1870cc Presentation dollar
AUandAG
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Many of you know about my dollar as I have posted it here previously. But, I'd like some input on what to do with it.
In 1870, Feb 4th to be exact, Abe Curry fired up press #1 and minted 700 dollars for presentation pieces. He then had a few engraved and given to the intended receipitant (sp). The others were handed out personally by him around town and to those friends of his (like Alf Doten of Silver City).
Now I'm wondering what to do with my engraved CC dollar given by Curry to my Great Grandfather, Matt Rinckel.
I'm thinking it might just need to go back to Carson and reside in the State Museum. I've email Bob Nylen there to see if they have an intrest.
Are there pros and cons to donating to the State? I'm thinking permanently on loan (if that is such a thing).
Anyone with any input? Anyone do such a thing?
Thanks in advance.
bob 
Comments
I'd imagine that if you gave the coin to the museum that they could, at least in theory, deaccession it if and when they needed funds and it might end up in private hands. Alternatively, they might loan it out on a semi-permanent basis to another institution to acquire something else.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Isn't there anyone in your family who could be custodian for another generation?
After all, you You have the coin because generations before you handed it down within the family.
Yes, I do have two kids. None interested in coins and it would sit with nobody to appreciate it. But, that is certainly on my mind. What's another 30 years or so?
bob
Yes, that worries me too. Can you trust the "State" to do what you wish? I guess that's why I'm asking. Today their Director may agree but he/she won't be in charge forever, 'eh?
bob
i would think giving it on loan would take a legal agreement, especially if you don't want them to hide it again.
can you convince the kids that an heirloom is important and to keep passing it down?
For a state museum, the bar to deaccession something of this nature would be pretty high (the curator would have to prove it didn’t fit the scope of the museum’s collections), so I wouldn’t worry too much about that.
As for loaning it out to another museum, that generally happens when museums get donated artifacts that aren’t related to their core collections, but they also don’t want to give up possession of that artifact. An example: the city museum of Ft Collins, CO has a cannonball studded log from the fort at the Battle of Gettysburg. There’s no good reason to display it in the city museum, but I imagine they would be willing to send it out on permanent (or close to permanent) loan if a museum related to Gettysburg wanted it. So in your case, I wouldn’t worry about the Nevada State museum loaning out a coin such as this. It’s clearly a part of Nevada history and I find it hard to imagine a museum where it would fit better.
As for loaning it to the museum yourself, this is something that’s pretty common, and if you’re worried about the possibility of the above instances, this probably has the most safeguards. Every museum has their own stipulations and requirements when it comes to loans like this.
Source: I live with a museum curator.
I don't remember seeing it. Can you post a photo please?
Here's a thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/13653429#Comment_13653429
@VanHalen
Thanks!
If you are done with being the in person custodian of the coin I'd see two options. If you or your family could use the money I'd let Northern Nevada Coin advertise the heck out of it and sell it for me. If money is not a consideration I'd just donate it to the CC Mint, no strings attached.
Pictures?
It depends on the nature of the engraving and provenance. Assuming your families recount matches existing documentation and the engraving is without question. Assuming a low MS high AU state of preservation with natural age/tone the coin should be worth at least 25k and maybe more gauging off of similar Morgan’s. Maybe more if certified and or choice and a bidding war or the best buyer of said coin would be Northern Nevada coin. Who have a historical reference collection which that would be a star
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
See three posts above yours for pictures.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Even though your children have no interest in coins I would leave it to one of them who would hopefully keep it in the family for many generations understanding the historical significance of the coin.
this is why i was asking if anyone in the family could appreciate it as an heirloom and pass it down
Thanks for the great input. No decision, but leaning toward my daughter in law as a keeper for another generation. She's not a coin person, by any stretch, but she loves family history and I believe she would cherish it.
bob
Love it
Great idea
Yes, Keep it in the family. Remember what happened to the1933 double Eagles? The government stole them from private hands.
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Look no further than the Pennsylvania Historical Society's deaccession of the William Spohn Baker Collection of Washingtonia. He left clear instructions that the collection was never to be sold, and long after his death, they simply did it anyway.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
What, on earth, does that have to do with this coin? And even if what happened with the 1933 $20’s were relevant, keeping this coin in the family would be keeping it in “private hands”.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.