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An Intimate Encounter With The National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian LOTS OF PHOTOS

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  • Sunshine Rare CoinsSunshine Rare Coins Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭✭
    deserves a bump!
  • zap1111zap1111 Posts: 1,298 ✭✭
    Simply amazing. Thanks for taking the time to prepare this report to share with us.
    zap
    zap1111
    102 capped bust half dollars - 100 die marriages
    BHNC #198
  • valente151valente151 Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭
    I've been thinking of some of these coins as I've been looking at the various Pogue coins. One of the two 1854-S $5 in the Smithsonian is pictured in this thread, and the Pogue cabinet contains the third and only privately held specimen. Thanks for bumping this.
  • kazkaz Posts: 9,234 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Glad this was bumped as I missed it the first time around (where the heck was I?). Fun reading and very good photos considering the lighting conditions. What a great opportunity! Hats off to Glen Holsonbake and the Smithsonian staff for making this possible.

  • KoveKove Posts: 2,038 ✭✭✭✭
    What a fantastic thread!
  • Very neat, thanks for posting.
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  • morgansforevermorgansforever Posts: 8,465 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow, what an assembly of numismatic rarities. I have to ask were you searched when leaving the vault? Thanks for taking the time to generate this image
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  • epcjimi1epcjimi1 Posts: 3,489 ✭✭✭


    << <i>WARNING: THIS IS LONG AND VERY PHOTO INTENSIVE


    image

    >>



    Smithsonian appears to love NGC.

    Crack 'em out, submit to PCGS, see what happens.

    I'll throw in Langbord '33 gold eagles, IIRC those were all NGC graded.

    What, is PCGS not competitive in this lucrative market for historical US coins proffered for grading consideration?

    image
  • EastonCollectionEastonCollection Posts: 1,461 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I enjoyed reading and seeing this thread. Thank you for sharing this with us.
    Easton Collection
  • DAMDAM Posts: 2,410 ✭✭
    What a great experience.

    I was wondering... did NGC grade the coins. Or are they slabbed soley for protection?
    Dan
  • epcjimi1epcjimi1 Posts: 3,489 ✭✭✭


    << <i>What a great experience.

    I was wondering... did NGC grade the coins. Or are they slabbed soley for protection? >>



    Yeah, they aren't graded. Crap. Never mind.
  • DAMDAM Posts: 2,410 ✭✭
    I saw there was no grade on the slab. Wondered if they graded them and kept the grades "in house".
    Dan
  • BigMooseBigMoose Posts: 1,469 ✭✭✭
    Did they happen to show you any of the fake gold bars from the Lilly Collection?
    TomT-1794

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  • valente151valente151 Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    Smithsonian appears to love NGC.

    Crack 'em out, submit to PCGS, see what happens.

    I'll throw in Langbord '33 gold eagles, IIRC those were all NGC graded.

    What, is PCGS not competitive in this lucrative market for historical US coins proffered for grading consideration?

    image >>



    The coins are in slabs specially designed by NGC for museum collections, that allow the protection and convenience of a slab, but are able to be opened when needed without being "cracked."

    As far as I know, NGC donated the slabs and manpower to initially slab the coins, just as they have done with coins in the ANA collection with the same kind of slab. I'm not sure there's some sort of exclusive agreement with NGC, but I'd assume if PCGS offered to holder some of the coins in an equally convenient kind of slab, the Smithsonian would be more than accepting, I'd assume anyways.



    << <i>
    I was wondering... did NGC grade the coins. Or are they slabbed soley for protection?

    I saw there was no grade on the slab. Wondered if they graded them and kept the grades "in house".
    >>



    I don't believe NGC provided grades to the SI for these coins, though I don't know for sure. They were not graded anywhere on the holder. It is also possible that NGC, while initially hollering the coins, had a few graders on hand to grade the coins for their records, and while not an "official" grade, can be used in their condition censuses, kind of like how PCGS has estimated grades, that aren't officially graded coins, in their Coinfacts listings for some museum pieces.

    I think its important to realize the NGC slabbing the coins was more for protection and convenience of the coins, and grading is not too important to these coins. There's no need to put a market value on these, and therefore not really much of a need for a grade, besides for condition censuses, as these coins are more important as national treasures than as coins with a value.
  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    As a US Citizen I like my country's coin collection.
  • coindeucecoindeuce Posts: 13,490 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Did they happen to show you any of the fake gold bars from the Lilly Collection? >>



    image

    "Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
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  • keyman64keyman64 Posts: 15,521 ✭✭✭✭✭
    image



    Thought I would bump a cool thread that shows many great items locked up

    in the Smithsonian that very very very few ever get to see. A superb thread

    and opportunity by the OP. image
    "If it's not fun, it's not worth it." - KeyMan64
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  • mariner67mariner67 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭
    Thanks keyman I agree!
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  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,328 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great thread. What a shame that the museum does not display these treasures for the people to see.
  • leothelyonleothelyon Posts: 8,475 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Here's how 99.9999% of the people would react upon seeing those coins. Link

    The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!

