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Post a picture of your favorite coin from your entire collection
Onedollarnohollar
Posts: 2,035 ✭✭✭✭
Please limit it to one coin (I know that can be difficult - don't worry, coins don't have feelings and won't be jealous of your favorite)
6
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OK.
As chronicled below, the above coin was identified as having been once in the possession of its designer, James Longacre and was first sold at his Estate Auction in 1870 when it was described as, " 1850 Double Eagle, Proof. This piece was from the first dies used for the double eagle, and might be termed a trial piece."
Board member firstmint posted a thread asking, "What is the oldest American coin auction catalogue you have in your library?" and then stated:
"My library contains two going back to 1855.
The first is a 14 page Bangs, Brother & Co., June 6, 1855 sale (Peter Flandin) conducted in New York City.
The second is a 100 page M. Thomas June 12, 1855 sale (A C Kline) conducted in Philadelphia."
Rick Snow responded adding that he had one from the Longacre Estate sale conducted by Thomas & Sons in January of 1870:
"Thomas & Sons auction of the james B. Longacre Estate, January 21, 1870. It's the order book, so it has the prices realized and the purchasers penciled in.
Rick Snow, Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Inc"
In turn, then firstmint, the OP, asked Rick Snow:
"Rick -
The P&N Longacre estate sale is a real nice item. Congrats!
Can you tell me who got the 1850 "Proof" Twenty, lot 178? That coin was in an earlier thread (coins with a story) and is presently owned by board memeber north coin."
To which Rick Snow then responded:
"Edward Cogan for $27.00
Lot decription:
178 1850, Double Eagle, Proof. This piece was from the first dies used for the double eagle, and might be termed a trial piece.
.....
Rick Snow, Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Inc."
The coin (which to this date continues to remain in its SEGS holder) had - previous to the above attribution back to Longacre - been described in the original CoinFacts.com regarding the 1850 Double Eagle as follows:
"Significant examples:
SEGS Proof-62, "Presentation/PL, enhanced surfaces". Ex - Superior Galleries' "Pre-Long Beach Sale" May 27-29, 2001, Lot 4170A, where it was described as follows: "1850 SEGS graded Proof 62 marked "Presentation/PL" and " Enhanced Surfaces". The coin is also pedigreed to Dr. C. W. Green and so noted on the holder. This is the first collectible issue of the United States Double Eagle series. This coin has a beautiful bold strike with full stars and all other details sharp and clear. The fields are Prooflike and you can see clearly with magnification that the dies and planchet were enhanced prior to striking..." "
Most recently, Q. David Bowers (who had viewed the coin in conjunction with the writing of his book on Double Eagles) wrote me this past year, "The Liberty Head Double Eagle is one of my favorite series. You certainly have a spectacular 1850!!!"
1799 Ten Dollar, Near-Mint
BD-8, Small Obverse Stars
Rare Variety
1799 $10 Small Obverse Stars, BD-8, R.5, AU58 PCGS. Bass-Dannreuther Die State c/b, terminal reverse. The heaviest die cracks run through AMERICA, identifying this rare variety. BD-8 has a surviving population of only 45 to 55 pieces in all grades, making it one of the scarcer Small Stars die pairings. Typically, BD-7 is the variety acquired by type collectors, but the present BD-8 coin certainly has the quality and eye appeal to be considered for such a purpose with the added bonus of absolute rarity.
The strike is sharp and evenly executed. Some luster remains in the protected regions of the fields, while leaving the bulk of each side with rich orange-gold patina. Slight friction over the high points of the devices and in the exposed areas of the obverse fields precludes a Mint State designation. Eye appeal is excellent.
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
This thread should be worth bookmarking.
Coins in this thread (at least at this early stage) would make a great calendar or centerfold for a numismatic magazine... Cheers, RickO
These are all excellent coins, but I'm just waiting for tradedollarnut to swoop in and leave something nuclear.
INYNWHWeTrust-TexasNationals,ajaan,blu62vette
coinJP, Outhaul ,illini420,MICHAELDIXON, Fade to Black,epcjimi1,19Lyds,SNMAN,JerseyJoe, bigjpst, DMWJR , lordmarcovan, Weiss,Mfriday4962,UtahCoin,Downtown1974,pitboss,RichieURich,Bullsitter,JDsCoins,toyz4geo,jshaulis, mustanggt, SNMAN, MWallace, ms71, lordmarcovan,JWP,dantheman984,olah_in_MA,USMC_6115
I can already tell this is going to be a great thread.
