Take a look at the raw double eagle I saw and held today. - Backstory added.

So here is the back story.

I went to Long Beach yesterday to drop off multiple coins for grading by our host. As I was sitting at the PCGS Lounge filling out submission forms, placing coins into flips and writing on labels to attach to the flips a man came to the table I was sitting at and sat down across from me.

This man was about my age (mid 60's). He started filling out a submission form and asked me for assistance. We started talking and he said he was submitting 9 gold coins (double eagles) for grading. He took the 9 coins out of a container. I asked him about the coins and he told me his story.

The 9 coins were contained in small paper envelopes imprinted with a coin dealer's information. On each envelope was handwritten notes of the purchase date, purchase price and description of the coin in the envelope. He told me that he inherited the coins from his grandfather in 1969 upon his death. He said that:

1. he is not a coin collector;

2. upon receipt of the coins (the 9 double eagles, plus numerous US Pattern coins, plus World coins [including Chinese coins]) he took possession of them and stored them away for 30+ years without paying attention to them;

3. his grandfather also collected numerous other things (including watches and stamps) all of which he inherited on his grandfather's death;

4. his grandfather never talked about the specifics of his collecting and merely said "I collect coins";

5. no one is his family is a coin collector and no one knew what was in his grandfather's collection (of coins and other things);

6. his grandfather collected over many, many years;

7. his grandfather purchased the 1907 double eagle shown in the above photos in 1943 for $43.50 (the envelope the double eagle was in has written on it the purchase date, the purchase price, a description of the coin and that it is UNC);

8. he has now taken an interest in the coins (and other items) he inherited and is spending time learning about them because he views the items he inherited from his grandfather as items that possibly have significant value and because he views himself as being a steward/care taker for his own children who will eventually inherit those same items;

9. he had the Patterns his grandfather collected reviewed and submitted for grading;

10. a box containing multiple Chinese coins was sent to persons familiar with Chinese coinage and one of these coins is very valuable; and

11. he had a person from PCGS look at the 1907 double eagle who looked at it and verbally opined what he thought the coin's value was (5 figures).

The man allowed me to take the 1907 double eagle out of its envelope to hold it (by the edges) and look at it (with and without a loupe). He said that other than him and the PCGS representative who looked at the coin I was the only other person who had looked at and held this coin since he inherited it.

The coin looks MS to me. I did not see anything that indicated it had been circulated. It was very heavy and it was a joy to hold and look at. The man also let me hold and look at another double eagle (1923) that to me also looked MS.

The man also took out and showed me a heavy rectangular silver bar (likely 5 or 10 ounces) with stamping indicating it was made by the San Francisco mint in the 1800's. Very cool to see and hold that bar.

So in summary, my trip to Long Beach turned out to be a treat because of my chance encounter with the man who sat down next to me at the PCGS Lounge. It is fun to hear about stories such as the one the man told me yesterday. There are similar stories that are yet to be told; and such stories do contribute to the overall appeal that Numismatics has on persons who play around in the coin collecting sand box.

I hope you enjoy this back story.