Favorite ALL TIME coin in your collection

Just one? Tough choice. I suppose it would be something impossible to replace, scarce, beautiful and unspoiled, historic. And representative of a favorite series.

I'll go with this one.
Lance.

This one. Humble, circulated, honest collector coin, not that valuable but still people have been taking good care of it all these years. Some combination of what it is and the situation I bought it in really wraps up the whole spirit of the hobby for me.

1834 $5 Crosslet 4

Hard to choose, but my 1901-o would be a top candidate. Ex. James Stack/Eugene Gardner, and incredibly rare in 66. Also the strike and color is exceptional for a 1901-o

My only ancient:

I keep going back to this one. Posted before but, I smile every time I hold it and look closely at it.

This post got me thinking, and I agree with the comments that picking just one coin is difficult. Despite this observation, I immediately thought of one coin in my collection when I saw this post.

I have chosen one particular coin from my collection for different reasons; I purchased this coin raw as a young numismatist 30 years ago and have protected it for many years. I acquired this coin from an old dealer in Oregon who was a great inspiration and role model to me as a young collector. I submitted the coin to PCGS and then to CAC some years later.

I have posted about this story before, and the history behind this coin carries special significance for me. I have more valuable and rare coins, but I don’t think I would ever part with this coin because of its particular importance—a remarkable story.

I think it would have to be this one (though it's not an easy call!)

Wow, what a challenge. Just like asking us to name our favorite child.

At the risk of boring those who have seen it before, this one has become a favorite due to its uniqueness and provenance. As far as I know there has only been one other photographed 1850 Double Eagle that has been held out as a proof, and that one appears to have been minted as a special piece for a set in the fall of 1850 while mine can lay claim to having been one of, if not the first, 1850 $20 gold piece minted in the spring of 1850 - given its having been in the private collection of its designer, James B. Longacre.

(FWIW despite having been identified as a proof by others, I am more than satisfied with Max Mehl's auction description of the coin when he described it as "a brilliant semi-proof, almost equal to a brilliant proof.")

Thanks to the efforts of fellow forum member yosclimber, here is the 1949 Max Mehl auction description which he located:

@lkeigwin said:
Just one? Tough choice. I suppose it would be something impossible to replace, scarce, beautiful and unspoiled, historic. And representative of a favorite series.

I'll go with this one.
Lance.

Lance, if you ever decide to drill a hole in this one, give me a call...😅

Great thread and challenge!
A tough call.
After careful consideration, I have made this selection. Not only is this coin a remarkable piece of history, it features the bust of Marcus Aurelius, an incredible statesman AND philosopher- ahead of his time in many ways. Personally, this coin was left to me by an aunt that I was very close to and had a huge impact on my life.

Marcus Aurelius - aureus 161-80 AD

Yikes, interesting question. Although this coin is not my favorite, or most expensive/valuable, it came from a family member, and it is one of the only "nice" coins that has managed to not be cleaned or sold for way too little when I was younger. Unfortunately, some much nicer coins gifted to me as a little person have met those fates. So, yeah, this one has sentimental value.

Now that I think of it, I did carry it around in my pocket sometimes and touch it with my dirty fingers, but now it's safe in a 2x2.

It would definitely be this one!

The 1814 E/A capped bust half dollar is a truly underrated Redbook variety which is quite rare and undervalued in MS.

It happens to be 3rd finest, grade wise, but finest when it comes to eye appeal in my opinion. I can’t ever see myself selling it unless I came across another one to replace it that I liked even better!

Dave

@drddm said:
It would definitely be this one!

The 1814 E/A capped bust half dollar is a truly underrated Redbook variety which is quite rare and undervalued in MS.

I can’t ever see myself selling it unless I came across another one to replace it that I liked even better!

How much?
Lance.

Boy, there’s a lot of nice pieces you guys have. This isn’t the rarest but I really like this one. I’m really proud of it because I was only 16 when I bought it with money I saved from working at a pumpkin patch😂

I think probably this one would be the last to go.

Wonderful coin in hand and a nice modern/ancient artistic marvel: Big, Large Gold, graded by our hosts and well preserved and Very Rare - what's not to like?

I just keep going back to this one, a BST purchase from years ago. Love the early dollars!

Irreplaceable is my criteria. I am awestruck at the quality of the engraving and otherwise original surfaces on this 1799/8 draped bust $1. I paid minimum bid, straight grade G6 money for this raw engraved dollar that PCGS later evaluated as VG details. The folks at PCGS, followed through with my request for a solid rubber gasket! I couldn’t be happier!