Mintage 200. Total TPG population 1.
this 2013 Japanese 100 yen my niece gave me as a gift
don't count your chickens before they're hatched
I love all my children the same.
But seriously, it is a very difficult question, there are so many that I am particularly fond of for different reasons. That being said, this Jefferson, though not all that valuable, is a favorite of mine.
My YouTube Channel
Insert witicism here. [ xxx ]
No picture, but mine is a 1799 Draped Bust Dollar in VF.
Louis Armstrong
I'm never good with these "favorite" questions. I have no one favorite book, movie, or coin.
I am rather fond of this one though.
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
That is DARNED hard. But....push come to shove.... I..... GUESS...... ow..ooch...uuuumph.... oh well.
Full Obverse Textile
Really tough to pick just one... and depending the day it might be a different coin... but earlier today I was looking through some coins and had fun looking at this one again.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 700
My favorite coins from my collection are in my signature block.
The Penny Lady®
Northcoin...thanks for the history lesson on your double eagle. Is there a reason it's been left in the Segs holder instead of crossing to PCGS? I'm not that familiar with Segs that's why I ask. It is an incredible piece of numismatic history and I'm glad I asked for favorites. I had never seen this coin or read about its background before.
I am really enjoying viewing these masterpieces you all have shown thus far. Being a relative novice to collecting and not having funds to own most of these it is an awesome opportunity to enjoy the beauty and history that others possess and graciously share. Thank you.
your question is answered in the OP. it's because of the provenance.
This 1921 buffalo nickel was purchased from Andy at "Angel Dee's" I bought this piece about 10 years ago and is a mainstay in my collection. In my life I have never seen such a beautiful buffalo nickel. It's also my mothers birth year.
This is without question my favorite coin in my collection.
You didn't say US Coin.....
How could it not be a nearly 2,000 year old coin with my name on it? I need to take better photos.
I have so many and seeing some fantastic examples on here I will cede to posting any of extreme value or even interest to this forum and post one (probably taboo) of my favourite ancients. It is a Judean one Prutah coin
a 2000 year old coin from Jerusalem (what was known as the Roman province of Judea) minted at the time of Pauls persecution in around 60AD by the procurator to Rome Porcius Festus who made the decision to not ultimately judge Paul and have him crucified but leave the decision to the Emperor Nero as he was heeding the lesson from his predecessor Pontius Pilate (Crucifier of Christ).
Porcius Festus had Paul shipped back to Rome and it was on this fateful voyage that Paul the apostle was shipwrecked and lost forever. The coin is a One Prutot coin. In ancient Hebrew Prutot or AE PRUTAH means coin of little value. This coin was the semi-equivalent of todays penny and it took about 10 of these coins to buy a loaf of bread. On the face of the coin we can see a palm branch indigenous to the land of Israel, both encircled by an ancient Roman inscription and the date which corresponds to the year 58/59 CE. Because the coin is of such low value it would have been massively circulated thru out Judea and no doubt had passed thru the hands of Christs Accusers.
An extremely fascinating coin in my opinion, just thought I would share with you.
all around collector of many fine things
HAHA I must have just posted mine as you were, I did not see your post before posting mine, that is great.
Nice coin
all around collector of many fine things
Yes, the fact that it was so described by the original CoinFacts.com as being in that holder and its having also been so identified in its auction listing in the Superior Galleries' auction sale. The coin's history and attribution are in my opinion of more significance than its numerical grade.
FWIW, David Hall of PCGS was able to view an apparently similar coin also attributed as a "Proof" 1850 Double Eagle at a museum in Paris. In his opinion he described it as a "cleaned" PR61 - one grade lower than Larry Briggs of SEGS opined mine. Apparently these are the only two such coins in existence and both may well have been with Longacre originally as suggested by the fact that in his Estate Auction there were still several "Proof" First Strike/Presentation Pieces of the CAL Quarter Eagle that Longacre reportedly was also responsible for - having added the CAL marking.
