What is the most rare (or expensive) coin that you have ever seen turned into a piece of jewelry or

TheLiberator

There have been so many of these made that I am sure there are some really nice pieces that have been holed or otherwised damaged. Who knows of any interesting ones?

RYK

Lots of $3's were used for jewelry, including the most expensive date, the 1854-D.

dthigpen

I have an AU $3 Princess that was holed for jewelry

homerunhall

I believe that Leon Hendrickson had an 1887 proof $20 Liberty that was a love token, i.e. it had been totally engraved on one side. This was 20 years ago or so. Anybody else remember?

Regulated

I think the most obvious example would be the 1870-S $3 that is generally considered to be from jewelry...

tsacch

About five years ago an ex boss of mine had a high relief $20 Saint.......over soldered and not even a nice piece of jewelry

Regulated

I've also seen a James King of William ingot used as a watch fob.

Regulated

Many of the $5 Oregon Exchange Beavers come from Jewelry, as do a lot of Stellas.

My personal favorite is a 1795 S$1 in XF that was made into a high-end love token in a friend's collection...

MrEureka

I think the most obvious example would be the 1870-S $3 that is generally considered to be from jewelry...

I'm not so sure that coin was in jewelry. In fact, I doubt it.

The most expensive coin I ever turned into a piece of jewelry was an 1807 quarter eagle that I put into a ring. I enjoyed wearing it for a year or so.

The most expensive coin I've ever owned in a piece of jewelry was a $50 slug in a non-destructive bezel.

MrEureka

Regulated - Welcome aboard. Now, turn on your PM thingamajig!

longtimecollector

I saw 4 pieces of proof gold ehgraved on the obverse about 30 years ago when Larry Whitlow had a kiosk store in Evergreen Park Mall in Chicagoland......... I also have seen a "holed" Stella !!!!!!!

Regulated

How do I turn that on?

And if you read my post carefully, you will see that I share your opinion of the 70-S $3.

nwcs

Only common date saints. I cry every time I see one.

Sunnywood

I have seen a holed 1879 flowing hair stella on a gold chain, worn as a necklace.

Sunnywood

Louis

Memoryboy

I just sent an image of an abused 1877 Indian Head cent to dthigpen to look at. I am having trouble getting it posted on the thread. Maybe he will post it here.

Memoryboy

The coin I have is on the thread "Looking for Information on this Elaborate Counterstamp - FRM"

lclugza

I saw a picture of an 1877 cent that Bowers and Ruddy Galleries had. The reverse had been turned into a button! I also remeber hearing about a Gobrecht dollar that someone had turned into part of a plate or something.

MFH

I immediately thought of the 1921 St Gaudens I saw in a bezel mount on a chain, and it was "ticked-off" to say the least !

I was sick looking at it.

I had to laugh about the Corum watch... I always wanted one of those .

I'd have cried to see a Stella with a hole in it with a chain ...what a disgrace !

I have a 1911-D St Gaudens on a chain in a bezel mount and a 1912 Five Dollar gold in a bezel as well as an 1853 gold dollar that was a pin now its a tie tack ( I bought that back in 1963 and as it was already trashed, I decided that the $15.00 the jewelers were asking wasn't alot of money and it is a neat tie tack ! )

I also received an 1853 gold dollar that was mounted into a pinky ring...it was a gift from my parents back in 1970 ( graduation present from college).

Julian

The coin that David refered to was actually a 1882 Proof $20 that was made into a love token.

Conder101

<< <i>I'm not so sure that coin was in jewelry. In fact, I doubt it. >>


I don't know whether you would consider it a having been jewelry but I do believe it shows evidence of aving had a loop removed from the edge of the coin.

Regulated

The 1870-S $3 is interesting in that it may actually have sustained its damage being assayed - perhaps the "893" scratched onto the reverse indicates fineness...

Gonfunko

I knew someone who essentially had a gold type set on a bracelet that was polished beyond belief...

itsnotjustme

I had a co-worker with a $3 gold. Close examination revealed it was likely in a bezel. There were signs of something clamped to it at 8 and 9:30 on the reverse, and faint signs elsewhere on the rim. PCGS graded it XF40.

Link to thread with photos.

jdimmick

A lady sitting next to me on a flight once had a $10 indian that she asked me about. I was reading a coinworld at the time, and I guess it sparked here curiosity. Any way, it was a 1930-s Indian.

Baley

The 1870-S $3 is interesting in that it may actually have sustained its damage being assayed - perhaps the "893" scratched onto the reverse indicates fineness...

I like that theory and it's the one I find makes the strongest argument for the inscription..
I've seen this coin at the Bass museum and it appears polished to me, but not sure whether just wiped with a jeweler's cloth or similar, as if caring for a keepsake, or if it was once worn as jewelry, if so it is probably the most interesting jewelry piece, considering it's unique.

Here's my own most rare and expensive coin that was once jewelry, I believe the mintage of this coin was around 1200





Coincidentally, also a $3 gold, as others have stated, this was a very popular denomination for jewelry use, both because it's unusual denomination of three dollars, plus the number 3 is considered lucky by many people. Also, great design that is very similar to the popular-for-jewelry gold dollar, but on a larger canvas (planchet) that shows better. My coin is graded by ANACS as Au details, ex-jewelry, polished, net VF30. (and actually, quite a bit of coin for Fine money... Snipe! The large pics above were intentionally angled to show the hairlines; in hand it's actually quite nice)

Regulated

The polishy look that the 70-S $3 has could also be from exposure to acid (during assay?).

MrEureka

The polishy look that the 70-S $3 has could also be from exposure to acid (during assay?).

It would be helpful to find out what methods were used for assaying gold coins in 1870.

Regulated

My research thus far has proven somewhat inconclusive.