A priceless piece of numismatic history
tradedollarnut
Posts: 20,204 ✭✭✭✭✭
1795 Bass Dannreuther-1,Taraszka-1, Breen 1-A. Rarity-3+. Net F-12;
sharpness of VF-35, holed with suspension loop. Medium yellow gold with typical jewelry surfaces, loop added perpendicular to surfaces at 12:00. Good detail remains. The importance of this coin is not in its quality, or even the rarity of the 1795 Small Eagle $10 in general. Instead, this was the coin that launched a lifetime love of all things numismatic by Emery May Norweb, perhaps the greatest female numismatist America has yet produced and one of the great collectors (of either gender) of all time. Little Emery May was but 13 or 14 when she received this coin as a gift from her grandfather Liberty Holden, a fascinating character with interests in mining and newspapers, among other things. Liberty was the progenitor of the entire Norweb Collection and, appropriately, his special focus was coins and medals of George Washington. The somewhat tattered Norweb envelope that accompanies this coin has an old pencil notation on the inside of the back flap, slightly smeared but legible, that tells the story of this piece: "Given E.M.N. by her grandfather, 1908, the gold piece that started the collection."
The Norweb biographical work by Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers mentions this exact coin, though the facts were somewhat confused when the book was written in 1987. This coin only recently came to light with the Norweb Washingtonia and may not have been seen by them. On page 48 of that book, the authors wrote:
"The only coin that is certainly known to have belonged to Liberty is a 1799 (sic) $10 gold piece, holed for use as a watch fob, which Mrs. Norweb recorded as having received from her grandfather (Liberty). ... Whether she meant that this piece was the first coin Liberty bought; or the first coin she owned is not known. But at least we know that Liberty thought enough of it to keep it, and then pass it on to his granddaughter."
Mrs. Norweb received this piece a year before the taking of a now famous portrait photograph showing young Emery May seated, with long dark curls and a large white bow in her hair. Soon after, the passion was ignited enough that the teenaged Emery May would be found making pencil rubbings of rare colonials and attributing them using her Crosby book. Those pencil rubbings, dated 1908, are depicted on pp. 162-168 of the Norweb book.
While any example of the first $10 coin of the United States is of some value, the primary interest in this coin is bound to be its connection to this famous collector. We hope the next owner will cherish it as she did.
From the Norweb Collection. Given to Emery May Norweb in 1908 by her grandfather, Liberty Holden.
2
Comments
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Have you read QDB's Norweb book? It is spectacular and one of my favorites.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
-Amanda
I'm a YN working on a type set!
My Buffalo Nickel Website Home of the Quirky Buffaloes Collection!
Proud member of the CUFYNA
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>Congrats to you and GoldCoinLover on a fabulous purchase
Yeah, it's about time you bought some cool gold coins.
congratulations on being (part) owner of an exquisite piece of numismatic lore!!!
K S
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
<< <i>
<< <i>Congrats to you and GoldCoinLover on a fabulous purchase
Yeah, it's about time you bought some cool gold coins.
I'm waiting for the YouTube presentation now....
Chicolini: Mint? No, no, I no like a mint. Uh - what other flavor you got?
unfeigned devotion of numismatics
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
In 1971, in one of our earlier meetings, I recall that Mrs. Norweb stated to me that this was the gold piece that started HER collection. I remember being surprised initially thinking the collection belonged to Ambassador Henry Norweb who was with her since I naturally assumed that women (and girls) did not collect coins.
Also, note that she made that notation on inside flap after she was married and became a Norweb, so it was at least 10-15 years after she started collecting coins.
<< <i>Wow! Great addition. Congrats to you and GoldCoinLover on a fabulous purchase.
Looking for alot of crap.
That would look SO nice on my Holey Gold Hat...
<< <i>Very sweet coin with a cool story, but I am bit surprised nobody is outraged at the damage on this coin. If the average joe took one and did the same people would be crying all over the place. Granted Noeweb was famous, but this should not exempt her from damaging coins. Regaurdless still one Sweet coin!! Congrats!! >>
Your criticism is unwarranted. It was given to her in that condition.
<< <i>Thats fine if it was. It is a great piece of history. I am not discounting that fact. In fact I love the coin for what it is. All I am saying is somewhere along the line this coin was holed, and I figured someone would be up in arms about it. Givin its a great piece of history I guess people are letting this one live as is. Still a great coin none the less hole or not. Congrats. >>
Don't forget, coins were not invented for Numismatics.
-Daniel
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
-Horace
<< <i>
<< <i>Thats fine if it was. It is a great piece of history. I am not discounting that fact. In fact I love the coin for what it is. All I am saying is somewhere along the line this coin was holed, and I figured someone would be up in arms about it. Givin its a great piece of history I guess people are letting this one live as is. Still a great coin none the less hole or not. Congrats. >>
Don't forget, coins were not invented for Numismatics.
-Daniel >>
Correct! Coins were also not intended for necklaces or to be holed but thats besides the point. I guess we should just accept it for what it is a piece of history.
Wanna talk about crimes against coins? How 'bout the Dexter specimen of the 1804 dollar?
Mr. Dexter punched his initial "D" into the coin, on one of the reverse clouds, to mark it as his own!
