A clockmaker, a three cent silver, and eBay
ThreeCentSilverFL
Posts: 1,694 ✭✭✭✭✭
So, I came across an eBay listing for a raw, 1853 three cent silver. He says he found it inside a 19th century mantel clock during restoration. He said it was likely that nobody has seen it since it was hidden in the clock. Pics were OK. He checked out as a clockmaker. So I took a shot.
Well, it arrived today, and I believe it! Definitely a hidden gem this guy found! It’s definitely an uncirculated specimen with Very pleasing olive golden toning throughout, possibly induced by the wood tannins. No marks, scratches, die clashes or otherwise. It’s hard to capture the luster in the photo but it just gleams from under the toning.
Provenance stories, even though this one is limited but viable, almost always intrigue me. Sorry, enough yakking, here are some pics:
Comments
Looks nice, but needs an acetone bath.
Very nice! I agree with the bath.
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I wonder how it got in the clock? Maybe some kid dropped it in? Nice piece, acetone should take whatever gunk or oil is on it.
Cool story behind that coin. I like it.
Looks very original. An acetone bath would help
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Great story and great find! You make me want to look for a nice 3cs now!
Looks good for MS, has the fins.
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I like it.
Its about time someone has another feel good story! Nice trime!
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Love the coin! Love the story!
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Great now I will go looking through my many antique clocks around the house looking for old coins. Have 4 19th century clocks that have been in the family since they were purchased. Maybe great grandma hid the Octagonal $50 from the Pan Pacific in one of them.
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Wonderful story, and a great original Trime. Beautiful!
Dave
Nice to have such a unique story to go along with a coin. And such a nice coin too.
Congrats.
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Did the guy show you a picture of the clock? Nice pick-up. Peace Roy
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@Namvet69 I don’t have a photo. The clockmaker John told me it was a Chauncey Jerome 30hr. Ogee. Circa 1850.
Very nice, rescued from its hiding place.
That's really neat! Be sure to write down the story and keep it with the coin. Context matters.
A coin dealer told me that if you have a story with a coin, you should always keep that story attached to the coin (somehow). Don't forget the story or let the details fade. Don't sell or pass on the coin to the next person without the story. He said coins with a story seem to have more value, and certainly raise more interest so that it is more likely to sell.
My strategy is about collecting what I intend to keep, not investing in what I plan to sell.
Thanks
That’s such a great question and really adds some intrigue to the story. Thanks
The clock that shares a tower with Big Ben in London has moving parts that can be fine tuned by placing one or more pennies on the moving parts to increase their weight. As I understand things, they have been using the same group of coins since the tower was built.
Ask the clock guy if the coin was in a place where it might have been put to help regulate the mechanism.
@CaptHenway, he stated:
“found this between back board and case bottom”
Interesting and believable info about using incremental weight to regulate early clocks
Hopefully he found it in a clock he owned and was restoring..... otherwise you bought a STOLEN coin off Ebay
Neat story, congratulations !!!
Bath might reveal hairlines. I’d leave it alone.
I plan to leave her alone. Original, crusty and a good back story.
I agree. As is. Fun story
Yes, leave it as is, please. Provenance comes in many forms. You know more than some. Thanks for sharing. Peace
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I'm not a 3 cent person but I'd like to see that after a bath
Great story and a really nice coin as well.... As much as I would like to see it after an acetone bath, I tend to agree with others... Too bad you could not buy the clock as well.... would be really great to have them both. Cheers, RickO
In Europe, way back , late 1800,s and right in to the 1950,s and 60', money was often kept in the clock.Especially coins. the vienna type wall clocks were ideal for that. other small items were kept in the space behind the top ornament. Kids knew that parents and grand parents alike stashed items like coins there and sometimes "checked" these places for Ice cream money. I know it for sure because I was one of these kids.
Yes, if you say: "not me", i have never done that in a similar fashion", then I think YOU have a very short elective memory.
Ahh a trime hidden by time
Steve
“Let’s do The Trime Warp again!!!!”
I can relate to your story. In the sixties when we were kids and traveled to our grandparents the first place you went was gramps old recliner. Many times a check along the inside would be rewarded with enough change to head to Woolworths for candy or a plastic creepy crawly Looking back now I’m fairly certain gramps “salted” that chair ensuring our success
Possibly used as a screwdriver.