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Sorry to see this one go

tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,665 ✭✭✭✭✭

I’ve owned it for the longest of any coin - appx two decades. I remember first outbidding the great Jack Lee for it after which he declared to me that it was ‘the only true unc’ bust dollar he’d ever seen. Held for nearly two centuries by a prominent Boston family. Some don’t like the fingerprint but honestly it’s worse in pics and has mellowed during my ownership - I think it adds character [tho without it, it’s probably a 67]. Sad day tomorrow :-(

https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/2147436/1799-Draped-Bust-Silver-Dollar-PCGS-MS-66-Toned

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    CatbertCatbert Posts: 8,236 ✭✭✭✭✭

    An incredible coin. Do you think it is graded properly?

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
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    tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,665 ✭✭✭✭✭

    JA says 65+. I say compared to most other graded bust dollars 66+. So somewhere in that range is likely correct.

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    epcepc Posts: 445 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good luck with the auction!

    Collector of Liberty Seated Half Dimes, including die pairs and die states

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    TomBTomB Posts: 23,092 ✭✭✭✭✭

    It looks so fresh!

    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
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    MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,943 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 12:33PM

    @tradedollarnut, Bruce, if you feel up to saying, what made you decide to part with it?

    Auction description shows you bought the coin in 2012:
    “ Ex. Boston Family (Acquired 1799, Sold 1960s); Superior Auction (Oct 1990); ANR Auction (July 2003); FUN Auction (Jan 2012); Bruce Morelan.

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

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    bestdaybestday Posts: 4,272 ✭✭✭✭

    Noticed it.. great looking coin

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    WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 10,333 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good luck!!

    I think you will do well!! 👍

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

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    EastonCollectionEastonCollection Posts: 1,690 ✭✭✭✭✭

    great looking coin - surprised its not CAC'd

    Easton Collection
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    goldengolden Posts: 10,504 ✭✭✭✭✭

    So nice.

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    mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 7,105 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 3:47PM

    I feel your pain, Mr. Morelan. I've got a few pieces that I have owned for decades. I'm hanging onto them to the end of my days though. I've let too many coins go that I wish I still had.

    Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the
    birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will
    precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you
    come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you
    who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in
    poverty and it is you who are that poverty."--- Gospel of Thomas (Lamdin translation)

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    lermishlermish Posts: 4,851 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mr1931S said:
    I feel your pain, Mr. Moreland. I've got a few pieces that I have owned for decades. I'm hanging onto them to the end of my days though.

    Don't be so sure...

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    Morgan13Morgan13 Posts: 2,622 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What an amazing American coin.
    I admire you for realizing its time to pass it on when you felt it was time.
    That will be an auction to watch.

    Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
    Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
    Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7 JWP BruceS bigjpst
    JWP PROMETHIUS88

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    mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 7,105 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 4:03PM

    I initially spelled Mr. Morelan's name wrong as we can see in your amateurish meme where you grabbed my quote before I could correct my error. Would it be too much to ask of you to edit my quote out of your meme post?

    Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the
    birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will
    precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you
    come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you
    who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in
    poverty and it is you who are that poverty."--- Gospel of Thomas (Lamdin translation)

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    IkesTIkesT Posts: 4,449 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mr1931S said:
    I initially spelled Mr. Morelan's name wrong as we can see in your amateurish meme where you grabbed my quote before I could correct my error. Would it be too much to ask of you to edit my quote out of your meme post?

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    mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 7,105 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mr1931S said:
    I initially spelled Mr. Morelan's name wrong as we can see in your amateurish meme where you grabbed my quote before I could correct my error. Would it be too much to ask of you to edit my quote out of your meme post?

    Are you bucking to be my #1 follower? I mean, my error was up for less than a minute and you were on my quote like pronto to give some kind of bizarre context to your meme. That's world class in my view. Can you explain what my quote expressing empathy for another collector has to do with your meme about "obscure concert series"?

    Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the
    birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will
    precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you
    come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you
    who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in
    poverty and it is you who are that poverty."--- Gospel of Thomas (Lamdin translation)

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    MFeldMFeld Posts: 16,943 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 15, 2026 4:34PM

    @mr1931S said:

    @mr1931S said:
    I initially spelled Mr. Morelan's name wrong as we can see in your amateurish meme where you grabbed my quote before I could correct my error. Would it be too much to ask of you to edit my quote out of your meme post?

    Are you bucking to be my #1 follower? I mean, my error was up for less than a minute and you were on my quote like pronto to give some kind of bizarre context to your meme. That's world class in my view. Can you explain what my quote expressing empathy for another collector has to do with your meme about "obscure concert series"?

    I took the meme to mean, that for tickets to the right concert, you won’t hang on to your coins until the end of your days. I thought it was pretty funny and not mean spirited.

    Getting back on topic…The soon-to-be ex-Morelan 1799 dollar is a freak of preservation.

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

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    mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 7,105 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hilarious. Hear ye, here ye! The clown court is in session. Sorry, Mr. Morelan. Dealing with clowns following me around here no matter where I go is my pain.

    Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the
    birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will
    precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you
    come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you
    who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in
    poverty and it is you who are that poverty."--- Gospel of Thomas (Lamdin translation)

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    logger7logger7 Posts: 9,736 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm curious if there was any pedigree with the Bust dollar? I'd think there would be a significant history with a condition census coin like that.

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    KliaoKliao Posts: 5,797 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow! What a coin. Good luck with the auction.

    Collector
    Over 100 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 57 members and counting!
    instagram.com/klnumismatics

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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,764 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mr1931S said:
    Hilarious. Hear ye, here ye! The clown court is in session. Sorry, Mr. Morelan. Dealing with clowns following me around here no matter where I go is my pain.

