Only 50 minted?? Renamed:: Talk me out of buying this coin!

mrdq

If, in 1855, there were only 50 proof 3cs coins minted what are the chances that this coin will ever be for sale again in my lifetime? Where is it documented that only 50 were struck? Does anyone know? Edited to add LINKAGE


OK my wife could come up with 100 reasons why I should NOT buy this coin, but what do you guys think. I keep going back and looking at it every couple hours!! Can anyone tell me it's a bad idea?


tom "i don't really collect 3CS but this coin is HAUNTING ME" fornicola

toyonakataro

But, isn't it much easier to find another 1855 proof 3cs than to hold a 1846 half dime in mint state in your hand?
I'm a bit jealous of you

Placid

No clue. I don't think anyone kept records on those and the numbers can only be based on what are known to exist.

lathmach

The Mint kept very detailed records, Placid.
The mint records are in the National Archives. Walter Breen was employed to research the Mint records as a young man by John Jay Ford, of The New Netherlands Coin Co.
It is from his research that most of the information about mintages that is published, comes from.

Ray

Placid

If the mint did keep a record on this coin it would seem that is was lost or destroyed.

mrdq

"The Breen big book" lists business strike mintages and ?? for proofs

Placid

I spent a hour researching your question before I gave my response and I doubt you posted the question before you did some looking into it yourself.
None of my coin books list any mintage amounts so I guess either the mint didn't keep records on that year for 3¢ or the records were lost or destroyed.
I was only able to find some cryptic information online at stanford university (see the link) that if I am interpeting it correct suggests 46.

Link

FC57Coins

Any proofs prior to 1860 are extremely rare, and even if you found the mintage figures for that coin, it would probably mean little because you don't know how many of them actually exist. I would get as much information as I could from the pop reports, sleep on it, and if you still have the urge - go for it if you can afford it - at very worse you'll wind up with a very rare coin in your collection.

Regards,

Frank

MAULUMALL

I would think you should ask Legend where they got their POP figure.

JJacks

The printed PCGS population report says there were 50 minted. Of course, I don't know where they get their numbers from.

JJacks

rays

I like the 1855's. I bought this one raw, came back body bagged from PCGS so I got it slabbed by PCI. It's still a rare coin.

IrishMike

dq, here is a little information from coinfacts.comLink

Russ

<< <i>We think they should get their heads examined and quit giving grades to dipped out white coins. >>



I like Legend.

Russ, NCNE

littlewicher

I think you should get it. I love the toning on it.

supercoin

Looks like a moot point now, someone else used BIN to buy it.

supercoin

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Ok, not really. But reading my post, was your first feeling a sense of relief or regret? There's your answer.

Placid

I found one in the past auctions at Heritage. It was a PR65 NGC and sold for $9775.00 in the 2002 Heritage ny ana auction. I am pretty sure the price listed includes any "juice".
It's pretty plain looking.


Picture of the 1855 above.

Here is the description Heritage gave.

Despite the fact that this cataloger has seen a couple of proof 1855 Three Cent Silvers over the last year, this pre-1859 issue is anything but common in today's hobby. We do not know how many proofs of this date were actually struck, but Breen (1977) states that no more than 25-30 coins are extant. These survivors are further in demand due to the limited original mintage of the business strike 1855 Trime

Dog97

It's a tad darker than what I personally like in a Proof. Kinda cancels out the prooflike qualities but it's still a great coin. It will probably be a while before you see another on that reeks of originality like that one does.

Catch22

Dunno if the coin purchase is right for you or not, but that is one gorgeous coin and in my opinion, possibly undergraded as indicated by the seller. She's a beauty.

Bear

MRDQ - I can think of 7 reasons for not buying the coin without the blessing of your wife, DIVORCE!!!!! Bear

Placid

<< <i>
The Mint DID keep good records then. PCGS/NGC is where we got the pops and mintage from.

Laura Sperber
lsperber1@hotmail.com >>



Well slap my face then
I guess if PCGS say's there were 50 minted then without question there were 50 minted.

mrdq

ACK!! Ok supercoin wins the most convincing argument method!

time to balance the checkbook and see where I am wish me luck

leothelyon

Very nice proof, I really like it. I would buy it but it's out of my league, probably so with this thread. I was wondering why someone else hasn't already snatched it up. Maybe it's the price. It may be 10-15% over
it's value. Good luck with it.

Leo

boiler78

Tom
Breen estimates the mintage at 20-25 pieces in his encyclopedia of proof coins. The coin has a nice original look but scans can skew the actual look of the toning. The BIN price seems very reasonable for a coin of this rarity and Legend has a no questions asked return policy so if you can afford it, buy it and see if you like it.

supercoin

mrdq, be sure to mention that to Laura, I'll be expecting my 1% shortly. Good luck!

oreville

I wonder if PCGS graded it PR64 as a market grade as opposed to technical merits? The dark side of market grading but a possible bonus to the buyer?

While the coin may be attractive, is it possible PCGS limited the grade to near gem (64) since they felt the coin would not command PR65 prices? It must be pointed out the PR65 prices are substantially higher than the BIN price?

This coin has a nice reverse cameo look to it. (Devices lighter in color than the fields).

lathmach

You can buy a lot of coins in your life time, but it's always the really good stuff that you're proud you have, whether it's high grades or rare pieces.
The buyer of that proof will have one heckuva nice coin and show it off with pride.

Ray

roadrunner

The pops list a total of around 30 pieces. Looks like a few resubmissions on the NGC side. Enough of these around to base an accurate price on though. This is the way proofs should look rather than dipped out white.
It does a have a very nice look to it.

roadrunner

steve76020

fifty minted valuable coin

MFeld

@steve76020 said:
fifty minted valuable coin

Since this is a 21 year-old thread, did you do any research to confirm the mintage?

