If you were allowed to keep only one coin in your collection . . .

ajaan · January 19, 2006 4:27AM

Let's say for some reason you had to sell all of your coins except ONE. Which coin would that be? The most expensive? Greatest sentimental value?

For me, it would have to be my British 1958 1/2d Proof. Not my most valuable coin, but probably my lowest minted one.

theboz11 · January 19, 2006 4:29AM

My icon

laurentyvan · January 19, 2006 4:38AM

or

The San Marino is considerably more valuable than the Subalpine but either one instills that quavery, fluttering feeling in my stomach.

Sylvestius · January 19, 2006 4:45AM

Æthelstan or Stephen, one of those two. I cannot be more specific than that and i sincerely hope it never comes to that kinda choice!

coinpictures · January 19, 2006 4:54AM

I shudder to contemplate such a quandry.

Probably the coin in my signature. Not the rarest, nor the most expensive, but unusual.

2nd place is my icon coin. Just such a stark presentation.

MacCrimmon · January 19, 2006 4:58AM

THIS ONE.

1jester · January 19, 2006 5:07AM

I knew it, Mac!

lordmarcovan · January 19, 2006 5:19AM

<< <i>If you were allowed to keep only one coin in your collection . . . >>

It wouldn't be the prettiest one, nor the rarest, nor the most valuable, nor the oldest.

It would probably be this one.

That coin and the newspaper article about that provided an opportunity to strike up a conversation with a nice lady at work, who's now been my wife for more than six years. So it's important in both the local historical sense AND for obvious sentimental reasons.

I'm glad I don't have to give up all the others, though.

satootoko · January 19, 2006 5:37AM

Well, no one is going to top the Holey One's story!

I also have a low value copper that will have to be pried out of my cold clammy hands before I go in the crematory furnace - it first showed up as a "mystery coin" on an EBay auction, and turned out to be from the 17th Century Russian Elizabeth's reign as Empress. My mother was born in a town named for Empress Elizabeth and tenuous as it is, the connection is very dear to me.

shirohniichan · January 19, 2006 5:39AM

Even though the coin is not all that valuable, I would consider keeping my chopmarked 1875-CC trade dollar. It got me back into the hobby in a big way.

secondrepublic · January 19, 2006 5:53AM

Great question... there are three coins I received from my grandmother that I would have to keep, and a few from my dad, none particularly pricey, but each invaluable... But they are more sentimental items, not "coins in my collection."

As for my collection, the answer is, I couldn't do it. Maybe force me to narrow the list down to 20 and I could start. But one? Not doable.

AuldFartte · January 19, 2006 6:42AM

<< <i>Great question... I couldn't do it. Maybe force me to narrow the list down to 20 and I could start. But one? Not doable. >>

I might get by with 20 or so, mostly British Victorian.

rhound1977 · January 19, 2006 7:30AM

If I got hard up for cash I would sell your coins and keep mine.....

CIVITAS · January 19, 2006 8:56AM

<< <i>That coin and the newspaper article about that provided an opportunity to strike up a conversation with a nice lady at work, who's now been my wife for more than six years. >>

Even with that 'stache, huh? She must be a wonderful lady, not just nice.

bonkrood · January 19, 2006 10:05AM

That would be a 1910 Edward Vll sovereign given to me by my grandmother in 1947 on my christening, still stored in a small box with cotton and a note.

newsman · January 19, 2006 10:08AM

I would keep my Crusader denier from the Kingdom of Jerusalem -- issued in the name of Baldwin III (1143-62).

mrfred · January 19, 2006 10:55AM

Mine is a U.S. coin:

It's a family heirloom

Stuart · January 19, 2006 10:59AM

Mine is also a U. S. Coin with pretty concentric toning.

1799 AU Draped Bust Dollar

trozau · January 19, 2006 11:09AM

Maybe this one

trozau · January 19, 2006 11:18AM

or maybe this one

trozau · January 19, 2006 11:20AM

<=== Most probably my icon/s

SYRACUSIAN · January 19, 2006 11:39AM

Most probably this one

which I'd prefer along with my icon of the same date. It's the first mint state early Greek coin that I bought around 1993, and never really looked for a better replacement yet. But it's basically the one that got me kickstarted and I'm sentimentally attached to it.

Great coins and stories, very nice thread.

MacCrimmon · January 19, 2006 11:52AM

<< <i>I would keep my Crusader denier from the Kingdom of Jerusalem -- issued in the name of Baldwin III (1143-62). >>

Ah cool!! I wrote a paper at Univ. for Western Civilization - Age of the Crusades about his Mum, Queen Melisende; filia regis et regni Jerosolimitani haeres.

spinaker2000 · January 19, 2006 12:11PM

Today it's this one.

Numismatics · January 19, 2006 5:24PM

I will keep my 1859 Canadian cent.

