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Had Dinner with a few friends last night.....
CaptHenway
Posts: 33,830 ✭✭✭✭✭
Afterwards, coins were discussed. Have not had the pleasure of handling one of these the way it should be appreciated for a while.
Numismatist. 54 year member ANA. Former ANA Senior Authenticator. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and ANA Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Also won the PNG's Robert Friedberg Award for "The Enigmatic Lincoln Cents of 1922," Available now from Whitman or Amazon.
65
Comments
Beautiful!
You know, that would make an exceptional ‘pocket piece!’ 😉
An experienced numismatist would know to at least wash their hands and then handle the coin by their edges over a soft surface.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Rather then through a stinkin' slab for once! 👍🏻 👍🏻
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
It's hard to believe that one of those is still raw.
In the old days, the five piece sets used to pop up now and then in the copper frame. Those days are gone. Now the frame is sold as a separate item.
i like
You and Flatwoods have better friends than I do... Very cool.
Would be best if handled correctly at the edges of that beautifully rare coin. Careful of the fingerprints, not to mention the handprints. Have it conserved and certified. Wonderful coin!
OK, don't leave us numismatic amateurs in the dark. What is it. I must investigate.
Very nice! Enjoy!
Just in case, here is a link.
Harkins back to a wondrous period of time. That hunk of gold must feel nice. Peace Roy
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Got a trash can handy?
The owner agrees with me that such coins do not need to be embalmed in plastic to be enjoyed by the owner, or a knowledgeable collector. I have handled many coins more valuable than this.
My hands were clean and dry and did not harm the coin. I deliberately held it this way because the first rule of large, heavy, gold coins is "Do Not Drop Them," even if I was holding it over a pad.
What the heck! Put a big thumbprint on it and it will be forever yours without a doubt!
Pete
Magnificent design! It's hard to image these circulating in commerce. There is one PCGS certified as VG10, one at XF45, and 50+ pieces in AU grades.
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It's unlikely they circulated in commerce. More likely, they were pocket pieces.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Just throwing out this comment, so pics can sometimes “lie” about how someone is holding a coin. Actually the way our resident Captain is holding this I think is actually by the edges, it is elevated from his palm on the bottom. This is a “coin grip” as I like to call it that becomes natural to many who have held many raw coins, very common in areas like colonials, large cents, Exonumia, etc. I do agree that one should be careful with fingerprints and dirty hands on some proof coinage and high grade silver, but in the case of this coin…..it’s being held just fine!! I often use this “grip” for handheld photos, take a little experience to do it, but very common amongst dealers and specialists.
I will add the disclaimer again, not recommended on certain coins or without “experience” in handling raw coins, but I believe he knows exactly how to hold coins properly and this is the safest grip from a standpoint of dropping a coin or actually doing something that would cause damage.
I’ve never seen pre-33 gold ruined by a fingerprint. Gold doesn’t tarnish easily. Don’t think it’s anything to worry about!
Beautiful. It almost looks like a chocolate coin.
Come to think of it, I've never seen a chocolate version of this coin. That would be cool.
Are you all new collectors? A coin should not be held like this no matter how many of you newbies think it’s ok. Hey if you want to drop a 50,000.+ coin on the ground be my guest . Your loss. Give me a break. And it’s not “cupped”. From the pic, you can see it’s resting directly on his dirty hand.
Obviously you’ve never seen pre 1933 gold coins with fingerprints. Here’s one for your viewing pleasure
Look over the first letters in dollars
WOW, someone who joined last winter certainly knows more about this than all of us "new collectors"
...
Not every new member here is new to collecting and studying coins. Some have decades of experience before they join here.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I accept the fact my moniker lacks true perspective. 10 sides to a coin
, at the bare minimum. Those are nice friends you dine with.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
I agree, I did as well.
If that was my coin and you handled it like in the picture, you wouldn’t be my friend for much longer. That’s a $50,000-$100,000 coin hold it like the baby it should be held like.
