@ricko said:
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.
Let me give you guys an idea how much I respect the opinions and judgement of the OP. I would let him hold "ALL" of my raw coins in the palms of his raw hands, provided he pull out a magic marker and signed each one when he was finished looking at them! Any questions? 😉
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
@ricko said:
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.
I once had a nice long chat with Abe Kosoff at the 1976 ANA Convention in New York. I asked him what the coin business was like during the Great Depression. He told me that when the stock market crashed he was working for a major dealer who happened to be in a pretty good cash position, which was good because there was a LOT of stuff coming in as people tried to cover their losses and/or margin calls. There was so much stuff coming in that the dealer got very picky as to what he would buy, as nobody was buying and he knew that it might be a while before the coin market picked up. Abe remembered one person coming in with a pre-1890 Proof set, Cent through Double Eagle. The dealer paid face plus $1 for the Cent thru Silver Dollar Proof set, 25 CENTS over face value each for the Proof Gold Dollar, Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle, and 50 CENTS over face for the Proof $3. The dealer handed the Proof $10 and $20 back to the guy and said "Spend them. I don't want to tie up that much cash!"
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
@GiveMeProof said:
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?
All - please excuse the tangent.
Not from the U.S. Mint, but these are gold and large.
@GiveMeProof said:
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?
All - please excuse the tangent.
Not from the U.S. Mint, but these are gold and large.
@GiveMeProof said:
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?
All - please excuse the tangent.
Not from the U.S. Mint, but these are gold and large.
The largest and heaviest legal tender coin made by the US Mint is the five ounce America the Beautiful silver coins.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Harlan Berk once brought out a small tray of unique and near-finest known ancients. He insisted that I pick them up and enjoy them. It was a memorable experience. Gorgeous PanPac. I've handled a few in slabs. They're heavy!
@GiveMeProof said:
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?
All - please excuse the tangent.
Not from the U.S. Mint, but these are gold and large.
The 1988 Space Shuttle or Young Astronauts is a 12-ounce (one troy pound) Philadelphia Mint gold medal, and the 3-inch (48mm) gold medal issued for the 1976 Bicentennial is similar, but this is probably the winner for fun to hold.
Tom can correct me if I'm wrong but that particular octagonal doesn't appear to be some flavor of unc; having had some handling done to it over the years, holding it carefully in a clean and dry hand won't cause any difference in appearance. Even then, if it were a gem unc, still holding it briefly in a clean and dry hand then transferring it to a thick velvet pad wouldn't harm it any. The trick would be to prevent your hands from getting sweaty while doing so!
Comments
Nooooooooooooooooo!
Let me give you guys an idea how much I respect the opinions and judgement of the OP. I would let him hold "ALL" of my raw coins in the palms of his raw hands, provided he pull out a magic marker and signed each one when he was finished looking at them! Any questions? 😉
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
@CaptHenway - THAT'S SO COOL! I would love to have the opportunity to do that one day. Congrats.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
I once had a nice long chat with Abe Kosoff at the 1976 ANA Convention in New York. I asked him what the coin business was like during the Great Depression. He told me that when the stock market crashed he was working for a major dealer who happened to be in a pretty good cash position, which was good because there was a LOT of stuff coming in as people tried to cover their losses and/or margin calls. There was so much stuff coming in that the dealer got very picky as to what he would buy, as nobody was buying and he knew that it might be a while before the coin market picked up. Abe remembered one person coming in with a pre-1890 Proof set, Cent through Double Eagle. The dealer paid face plus $1 for the Cent thru Silver Dollar Proof set, 25 CENTS over face value each for the Proof Gold Dollar, Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle, and 50 CENTS over face for the Proof $3. The dealer handed the Proof $10 and $20 back to the guy and said "Spend them. I don't want to tie up that much cash!"
All - please excuse the tangent.
Not from the U.S. Mint, but these are gold and large.
All - please excuse the tangent.
Not from the U.S. Mint, but these are gold and large.
The largest and heaviest legal tender coin made by the US Mint is the five ounce America the Beautiful silver coins.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
Some young ones here may not know the experience of holding coins in hand. Too bad. They'll probably never know.
Could not agree more. Even some old ones.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
I got the chance to hold a raw octagonal Pan-Pac $50 once, myself, at a FUN show. It was a memorable experience.
Harlan Berk once brought out a small tray of unique and near-finest known ancients. He insisted that I pick them up and enjoy them. It was a memorable experience. Gorgeous PanPac. I've handled a few in slabs. They're heavy!
OMG That is just ridiculously mind blowing.
The 1988 Space Shuttle or Young Astronauts is a 12-ounce (one troy pound) Philadelphia Mint gold medal, and the 3-inch (48mm) gold medal issued for the 1976 Bicentennial is similar, but this is probably the winner for fun to hold.
National Commemorative Medals of the U.S. Mint:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/medals-tokens/national-commemorative-medals-united-states-mint-1940-present/alltimeset/195526
Awesome. Nothing wrong with keeping it raw and holding it. That's how you can truly appreciate and enjoy coins.
90% of my old American gold was bought raw and remains raw (In Air-Tites) Nothing like holding historic gold coins.
Mark
Tom can correct me if I'm wrong but that particular octagonal doesn't appear to be some flavor of unc; having had some handling done to it over the years, holding it carefully in a clean and dry hand won't cause any difference in appearance. Even then, if it were a gem unc, still holding it briefly in a clean and dry hand then transferring it to a thick velvet pad wouldn't harm it any. The trick would be to prevent your hands from getting sweaty while doing so!