I Want to Collect Colorado, Please Give Some Ideas...
PonyMills
Posts: 3 ✭
Please give me some collection ideas. I am mostly looking for Denver Mint ideas.
Background: This all started when I was building a collection of historic Continental Divide sign photos from Colorado. Then I moved onto Pikes Peak toll road tickets, and things sort of progressed from there. Berthoud Pass is one of the more popular historic routes, so there are lots of Berthoud photos, postcards, sides and more in the collection... also a few Berthoud Pass pendant/tokens.
I now have around 10 Pikes Peak medals and tokens, also a few Monarch Pass medals/tokens.
I have some photos where I put a quarter next to the item to show scale, so at the very least, I want to buy a quarter from the Denver Mint for this purpose. Right now I just use some bicentennial quarters.
There are lots of images and items from the 1920s to 1950s in the collection. I have thought about trying to acquire a single quarter from each year.... maybe a nice touch so that I can use a period-quarter to show scale of each item.
I know a bit about the history of the Denver mint, but I am not much of a coin collector. I'd prefer to create a themed collection on all fronts. It this case, I am collecting Colorado transportation and ski history in the mountains, but there will be a section for medals/coins/tokens.
Thanks!
Comments
Pioneer gold coins and first issue year (1906) Denver type coins go together nicely.
A bit of mining scrip might add a nice touch.
Don’t really have any suggestions other than what’s been said…. But I absolutely love Colorado private gold. Obviously, budget limitations become a factor for most collectors, though many of the die trials can be purchased at relatively sane prices.
At some point I’’ll add an 1861 $20 DT, and eventually I should be able to find the right $10 and $2.5 that I like.
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Those are insane man. I love the luster on that MS-64 half eagle.
what's your budget?
you can probably dig up a seller of recently extracted colo gold dust
1860-1861 clark, gruber &co pioneer gold coins start in the 4 figure range and move up quickly from there https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/category/territorial/colorado-gold/clark-gruber-co-1860-1861/1743
in 1934 denver minted their last circulation silver dollar - the 1934-d peace dollar - https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1934-d-1/7376
there are so many counterfeits on ebay that i tell you to find someone with some well worn ::problem free:: junk peace dollars to check for a 34D for you. the upside is a well worn one will be cheaper and the wear would probably help it fit into your collection
=====================
there were the first year of silver dollars - the 1921-d morgan silver dollar
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1921-d-1/7298
they are common as dirt. an inexpensive, ::problem free:: worn one would be an even easier quest than a 34-d peace
you going exclusively for the early days of colorado or would you consider an item made within the last 10-15 years?
a few ideas here: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1086613/the-colorado-thread
How about something from the current mint in Colorado? Daniel Carr at the Moonlight Mint might have something to include in your collection.
Beat me to it, I just came back to say that.
@PonyMills - Among many others, you can buy something like this around $200 or less. D. Carr mints a plethora of Colorado themed exonumia. I’d send you this one at cost if you were drawn to it, if you paid for the shipping-
Here’s his site- https://www.dc-coin.com
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Available now at Moonlight Mint, by Daniel Carr.
Moonlight Mint is located in Loveland CO.
.
.
.
Here is something possibly interesting to you.
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
Successful BST transactions with: Namvet Justindan Mattniss RWW olah_in_MA
Dantheman984 Toyz4geo SurfinxHI greencopper RWW bigjpst bretsan MWallace logger7
You may have already seen this, but check out Joseph Lesher and his so- called dollars. Very interesting piece of history and a popular collectible.
Again, what is your budget?
As you seem to be image oriented, you could find a few vintage postcards of the Mint on eBay. They tend to be exterior shots, probably because the Mints tend to be rather security conscious.
You can go to the gift shop and roll out an elongated cent. I recommend that you use bronze cents from before 1982, with a D mint mark of course.
While there see if they have any inexpensive bronze medals showing the Denver Mint. You could also try eBay for this.
You can also take a tour of the Mint, by reservation. Check with the Mint.
Good luck!
Expand your Colorado collection with some memorabilia of small town Restaurants from years gone by,
For example the T-Bone restaurant just outside of Durango, Colorado (where my college friends and I ate T-Bone steaks, baked potatoes and beans, washed down with BEER!!!!!! in the 1970s).
Denver Mint type set 1906-1964
No Indian Cent but it has almost every major 20th Century coin type.
Try to do a key date or semi-key date type set. That would make it more entertaining.
A Denver Icon for many decades
.
I worked there. It was my first decent job as an engineer.
There are a number of Gates exonumia items, such as this coin set with dollars and half dollars. Some sets have a Gates "Mystery Car" token in place of one of the dollars. There are three or for different holders for these sets, and some have Morgan and/or Peace dollars in them. I like how it has coins in place of the pulleys on a V8 engine.
Hello from here in Colorado
Coins are Neato!
"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone...somewhere...is making a penny." - Steven Wright
Back in the 70's, when there were rumors that this Gates plant would be closing, a Congresswoman from Denver introduced a bill that would have the USA buy the building and relocate the Denver Mint to it.