My current registry sets:
20th Century Type Set
Virtual DANSCO 7070
Slabbed IHC set - Missing the Anacs Slabbed coins
It is funny what people can have a cow over. Relax and have a couple more bud lights.
😂 🤣 I don't believe half the guys here know who the OP is or what his credentials are!! 😂 🤣
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
There's just something about the heft of a 2 1/2 ounce gold coin in your hand. If it doesn't make you smile, part of you is already dead.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
The mark, if a fingerprint, is easy to remove.
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879--18 April 1955)
What a cool experience!!
Before you get all uppity on him, you should ask CaptHenway about his experiences and pedigree when it comes to coins
Trust me when I say that few around here equal his knowledge on how to handle coins, amongst other coin related bits.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Dirty hand?
There's nothing you can say to make yourself look knowledgeable after you've challenged @CaptHenway's veracity
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Couldn’t agree with you more Helder. Zack
Bet you can’t find another.
Sure is a miracle any of these 100+ year old coins survived without being encased in plastic.
OMG! That's one of the most beautiful coins I've ever seen. Thank you @MetroD. Put that at the top of my list of "dream coins". 2 1/2 oz. gold. Has the U.S. ever made anything heavier?
Not gold, but there are 5 ounce silver America the Beautiful quarters.
1915 S Pan Pac $50 gold commemorative . 2.5 ounce coin, also came in a round version which is slightly more rare. You can get more info in CoinFacts
Aside from a pair of arrogant comments, a fine thread showing off a beautiful coin.
there are 5 ounce silver America the Beautiful quarters.
>
Thanks for reminding me of them. I'm going to get out mine, close my eyes, and imagine that I am holding two $50 Panama Pacifics in my clean and dry hands.
I subscribed to several coin publications over the years and I read them from cover to cover. I learned a lot about coins from reading the numerous articles that @CaptHenway aka Tom DeLorey wrote so I'll fully aware of who he is in the numismatic community and I have the utmost respect for him. I've read numerous times that coins should be handled by their edge and it's a habit now to the point where I handle my pocket change by the edge when checking them so I was a little taken back when I saw a very expensive coin lying flat in someone's hand. My comment was mostly directed toward new collectors who may not be familiar with the proper way to handle raw coins.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
That is a dream coin for myself and many others. I would truly love to hold one in my hand, raw, as @CaptHenway has in the OP. Care can be taken when handling raw coins, and you can be sure that coins that old, and still raw, have passed through many hands. Cheers, RickO
I remember reading an article in one of the coin magazines back in the early 1980's which was an interview with an old retired mint employee who was involved in the melting of gold coins when he was a young man after the gold coin recall. In the interview, he specifically mentioned seeing several Panama Pacific Exposition $50 gold slugs going into the melting pot. :'(
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@PerryHall... Wow.... :'( That would be a sad scene to behold... And under the rules of the recall, they could easily have been legally retained. Cheers, RickO
During the depression, $50 was a lot of money. Also, people back then were afraid of the consequences of not turning in their gold to the government. The exception for collectors holding rare coins of numismatic value was not well publicized. I remember in the 1960's showing one of my friend's grandmother a gold coin from my collection. She was horrified. She said "You can't own that! It's illegal! You have to turn it in!" She had the same look as if I showed her a Kilo of heroin. LOL. She calmed down after I explained the law to her. It's surprising how many people from that era believed US gold coins were illegal to own.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@PerryHall .... Yes, I remember talking to some old folks back then (Dang, I am an old folk now), and there was not a good understanding of the gold issue. Cheers, RickO
Thank you @CaptHenway. I should have said "gold". I do own one of those 5oz. "hockey pucks".
Thank you @JW77. Amazing coins. Not crazy about the $1 though. That coin must be tiny. Guess that's why they couldn't go too crazy with the design. Still a big fan of the octagonal.