    My Jefferson Nickel Collection

  • TopographicOceansTopographicOceans Posts: 6,535 ✭✭✭✭
    imageimageimage
  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    We really should have a special 'library' forum for threads like this... Cheers, RickO
  • cmerlo1cmerlo1 Posts: 7,932 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Incredible. Thanks for posting!
    You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
  • oih82w8oih82w8 Posts: 12,465 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lovely to look at

    A delight to hold

    But if you should drop it

    Consider yourself...drop kicked outta there!



    Very impressive set of Americana! There should be a full color catalog of these treasures! ...or is there?
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  • ShadyDaveShadyDave Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: Boosibri
    Great thread. What a shame that the museum does not display these treasures for the people to see.


    I agree: A way to at least to see pictures of the coin collection would not take too much time/effort/money....but I guess this is only the 21st century.
  • WinLoseWinWinLoseWin Posts: 1,639 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: ShadyDave

    Originally posted by: Boosibri

    Great thread. What a shame that the museum does not display these treasures for the people to see.




    I agree: A way to at least to see pictures of the coin collection would not take too much time/effort/money....but I guess this is only the 21st century.








    They do have close to 200 of the better US related items at the link below with some decent photos.





    For me it works best to open the picture in a new tab in order to get the full size that can be zoomed in on without overwriting the item info. They kind of hide the reverse photos down at the bottom of each detailed listing instead of having them together at the top.







    http://americanhistory.si.edu/...ollection?edan_start=0





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  • LanceNewmanOCCLanceNewmanOCC Posts: 19,999 ✭✭✭✭✭
    .

    that 1879 $20.....

    .

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  • OKCCOKCC Posts: 522 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: LanceNewmanOCC

    .

    that 1879 $20.....

    .




    I would like to know where the reported second 1849 $20 went?
  • ranshdowranshdow Posts: 1,442 ✭✭✭✭
    This thread never gets old.
  • valente151valente151 Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: ranshdow
    This thread never gets old.


    Definitely one of the coolest experiences I've had in numismatics. I still bring up the photos on my phone at shows and other places when talking to people about specific coins and I remember one I saw in the vault.
  • WillieBoyd2WillieBoyd2 Posts: 5,245 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 23, 2024 5:43AM
    Nice pictures, valente151.

    This one was particularly interesting:

    image

    I believe that the "$20 Diana Gambling" coin is one of the John Ford pioneer/territorial fakes.

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  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,673 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: ranshdow

    This thread never gets old.




    Indeed. image

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  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,399 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 14, 2017 3:03PM

    Originally posted by: @ranshdow
    This thread never gets old.

    Was just reminded of this thread again. Wonderful visit to the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian! Incredible coins.

  • silverpopsilverpop Posts: 6,709 ✭✭✭✭✭

    impressive collection

  • valente151valente151 Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭

    Was thinking about this visit today and came back to this thread to relive it. Thought I'd bump it so some newer members could too.

  • oilers99oilers99 Posts: 224 ✭✭✭

    Thanks for bumping it - truly impressive collection!

  • goldengolden Posts: 9,936 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Holy crap!

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for bumping this thread... truly a great one and that includes the narrative.... I enjoyed going through the entire post once again.... Cheers, RickO

  • 1630Boston1630Boston Posts: 14,095 ✭✭✭✭✭

    WOW, thanks for taking the time to share all of this with us :smile:

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  • oldgoldloveroldgoldlover Posts: 429 ✭✭✭

    Nice pictures. mine are not as good. Only coin I saw that you did not post was the 1849 DE. looked to be scratched up . I like the necklace as it would be the perfect gift for Fathers Day. I got a pretty fair shot of a 1933 as well as the 1849. Other than that the number of coins in the vault is way down. Thanks for sharing.

  • oldgoldloveroldgoldlover Posts: 429 ✭✭✭

    PS How did you manage to get shots of coins that were not behind the glass?

  • valente151valente151 Posts: 1,068 ✭✭✭

    Was going through old photo files, and came across my folder of photos from this visit. Figured I'd come on here and bump the thread for those who hadn't seen it.

  • HemisphericalHemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Old Thread

    But the OP is fantastic!

    Nice bump @valente151.

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