint Records account for the creation of the 1849 Double Eagle? Because that article mentions Trade Dollars, and recently it was debated if the final 1884 and 1885 issues were created as medals rather than as coins, is there a chance that the 1849 $20 was likewise made as a medal or just a pattern piece? If so, it would be disqualified as the rarest coin.

    That being said, perhaps the debate should focus on the rarest obtainable coin.

    That would be unique coins in private collector hands- 1870-S half dime for example. I don't see any debate, unique is unique. And that is unique at the current time-who knows what will be discovered in the future.
    Other then the 1849 $20 gold coin, are there any other US coins with a mintage of 1? Canada has the $1,000,000 gold coin.

    image
  • MFeldMFeld Posts: 14,572 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @rec78 said:

    @The_Dinosaur_Man said:
    How do the Mint Records account for the creation of the 1849 Double Eagle? Because that article mentions Trade Dollars, and recently it was debated if the final 1884 and 1885 issues were created as medals rather than as coins, is there a chance that the 1849 $20 was likewise made as a medal or just a pattern piece? If so, it would be disqualified as the rarest coin.

    That being said, perhaps the debate should focus on the rarest obtainable coin.

    That would be unique coins in private collector hands- 1870-S half dime for example. I don't see any debate, unique is unique. And that is unique at the current time-who knows what will be discovered in the future.
    Other then the 1849 $20 gold coin, are there any other US coins with a mintage of 1? Canada has the $1,000,000 gold coin.

    As already mentioned in this thread, there were two 1849 $20’s minted, not one.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,834 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @MFeld said:

    @rec78 said:

    @The_Dinosaur_Man said:
    How do the Mint Records account for the creation of the 1849 Double Eagle? Because that article mentions Trade Dollars, and recently it was debated if the final 1884 and 1885 issues were created as medals rather than as coins, is there a chance that the 1849 $20 was likewise made as a medal or just a pattern piece? If so, it would be disqualified as the rarest coin.

    That being said, perhaps the debate should focus on the rarest obtainable coin.

    That would be unique coins in private collector hands- 1870-S half dime for example. I don't see any debate, unique is unique. And that is unique at the current time-who knows what will be discovered in the future.
    Other then the 1849 $20 gold coin, are there any other US coins with a mintage of 1? Canada has the $1,000,000 gold coin.

    As already mentioned in this thread, there were two 1849 $20’s minted, not one.

    In that case I take that to mean that are really no US coins with a mintage of 1.

    image
  • LanceNewmanOCCLanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2021 1:18PM

    @rec78 said:
    In that case I take that to mean that are really no US coins with a mintage of 1.

    so the question is; are there any known mint records indicating that only 1 of something has been produced. (legal tender)
    anything else, even if there is only 1 known, like previously stated, is simple unique (as of now).

    i know we've this has been discussed several times over the years, that i do recall but not so much anything specific. i am diggin' now to see if i can contribute but even 1 interesting coin/fact.

    would the 1943-d bronze 1c count. probably not as there are most likely a few others but that is speculative, if not logical.

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  • thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,657 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @oih82w8 said:
    I would that the 1849 Double Eagle would not be considered rare, but rather Unique, being that only one is known to have been struck.

    I would also say that for something to be considered rare, there is a chance of obtaining it.

    Two 1849 $20 gold Liberties were struck, but only one is known. So, not unique, but only one known.

    thefinn
  • thefinnthefinn Posts: 2,657 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The 1804 Draped Bust Silver Dollar - the original NCLT.

    thefinn
  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,834 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 24, 2021 1:36PM

    No, the 1943-D bronze cent does not count Coins that there are no record of would not count. The 1942-S pre-war composition nickel would not count either because there is no record of any being minted and more may be found.
    Error composition coins do not count.
    Sorry, I am not trying to overtake, or change the purpose of this thread by asking that question.

    image

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