As an added note, I have been in contact with the Paris museum with regard to getting the two "Proof/First Strike/Presentation Pieces together for a side-by-side comparison but it will require a trip to Paris to do so.
As I mentioned to David Bowers in my recent correspondence with him following up on his having examined my 1850 Double Eagle coin when he was writing his book, "A Guide Book of Double Eagle Gold Coins:"
"I thought you might be interested to learn that (subsequent to the publication of your book on Double Eagles) numismatic researcher and author Karl Moulton wrote identifying the coin as a "First Strike" or "Trial Piece" that had been in the personal collection of James B. Longacre. He stated, "It came from the James B. Longacre Estate (the coin's designer), and was sold in the January 21, 1870 auction sale conducted by M(oses) Thomas & Sons in Philadelphia. It was lot #178. The lot description was: 1850, Double Eagle proof. This piece was from the first dies used for the double eagle, and might be termed a trial piece." He added, "There were also three 1848 CAL Quarter Eagles listed as being proof. However, most everything in the past that was prooflike has been catalogued and sold as a proof even though that is not the case. I believe the J.B. Longacre pedigree (as a first strike) is much more significant than the C.W. Green listing as a proof..."
"Most recently, and adding even further interest was a description in Jeff Garrett's and Michael Moran's just published this year book, "1849 Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold," in which, with regard to the 1850 Double Eagle, they describe a similar coin reportedly seen in a Paris museum. [Seen by David Hall of PCGS who apparently described it as a "cleaned" PR-61 in contrast to the PR-62 Briggs described for my coin. ...]
"I have written to the museum asking if the coin would be available for me to come photograph. I stated, "I believe I have the only other similar surviving "proof" coin and understand that it was in the personal collection of the coin's designer, Longacre, and that I would like to compare the two." In responding to my inquiry, Jerome Jambu, Conservateur in the department of medullas et antiques at the Bibliotheque national de France museum stated, "I think this coin is a proof coin."
"My own guess is that initially there was more than one "Proof"/First Strike Double Eagle set aside by Longacre in the same way there was more than one 1848 CAL "Proof"/First Strike Quarter Eagle retained by him. Reportedly, it is believed that Longacre himself was responsible for adding the CAL designation and since he kept more than one special specimen of the coin, how much more likely that he would have also made and kept more than one special specimen - whether Proof or Prooflike with enhanced surfaces of his created Double Eagle. (In the Superior Galleries' Pre-Long Beach Sale from 2001, the lot description [May 27-29, Lot 4170A] for my coin added, "This coin has a beautiful bold strike with full stars and all other details sharp and clear. The fields are Prooflike and you can see clearly with magnification that the dies and planchet were enhanced prior to striking.")
"Although I am not sure when I will be able to travel to Paris, I do look forward to eventually being able to place side-by-side the two 1850 "Proof"/First Strike Double Eagles for comparison."
@steveben - I just saw your response which is exactly correct. (I could have saved myself from my more lengthy response if I had caught yours first
)
I liked the long response. The details of its history are fascinating. Hope you get to Paris for the comparison of the museum piece and are able to share photographs of the two side by side with us at a future date.
This one is certainly tied for favorite but hard to single out one, my avatar:
I've got some medals from which I probably couldn't pick a favorite, but this is certainly my favorite coin.
A old friend of ArtR
Rainbow Stars
So many favorites but here's one that hits close to home for me.
I do have quite a few, but I have to go with my icon:
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Holy envy Batman!
@CascadeChris
Really? I have more!
I need to break out my camera and laptop and take pictures because I'm just taking them from my cell phone and it's way to slow of a process
I'd still have to say this girl. Picked her up at Long Beach a year or two ago for the ridiculous sum of $50 raw. The dealer must have thought it was AT but I knew better and he didn't even see that it was a very popular VAM too
Sorry, I see that wasn't for what I posted. Although I also have a 1881 but ungraded.
I'm a NEWBIE ~ lol
Modest gold from 100 years before birth
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
Too hard to choose only one, but this is one of them.
- Jim
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color
Central Valley Roosevelts
My current favorite, one of the nicest dekadrachms of Kimon. This coin has the diameter of a Morgan dollar and twice the thickness:
Flowing Hair Dollar in F-12
MS62
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