And curiously, why did you post to this particular thread? Aren’t there enough other much more current ones that are of interest to you?

steve76020

yes i did and i only realized it was old old thread afterward. i really dont need you to remind me what a d*×b a** i am

CaptHenway

@MFeld said:

@steve76020 said:
fifty minted valuable coin

Thank you for that contribution to this 21 year-old thread. Did you do any research to confirm the mintage ?

Hey, the thread is old enough to drink.

steve76020

pcgs coin facts states the mintage on an 1855 proof 3 cent piece to be fifty

lermish

@steve76020 said:
yes i did and i only realized it was old old thread afterward. i really dont need you to remind me what a d*×b a** i am

I disagree with that because you do this multiple times a week every week. Clearly you do need the reminder.

BStrauss3

Mintage information was reprinted in the Numismatic Scrapbook...

Which does not indicate ANY proof strikes.

It was not until 1860 that proof coinage appeared in the records sourced by NS. This could be due to different sources being used:

jmlanzaf

@lermish said:

@steve76020 said:
yes i did and i only realized it was old old thread afterward. i really dont need you to remind me what a d*×b a** i am

I disagree with that because you do this multiple times a week every week. Clearly you do need the reminder.

I'm not really sure what the harm is in bringing forward an old thread. It is about a coin. And maybe some people don't know that there are only 30 to 50 out there.

lermish

@jmlanzaf said:

@lermish said:

@steve76020 said:
yes i did and i only realized it was old old thread afterward. i really dont need you to remind me what a d*×b a** i am

I disagree with that because you do this multiple times a week every week. Clearly you do need the reminder.

I'm not really sure what the harm is in bringing forward an old thread. It is about a coin. And maybe some people don't know that there are only 30 to 50 out there.

If it were just this one, sure, agreed. I have a hard time forgetting all the others.

jmlanzaf

@lermish said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@lermish said:

@steve76020 said:
yes i did and i only realized it was old old thread afterward. i really dont need you to remind me what a d*×b a** i am

I disagree with that because you do this multiple times a week every week. Clearly you do need the reminder.

I'm not really sure what the harm is in bringing forward an old thread. It is about a coin. And maybe some people don't know that there are only 30 to 50 out there.

If it were just this one, sure, agreed. I have a hard time forgetting all the others.

Lol.
Besides, how is Alibaba going to know that we need more of someone doesn't remind them.

JBK

Well, atleast no one can accuse him of not using the "search" function.

johnny010

I’ve found this thread enjoyable so good with it coming back to life. Too bad the pictures and links are not here.

jmlanzaf

@johnny010 said:
I’ve found this thread enjoyable so good with it coming back to life. Too bad the pictures and links are not here.

This is a sleuthing opportunity. Let's find that coin and figure out where it is now. Given that we know what the coin is, it is fairly scarce, and we know the approximate date it was being sold, there is a chance to find it.

johnny010

@jmlanzaf said:

@johnny010 said:
I’ve found this thread enjoyable so good with it coming back to life. Too bad the pictures and links are not here.

This is a sleuthing opportunity. Let's find that coin and figure out where it is now. Given that we know what the coin is, it is fairly scarce, and we know the approximate date it was being sold, there is a chance to find it.

I’m sure this is humor, but I did pull up coin facts and review sales history including eBay back to the early 2000’s.
Fairly valuable coin.

johnny010

jmlanzaf

@johnny010 said:

@jmlanzaf said:

@johnny010 said:
I’ve found this thread enjoyable so good with it coming back to life. Too bad the pictures and links are not here.

This is a sleuthing opportunity. Let's find that coin and figure out where it is now. Given that we know what the coin is, it is fairly scarce, and we know the approximate date it was being sold, there is a chance to find it.

I’m sure this is humor, but I did pull up coin facts and review sales history including eBay back to the early 2000’s.
Fairly valuable coin.

Actually, I was half serious. I didn't care enough to do the sleuthing myself - although I was tempted to ask the AI to do it for me.

The thread indicates that it was a Legend sale

AUandAG

Either get a new wife or expect to live in the doghouse until you sell it. And perhaps not even then.

bob
vegas baby!

jmlanzaf

@AUandAG said:
Either get a new wife or expect to live in the doghouse until you sell it. And perhaps not even then.

bob
vegas baby!

Um...after 21 years, I hope they are both still alive.

TomB

As soon as I saw the date of the original post, I didn't even have to look to know who resurrected it. We should just change the name of @steve76020 to @Jesus...

djm

@jmlanzaf said:

@AUandAG said:
Either get a new wife or expect to live in the doghouse until you sell it. And perhaps not even then.

bob
vegas baby!

Um...after 21 years, I hope they are both still alive.

As several of the forum members who posted to this thread are not.

AUandAG

I obviously fell for it as I never looked at the date.

bob
vegas baby!

steve76020

jeez is there no way i can apologize enough for you guys who have never made a mistake it must be nice to be perfect but again im sorry i didnt look at the date. i wonder why its still on the web do they not delete things ever. we hold on now why arent you persicuting them for leaving it in the active posts. remember noone not even you are perfect. your just a person in a recliner without a real life. thank you for your time mr. tomb

TomB

@steve76020 said:
jeez is there no way i can apologize enough for you guys who have never made a mistake it must be nice to be perfect but again im sorry i didnt look at the date. i wonder why its still on the web do they not delete things ever. we hold on now why arent you persicuting them for leaving it in the active posts. remember noone not even you are perfect. your just a person in a recliner without a real life. thank you for your time mr. tomb