$32K for Clyde Barrow 1921 Morgan

epcjimi1 · October 1, 2012 2:36AM

story

pic of coin

Twinturbo · October 1, 2012 2:47AM

I wonder what other recluses of society's coins could sell for...

Nickcap · October 1, 2012 2:57AM

What other Coins are out there like this?

Twinturbo · October 1, 2012 3:02AM

<< What other Coins are out there like this? >>

Several coins are out there with provenance, question is if theres a market.

Several coins to the hussein family, Mubarak, Gadaffi and several of his sons.
Many were given as gifts, but in gadaffi's case, found on his body after being executed. Same with hussein's sons and grandson.

Quite an interesting history. But I doubt theyll hold the attention of bonnie and clyde

Wolf359 · October 1, 2012 3:04AM

Stealing from the dead. Not something to be proud of!

LindeDad · October 1, 2012 3:05AM

Saw somewhere that they also auctioned Bonnie's and Clyde's guns and they brought record type of bids.

Matrix1980 · October 1, 2012 3:33AM

Useless coin in my opinion....huge waste of money.

mkman123 · October 1, 2012 3:35AM

wow, 32k for a 28 dollar morgan?

Well it does have provenance, etc

BigMoose · October 1, 2012 3:54AM

The chain of custody for that Morgan Dollar sure seems pretty shaky to me once it passed to mobster Paul Castellano.

Unknown · October 1, 2012 4:28AM

This content has been removed.

ricko · October 1, 2012 4:33AM

Provenance can be interesting to some, personally, not for me. It is the coin I am interested in, the rest is (to me) nothing but fluff and hype. Cheers, RickO

Timbuk3 · October 1, 2012 4:38AM

Wow, very cool !!!

johnny9434 · October 1, 2012 5:14AM

i really dont think id like to own a coin like that considering where it came from and the sources. jmo

BillJones · October 1, 2012 6:23AM

<< wow, 32k for a 28 dollar morgan?

Well it does have provenance, etc >>

It's even more common than that. It is a 1921-P Morgan dollar, the most common of the most common. It is only in Fine condition as well, which would make it a $30 junk box special if it were not for the previous owner. If only that coin could talk ...

It was nice to see that the coin had not been polished. That is usually the fate of such things when they fall into the hands of relic collectors.

LowBudget · October 1, 2012 6:47AM

Not much offered in the proof other than someone said it was in a jacket that no one ever mentioned?

Nic · October 1, 2012 8:42AM

<< The chain of custody for that Morgan Dollar sure seems pretty shaky to me once it passed to mobster Paul Castellano. >>

And the pic of Bonnie looks nothing like Faye Dunaway.

K

Justlooking · October 1, 2012 9:05AM

I think there was something of Dillinger's up for auction recently. I remember seeing the Bonnie and Clyde car in the back of a semi at Kmart when I was a kid. Wild stuff.

derryb · October 1, 2012 9:16AM

Whenever a story about a coin gets passed this many times, one must wonder what the odds are of it being true. Bet it couldn't get certified by a major TPG as Clyde's coin.

keyman64 · October 1, 2012 9:33AM

Wow! Not for me, for several reasons.

mr1931S · October 1, 2012 9:34AM

If it had a scrape from where a bullet might have grazed it one can only imagine what it would bring.

mr1931S · October 1, 2012 9:39AM

I wonder what Las Vegas Rick would give to have this in his shop.

Parker's gun went for over twice a pre-auction estimate.

okracer · October 1, 2012 12:09PM

I think in this case it has nothing to do about being a collectable coin, but an item tied to a great historical story (if it is true).

It could have easily been a pocket watch, his gun, (as were sold), or any other item, that alone, would have minimal value.

Dennis88 · October 1, 2012 3:39PM

Provenance is always difficult to prove with non-unique items.

What about the one dollar bills that a titanic survivor allegedly had in his pocket during the sinking of the ship? Anybody getting excited over that here?

stealer · October 1, 2012 3:46PM

Is it just me or are the links not working? Second link leads me to some document signed by Clinton.

morgansforever · October 1, 2012 8:02PM

<<Is it just me or are the links not working? Second link leads me to some document signed by Clinton.>>

I get the same thing what Morgan? Both links lead me to a letter signed by Governor Slick Willy about flag burning, which is protected speech.

epcjimi1 · October 1, 2012 10:14PM

Update - If you still want to see the coin and pics of Paul Castellano and someone else I don't recognize you can do so here -

this link works

WillieBoyd2 · October 2, 2012 1:03AM

Archived listing:

Armand Castellano, convicted bank robbery get-away car driver in 1930 was given the coin by Paulie as a razz.

What is a razz?

By the way, I have a silver dollar that was once owned by [insert name of celebrity].