    Please. You are not victim.
    Stop trying to make this thread about you.

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    lermishlermish Posts: 4,851 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @logger7 said:
    I'm curious if there was any pedigree with the Bust dollar? I'd think there would be a significant history with a condition census coin like that.

    It's in the auction listing and discussed by a bit by the OP

    Ex. Boston Family (Acquired 1799, Sold 1960s); Superior Auction (Oct 1990); ANR Auction (July 2003); FUN Auction (Jan 2012); Bruce Morelan.

    chopmarkedtradedollars.com

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    mr1931Smr1931S Posts: 7,105 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That was my 1909-S V.D.B. that I sold for money so that myself and a guest could go to a concert of a singer that I adore, Mr. Morelan. Unbelievable almost that I got a grand for that piece which was only a PCGS F15. That grand from the SVDB sale and $500 more paid for the experience of a lifetime.

    wth.

    Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the
    birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will
    precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you
    come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you
    who are the sons of the living father. But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in
    poverty and it is you who are that poverty."--- Gospel of Thomas (Lamdin translation)

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    CatbertCatbert Posts: 8,236 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @mr1931S said:
    Hilarious. Hear ye, here ye! The clown court is in session. Sorry, Mr. Morelan. Dealing with clowns following me around here no matter where I go is my pain.

    Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am…..

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
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    BigAlBigAl Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭

    Ugh!! The thumbprint! I have a seated quarter with a prominent print on the obv right field that interrupts perfect target toning - it's mellowed a bit for me over the years, but every time I look at the coin I still curse the idiot that did it. Great coin, good luck with the auction.

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    orevilleoreville Posts: 12,325 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I feel your pain TDN but in reality, we are just custodians of the coins we own.

    What if you could argue that it was George Washington fingerprint?

    Could you prove it with his DNA? Would JA reconsider it as an exception?

    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
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    breakdownbreakdown Posts: 2,388 ✭✭✭✭✭

    An interesting aspect of this thread is that TDN is selling a prominent coin through GC rather than Heritage or Stacks.

    "Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.

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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,764 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @breakdown said:
    An interesting aspect of this thread is that TDN is selling a prominent coin through GC rather than Heritage or Stacks.

    Or Legend.

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    BigAlBigAl Posts: 1,261 ✭✭✭

    @oreville said:
    I feel your pain TDN but in reality, we are just custodians of the coins we own.

    What if you could argue that it was George Washington fingerprint?

    Could you prove it with his DNA? Would JA reconsider it as an exception?

    .
    :D

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    CoinbertCoinbert Posts: 736 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Incredible coin for sure. Good luck on the sale.

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    DoubleEagle59DoubleEagle59 Posts: 8,432 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That is one beautiful coin!!

    "Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)

    "“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)

    "I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
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    Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,764 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Good luck with the auction!!

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    Magnificent coin, fingerprint does not hinder my like for this coin.
    You are a better man than I as I don't think I could let it go as long as I still appreciate coins.
    Good luck with the sale/auction.

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    safari_dudesafari_dude Posts: 642 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow! If only that coin could talk!

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    safari_dudesafari_dude Posts: 642 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @dynamic2 said:
    Magnificent coin, fingerprint does not hinder my like for this coin.
    You are a better man than I as I don't think I could let it go as long as I still appreciate coins.
    Good luck with the sale/auction.

    It’s funny but 99.9% of the fingerprints I see on coins really turn me off…but this one has the opposite effect. Could it possibly be from one of the individuals that struck the coin? Could it be a fingerprint of a president, a mint director, or someone that signed the Declaration of Independence? At any rate, it’s most likely from someone over 220 years ago, and I think that is beyond cool. 😉

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    logger7logger7 Posts: 9,736 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The highest graded tied: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1799-1/6878/66

    "Here is a Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle Silver Dollar that teeters on the edge of absolute perfection! One often wonders, indeed, where such a sharp coin lay hidden all these many years; for clearly it has been kept aside since Day 1 by generations of knowledgeable numismatists, men and women who respect American coinage at its finest, men and women who through merest chance, came to own what must rank as one of the all time great 1799 Silver Dollars."
    https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-dollars/1799-1-7x6-stars-ms66-pcgs-b-5-bb-157-r2/a/1166-3292.s?hdnJumpToLot=1&x=0&y=0

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    tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,665 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That link to Heritage has video of both obverse and reverse that shows off the luster

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    kazkaz Posts: 9,358 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Amazing coin, what a miracle to have survived in this near perfect state. I see it closed for just shy of 300k all in.

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    RedRocketRedRocket Posts: 1,764 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @safari_dude said:
    Wow! If only that coin could talk!

    Having never seen circulation I suppose it wouldn't have much to say?

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    alaura22alaura22 Posts: 3,917 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @RedRocket said:

    @safari_dude said:
    Wow! If only that coin could talk!

    Having never seen circulation I suppose it wouldn't have much to say?

    Thanks for saying what I was thinking
    Stuck in a cabinet for all these years

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    cameonut2011cameonut2011 Posts: 10,486 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 16, 2026 9:45PM

    @tradedollarnut said:
    JA says 65+. I say compared to most other graded bust dollars 66+. So somewhere in that range is likely correct.

    Interestingly it sold for PCGS Price Guide Value for MS65+. Curiously, do you think it would have sold for more if in a CACG 65+ or PCGS 65+ holder with CAC sticker? Or do you think it netted more as a top pop 66?

    It is a phenomenal piece, and I can see why you would miss it.

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