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Stolen 'inverted Jenny' stamp resurfaces after 61 years

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  • WinLoseWinWinLoseWin Posts: 1,653 ✭✭✭✭✭


    I think CaptHenway may have some interesting stories of items resurfacing.



    "To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin

  • koynekwestkoynekwest Posts: 10,048 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting. I've heard that one was swept up by a vacuum cleaner the maid was using in the owner's study after he had dropped it on the floor the night before. I don't know if this bizarre story is true or not.
  • PTVETTERPTVETTER Posts: 6,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe one of the DuPont coins was found, and it ended up I the ANA collection.



    I maybe off on this one but I think I am correct.

    Pat Vetter,Mercury Dime registry set,1938 Proof set registry,Pat & BJ Coins:724-325-7211


  • CaptHenwayCaptHenway Posts: 32,627 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The duPont Family coin collection robbery in 1967 had many items reappear over the years. In 1981 one of two 1804 dollars walked into the ANA and I recognized it. It is now in the Smithsonian. The other 1804 dollar surfaced in Europe a few years later. The ANA now owns it.



    The 1866 No Motto quarter and half dollar surfaced in the Los Angeles area being sold as common type coins.
    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.
  • MrHalfDimeMrHalfDime Posts: 3,440 ✭✭✭✭
    One of the stolen DuPont coins ended up at the Maine State Library a few ears ago. Representatives from the then Bowers & Merena Galleries, in neighboring New Hampshire were called in to authenticate the coin, which was confirmed. I do not recall the other details of the story, but it was front page news in both Coin World and Numismatic News when it happened a few years ago.

    I found the following excerpt in a 2/20/15 on-line article by Paul Gilkes from Coin World regarding the recovered DuPont 1866 No Motto quarter:

    "The Proof 1866 Seated Liberty, No Motto dollar surfaced in 2004 in Maine. The unnamed man who had the coin in his possession for nearly 20 years contacted American Numismatic Rarities LLC in February 2004 believing he might have the missing coin.

    The man, a librarian, learned of the missing coin after reading a library copy of the Sept. 13, 2003, issue of Coin World announcing ANR’s sale of the only other Proof 1866 Seated Liberty, No Motto dollar known. The Coin World article also addressed the du Pont robbery.

    The man met with numismatists John Kraljevich Jr. and John Pack, both then with ANR, on Feb. 26, 2004, during which time the numismatists identified the coin as the missing du Pont coin."
    They that can give up essential Liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither Liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
  • cccoinscccoins Posts: 292 ✭✭✭✭
    If I recall correctly, the Walton 1913 V nickel was "lost" and rediscovered many years later.
  • ConnecticoinConnecticoin Posts: 13,088 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The Langboard Saints, of course.
  • roadrunnerroadrunner Posts: 28,313 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: cccoins

    If I recall correctly, the Walton 1913 V nickel was "lost" and rediscovered many years later.




    It became "lost" because it was appraised by Stacks in the 1960's(?) as a fake. It wouldn't have been "lost" if appropriately authenticated.

    Barbarous Relic No More, LSCC -GoldSeek--shadow stats--SafeHaven--321gold
  • ShamikaShamika Posts: 18,785 ✭✭✭✭
    I hadn't read this story. Thanks for sharing.


    Buyer and seller of vintage coin boards!
  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,511 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: TopographicOceans

    Stolen in 1955, famous 'inverted Jenny' stamp resurfaces







    Where is the remainder of the 100 count sheet of Inverted Jenny's?
    oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's

    BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
  • howardshowards Posts: 1,241 ✭✭✭
    How did they know which particular inverted Jenny it was?
  • dcarrdcarr Posts: 8,972 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: howards
    How did they know which particular inverted Jenny it was?


    By the exact positions of the perforation holes relative to the printed frame.
  • howardshowards Posts: 1,241 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: dcarr

    Originally posted by: howards

    How did they know which particular inverted Jenny it was?




    By the exact positions of the perforation holes relative to the printed frame.





    Nifty explanation, but aren't hole positions rather random without any guarantee that they are not duplicated on another stamp?
  • dcarrdcarr Posts: 8,972 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: howards
    Originally posted by: dcarr
    Originally posted by: howards
    How did they know which particular inverted Jenny it was?


    By the exact positions of the perforation holes relative to the printed frame.


    Nifty explanation, but aren't hole positions rather random without any guarantee that they are not duplicated on another stamp?


    The fact that they are somewhat random means that it would be very unlikely that another stamp from the same sheet would have exactly the same configuration.

    Tiny ink runs here and there could also identify it, if an image of high resolution is available.
    And small inclusion specks in the paper could be utilized in the same manner as bag mark matching.
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I often peruse stamps at antique shops on the off chance one of these may be among them....

    no luck so far....Cheers, RickO
  • WinLoseWinWinLoseWin Posts: 1,653 ✭✭✭✭✭


    Originally posted by: howards



    How did they know which particular inverted Jenny it was?










    Stack's had one in their Rarities sale last May at the time of the 1st Pogue sale. It had a lot of interesting info about them in it including an explanation for identifying each:





    "Ned had been married for a little over ten months when he purchased the sheet of inverted "Jennies" for $20,000.00 from Eugene Klein. At the time this was a world record for any philatelic item, and would stand until the Ferrary Sales began in France in 1922. The sheet was almost immediately broken into blocks and singles with Green retaining, among others, the major position blocks and the top row of the sheet with the straight edges from where the "locket" copy (position 9) originates. Before separating the stamps Klein carefully numbered all the stamps from 1-100 on reverse in light pencil.









    The Inverted Jenny Locket - Mabel Green’s “Jenny” Locket - Gift from Colonel Edward H. R. Green to his wife





    "To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin

  • vprvpr Posts: 622 ✭✭✭
    What's a stamp? And why do people collect them?
    References: Too many to list. PM for details. 100% satisfaction both as buyer and seller. As a seller, I ship promptly and keep buyers updated.
  • Wabbit2313Wabbit2313 Posts: 7,268 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image
  • cccoinscccoins Posts: 292 ✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: dcarr
    Originally posted by: howards
    Originally posted by: dcarr
    Originally posted by: howards
    How did they know which particular inverted Jenny it was?


    By the exact positions of the perforation holes relative to the printed frame.


    Nifty explanation, but aren't hole positions rather random without any guarantee that they are not duplicated on another stamp?


    The fact that they are somewhat random means that it would be very unlikely that another stamp from the same sheet would have exactly the same configuration.

    Tiny ink runs here and there could also identify it, if an image of high resolution is available.
    And small inclusion specks in the paper could be utilized in the same manner as bag mark matching.




    I have never heard about identifying them fro perforations. However, I recall that the identification was done by someone numbering the sheet, in pencil or the reverse of each stamp, before it was broken up. I found a supporting story here:

    The discovery was made by William T. Robey who purchased the entire sheet of 100 at the New York Avenue Post Office in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 1918. He quickly sold it within one week to well-known Philadelphia stamp dealer Eugene Klein for $15,000.00. The sheet eventually ended up being sold to one of the largest collectors of the time, Col. Edward H.R. Green for $20,000.00. Col. Green had instructed Klein to break up the sheet for him into singles and key position blocks with the intent of selling all but a few. On the reverse, in light pencil, Klein marked the position number of each example.


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