Max Mehl Envelopes?

FrattLaw

I just bought (on approval) a 34-S toned Peace from a fellow Board member. It was originally purchased from Max Mehl and was stored in this type of envelope for thirty+ years. I haven't gotten it yet, but it is toned in reds and blues according to the seller.

Does anyone have any of these envelopes? Are they rare, or just a neat numismatic curiousity?

Would this be considered AT or NT if the envelope caused the toning over that number of years? Should I worry about a BB?

Do these envelopes cause this color/toning?

Thanks,

Michael

Placid

Mr. Hall posted that name in a question about at in the q&a section.

Here is the thread.

FrattLaw

Thanks Placid, now that begs the additional question of ---

Does anyone know what a heat treated B. Max Mehl envelopes looks like?

Thanks
Michael

MICHAELDIXON

I've seen several of the B. Max Mehl envelopes. Interesting!
.
(ttt)

stman

ttt anybody????

Placid

I think the idea is Max AT'd coins with heat then put them in his magic envelopes and used a story to sell them.
Maybe ask D.H.

FrattLaw

B.Max Mehl was one of the biggest and original coin dealers in the US. He had a mail order / auction business out of Dallas at the early part of the 20th century. He was one of the first to distribute mail order catalogs. His coins were shipped in these envelopes, they toned due to the chemicals in the envelope.

I think what Hall refers to is that some people may have helped that process along with a little heat from an oven or a sunny window.

I can't believe no one on his Board knows anything about these envelopes or Max Mehl.

Maybe this envelope is rarer then I think

ANYONE know anything?

Michael

Placid

Other than information about him that any idiot can find on the web I think anyone who actually bought coins from him firsthand would be very old.
The envelope if origianl was probably produced in the 1930-1940's. The sulpher may have all leached out of it by now. It might have some collectable value as any piece of history does.
I have seen his checks with his signature for sale.

HillbillyJim

Dave Bowers at B&M has written several articles about Max Mehl published in the B&M catalog. I don't know the relative rarity of Mehls envelopes though I have collected a few as well as original ads & cancelled checks, they are available & offered at times. Not rare but perhaps scarce. Melh was the 'colorful' numismatic dealer in the early 20th century & a very interesting read. My vote for numismatist of the century.

Jimmy

Clankeye

Ask Mark Feld about this. He is actually related to Max. True.

Clankeye

stman

Frattlaw, make sure you buy the coin and not the envelope.

Nic

B Max sold many coins and the envelopes are scarce though not rare. They still turn up in number at times. I have envelopes for a 1c. to 50c. mint and proof 1885 set plus a few others. Even have a couple of the original coins contained in such. Be careful...many coins have been switched over the years. Toning is variable. K

Trime

Yep,
Mark Feld is the guy to ask.
I may have the relationship wrong but I think Max was Mark's great uncle

Steve27

"Should I worry about a BB?" When submitting toned coins which are 100% naturally toned you still have to worry about a body-bag. If the colors don't match up to the graders expectations, then AT or NT it doesn't matter, you get BB. Notice that they don't say "artificial toning" they say "questionable toning."