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A Gunsmoke television show episode with real US gold coins in it

WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,254 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited August 27, 2024 8:03PM in U.S. Coin Forum
I haven't seen real United States gold coins on a television program before (except for documentaries).

I bought a DVD with several episodes of the television program "Gunsmoke" to watch one particular episode.
http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=26&threadid=901389

I then watched some of the others and found this one, which used real United States gold double eagles as prop coins.

The episode was called "Trail of Bloodshed" and was first broadcast on March 4, 1974.

It was a story of revenge about a young man hunting his outlaw uncle who has murdered his father for a cache of gold and silver coins.
The outlaw stops in a small town and loses the money in a poker game.

The coins in the episode probably came from somebody's collection, and together would have been worth
a few thousand dollars in 1974 when the price of gold was $150 to $200 an ounce.

"Gunsmoke" episodes were set in the 1870's, and the coins are from that period.

Or are they?

image
Several Morgan-type silver dollars and St. Gaudens type double eagles.

image
Several Morgan-type silver dollars and St. Gaudens type double eagles.
One of the silver dollars is dated 1885.

More details on my website under "Coins on Television".

image
https://www.brianrxm.com
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television

Comments

  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Good catch!
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • JustlookingJustlooking Posts: 2,895 ✭
    I'd give them a C-minus for accuracy, but an "A" for effort. I'm sure I saw the show ... we never missed Gunsmoke.
    Let's try not to get upset.
  • jayPemjayPem Posts: 4,082 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Pepper shaker's not looking very 1870 either IMO...image
  • mozinmozin Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭
    Never saw any of the Gunsmoke or Matt Dillon shows with any gold coins up close. We watch these shows every night.
    I collect Capped Bust series by variety in PCGS AU/MS grades.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Surprising that they would not use fakes.... it was a good show though.... Cheers, RickO
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,725 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Since the show took place in the 1870's it would have made sense to use Liberty double eagles which were no more difficult to find than the Saints that were used.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • georgiacop50georgiacop50 Posts: 2,909 ✭✭✭✭
    I remember seeing a different episode that began with Festus cooly slapping down a $20 double eagle on the bar in order to pay for beers for himself and the Marshall.

    Matt went all bug-eyed and wanted to know where the heck Festus had earned that kind of money!!
  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,632 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I remember how grainy the images were back in those days, and nobody had any sort of technology to capture an image. They probably did not think that anybody would ever notice.
    Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,725 ✭✭✭✭✭
    We sure are showing our age in this thread.image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • mrearlygoldmrearlygold Posts: 17,858 ✭✭✭
    It's on every day here in SW Fla, comes in from Chicago. Comes in with shows like The Rifleman, 12 Oclock High, Peter Gunn, Naked City and lots more. Greatest TV station in the world!

    ME TV NETWORK

    Coin's for sale/trade.


    Tom Pilitowski
    US Rare Coin Investments
    800-624-1870

  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,236 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Pepper shaker's not looking very 1870 either IMO...image >>


    image
    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • droopyddroopyd Posts: 5,381 ✭✭✭
    The coins also look a bit too worn to be contemporaneous for the period, many set, prop and costume people looking for a specific period "vintage" look forget that things would have looked a lot newer back in the time they are supposed to be representing.
    Me at the Springfield coin show:
    image
    60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
  • johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 29,070 ✭✭✭✭✭
    ill give them alot for the effert on a television show. fwiw

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