Would I be crazy to pay $1500 for this coin?

MrEureka · March 27, 2003 11:28AM

Tonekiller · March 27, 2003 11:29AM

Is this a test?

TBT

kieferscoins · March 27, 2003 11:32AM

I would say yes with that rim ding, but I feel there is more to this coin than meets the eye. Please tell!

Cameron Kiefer

eagle7 · March 27, 2003 11:33AM

Looks like the termites have been gnawing on it!

CLASSICS · March 27, 2003 11:37AM

this appears to be a mint error. or a test piece in another kind of metal..... as so, it would be very rare, however with items like these you can pick a number........

sinin1 · March 27, 2003 11:41AM

Is that the one at the Smithsonian made out of platinum that had a chunk taken out to check metal type?

If so, no there were only 3 made/known but yes you would probably be buying stolen property

MrEureka · March 27, 2003 11:43AM

yes you would probably be buying stolen property

Yeah, good point. I'll counter at $1200.

RKKay · March 27, 2003 11:45AM

I agree with Sinin1, and welcome you back Andy.

NumisEd · March 27, 2003 11:52AM

It's O-107, which is a common variety. Must be off-metal. Another possibility is that it's an incomplete planchet, but it would not be worth $1500.

sinin1 · March 27, 2003 11:53AM

Andy, I saw you buy over 50K of cool coins last Saturday - are you going to show us any of your coins or are they sold or getting reholdered? You only let me get 2 lots - and the only lot I know you doubled your monry on would be 6408 (18) Large foreign coins for $75 plus juice - 4 nice silver pieces of 8 with one of them AU.

mbbiker · March 27, 2003 11:57AM

http://store.yahoo.com/uspatterns/j44p48.html If i had $1500 i think i would buy it.

Nic · March 27, 2003 12:20PM

Andy...I'll buy it and trade for the Isabella impression? K

Bear · March 27, 2003 12:28PM

Andy, welcome home. Bear

relayer · March 27, 2003 2:11PM

Only if you didn't get the whole coin

satootoko · March 27, 2003 2:55PM

Fixed Link

satootoko · March 27, 2003 2:57PM

<< Would I be crazy to pay $1500 for this coin? >>

Not if you are looking for free accomodations at the Graybar Hotel, featuring striped sunshine at every window!

MacCoin · March 27, 2003 6:28PM

you mean $15.00 right?

dorkkarl · March 27, 2003 8:24PM

dudes, are you seriouss??? that is a very rare coin !!! (no sarcasm)

where is it available??? please respond / pm

K S

dorkkarl · March 27, 2003 8:25PM

hey mreureka, i can't pm you. turn it on , or please get back to me re: this thread!!!

K S

dorkkarl · March 27, 2003 8:27PM

is this out of a stack's auction???

boiler78 · March 27, 2003 8:45PM

Karl- I don't think the coin is actually available. I am pretty sure it is still in the Smithsonian.

dorkkarl · March 28, 2003 1:45AM

yeah, just found out that mr-eureka was trying to trick us! it was a great one.

looks like most forum members had no clue that this was a very rare (& i'd say somewhat famous) coin.

in short, he11 yeah i'd give $1500 for it!!!

K S

kranky · March 28, 2003 1:58AM

I had the opportunity to examine the similar piece with 33 "P"'s punched into it at the November B&M Auction. It was a real thrill to hold that one-of-a-kind item!

dorkkarl · March 28, 2003 2:00AM

all i can say is, mr-eureka, i owe you 1, dude.

i actually thought the coin really was available for a second there!!!

i vote this thread "best for the week"

K S

boiler78 · March 28, 2003 2:12AM

Kranky- Andy bought the coin you are referring to at the Baltimore Bowers auction. That coin is a very interesting piece that sticks in the mind of anyone who ever studied the Judd book.

kranky · March 28, 2003 2:36AM

Really?! So that means the two most memorable coins I saw at the lot viewing (the 1814 half with the "P"s, and the hand-engraved gold dollar pattern with the hole) were both owned by MrEureka at one time. That's something!

Cockney · March 28, 2003 2:41AM

Mr. Eureka, I''ll sell you the missin bit for $500.00

Draco · March 28, 2003 3:24AM

Someone help me out here. . .why would the mint ust platinum for a pattern?? Was platinum cheap in the early 1800s??

MrEureka · March 28, 2003 5:28AM

why would the mint ust platinum for a pattern??

Platinum was worth about the same as gold. It's reasonable to assume that the Mint was experimenting with the half dollar dies with the intention of striking $10 platinum pieces. (There were no contemporary $10 dies to play with.) I wouldn't be surprised if a platinum 1814/3 $5 showed up one of these days, and it will probably be gilt.

BillJones · March 28, 2003 6:11AM

In the past mint errors like this have lowered the value of early coins, not increased them. The coin has been cleaned bright white. This is an O-106a which is the best 1814 variety, but it's only an R-4. So what am I missing?

paigowjohnny · March 28, 2003 6:15AM

First time I think I ever saw Karl happy and excited...

