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Post your absolute rarest coin

BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,749 ✭✭✭✭✭
About 35 known:
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About 50 known:
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«1

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    TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 45,291 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Absolute rarity is out of my league .
    Nice thread title for an exclusive lot. And the real playing field.

    Practice makes perfect & nobody is perfect. So, practice being nobody and be perfect !

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    WeissWeiss Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I think you mean absolute rarest non-private, regular issue, non-error, non-conditional, US mint-only 19th century and preferably gold issue.

    We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
    --Severian the Lame
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    WeissWeiss Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    By pop reports, not official mintage figures.
    We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
    --Severian the Lame
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    BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,749 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I think you mean absolute rarest non-private, regular issue, non-error, non-conditional, US mint-only 19th century and preferably gold issue. >>



    Wasn't my intent. Just board on a rainy Irish Sunday.
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    ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,525 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just picked up what may possibly be a 0 known item. It's not a coin but a token-related item. I'm still trying to decide what to do with it.
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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 36,005 ✭✭✭✭✭
    When it comes to coins, you have me beat, Boosibri. If we were talking tokens, that is another matter.

    In racking my brain, I came up with these two. 1855-D gold dollar - Coin Facts says 80, Doug Winter, 75 to 100

    imageimage

    Here is a sleeper, 1846-O half eagle. Coin Facts says 90. Doug Winter says 75 to 85. What sets this one apart is the condition. It's strict Mint State piece, and actually undergraed by one point, perhaps two points in the holder. In Mint State the number of survivors is only about 6 or 7.

    imageimage

    Of course rarity is one factor, demand is another. Coin Facts says there are 88, 1796 No Stars Quarter Eagles. Others place the number at around 125. In the U.S. type coin set, this coin is #1.

    imageimage
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    MarkMark Posts: 3,656 ✭✭✭✭✭
    imageimage

    This coin is the rare variant, with a high date, of the pattern coin J-662. One of two known, the other is in the Bass collection. The "common" variant of J-662, with a low date, has about 12 known. For what it's worth, I bought this coin circa 1967.
    Mark


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    winkywinky Posts: 1,671 ✭


    << <i>I think you mean absolute rarest non-private, regular issue, non-error, non-conditional, US mint-only 19th century and preferably gold issue. >>



    I don't do gold but I have R-6 and R-7 seated dimes if that counts.image
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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 36,005 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If die varieties count, this one is up there, the 1803 Small Date Half Dime. Looking at the "Red Book" and other catalog lists you would think that finding one is liking buying a regular 1803 Large Date Half Dime. It isn't.

    Coin Facts says that there are 30 examples known. Specialists place the number at 20 to 25. Whatever it is, the impression that you can just go out a buy one if you have cash is not the case. It is just as rare as the 1802 half dime.

    imageimage

    Here is the Large Date varieties, which has two sub-varieties so that you can note the difference.

    imageimage
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    winkywinky Posts: 1,671 ✭


    << <i>If die varieties count, this one is up there, the 1803 Small Date Half Dime. Looking at the "Red Book" and other catalog lists you would think that finding one is liking buying a regular 1803 Large Date Half Dime. It isn't.

    Coin Facts says that there are 30 examples known. Specialists place the number at 20 to 25. Whatever it is, the impression that you can just go out a buy one if you have cash is not the case. It is just as rare as the 1802 half dime.

    imageimage

    Here is the Large Date varieties, which has two sub-varieties so that you can note the difference.

    imageimage >>



    PERFECTLY ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. I love them. image
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    MarkMark Posts: 3,656 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bill:

    I echo winky: What a nice coin! Do you have both die types, that is, do you also own the large date coin you illustrated?
    Mark


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    BillJonesBillJones Posts: 36,005 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Bill:

    I echo winky: What a nice coin! Do you have both die types, that is, do you also own the large date coin you illustrated? >>



    I own them both. I have a Red Book variety set of the early half dimes, minus the 1802, which has always been just out of reach.

    I got hooked on these coins when I was in my 20s and came close to finishing a set.

    Here is a link to the set if you would like to see it. I got to be #1 on the registry when Newman (Ye Old One) sold his collection.

