Have you found your white whale?

Boosibri · January 21, 2015 3:38AM

And if so how did you come across it?

Broadstruck · January 21, 2015 3:48AM

White elephants are coin related.... What's a white whale?

Boosibri · January 21, 2015 3:50AM

The coin that you have searched for forever and ever. Moby Dick reference.

OldEastside · January 21, 2015 4:00AM

Mine is a Unicorn and NO, I have not found it, as it probably doesn't exist, HOWEVER, I still search for it

Steve

DennisH · January 21, 2015 4:05AM

In a manner of speaking, yes. I've identified what it is, and I've even taken a serious shot at one of them. But realistically the size of those things is bigger than I have any sense pursuing.

ctf_error_coins · January 21, 2015 4:05AM

How about a California Grey Whale I photographed a couple days ago in sunny San Diego......

I however do have a few white elephant coins.

MGLICKER · January 21, 2015 4:07AM

Coiled Hair Stella. Found it, just can't afford it.

lasvegasteddy · January 21, 2015 4:11AM

i think i got his autograph though "signed with his tail " on this lincoln

DennisH · January 21, 2015 4:13AM

That's a great photo!!

Eclectic · January 21, 2015 4:16AM

Yup, now looking for others!

TopographicOceans · January 21, 2015 4:19AM

Call me Ishmael

The White Whale is one of the best known symbols in American literature. What it represents depends entirely on who is noticing.

To Starbuck, Moby Dick is just another whale, except that he is more dangerous, or perhaps Moby Dick represents the captain's madness and a very serious diversion from the ship's proper mission.

The captain, who has lost an arm to the White Whale, sees it as representing a great prize but seems very reasonable in his desire to leave the whale alone.

To some, the White Whale is a myth. To others, he is immortal.

The captain says he sees Moby Dick as a "mask," behind which lies a great power whose dominance Ahab refuses to accept.
Ahab sees that inscrutable power as evil. Some might say it is not the whale, or the force behind it, that is evil; but the evil is Ahab.

Ahab is out of control as he rants about attacking the force behind the façade of Moby Dick. He wants to kill the whale in order to reach that force. To Ahab, the White Whale represents that power which limits and controls man.

But perhaps it is just a big, smart fish.

keyman64 · January 21, 2015 4:21AM

I guess it could be said that I found one of them kinda. The rarest Mercury Dime Variety. Before I found one, there were two examples in AU58 but nothing higher.
I cherrypicked the 1941 DDO FS-101 raw in a 2x2 at Winter Fun 2014. I paid $45 for it. I then had it attributed and sold it via Great Collections.
It came back from PCGS as MS65. I started the bidding at $1 and 45 bids later it sold for $1,750. Not too bad but I still considered it to be worth more
but the number of Reg Set players were few so it went fairly cheap. I hope to cherrypick on MS67FB one day. That will make me happy.

SmEagle1795 · January 21, 2015 4:24AM

I've had three white whales (each subsequent one being more aggressive than I ever thought I would spend at the time) and have somewhat miraculously acquired all of them ("Ides of March" denarius, Colosseum sestertius, and a Zeus Lampsakos stater).

I now have a new target in my sights but probably won't see another for a few years, so I'm now in the process of acquiring some "lesser" coins from my 150+ coin wantlist. There's always another target coming along the corner

LindeDad · January 21, 2015 4:26AM

Whales aren't fish.
May the force be out there.
And yes it's a small Eagle.

ARCO · January 21, 2015 4:32AM

<< And if so how did you come across it? >>

I have found a few 100lb-200lb Tunas, but no white whales.

Tyler

jmcu12 · January 21, 2015 4:33AM

I found one and now I have one more.

Found it on eBay. The other is still elusive.

Coinosaurus · January 21, 2015 4:58AM

I found it, the problem is the guy won't sell it to me

Boosibri · January 21, 2015 5:04AM

I've got a lead on one of mine. Maybe not a white whale but a whale none the less. Here is to hope.

