BU Roll of '09-S VDBs - Maybe and what to do?

Coppernicus

This will sound as weird to you as it did to me. An old friend of my father is in rapidly declining health. He was a jewelry wholesaler for his entire working life (more that 50 years) and a very avid coin collector. I have seen parts of his collection and trust me, the pieces I've seen are magnificent!! (All raw, and stored properly!)

My Dad told me that his friend has an original roll of 09-S VDBs (I don't know if they're OBW or in a tube. Were there even OBW rolls in 1909?) Now my Dad is not one to exaggerate and though he is not a collector, he is pretty well versed in thebasics of coins and collecting. I asked him if he meant 09-VDBs and he said no, they are the 09-S VDBs. My Dad may be wrong but maybe not.

There is a very good chance that my Dad's friend (from the time they were in first grade) has left his collection to my dad in his will. My Dad said if that's the case, it's all mine! (Drool!!)

So, my questions is, assuming that there really is a roll of the "key," what should I do? Break up the roll and submit for grading/authentication or keep them as a roll. I don't need the money, but still! It would be awfully tempting to have them slabbed and sell some, and keep a bunch for later. Even though I haven't seen them (if, in fact, they exist), I'd bet they are in great condition. All of his collection has been in safe deposit boxes (with desicant when it became available) since....forever!

You can see by the time of this post it is very late here in the Midwest, but I talked to my Dad earlier tonight and he confirmed the story. I can't sleep!

What would such a roll bring at a reputable auction house? How about the total they would bring if slabbed (PCGS or NGC only)?

I know I'm probably working myself into a frenzy, only to be disappointed later...but yet, it's hard not to think about it!

Any thoughts/opinions or counseling would be appreciated.

Mike

Baley

Well, that would be amazing to locate an original roll of 09svdbs or any rare date coin.
And if it were to come to you with the story you tell about your dad's old friend, well that's priceless.

If you get your hands on the coins, the very first thing to do is to remember to Not rush to DO anything.

Once that roll is broken up it can't be put back together. If it is indeed original (meaning not "put together, whatever the wrap or tube they're now in) and has that story with it (two or five or whatever known owners, sales records, etc. aka "provenance" then it is something you may enjoy owning for your whole life.

But if you intend to sell it in whole or part (and unfortunately, that's the only way to make money on it), it probably will get broken up anyway, so you might as well be the one that does it. Parcel out a few of the worst coins every year or other year or whatever, always keeping the very very best ones for later.

One route would be to submit the roll under one of those deals where you specify a minimum grade, those get holdered, and the rest get sent back. Then your very best ones would be protected by the plastic and you'd have more to maybe submit later.

Or slab the whole roll in a storm of publicity, and hype the sales and move all 50 out

But don't be in a big rush to "do" anything, other than look at them to see what you've got,
and post some pictures on this forum.

hoardmonster

I hope they are really 09-S and that you do get them. I don't know what to tell you, because I really don't know what I would do in that situation other than grin a lot. Good luck!

commoncents

I think that a OBW roll of svdb's would sell for a ridiculous amount amount of money at a major auction. Like Baley said, once it's opened it can't be put back together. Good luck.

jonesy

Slab them with PCGS and give five of them away to board members!!

CarlWohlforth

That sounds like a dream I had.... It is almost as good as my lottery dream

If that happened to me and I really did end up with a BU roll of '09-S VDBs I would slab the worst 4 and then sell one every month or two, then slab 4 more and so on until they were all gone except for the best one which I would keep.

I would take a photo of the whole bunch so I could document a great story. I might even let the story out after I sold most of the coins.

my3cents

if you get them and DO decide to break up the roll - just remember my mailing address

MacCoin

open that roll and send them all to pcgs.

clackamas

As you well know the 09-S VBD's are common enough in MSRD. The reason they are faily common in MS is that they were saved by the roll when they were first released. So its no out of the realm of possibility that a roll could still exist. I have no idea what an original roll would bring, except overwhelming joy, at auction and probably north of $100K. Honestly I don't know what I would do. If it was in a paper roll that had crimped ends I suspect that leaving it alone would be the best thing to do. If you could open the roll because the ends are folded I would have to take a peak, I simply could not resist. If it was tubed, by all means take a look and selling the coins individually would be the best way to maximize the value.

This would be a dream and I sincerely wish/hope that this is true. It would be a significant find please keep us informed.

Shamika

I have to admit that I hope it's not an OBW roll. The coins tend to spot when left in paper rolls.

None the less, this is just an amazing story. Congrats!

ScarsdaleCoin

Even if its not true...the story was great and started my day on a bright note....

if you are going to submit to pcgs....then dont open the roll...let them do it...the opening of the roll and extra handle can not improve on the grades and can only lower them....

TommyB

You have made me curious. What are the other pieces you have seen?

Tom

indianabyron

Slab 49 and send the unslabbed to me so Id be one coin closer to completing my small cent collection
Well thats what I hope you would do. But what every you do it has to be something you can live with. I envy and then again i dont envy you.


Byron

mgoodm3

Would be a most impressive inheritence. Think of all the taxes you will owe.

kieferscoins

We could radiate the roll and check for VDB's.

Cameron Kiefer

jdimmick

Absolutely awsome if an original roll exsists, and somehow as I type this, I am feeling that it is going to turn out to be true. There were a lot saved from day one, and thier is a strong possibility.


I would probably like to break the roll and see what's inside? ms-66 67red's????

airplanenut

<< <i>Slab them with PCGS and give five of them away to board members!! >>

My thoughts exactly How about some for those who can't come close to affording an AG example?

haletj

I'll pay to upgrade the 09-s vdb I have, and you'll still have a BU roll.

Actually, if you don't want to keep the whole roll, and you don't need the "most" money possible, sell it to someone who would keep and appreciate having the original roll for what it is! (Personally I'd sell all but the best one, and use the money to build a complete set of Lincolns! You could always say you got the 09-s vdb for your set out of an original roll!)

Bochiman

Actually, I would do a variant that others have suggested....

I would put the roll up for auction at one of the major auctions during the year.....WITH a condition:
The condition would be that whoever won also would sign a binding agreement that IF/WHEN they are broken up, I would get, free of charge, 5 of the coins. I would state that I would get 2 of the bottom third, 2 of the mid-tier, and 1 of the top ones (to be fair to the person who bought them...I wouldn't demand all 5 of the top ones).

I think if someone were getting 45 of these from an old roll, then they may not complain too loudly


Anyway, that is what I would do as I would want a couple but not all of them.

SarasotaFrank

I would probably resist the temptation to open teh roll. A roll - intact - authenticated in some way has got to to be worth an awful lot to someone with the dough to have something so desirious.

JRocco

What a great position to be in, having to make these decisions. I would love to see you resist the urge (as Bailey so wisely noted) to do anything in haste. In my gut - I would love to see the roll broken with the best examples slabbed for future preservation, and a few kept raw till you decide what you want to do with them somewhere down the line. And the rest.....well... Time is on your side. Good luck and I hope you score on this one.

BigE

Must be in a tube rather than a roll, wouldn't the paper end hide the VDB?, and if in a paper roll would the value be hurt by the suspicion that the center coins might be different?------------BigE