Nysoto · March 28, 2003 6:27AM

One of the three platinum 1814 bust halves was sold at the Russ Logan auction for $50,600, the one with the bite taken out of it is in the Smithsonian, where is the third?

The word "platina" was engraved in the Logan example, a platinum alloy.

DCAMFranklin · March 28, 2003 6:29AM

<< In the past mint errors like this have lowered the value of early coins, not increased them. The coin has been cleaned bright white. This is an O-106a which is the best 1814 variety, but it's only an R-4. So what am I missing? >>

Seems you are missing quite a bit! Perhaps you should re-read the entire thread.

Blade · March 28, 2003 6:32AM

DCAM - You cracked me up.

Bill - You wouldn't find it unusual to find a Bust Half made out of Platinum? Heck, I'm surprised they had discovered and refined it that long ago.

MrEureka · March 28, 2003 7:21AM

One of the three platinum 1814 bust halves was sold at the Russ Logan auction for $50,600, the one with the bite taken out of it is in the Smithsonian, where is the third?

That's one of the great mysteries. Nobody knows, or at least nobody's talking!

mihaiinforcoins · March 28, 2003 7:26AM

Hi there!Mr Eureka,yes,i believe its to much money for that damaged coin!

Mihai

NumisEd · March 28, 2003 11:46AM

BillJones, it is O-107, not O-106a. It's also an R.2, not R.4. That's not the issue. It apparently is a pattern, but this is the first that I heard of it.

Mihai, who are you really? I am beginning to think that you are really just an existing board member yanking everybody's chain. Unfortunately for you, I have incredible intuition. Games up.

BillJones · March 28, 2003 12:25PM

I confess my ignorance. This is the first photo I have ever seen of this piece. Among the other two, the first, which is plated in Judd, has 33 “Ps” punched into the obverse and the word, “platina” scratched the reverse. The second is this one with the test mark, which is in the Smithsonian, and third I have never seen in a photo.

I do apologize for my shortcomings, but patterns are not my thing at all, especially totally unobtainable ones.

MrEureka · March 28, 2003 10:49PM

I do apologize for my shortcomings, but patterns are not my thing at all, especially totally unobtainable ones.

No apology necessary. If you had never seen the photo of this piece before, there was no way you could have known it was platinum. I was just having some fun, apparently

at your expense!

But I must differ with your comment that the platinum halves are unobtainable. I'd be happy to help you obtain one at about 75K!

BillJones · March 28, 2003 11:01PM

Judd wrote in the 7th edition of his book that one sold for $75,000. That was over 20 years ago. Have they really not gone up in price?

tradedollarnut · March 28, 2003 11:07PM

Bill - the real money is chasing true rarities [such as 63 proof cents]. Why would anyone want a coin struck in the wrong metal?

1jester · March 28, 2003 11:17PM

"Mihai, who are you really? I am beginning to think that you are really just an existing board member yanking everybody's chain. Unfortunately for you, I have incredible intuition. Games up." --NumisEd

Mihai, I agree with NumisEd. Who are you really? You've been all over the Darkside forum as well, feigning ignorance.

1jester · March 28, 2003 11:18PM

Draco, I like your icon a whole bunch!!! I have one of those, but in F/VF condition. Yours is lovely!

MrEureka · March 28, 2003 11:27PM

Judd wrote in the 7th edition of his book that one sold for $75,000. That was over 20 years ago. Have they really not gone up in price?

If the coin really sold for 75K 20 years ago, it was a "retail" sale. Nevertheless, the coin has always been very valuable and today really is (in my humble but not-so-disinterested opinion) a true bargain.

Draco · March 28, 2003 11:35PM

<< Draco, I like your icon a whole bunch!!! I have one of those, but in F/VF condition. Yours is lovely >>

Thanks

I'm not a serious token collector, but I have one or two

dorkkarl · March 29, 2003 10:07PM

<< First time I think I ever saw Karl happy and excited... >>

hey paigowjohnny, yeah, mr-eureka nailed me big-time on this 1. i really thought for a second that coin must be up on ebay or something. man, he didn't just yank my chain, he dropped my anchor as well!

<< In the past mint errors like this have lowered the value of early coins, not increased them. The coin has been cleaned bright white. This is an O-106a which is the best 1814 variety, but it's only an R-4. So what am I missing >>

billjones, the coin may or may not have been cleaned, but the point is it wsa struck on a platinum planchet, 1 of only 3 (i believe) known. i knew russ logan personally & had the privilege of viewing his example, which someone mentioned was auctioned off at $50K+. so now you see why i fell for mr-eureka's cruel little joke, thinking "heck yeah i'd pay $1500 for it!" he11, i'd gladly dump a batch of coins & pay 15,000 for it!

btw, i don't think this might really be called a "pattern" would it? it was struck off standard dies, partly just to test the softness of the metal. if it was struck off specially prepard dies, it'd be a pattern.

1 last thing, the numismatic world lost an extraordinary citizen when russ passed away. there are very very few great numismatists left. none of them works for a plastic company (any more)

K S

NumisEd · March 31, 2003 4:49PM

there are very very few great numismatists left. none of them works for a plastic company (any more)

Amen, brotha

Would I be crazy to pay $1500 for this coin?

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