Don Bonser - Error Collector Extraordinaire!
Zoins
Posts: 34,287 ✭✭✭✭✭
Don Bonser is selling his collection and Heritage has presented at least FIVE parts of his error collection!
Does Don have the largest error collection of all time? How many more parts will there be?
Does anyone know anything about Don? I didn't see any bio information.
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Wow extremely nice.
If the rest of his coins are like the one above, It will be fun watching and not bidding
I thought you won a bunch of his coins earlier
Maybe, Not sure which was his. I won a whole bunch of Lou's coins as I had seen them in person.
It all depends on the eye appeal and price.
@Zoins
As far as quantity, Fred has the largest inventory presently, with Heritage auctioning some of it.
Lonesome John ( John Devine) had one of the largest inventories (quantities) in his day.
Don Bosner’s quantity of certified error coins that Heritage is auctioning certainly ranks up there too.
@Zoins
Don Bosner is a contract grader and authenticator for PCGS. He resides in FL but spends months at a time at the PCGS facility.
He is well known and respected in the error coin community as well, and assembled a vast collection of certified error coins, a good part of them were Lincoln Cents.
Mike, Is the non Heritage stuff hidden?
His website is not working.
I'll keep track of how many "Parts" Heritage auctions for @FredWeinberg, but I was under the assumption it would only be in one auction, not 5 or more?
And I'm specifically thinking of collections, as noted here as the Don Bonser Collection, not "inventories", which I agree can be large, especially over time.
It's on eBay which you know
I just picked up some!
Wow, Don's a PCGS grader and authenticator? And he spends months at a time at PCGS?
If he spends months at a time at PCGS, could that be a way to get faster turn around times on errors?
@ErrorsOnCoins
Fred retired.
He will still actively post in here.
He removed his inventory from his website recently, but still had a couple items listed
( blank planchets and webbing).
I don’t know why it is not working now.
@Zoins
Heritage already sold a few major U.S. currency errors that were Fred’s.
Fred has many error coins in the upcoming Central States Heritage auction.
I'm just thinking of coins, but it's a good point. I remember seeing the currency pieces.
Don used to have a table or shared a table and Long Beach but I haven't seen him in years. He was a good guy...I hope the sale does great!
jom
Interesting information about Don Bonser. I wanted to purchase a nice 70-CC half from him at Summer FUN but couldn't find him the next day. Apparently, he was only occupying table space for that day and then left the show. I speculated as to whether it had been cleaned and he was adamant that it hadn't been cleaned. I didn't know his background and qualifications until now. Damn. It was a really nice coin and, though it was a HUGE reach for me, I was ready to arrange to purchase it the next day but he was gone.
Bonser is Awesome ! I have a few cool errors from him bought a couple decades ago. He LOVES banging the keys, the piano keys !
That was coin was mine. I was splitting a table with Don Bonser at the Summer FUN show. I was there for set-up & Thursday. It was the first show I had set up at since the 1999 Summer ANA. I had to leave early to go grade at PCGS the following week for their Las Vegas MOS. I was a little stunned that someone would have considered that coin as being cleaned. I was not prepared to hear that response from a collector. It did alert me that collectors sure do look at coins much differently then coin graders though. After spending the past 19 years only getting feedback from co-workers in the grading room at PCGS it was an interesting encounter to say the least. I know I won't ever forget it.
John Butler
Former PCGS Grader
David Lawrence Rare Coins Numismatist
I didn’t know Don collected errors, but I’ve known him since I was a kid and he taught a grading class I took at the ANA Summer Seminar. Super friendly guy and extremely generous, as well. Also, if you ever hear him talk, you know that he should have a radio show.
Hi John. Welcome to the boards and thanks for the reply!
I gather I spoke with you then? I was there Thursday, met the LSCC guys for the first time to have a rare die marriage verified, and then returned Friday to drop off a submission to PCGS. First of all, I haven't been to shows in over 30 years, so I come across as somewhat of a coin 'rube' and a nervous wreck at giant shows like FUN. I get overly excited and even have trouble misplacing my notes, loupe, books, items I picked up at the show, etc. I need to go to more shows and coin shops and join a club to feel more at ease in these settings and learn about grading and spotting cleaning that I should have learned years ago. I can read the CU forums for years and try to develop my eye based on the coins shown here, but there is nothing like spending time viewing coins at shows and discussing coins with more astute collectors.
Secondly, I am weak on the "surfaces" aspect of grading and tend to pick coins with more extensive toning to avoid cleaned coins. Of course, that gets one in trouble with heavily toned cleaned coins and some lightly toned coins. Your comment in bold is well-received and spot-on in my case, and it would have been nice to discuss the coin in a more relaxed setting.
Finally, I had trouble seeing coins well at that show and need to get a loupe with a light and an eye exam. I didn't claim it was cleaned, but something about the coin, perhaps rapid changes in toning near the stars or lettering, prompted my inquiry to get their/your opinion. I get really picky when I see coins that are really nice, trying to find a possible flaw that I might overlook. I also had no idea what the market was for a VF 70-CC at that time. After checking Coinfacts, their adamant reply helped convince me that the coin was as nice as it looked, and I shouldn't pass up this chance to purchase a gorgeous 70-CC. The coin had a nice, original look that I liked, which I don't see often with rare CC halves. I purchased a 70-CC years ago from an SLH dealer based upon their description without photos and was very disappointed to receive a brightly dipped VG10. That's a numismatic crime, IMO. I promptly returned the coin.
I considered calling Mr. Bonser about the coin but got 'cold feet' and didn't. I assume the coin has been sold by now. Anyway, it was fun to discuss that moment with you here.
Rick