It's Labor Day 2025...post the fruits of your labor!

DCW

Kind of a tradition. Post something that you worked extremely hard to be able to own. Could be the price, but it could also be the amount of time you spent searching for that special piece to come along.
Here is one that took a decade to nail down:
R. Chamberlaine original storecard with Washington reverse die. PCGS MS64, ex. William Spohn Baker Collection, Pennsylvania Historical Society."

There are less than a handful of these tokens known using Merriam's famous Washington stock die, and this one belonged to Baker, the father of Washingtonia. It resided in the Pennsylvania Historical Society for 120 years! As Musante notes in his own book on Washingtonia, this particular die was unused during all the mulings that occurred in the 1870s. So, it is believed to be the proper die marriage. Given the surviving population, perhaps they were only struck in a trial run and never actually issued to the merchant. I have personally only seen two examples, and they are both uncirculated.
Happy Labor Day everyone!

duck620

duck620

Eldorado9

Copperindian

These two IHC’s, both from the tough 1869 year:

This 1869 S-1 is the only MS known @ 64BN. There are only 10 total in the pop. When I first owned it, I swapped it as part of a trade, not realizing how rare it actually was. I never thought I would see it again, let alone have a chance to buy it!

Only a variety freak (like me) would know there are 8 die pairs for the popular 1869/69 S-3 IHC.
This coin is easily the most difficult to find of the 8. It’s die pair 3b, distinctive by the large die lump on the top of the N in CENT. Graded 64RB, here’s some close-ups:

TwoSides2aCoin

It was raw for 147 years.

pursuitofliberty

Waiting to go to breakfast with my Nephew, his girlfriend and my Brother and Sister-in-Law, so figured I'd ramble a post here.

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If I think about Labor Day to Labor Day, kind of like a fiscal year, it's been pretty monumental.

In November I moved into my house on the Washington Coast (relocated after 32 years in Fresno the last time), and there have been lots of small and bigger projects so far ... and still more on the slate. Getting it "just right" for me, in every respect, is the goal, and it has sucked plenty of "P58cac" CBH's from my budget.

But being here is so nice. Quiet and slow, peaceful and other than my youngest and his wife, the rest of my family is much closer (and I get to do things like this today). And almost a year in, this semi-retirement thing feels pretty good.

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As far as Coins and Currency go, there is always preparation, consideration and patience, and hopefully when everything comes together, I can afford the price.

These two items are the most expensive coin, and the most expensive piece of currency I have purchased this year.

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Not my normal CBH fare, this beautiful DBH caught my attention for more than a few reasons, not the least of which are lovely surfaces and mesmerizing luster and tones. Additionally as a bit of a Late Die State aficionado, this coin checked a lot of boxes for me. Finally, about 4 years ago I decided I wanted to try for a date set of Bust Halves, from 1800 on. This one is my only Draped Bust 1807, and as I am trying to do more and more, I will should need to upgrade her.

Description from it's previous HA Auction appearance in 2018.

1807 50C Draped Bust, O-105a, T-4, R.4, AU58 PCGS

Tompkins Die Stage 4/4. A terminal die state example of this very scarce Overton variety. Coins are easily found without the various die cracks, chips, and clash marks that characterize this piece, but Tompkins notes that comparable late-state examples "seem to be the most difficult to locate." Fully patinated apple-green, dove-gray, butter-gold, and lilac-red. Well-struck with minimal friction and glowing luster remaining beneath the toning.

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And then this lovely example also became mine. I had been looking at Rainbow $5.'s for at least five years, and dreaming about one going back about 30 years. About five years ago I decided to try to slowly put together a type set of Large-sized $5's. This is one of the many stoppers in the set!

Description from the HA Auction I purchased it from this Spring.

Fr. 64 $5 1869 Legal Tender PMG Choice AU58 EPQ

A very attractive example, this popular Rainbow Woodchopper is well margined on both face and back with excellent color and original surfaces. New to the census, it has the look of a Choice New note within its PMG holder.

edwardjulio

Sixteen years in the making:

Coins3675

Those are amazing @edwardjulio

SeattleSlammer

@edwardjulio
DAYUM! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️