GeorgeKellogg · October 2, 2012 1:34AM

This is an example of the value of Provenance on steroids. In most collectible fields, provenance is very important, sometimes even required to prove authenticity. For obvious reasons, provenance does not often bear this burden when it comes to coins.

I disagree, however, with those who do not feel that provenance is an important aspect of a coin. Without the associated historical connections, coins are merely scrap metal. Indeed, coins are consigned to the melting pot on a regular basis, because the owner feels that the intrinsic value of the metal exceeds the value of the coin as a collectible.

I believe that the coin's real value is found in its status as an artifact of American history. Part of that history is the fact that it is an emission of a particular mint, in an identified year. In that sense, it is a snapshot of American history, particularly for the geographic region in which the piece was minted.

Equally important, in my opinion, is its subsequent history. Obviously, some of this can't be determined, but the possibility adds to the coin's mystique. Did the Carson City Seated Liberty Dollar trade hands in a "Wild West" poker game? Was it once stolen by Jesse James in a train robbery? Was it ever in the pocket of an American president? Was it owned by a renowned American collector? The latter example can sometimes be conclusively determined. For me, all of these possibilities add to the joy of ownership. In my opinion, that's what distinguishes a coin as an artifact of American history from its intrinsic value in the melting pot.

telephoto1 · October 2, 2012 1:52AM

Am I the only person of the opinion that this is technically stolen property and should have been given to either the lawful owner (if they could figure out where it came from) or Barrow's descendants (since it was in his clothing)? One thing I know is that this posse member who "found" it in the jacket pocket, supposedly a deputized law enforcement official, had no claim to it... so imo this is a stolen "souvenir" from a crime scene that should have been inventoried and entered into evidence. Am I wrong here?

DCW · October 2, 2012 1:53AM

As others have stated, the story is shaky and I would need more proof than that to shell out that kind of clam

DoubleEagle59 · October 2, 2012 2:03AM

No big deal for me.

I'll pass and spend my 32K on silver.

telephoto1 · October 2, 2012 2:04AM

<< As others have stated, the story is shaky and I would need more proof than that to shell out that kind of clam >>

Even if the story's true and it is as stated, I'd be more worried about someone wanting to file suit to get the item back because this posse member essentially stole it from the scene...

pocketpiececommems · October 2, 2012 3:00AM

Bonnie sure looks like a charming beauty in that pic.

BaseballAbs · October 2, 2012 3:34AM

<< Whenever a story about a coin gets passed this many times, one must wonder what the odds are of it being true. Bet it couldn't get certified by a major TPG as Clyde's coin. >>

They should try to get it labeled by PCGS with Clyde's name. It would help solidify the value in my opinion.

Zrider · October 2, 2012 4:19AM

By the way, I have a 1879 silver dollar that was once owned by [Doc Holiday]. It was found near the O.K. Coral in Tombstone Arizona and it has a blood stain on it.

MidLifeCrisis · October 2, 2012 4:44AM

I'm a big fan of provenance. GeorgeKellogg's post above is eloquently written and gives some solid reasons why provenance is important.

But the story associated with that Morgan Dollar is a stretch. I wouldn't have bought it for a fraction of that price.

DIMEMAN · October 2, 2012 10:00AM

And I have one of the dimes that was in the shotgun that Billy the Kid used to kill the Sheriff and escape.

GeorgeKellogg · October 2, 2012 11:36AM

<< But the story associated with that Morgan Dollar is a stretch. I wouldn't have bought it for a fraction of that price. >>

I agree that the provenance on this piece is shaky and I don't find it appealing.

Dave99B · October 2, 2012 1:15PM

Some people have WAY too much $$$$$$$ !

Dave

1Mike1 · October 2, 2012 4:07PM

<< Am I the only person of the opinion that this is technically stolen property and should have been given to either the lawful owner (if they could figure out where it came from) or Barrow's descendants (since it was in his clothing)? One thing I know is that this posse member who "found" it in the jacket pocket, supposedly a deputized law enforcement official, had no claim to it... so imo this is a stolen "souvenir" from a crime scene that should have been inventoried and entered into evidence. Am I wrong here? >>

Exactly what I was thinking.

DCW · October 3, 2012 12:07AM

<< Am I the only person of the opinion that this is technically stolen property and should have been given to either the lawful owner (if they could figure out where it came from) or Barrow's descendants (since it was in his clothing)? One thing I know is that this posse member who "found" it in the jacket pocket, supposedly a deputized law enforcement official, had no claim to it... so imo this is a stolen "souvenir" from a crime scene that should have been inventoried and entered into evidence. Am I wrong here? >>

This was a scumbag BANK ROBBER and COP KILLER, romanticized by Hollywood. Of you are really concerned about returning "stolen property" then it should be donated to charities that take care of fallen officer's families, not Clyde Barrow.

$32K for Clyde Barrow 1921 Morgan

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