Different times, different mindset. If somebody did something like that today, he'd roast in numismatic hell forever. But Dexter probably knew no better. (I still say it was a crime, but only a misdemeanor, due to the era in which it ocurred and also due to the rather contrived status of the 1804 dollars to begin with).
Speaking of crimes, I wonder if a forensic tech could link that obverse fingerprint to Mr. Dexter...
I can't hold my tongue after reading the last few posts.
Neither one of you two Bruceswar, D will ever remotely own a pedigreed numismatic treasure that you have seen placed before you by tradedollarnut.
As the current owner, his intentions were to show us a piece of history that would normally be hidden in vaults, lock boxes and family safes, but yet he cares to show us the true beauty of one persons roots in Numismatics.
Comments made about a historical defacing done over 98 years ago to a 211 year old coin are demeaning to this hobby in general.
I'm proud to be a member of this board and whole hardly support any tribute to numismatics that hold this distinction.
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
The special history of a coin can often outweigh it's numismatic condition. That is a fantastic coin to own for a collector such as yourself! I love it!
<< <i>exclude lordmarcovan, CJCollector
I can't hold my tongue after reading the last few posts.
Neither one of you two Bruceswar, D will ever remotely own a pedigreed numismatic treasure that you have seen placed before you by tradedollarnut.
As the current owner, his intentions were to show us a piece of history that would normally be hidden in vaults, lock boxes and family safes, but yet he cares to show us the true beauty of one persons roots in Numismatics.
Comments made about a historical defacing done over 98 years ago to a 211 year old coin are demeaning to this hobby in general.
I'm proud to be a member of this board and whole hardly support any tribute to numismatics that hold this distinction. >>
Not to derail this post, but as you know a great many coins were in fact ruined over time. Thats just the way it was back then. Sab but true. I have been in this hobby for 16 years and I too am one to promote the hobby in any way form or fashion. I love the GOOD growth of the hobby. This coin is what it is a piece of American Coin History. It is damged like alot of pieces of history are. Thats not to say they are not great pieces still. If someone had cut the original Constitution in half it would have been damaged forever, but it still would be what it is. If you think I am taking a shot at TDN or his coin you are mistaken.
Some simply don't get it...Mike
<< <i>That one is off the coolness scale.
Some simply don't get it...Mike >>
I would actually liken this coin to Lt. Dixon's coin from the Hunley. It is an artifact moreso than a piece of currency.
-Amanda
I'm a YN working on a type set!
My Buffalo Nickel Website Home of the Quirky Buffaloes Collection!
Proud member of the CUFYNA
I have a feeling that Bruceswar will soon enough buy a neat piece of numismatic history just like this 1795 Norweb watch fob which by the way, supposedly came from the Germanic word "Fuppe" which means small pocket.
<< <i>WoodenJefferson:
I have a feeling that Bruceswar will soon enough buy a neat piece of numismatic history just like this 1795 Norweb watch fob which by the way, supposedly came from the Germanic word "Fuppe" which means small pocket. >>
I can dream right?
Like VOC Numismatics on facebook
<< <i>exclude lordmarcovan, CJCollector
I can't hold my tongue after reading the last few posts.
Neither one of you two Bruceswar, D will ever remotely own a pedigreed numismatic treasure that you have seen placed before you by tradedollarnut.
As the current owner, his intentions were to show us a piece of history that would normally be hidden in vaults, lock boxes and family safes, but yet he cares to show us the true beauty of one persons roots in Numismatics.
Comments made about a historical defacing done over 98 years ago to a 211 year old coin are demeaning to this hobby in general.
I'm proud to be a member of this board and whole hardly support any tribute to numismatics that hold this distinction. >>
I fail to see the logic in saying I will not own a pedigreed numismatic treasure, as I intend on living a long life and I'm very short into it. I don't know whether you were insulting my pockets or my prowess. (Lack thereof
That aside, I wasn't detracting from TDNs purchase, I was defending it. I believe it's a very neat coin/necklace and something to be treasured indeed. I was simply stating the fact that while we collect coins, they were not made to be collected. (Not made for Numismatics). When the necklace was made, I don't believe it was considered defacing Numismatic treasure at the time, though I wasn't alive when it was done
I was defending the coin, as the damage done to it pales in comparison to the history. Without a mark or a pedigree, the coin would be just another gold piece. I was not attacking it, and I apologize if it came off that way.
-Daniel
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
-Horace
Thanks for taking the time to express your thoughts...~shaking hands~
"Keep your malarkey filter in good operating order" -Walter Breen
<<<I would actually liken this coin to Lt. Dixon's coin from the Hunley. It is an artifact moreso than a piece of currency.>>>
I would like to express my outrage at the yankee varmint that shot Lt. Dixon & bent his Double Eagle. Now that makes me mad!!
<< <i>I would like to express my outrage at the yankee varmint that shot Lt. Dixon & bent his Double Eagle. >>
But THAT was an accident. What about that stupid Ephraim Brasher and his stupid counterstamp?
<< <i>I can dream right? >>
You betcha!
Everytime I look at this thread ( and I have been back several times), the same picture pops in my head: the image of little Emery May receiving this coin right from her Grandfather's hands. The smile on her face......the satisfaction on her grandfather's face. This started it all for her, perhaps. Amazing piece of numismatica. Thank goodness it is in good hands now and will be well taken care of. The envelope also raises the hair on my arms. Fantastic numismatic treasure!