FilamCoins · January 19, 2006 6:44PM

wybrit · January 20, 2006 6:49AM

I'd say it is my 1869 penny - very rare in near top level condition:

laurentyvan · January 20, 2006 7:17AM

I love this thread-lot's of imagery and opinions-keep it going for awhile, eh?

spoon · January 20, 2006 7:38AM

I wouldn't be able to do it.

So... I'll post one of the most recent additions to the "keeper" list (JamminJ pedigree):

spoon · January 20, 2006 7:44AM

These two would also have to stay...

... dangit! I'm gonna be here all day breaking the thread rules now!!

Clankeye · January 20, 2006 8:10AM

I'm getting very attached to this one. It's not toned, it's not the highest grade in the world... but, I dig it.

Clankeye

RedTiger · January 20, 2006 2:22PM

Only one? The first one that I bought.

bosox · January 20, 2006 2:37PM

docday2003 · January 20, 2006 2:43PM

probably my Canadian 5¢ 1926 Far 6 in PCGS MS65

bosox · January 20, 2006 2:49PM

Doc - I might be tempted to keep that one also. - Rob

bosox · January 21, 2006 5:06AM

Doc - Is yours the one that just sold in the TICF auction? If so, congrats on the buy. - Rob

ajaan · January 21, 2006 5:09AM

Rob, I thought yours might be your signature line coin.

bosox · January 21, 2006 5:18AM

Don - They way I look at it, the sigline coin, although interesting and very, very rare, is somewhat of an aberration. The 1858 I pictured was the only one in PCGS MS-65 when I bought it. One other has been made since. It is a beautiful and interesting regular business strike, with completely re-engraved date and obverse legends (the rarest Zoell 1858 obverse mated with the rarest Zoell 1858 reverse). It's a keeper in any sense, but as varities continue to grow in popularity, I think we'll find it is quite rare. - Rob

ajaan · January 21, 2006 5:24AM

Rob, the countdown for the CNA show has begun. I'm really looking forward to the show. I'm planning on going to the CAND show Saturday.

ajaan · January 21, 2006 5:25AM

oops! That was supposed to be a PM.

bosox · January 21, 2006 5:29AM

Don - I can't make the CAND show. That pesky work thing gets in the way. I will make TOREX in February and June. I also intend on going to CNA in July. I have talked a little to Rick about perhaps exhibiting my large cents at TNS (Hamilton) in either May or September. - Rob

ajaan · January 21, 2006 5:32AM

Toronto in February. What a weather shock that's going to be for you. When is the winter TOREX this year?

bosox · January 21, 2006 5:34AM

Last weekend in February. It will be my fifth TOREX in a row. I really like that show. Great people.

SYRACUSIAN · January 21, 2006 5:53AM

Can you two get a room?

I changed my mind about my keeper.

bosox · January 21, 2006 5:59AM

Very nice coin, Dimitri.

SYRACUSIAN · January 21, 2006 6:04AM

Thank you Rob, it's by far the most valuable and rare coin I ever owned. 1876-A 50 drachmai gold, mintage 182. KM 50.

I was wondering which one of your large cents you were going to post as the keeper.

bosox · January 21, 2006 6:09AM

Dimitri - What do you think it grades? Hard to grade from a photo - strike and luster says 64 or 65 - chatter in the fields says 63 or 64. Great coin in any case. - Rob

SYRACUSIAN · January 21, 2006 6:16AM

Mine or yours?

Yours is a 65, mine only an AU58 by NGC, but a nice looking 58, it could perhaps 61 today. I have yet to see or hear that a mint state one exists. This was a legal tender coin (50 francs, drachmai, lire, etc) in all Latin Union countries, so the survival rate is not very high either.

bosox · January 21, 2006 6:23AM

Yours looks nicer than 58.

ajaan · January 21, 2006 6:26AM

I agree. That Greek gold looks Unc. to me.

SYRACUSIAN · January 21, 2006 6:49AM

It apparently looked unc to its previous owner too. He sold it to Steinberg's during the 2000 FUN show, but Steinberg insisted on having it graded before the purchase,he didn't think of it as (low end) unc and it was too expensive to have it raw anyway, so the owner went to both PCGS and NGC and they both told him AU58, so he had it graded on site. Then, Steinberg bought it ,posted it on their website and I purchased it straight away, there's no time for second thoughts with (Greek) coins of this caliber and rarity, it would have disappeared and I would still be regretting it.

With today's standards it could grade MS61, and that would make a huge increase in its value, but I do not intend to sell it, so I don't mind. Besides, is there anybody here who believes that MS61 or even 62 is a real unc? Also, let's not forget that this is a Darkhorse photo , therefore the best photo I could get. Thanks for the nice comments though, I hadn't posted this for a long time.

If you were allowed to keep only one coin in your collection . . .

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