Wow, what a story!!!!

majorbigtime

I was playing poker with an oldtimer here in Dallas, and the subject of coins came up. I heard a great story.

It seems "Dave" was an avid collector in his youth and, when he accumulated a small fortune from a Bah Mitzvah and his savings, he visited B Max Mehl's store in Ft. Worth with the $30 he had amassed. It was circa 1941, and Amon Carter was viewing coins along with others when Dave arrived at Mehl's store.

Dave said that B Max was always nice to youngsters. When Dave announced that he had up to $30 to spend, B Max said he just bought a large acculumation of coins and would offer Dave some special pieces that he should buy and "put away".

B Max brought in 5 coins, all the same date and in proof condition, and told Dave he could have 'em all for $30 or take his pick @ $7 a piece. Dave looked, said they were interesting, but not what he had in mind. He proceeded to buy some 1931 S cents, out of an original roll, @ 3 for $1, a couple of 1914 D cents, and other items on his "want list".

What did Dave "pass" on???

------



Five 1895 proof Morgan Dollars!!!!

K6AZ

Interesting story, but even in 1941 95 Proofs were more than $6 each.

dunerlaw

all 5 1913 liberty nickels?

pharmer

Pat, I'd like to buy a vowel. A 1941 proof set?

BigE

Just for fun, I pulled out a 1950 "Handbook Of United States Coins", it lists the 1895 @ 5.00 in VF and 20.00 in UNC. As a footnote the 93-S is listed in VF @ 7.50 and 30.00 in UNC. I bet old Max Mehl was slipping him some sliders at 30 bucks-------------BigE

nankraut

Roll up your pants legs, boys; it's gettin' deep.

relayer

Myqqy

Conder101

Considering that Max Mehl didn't have a regular retail store front and only dealt mail order, and would normally only meet with collectors by appointment, I would say that the story is just a story. (several major collectors and dealers, John Ford and Abe Kosoff among them, have related in stories about Mehl that he would only discuss coins by mail. If you were meeting with him in person and tried to ask him about a coin or collection he would brush it off and tell you to send him a letter.)

pharmer

Were you going to tell us what he passed on, or were you just wondering also?

Myqqy

Were you going to tell us what he passed on, or were you just wondering also?

Five 1895 proof Morgan Dollars!!!!

It almost looked like a sig line statement...

Barry

1922 No D Linc

kieferscoins

<< <i>Considering that Max Mehl didn't have a regular retail store front and only dealt mail order, and would normally only meet with collectors by appointment, I would say that the story is just a story. (several major collectors and dealers, John Ford and Abe Kosoff among them, have related in stories about Mehl that he would only discuss coins by mail. If you were meeting with him in person and tried to ask him about a coin or collection he would brush it off and tell you to send him a letter.) >>



Good point there conder101. I bet it is BS.

Cameron Kiefer

ksteelheader

<< <i>

<< <i>Considering that Max Mehl didn't have a regular retail store front and only dealt mail order, and would normally only meet with collectors by appointment, I would say that the story is just a story. (several major collectors and dealers, John Ford and Abe Kosoff among them, have related in stories about Mehl that he would only discuss coins by mail. If you were meeting with him in person and tried to ask him about a coin or collection he would brush it off and tell you to send him a letter.) >>



Good point there conder101. I bet it is BS.

Cameron Kiefer >>

pharmer

<< <i>Were you going to tell us what he passed on, or were you just wondering also?

Five 1895 proof Morgan Dollars!!!!

It almost looked like a sig line statement... >>



Whoops, yeah, I never noticed it.

Cratylus

Yeah, this story sounds like BS to me too. Sorta like "the big fish that got away." The story has probably been embellished many times over the years until it arrived at its current form.

Baley

Naw, it's a true story, my grandpa was there and he told me the same story.

Grandad bought the 5 1895 dollars, but he flipped them the next day for a profit of a dollar a coin