Coin World: "Box kept under bed for decades yields a pair of 1793 Flowing Hair, Chain cents "
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Box kept under bed for decades yields a pair of 1793 Flowing Hair, Chain cents
Contents still being examined to determine other possible rare finds
By Paul Gilkes , Coin World
Published : 11/22/17
The owner of the 1793 Flowing Hair, Chains cents says her mother believed the coins held in the family for decades may hold some value__Images courtesy of Joe Piane.
An 89-year-old Delaware woman has kept a treasure trove of coins stored in a box under her bed for decades.
She decided recently that, at her age, it was time to liquidate the accumulation so that the net proceeds could help benefit her family.
The coins were handed down through several generations in the woman’s family, to the women in the family. The woman, who requested anonymity, inherited the coins upon her mother’s death.
The coins were apparently amassed by the woman’s grandmother, who worked as a cross stitcher on women’s clothing for an apparel firm on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.
While the assemblage includes some foreign coins, the bulk of the coins are United States issues, with examples representing just about all denominations from half cent through $20 double eagles.
Included in the box was an envelope containing two coins and a note from the woman’s mother indicating that she believed the two coins were valuable based on some numismatic research she had conducted on her own.
The two coins turned out to be 1793 Flowing Hair, Chain, AMERICA, No Periods cents from among the first production at the Philadelphia Mint of the denomination for circulation.
One of the coins has been graded and encapsulated Fine 12 by Professional Coin Grading Service and the other was graded Fine 15 by PCGS, in conjunction with the Whitman Baltimore Coin Expo Nov. 9 to 12.
While the PCGS grading insert did not include a variety attribution, a large cent specialist to whom Coin World emailed images of the coins identified them as being of the Sheldon 3 die marriage, as cataloged in William H. Sheldon’s Penny Whimsy.
The two coins are consigned to Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, New Jersey, for sale in a March 16, 2018, auction.
Dissemination of the Delaware woman’s collection is being handled by Joe Piane from Assorted Past Antiques in Bear, Delaware.
Unexpected finds
Piane told Coin World he is still going through the accumulation of coins owned by the Delaware woman to determine what other interesting coins the assemblage may contain. Once that assessment is made, Piane said he will meet with the woman to discuss the best course to liquidate the property.
Piane said he was contacted recently by the woman in conjunction with one of two free appraisal gatherings he holds monthly at a local senior center.
Piane said he eventually met with the woman at her home to examine the coins she talked about that her grandmother apparently had accumulated.
Piane determined that the woman’s mother, to whom the coins had been bequeathed by her mother, had taken a more noticeable interest in the coins.
While most of the coins stored in the box under the Delaware woman’s bed were loose or separated into envelopes, some were housed in Whitman coin folders by denomination and series, including one folder for a U.S. type set.
Piane said the coins included 18th and 19th century half cents and large cents, 2-cent coins, copper-nickel and silver 3-cent coins, 5-cent coins from different series, early Bust half dimes and dimes, Seated Liberty coinage of several denominations, Bust half dollars, Barber coinage, some early 20th century issues, and a number of gold coins.
Piane said the woman’s family was not rich, but the grandmother found value in putting the coins away so that her family could one day benefit from her frugality and foresight.
Piane said there still are many interesting coins waiting to be discovered or rediscovered.
Another surprise find
Piane added to the same March auction a 1793 Liberty Cap cent, S-13 die marriage, that he recently purchased with a group of worn British pennies in a junk tray at a local antiques shop.
“I was in a local antique shop and in a small dish were approximately 10 or so British pennies ranging from 1750 to 1920, approximate dates, the whole dish was $5,” Piane said. “I bought the whole dish. Amongst them was the Liberty Cap; I could see where someone lightly rubbed where the date was and they must have given up and just tossed it back with the others. Needless to say it was the best $5 I ever spent.”
PCGS has certified the Liberty Cap cent as PCGS Genuine, Environmental Damage, Very Good Details
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2017/11/1793-flowing-hair-chain-cents-in-box-under-bed.html#
Comments
Don't you love stories like this? I've been invited to look over a few inherited collections, but all of them have been early 1960s silver stuff, bunches of common date, circulated Morgans, Indian Head cents, etc.
Maybe some day...
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Finally back in "circulation" in the hobby so collectors can enjoy them again. Sad to see quality "buried" under a bed like that. Parable of the talents....
Wow, great news, good to see them back in the publics eyes !!!
Nice!
She told me there was nothing under there !!!!
What a great story. Thanks for sharing.
Granted the pictures are small, but does anyone else think those first two coins are graded a bit conservatively?
Last time I looked under my bed all I found was dust bunnies and cat toys.
Her finds were better - great story.
Dope
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Not quite as exciting as Saddle Ridge but still very exciting ! I lived in Delaware from 1961 - 2009 and that makes it very interesting to me.
I take it that the Lady lives somewhere in New Castle County. Maybe near Old Swedes Church? That would be really cool.
Likely she enjoyed the collection a lot more, being stored somewhere with easy access,rather than being buried in a bank box. I seem to enjoy the coins I've got "hidden" at home,over the ones at the bank..
Nice!
Glad they were never stolen in all those years. The F15 Chain is pretty sweet.
Awesome, two coins worth about 45K total. Hope he send them to CAC.
Out-flippin'-standing!
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Amazing, a great tale!
Phew, be glad she didn’t get out the Twinkle or Tarn-X to shine them up a bit before calling a coin dealer!
He who knows he has enough is rich.
"I left a roll of 1793 large cents underneath the."
--- what I want my final words to be
What a cool story.... I have hunted treasure in caves, streams, cellar holes, old houses and dirt, with a metal detector and without...I never thought to check under beds....
Cheers, RickO
1043
U.S. 1793 CHAIN 1C COIN
PCGS F15; America; S-3
[ [ *** Sale Price: $22,800 *** ] ]
Estimate: $15,000 - $20,000
Condition Report
34458053
Well, it finally sold. I missed the sale . I wanted to bid but I think I'd rather have a nice 1795 Silver Dollar anyway.
Maybe one day.........
Good story. Thanks for posting.
Way cool!!!