DaveWcoins · January 21, 2015 5:06AM

<< I found it, the problem is the guy won't sell it to me

>>

Yes -- I found it in the Partrick sale earlier this month. I've been lusting after it since I was a kid. Don Partrick had it in his collection since around 1980.

My problem is -- $$.

Couldn't buy it.

seanq · January 21, 2015 6:17AM

This one, pictured below. Looked for 20 years and never even saw a reference to an example for sale. I mentioned it on a similar thread to this one about two years ago and a forumite found it listed for sale on a dealer's web site. As fate would have it, about a month after I acquired it, a second example appeared on eBay, though it wasn't nearly this nice.

Sean Reynolds

Shamika · January 21, 2015 10:19AM

A bit off topic: I found a white whale of a coin board a few weeks ago. I'd been looking for it for nearly 10 years and was genuinely tickled to find it.

steveben · January 21, 2015 10:28AM

no.

sparky64 · January 21, 2015 10:31AM

One collectors whale is another collectors minnow.

AUandAG · January 21, 2015 12:15PM

No have not yet found it.

1870cc that is engraved with Nevada Governor Blasdel's initials.

bob

kaz · January 21, 2015 12:20PM

Recently just missed one, the harpoon off by a hair. Went to a better whaler so no worries from me. Back to the foretop spyglass in hand.

BillJones · January 21, 2015 12:37PM

My "white whale" keeps changing. Years ago it was a 1796 No Stars quarter eagle. Recently it was an 1838-C half eagle. I am sort of between whales at the moment. I am looking for smaller mammals.

ms70 · January 21, 2015 12:53PM

Not yet but when everything's quiet at the house I sneak down to the computer and look at it online....

Boosibri · January 21, 2015 3:31PM

<< One collectors whale is another collectors minnow. >>

on one of whatever the hell this is.

barberkeys · January 21, 2015 7:13PM

Yes, it's in a dealer's private stash, and he won't sell.

Ajjohnson77 · January 21, 2015 8:33PM

She is blast white and quite a whale. Came to me at fairfield's Rare Coins at a price I could not turn down. It was one of the last coins to fill my early commem registry set.

Nap · January 21, 2015 10:51PM

Recently found one of the early English Northumbrian hammered coins that I was looking for in a dealer's inventory. Broke the bank but I bought it. 7 known that I can trace, 4 in museums. I guess that counts as a white whale. Coin is a sceat of King Aethelred I of Northumbria, by the moneyer Hnifula.

Walkerfan · January 21, 2015 11:55PM

I found 3 in the last 5 years. I never thought that I'd find a nice 1923-S, 1919-S or 1917 S Obverse without paying a fortune----even then I knew it would be VERY difficult. I got lucky in 2010, and twice again in 2012.

Those coins are irreplaceable IMHO.

seanq · January 22, 2015 12:44AM

These threads must be good luck, as I just spotted another coin I would consider a "white whale" being offered in a no reserve auction. I was the underbidder when it was auctioned several years ago in an NCS details holder. After that it was cracked out and sat in a dealer's inventory at an inflated asking price for years. I will post the link to the auction after it ends, whether I win the coin or not.

Sean Reynolds

Browe · January 22, 2015 12:54AM

<< These threads must be good luck, as I just spotted another coin I would consider a "white whale" being offered in a no reserve auction. I was the underbidder when it was auctioned several years ago in an NCS details holder. After that it was cracked out and sat in a dealer's inventory at an inflated asking price for years. I will post the link to the auction after it ends, whether I win the coin or not.

Sean Reynolds >>

I'm excited for you! Good Luck

rhedden · January 23, 2015 10:46AM

These coins are White Rhinos in my book. With only 5 White Rhinos left in the world today, I can't think of a better analogy for a rare coin. Ironically, it is a shame when there are only 5 of an animal left on Earth, but a great opportunity for the astute buyer when there are only 5 of a given coin left (e.g. 1913 Lib Nickel). Such a tragedy what has happened to biodiversity in the past century.