    Bill's Early Half Dimes
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
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    Bigbuck1975Bigbuck1975 Posts: 1,278 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bill Jones you looking to adopt any kids?? That quarter eagle is stellar.
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    MarkMark Posts: 3,656 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bill:

    Thanks for the link. It was fun, education, and beautiful (or, at least the coins were beautiful).
    Mark


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    keyman64keyman64 Posts: 15,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I only know of TWO that exist, the one photographed for Wexler/Flynn and mine.
    There are some people that have been looking for it for years without success.
    But, there certainly have to be a few more out there. Yes, it is a variety.
    Just because something is rare or scarce does not mean it is crazy expensive.
    If this makes it into the next CPG and then Complete Variety Registry Set the value will
    certainly take a BIG JUMP! Fingers are crossed!

    image
    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
    Not really looking for much these days but if I were, it might be a toner. :smile:
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    JCMhoustonJCMhouston Posts: 5,306 ✭✭✭
    Well since there were no limits placed:

    1788 British Pattern Halfpenny, Peck 940, bright gilt. Two known, this and one in the British Museum collection.

    image
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    MilkmanDanMilkmanDan Posts: 3,768 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Not as rare as some of the coins here, but my only real rare coins are varieties or world coins.

    1878-CC $10. Estimated survival rate of 60-75 coins from a tiny original mintage of 3,244. Graded PCGS VF35 with CAC.

    image
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    mbogomanmbogoman Posts: 5,347 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Oak Tree "Ghost Tree" Shilling - R6. There are only 2 in the PCGS Pop report (one of which is this one, a VF20) and maybe a couple dozen known...

    image
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    MarkMark Posts: 3,656 ✭✭✭✭✭
    keyman64:

    You know, if I collected dime varieties my fingers would be crossed that it does NOT make the next CPG or the Complete Variety Registry Set... image But, since I don't... well, what the heck. I hope it does make them and you get a huge jump in value!
    Mark


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    topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image

    TWO struck... er... cast....er.... I don't really remember. I know it took some wheelweights and a propane torch, though. image
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    AuroraBorealisAuroraBorealis Posts: 3,591 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My 1864 L On Ribbon PR64 Brown PCGS Snow-PR2 ... Although this is probably my rarest my other favorites are my conditioin rarities...

    ABimage

    image
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    coinsarefuncoinsarefun Posts: 21,781 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I have many rare tokens. But this is sort of a combination of coins/tokens..........Mintage 12

    Below is the auction listing description.
    Which incidentally this is another one from Richard Picker collection as I was very lucky
    to pick up a Brasher token from his collection last month.

    (1850s) Pine Tree Sixpence. Wyatt Copy in Silver. PCGS graded MS-63.
    Noe-L, Kenney-4, W-14072. Lustrous and nicely toned, with accrued golden color that gives this piece a lovely look.
    Ford had only one of these, graded EF and it realized $920 a decade ago.Listed on the Noe plates as a counterfeit

    Pedigree: From the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection.
    Earlier from the Richard Picker Collection; our (Coin Galleries') sale of November 1990, lot 2501, via Lester Merkin.





    image











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    rheddenrhedden Posts: 6,650 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Mine is also an 1803, small 8 half dime like Bill posted. Mine has XF/AU details but it damaged. There will not likely be 20-25 set collectors of Draped Bust half dimes by date & variety in my lifetime, so I expect that Redbook value to just sit there.

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    mercurydimeguymercurydimeguy Posts: 4,634 ✭✭✭✭
    Pop 35, not a single MS example graded. Highest grade is AU58.

    image
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    bidaskbidask Posts: 14,057 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Republic 50 Centesimos 1904, KM5, Proof 66 PCGS Eliasberg, beautiful multi-hued toning over fully mirrored surfaces. An incredible coin to behold and a classic rarity in the Latin American series. Only 12 pieces were struck in Proof, and this example is the finest known. From the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection. Much rarer than the US gold Panama commemoratives struck in 1915.

    image
    image
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




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    machoponchomachoponcho Posts: 355 ✭✭✭
    Out of 493 graded, a pop 1/0 still in hand. Literally.

    image
    I have existed since the creation of this world and will exist until its end. Only my form will change. For these 80 human life years, I have the benefit of having a functioning body and consciousness. I will not waste this opportunity.
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    BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I guess for a coin off the top of my head it would be my Smurfette pattern below... Although in mint errors and tokens I own much rarer.

    1870 50c Silver Standard Judd-963 / Pollock-1059 Rarity-7 PCGS Rattler

    Missing in the Bass, Smithsonian, & ANA Museum collections.

    image
    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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    ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,536 ✭✭✭✭✭
    About 30 of the Vermont Immune Columbia and 20 of the 1787 Ryder 15 Bust Left exist image
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    DUIGUYDUIGUY Posts: 7,252 ✭✭✭
    O-108
    image
    image
    “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly."



    - Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
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    WeissWeiss Posts: 9,942 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1932 Proof 10 Zlotych. Struck for Poland by the London Mint. Reported mintage 100, this is the finest of 2 known:

    image
    We are like children who look at print and see a serpent in the last letter but one, and a sword in the last.
    --Severian the Lame
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    ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,536 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1688 American Plantations Token Original issue Newman 2-G Transposed Arms NGC XF. There 4-12 of these known. image. image
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    MarkMark Posts: 3,656 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Broadstruck:

    I really like the Standard Series patterns. Your coin is a particularly nice one! Indeed, I think it's stunning. What is its grade?
    Mark


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    HandHHandH Posts: 438 ✭✭✭
    image

    18-22 known.

    US Civil War coinage
    Historical Medals

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    HandHHandH Posts: 438 ✭✭✭
    image

    As Boosibri indicated, about 35 known.

    US Civil War coinage
    Historical Medals

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    stealerstealer Posts: 4,044 ✭✭✭✭
    CoinFacts estimate: 100 surviving with an original mintage of 21,598

    imageimage
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    LanLordLanLord Posts: 11,756 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It isn't pretty, but there aren't too many out there, and very few in my price range.

    image
    image

    I'd love to have one in F or Vf, but I prefer to not mortgage my house.
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    Rayman311Rayman311 Posts: 423 ✭✭✭
    1797 $1 (9x7 stars) Large Letters B-1, Bb-73
    Mintage 7,776


    imageimage
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    MeltdownMeltdown Posts: 9,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very fun to look through!
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    mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    about 12 known.

    image
    image
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
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    SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,209 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My rarest is unique. In ancients, it's not too difficult to find a unique coin when looking at the granularity of die varieties, but this coin is a major type and the only one known from an entire magistrate. It's exceptional as one of the finest styled front-facing portraits and has an extensive provenance with no others being found:

    image
    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
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    ambro51ambro51 Posts: 14,536 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You win
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    crazyhounddogcrazyhounddog Posts: 14,264 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>My rarest is unique. In ancients, it's not too difficult to find a unique coin when looking at the granularity of die varieties, but this coin is a major type and the only one known from an entire magistrate. It's exceptional as one of the finest styled front-facing portraits and has an extensive provenance with no others being found:

    image >>



    That's a beautiful piece.
    The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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    johnny9434johnny9434 Posts: 34,711 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I guess for a coin off the top of my head it would be my Smurfette pattern below... Although in mint errors and tokens I own much rarer.

    1870 50c Silver Standard Judd-963 / Pollock-1059 Rarity-7 PCGS Rattler

    Missing in the Bass, Smithsonian, & ANA Museum collections.

    image >>

    neat, i like image
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    joebb21joebb21 Posts: 4,812 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>My rarest is unique. In ancients, it's not too difficult to find a unique coin when looking at the granularity of die varieties, but this coin is a major type and the only one known from an entire magistrate. It's exceptional as one of the finest styled front-facing portraits and has an extensive provenance with no others being found:

    image >>



    That's a beautiful piece. >>



    Seriously.

    They made THAT 2,000 years ago and utter garbage today.
    may the fonz be with you...always...
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    coinkatcoinkat Posts: 24,600 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great question... Don't really know

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.

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    BIGAL2749BIGAL2749 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭✭
    Finest plug 1795 half dollar, one of 3 or 4 known and one of the 2 authenticated and graded by PCGS

    [URL=http://s306.photobucket.com/user/bigal2749/media/house/212622652028large29_zpsclbk6zv1.jpg.html]image[/URL]
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    MrEurekaMrEureka Posts: 24,810 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Finest plug 1795 half dollar, one of 3 or 4 known and one of the 2 authenticated and graded by PCGS

    That's awesome!
    Andy Lustig

    Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
    Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
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    BIGAL2749BIGAL2749 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Finest plug 1795 half dollar, one of 3 or 4 known and one of the 2 authenticated and graded by PCGS

    That's awesome! >>



    Thanks,

    The only other certified plug half that was featured as the discovery coin on the front cover of Numismatics News is currently available.

    However it's quite expensive.
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    BIGAL2749BIGAL2749 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭✭
    There's certainly have been some great coins shown but the ancient coin of SmEagle 1795 amazes me.

    Art made thousand of years ago
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    SmEagle1795SmEagle1795 Posts: 2,209 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>There's certainly have been some great coins shown but the ancient coin of SmEagle 1795 amazes me.

    Art made thousand of years ago >>



    Thanks! It really is incredible just how talented the Greek engravers were. This coin dates to 360 BC, depicting Apollo on the obverse in the difficult-to-execute facing portrait style. Thinking about how they had to engrave it - in reverse, carved into the die - makes my stick figure artistic abilities even more embarrassing image
    Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection

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