James Allaire Millholland Collection

Shane6596

I guess a collection was found of untouched coins that have been stored away for over a 100 years. I watched a video of someone showing them in hand, beautiful.

Link to article:

https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n08a17.html

lilolme

Had not seen the articles but did look through the upcoming SB auction for Baltimore. Here is a link to the current ongoing auction with the Millholland coins. (I think it is sorted for Millholland only) Opportunity?

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots?sort=auction_date_lot_number_asc&parent_category=1-11EIQ&limit=36&search=Millholland&lots_range=upcoming

DisneyFan

Just fascinating to see that picture of an old time collector's cabinet!

I couldn't resist learning more about James A. Millholland and learned this.

He was a railroad man. He was president of the Georges Creek and Cumberland railroad which became part of the Western Maryland Railroad. . He was vice president and treasurer of the Accurate Machinery Co., president of the Chinese Trading Co., of Philadelphia, importers of Chinese and Japanese products, a trustee of the Western Maryland hospital and trustee of the Allegheny County Academy.

He had 16 children. He insisted upon all his sons going into the railroad workshops and learning a trade. It was not an unusual thing to see Mr. Millholland’s sons running an engine on the Georges Creek and Cumberland railroad.

His first wife, Virginia Randolph Keim, on her mother’s side was descended from the Tuckahoe branch of the famous Randolph family of Virginia and was of the tenth generation in direct descent from the Indian princess Pocahontas.

ricko

What great fun it would be to look through a collection like that. If given the opportunity I would take a month (or what was needed) and totally devote my time to the coins. Amazing.
Cheers, RickO

Tramp

Ok. I have to ask, why the mask but no white gloves in the pic? Mask I might understand, no gloves I don't.

291fifth

I wonder how many finest known coins will be found in that collection? Collections don't get more "fresh" than this. I would expect very strong bidding.

Shane6596

The one grader that was in the video spoke of how he now knows what a truly untouched surface from those eras looks like, from examining the coins.

Im sure the bidding will be high for most.

scubafuel

It’s a cool collection. I saw some of the coins at FUN. Many had blotchiness from storage issues but some were very nice.

ms71

Wow, a collection like that stored in wooden cabinets. Most dark woods, particularly oak, cherry, walnut, and mahogany, are relatively high in tannic acid. This is particularly true with oak.

pursuitofliberty

@Tramp said:
Ok. I have to ask, why the mask but no white gloves in the pic? Mask I might understand, no gloves I don't.

Mask prevents little spots from the potential moisture in your breath

No gloves needed. Hold by edges. Less chance for any slippage from glove to skin movement (i.e. better tactile feel).

MFeld

@Shane6596 said:
I guess a collection was found of untouched coins that have been stored away for over a 100 years. I watched a video of someone showing them in hand, beautiful.

However nice the collection might be, I think it's a big stretch to refer to it as "untouched", considering that some of the coins are circulated.

conrad99

I think we mean untouched for many years, decades even.

Thanks to the OP for posting. I find that some people believe it's impossible to find old collections intact nowadays. While this one is nearly a holy grail, I do find minor collections still. And I love doing that!

Shane6596

@MFeld said:

@Shane6596 said:
I guess a collection was found of untouched coins that have been stored away for over a 100 years. I watched a video of someone showing them in hand, beautiful.

However nice the collection might be, I think it's a big stretch to refer to it as "untouched", considering that some of the coins are circulated.

My wording was not clear after reading it again...i was in a hurry.

Supposedly untouched for 100 years after his death. Maybe the family handled a few over the years. Its unknown.

The nice thing is they were stored safely for a long time. It makes me wonder how many other hidden collections are still out there.

Ill be watching the auction bidding, will be interesting to me.

Pnies20

@MFeld said:

@Shane6596 said:
I guess a collection was found of untouched coins that have been stored away for over a 100 years. I watched a video of someone showing them in hand, beautiful.

However nice the collection might be, I think it's a big stretch to refer to it as "untouched", considering that some of the coins are circulated.

😑

Pnies20

Interesting article and cool collection.