The importance of having a Library.

RLSnapper · November 1, 2022 5:02PM

So I am doing some research on my latest purchase..the 1840 N-12 Sm Date Large Cent. I knew it was put into a PCGS holder after 9/26/2021 because lot 16 of the Colonel Ellsworth Large Cent auction was an N-12 PCGS AU58 and mentions only 2 finer at PCGS, a 63 and a 64..no mention of my 62. Out of curiosity I check the Goldbergs site for auctions after that date and guess what I find, an unattributed 1840 Sm Dt. in their 9/6/2022 sale. No picture of the coin but the description of a shallow area is a match to my coin. The description also states the coin was part of the Dan Holmes collection, Lot 18. I managed to find the Holmes catalogue on line and what do you know..the picture matched my coin!
To make a long story short the provenance went back to the Robbie Brown 2002 sale...which catalogue I have...sure enough there was a picture of her in Lot 46. I missed it when I first looked at the catalogue. Brought $920 in 2002. Made me feel pretty good about the price I paid. That catalogue led me to the Walter Dudgeon sale of 1994 and to its first appearance at auction in a 1987 EAC sale. I put Walter Dudgeon in the Ebay search and the catalogue for his sale popped up. I am happy to say the newest addition to my library is on its way!
The coin means so much more to me now! When I sit and look at her I will know that Dudgeon, Brown and Holmes did the same. The shallow depressed area doesn't bother me at all now. Why should it if it didn't bother its past owners. And best of all the coins story is preserved. Having the provenance will likely add to its value when the Snapper Collection is auctioned off!
Knowledge is the key to collecting coins. A library will add to the enjoyment of your collection!

pruebas · November 1, 2022 8:18PM

So many of us feel the same way. Congrats on the research finds!

@Boosibri has some great stories to share about his provenance research.

jacrispies · November 1, 2022 9:08PM

I agree. I enjoy having the physical paperwork that can be easily referenced because it makes research even more fun. Congrats on the successful detective work!

TomB · November 1, 2022 10:08PM

Fantastic research and thank you for sharing the results. I also enjoy finding out additional things about pieces that I own and I also have a fairly extensive numismatic library that has been used many, many times. Again, good work and thank you.