White Rhino article

Oh yes, and for the record, I am well aware of the other variety of white rhino (cough ** cough).

Cameonut · January 23, 2015 10:55AM

I found it about 10 years ago. The one and only 1959 PCGS Pr69 dcam Franklin. I held it in my hand, looked it over carefully through the Zeiss and asked the price. The price was actually lower than what I expected and cash was available.

I turned it down and didn't even counter offer. Why? Because the coin did not look "right". Usually frosty cameos have white frost - this one was light grey. Plenty frosty and very deep mirrors, but not "right" in my eye.

I don't know who owns it now, but that was the first time I swallowed very hard and did not buy the holder.

CharlotteDude · January 24, 2015 2:35AM

One of them... For me at least... Yes. From last summer's Chicago ANA. The 1804 Lg over Sm date $5 isn't particularly rare, but finding one that had the right look and fit well with my other early $5's equated to a long search.

'Dude

astrorat · January 24, 2015 3:15AM

I found them (a triple whale!) but can't afford them. Eid Mar, 76-CC double dime, and 1817/4 CBH ... some day ... maybe!

ms70 · January 24, 2015 4:23AM

<< 

<< One collectors whale is another collectors minnow. >>

on one of whatever the hell this is.

>>

Blobfish

The blobfish is a deep sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. It inhabits the deep waters off the coasts of mainland Australia and Tasmania, as well as the waters of New Zealand.
Blobfish are typically shorter than 30 cm.

Wikipedia
Scientific name: Psychrolutes marcidus
Rank: Species
Higher classification: Psychrolutes

I think I got a blob fish or two off eBay.

dpoole · January 24, 2015 4:42AM

I've been looking for a 2008 $100 Plat eagle MS70 PCGS since...well...2008.

I know they're out there (pop 72). I've just never seen one for sale.

I expect the owners are buried, considering what platinum's going for these days...

AnkurJ · January 24, 2015 6:50AM

Yup! Just have to finish paying it off.

Barndog · January 24, 2015 7:05AM

via a forum member, I had been in search of one of these for many years:

coindeuce · January 26, 2015 12:03PM

<< Yes, it's in a dealer's private stash, and he won't sell. >>

+1 More like a squid. Every time I think that I have a solid grasp on it, it squirms away.

OnlyGoldIsMoney · April 2, 2015 11:21AM

I'm reviving this thread as I just landed one of my white whales - an 1883 $2.50. It is part of the 1880-1886 low mintage run and are seldom seen.

Most years one or two 1883's are offered at Heritage. I waited four years to find a PCGS/CAC example. Last week DWN offered this one in AU53 PCGS/CAC.

Boosibri · April 2, 2015 2:07PM

<< I'm reviving this thread as I just landed one of my white whales - an 1883 $2.50. It is part of the 1880-1886 low mintage run and are seldom seen.

Most years one or two 1883's are offered at Heritage. I waited four years to find a PCGS/CAC example. Last week DWN offered this one in AU53 PCGS/CAC.

>>

Very cool! I'm glad you were the one who acquired it from Doug.

Boosibri · April 2, 2015 2:08PM

My white whale, previously posted, also from Doug.

keets · April 3, 2015 8:48PM

nice analogy, I guess, but Ahab never caught Moby Dick, the whale caught him. from that perspective none of you guys have found your white whale yet, only coins that have been at the top of your want list.

Labelman87 · September 6, 2016 5:56AM

Bil Jones - It took 14 years in three steps to find it and it was possible that I would never have been successful (as Pogue was out of the question).

Labelman87 · September 6, 2016 6:06AM

OnlyGoldIsMoney - Your 1883 is a great coin and I love that date. It took some time to find my 1884.

bigmarty58 · September 6, 2016 6:50AM

In the spirit of talking coin slang, how does "Have you found your white buffalo". Just trying to have a little fun...

Bobby

grip · September 6, 2016 8:35AM

Would like to see the reverse..please..Chain cent.

Have you found your white whale?

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