Coin World : A man found his late father’s holdered 1876 Proof set buried in yard

Rich49 · May 12, 2018 5:09PM

The unusual story has a tragic element. The late collector, who died in 1994 at age 84, suffered with Alzheimer’s disease the last five years of his life, according to his son. The son said there’s a possibility that his father may have buried his entire extensive collection of United States coins. The coins, which have been off the market for more than 50 years, were primarily silver and gold issues.

https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/2018/05/family-finds-1876-proof-set-buried-in-yard.all.html

Coinstartled · May 12, 2018 5:12PM

Population shrinkage is part of the hobby.

BlindedByEgo · May 12, 2018 5:40PM

Their was a friend-of-a-friend story going around these parts about an old collector/ hoarder burying his hoard in sealed PVC pipes all over his Big Bear Lake-area property. Then he died. Stories like the above disturb me.,

JBK · May 12, 2018 6:05PM

That is what metal detectors are for.

I can see burying bullion, but rare collector coins? I guess he had great confidence in the stability and durability of the rare coin market.

Smudge · May 12, 2018 6:17PM

@JBK said:
That is what metal detectors are for.

I can see burying bullion, but rare collector coins? I guess he had great confidence in the stability and durability of the rare coin market.

And his memory.

leothelyon · May 12, 2018 6:29PM

ANACS grader Brian Kent said the high points of each coin in the 1876 Proof set were purple in color, which was determined to be contamination from some sort of ink product. Kent said each coin was conserved to remove the ink and other contaminants without damaging the surfaces of any of the Proof coins.

But they don't say where the ink came from or how the ink touched only the high points.....interesting.

AuroraBorealis · May 12, 2018 6:59PM

Cool!!!!!!!!!!!

hchcoin · May 12, 2018 7:23PM

Wow

Wabbit2313 · May 12, 2018 7:52PM

I love stories like this!

Boosibri · May 12, 2018 8:57PM

Thankfully they are in the holder. Losing my mind with age is my biggest fear. Just shoot me.

ms70 · May 12, 2018 8:59PM

@leothelyon said:
ANACS grader Brian Kent said the high points of each coin in the 1876 Proof set were purple in color, which was determined to be contamination from some sort of ink product. Kent said each coin was conserved to remove the ink and other contaminants without damaging the surfaces of any of the Proof coins.

But they don't say where the ink came from or how the ink touched only the high points.....interesting.

That sounds as if they were wrapped in old school carbon paper.

Timbuk3 · May 13, 2018 12:27AM

Interesting !!!

ricko · May 13, 2018 7:49AM

I love stories of buried treasure - and I like the recovery stories even more...I have pursued a couple of those in this area... no luck so far...Cheers, RickO

Jimnight · May 13, 2018 7:55AM

Great find... Great story.

TwoSides2aCoin · May 13, 2018 12:29PM

A bit more intriguing than the typical coin star machine finds.... and much more interesting, too.
I hope my grandchildren enjoy buried treasure maps.

mustangmanbob · May 13, 2018 8:25PM

More common than you think. I have posted before about finding about $300 face in 90% silver coins in a bank bag hidden in a 5 gallon bucket of bolts that I purchased for a few $$.