Is no one talking about the 1866 dollar?

sumnom

Maybe I just missed the thread?


1866 no motto dollar recovered.

sumnom

The one one that was stolen in 1967 has been recovered. I think this is a wild story but it seems to generate no interest here. Is it too early?

291fifth

This is the first I have heard of the recovery. Since it goes back to the owner we won't know its value for some time. I suspect the ANR estimate of $1.5 million is closer to the mark since the "coin" is actually a mint produced fantasy issue from the 1860's. The Smithsonian rep seems to forget that the sky-high realization for the 1933 Double Eagle was for a real coin.

sumnom

I thought it was a proof. Is there such a thing as a mint fantasy?

EvilMCT

Wow! This is the first that I have heard of this finally being found. I hope it does turn out to be authentic. My only thoughts on this when I heard about the theft was "how do you keep a million dollar coin at home?" Thanks for sharing this bit of news.

Ken

tradedollarnut

That is indeed great news.

My opinion, however, is that the coin is a backdated fantasy piece that is only a pattern add on to a full proof set of Liberty Seated dollars. I'd say both of those valuations are a tad optimistic.

Sometimes this forum cracks me up. This coin was barely mentioned and nary a peep regarding the beautiful Amon Carter 1885 selling recently. Items of such history deserve to be discussed!

originalisbest

Well, to the vast majority of us, such coins aren't even near the realm at which we're able to collect.

291fifth

<< <i>I thought it was a proof. Is there such a thing as a mint fantasy? >>



Many of the "patterns" of the 1860's were after-the-fact mint fantasy productions. They were essentially made-to-order for collectors with the right connections.

tradedollarnut

Well, to the vast majority of us, such coins aren't even near the realm at which we're able to collect.

That shouldn't stop one from appreciating such coins. I personally can't collect J-1776, but I appreciate its beauty and history.

CarlWohlforth

Very interesting! I didn't know about that coin but remember vaguely knowing about the DuPont collection/robbery. Were there any other coins so recognizable that they might still surface after all these years?

originalisbest

I appreciate it just fine, but only to a certain degree. Rather like how I might view the story of Liz Taylor's "most gigantic diamond in the world" with passing interest. This particular mint fantasy piece wouldn't have near the notoriety it does if not for the fact it had been stolen in such dramatic fashion.

Far more interesting to me are coins such as the 1848 CAL quarter eagle. Far more historical import IMO. Not that I'm in any danger of owning one of these either - but it's more in the realm of possibility.

originalisbest

There was a similar "discovery" of one of the DuPont no motto halves in an over-the-counter transaction in Cal. not too long ago, I believe.

Merc

It is nice to see a billionaire getting his million dollar coins back

edsondl

So, in how much worse of a condition do you think the coin is now, as compared to when it was stolen? If this is even the real McCoy.

Russ

<< <i>So, in how much worse of a condition do you think the coin is now, as compared to when it was stolen? >>





<< <i>The piece is in beautiful condition (64 or 65, probably) and has been well-maintained over the years, showing only a few faint hairlines. Its lintmarks and toning match up precisely to the Breen and Judd plates of the piece (the same image, taken from the files of the ANS).

John Kraljevich
ANR >>



From the other thread about the coin.

Russ, NCNE

Russ

Bump for the evening crowd.

Russ, NCNE