It was a rather silly idea, but that has never stopped any one in Congress before.
A fun way to collect coins is to assemble a year set - a birthdate or anniversary for example. In your case a Denver mint year set.
I want to collect Colorado as well. The roadways in and around Denver are so thoroughly littered with cans and trash that I think I could live off of recycling. A walk around the block near Lochbuie yielded 200 cans. I could make $50 per mile walking from Brighton to Fort Lupton easily.
Why aren't kids getting rich recycling aluminum cans? It would be a great fundraising opportunity.
Just an idea for something worthwhile to hunt that has some tie-in.
Consider finding a National Bank Note from a Colorado Bank near or around Denver, or from a popular (or obscure) town in the State.
I'm partial to the Large-size Blue Seal notes (mostly for the reverse designs), but Nationals come in a lot of shapes and sizes.
Here's a HA Archive search
https://currency.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?si=2&dept=2021&archive_state=5327&sold_status=1526~1524&currency_category=3101&currency_sub_category=1918&mode=archive&page=50~1&sb=5&ic4=SortBy-071515
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
OP. This is a PDF of an auction catalog purely focused on Colorado. If you would like a printed copy - message me at ian@greatcollections.com - glad you send to you with our compliments.
Centennial Collection of Colorado - Coins and Banknotes
Owner/Founder GreatCollections
GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
Can be one of the cheapest items in your collection….
Coins are Neato!
"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone...somewhere...is making a penny." - Steven Wright
Just saying, there's a huge auction for Colorado coins on GC. The OP might be interested.
https://www.greatcollections.com/search.php?p=/Collections/1270/The-Centennial-Collection-of-Colorado-Territorial-Coins-and-National-Banknotes/listing&collection_id=1270&mode=product&last=1&page=1&pp=50&first=1
Thanks for the responses everyone. I love the shape of those Lesher Dollars. I would have said 'thanks' sooner, but I got distracted by the Danial Carr mentions. I heard his name for the first time recently, so I decided to learn a bit more after reading that here. I had already been thinking about trying to get some tokens minted, and this would certainly be the person to do it.
.
Not really all that "silly". The Gates facility had a lot more space than the cramped (current) Denver Mint property.
.
But Mints need more than just a production floor. Did it have the vaults and security that a Mint needs? Right now (at current high prices) there is $140,000,000,000 in gold stored in the Denver Mint.
.
The current vaults under the Denver Mint were constructed circa 1905. I have no idea what sort of state they are in now.
If the Gates facility had been repurposed, new vaults would have been required and a new secure mint building would need to be constructed as well. But some of the Gates buildings could have been used as-is by the Mint for activities needing less security (storage of non-precious materials, equipment, repair shops, etc.).
.
show us what you get!
This is one of my favorite acquisitions so far... YUGE!
@PonyMills . Any chance you could explain what it is? James
Someone picked up this piece of CO history last night, wow!
I'll bet our friend @PeakRarities had his eyes on it. Will his hands be on it soon?
Have you seen this example in person Dan?
.
https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1788531/1860-5-Gold-Clark-Gruber-Co-PCGS-MS-65-CAC-Green
@pursuitofliberty took my idea. However I will put in another vote for either trying to get yourself a national banknote from the area, an obsolete note or some sort of scrip or business exchange style note.
Chance favors the prepared mind.
https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1810184/Fr-472-Creede-Colorado-The-First-National-Bank-of-Creede-Charter-4716-5-1882-Brown-Back-Serial-Number-1-PMG-Choice-Very-Fine-35-EPQ
i like the train motif on that medal. they did a great job on it
There is a long collected series of old pre-1900 CO trade tokens good for a drink, good for 12 1/2 cents,
good for a cigar, good for merchandise, etc. they come in all shapes and sizes, some issued by saloons, stables, even houses of ill repute ! They range in value from $1 to multi- thousands of dollars.
There are also many hundreds of pictorial trade and advertising pocket mirrors and pinback buttons that are attractively pictorial .
All at a tiny fraction of the cost of Pioneer gold or old CO currency.
. And rare & challenging to locate. There are useful books to aid in determining what is “ out there “.
where search terms does one use to find them, book names or leads, auction venues?
Es no me, mang.
I think the coin went for the right price, a strong price but within my estimated range of 250-300. With respect to contact marks, the coin is head and shoulders the finest…but it doesn’t quite have the same “pop” as the 66+. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if its next appearance was as a 66, as it’s been a 65 for over 20 years at least. Though if went where I think it went.. it’s going to be quite some time.
It wasn’t enough of an upgrade for my set, as I consider my example to be a 64+, and my general rule thumb for upgrades is at least a 2 grade difference. It is a spectacular coin, 1860 clark $5 is a special issue in the sense that when they are nice, they are nice. The quality is superior to just about any half eagle that’s ever been minted, so big congrats to the new owner.
Here’s mine, not officially a 64+ but with an old fatty from the 80s and the blazing luster and rosy iridescent tones, a difficult piece to upgrade.
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Nice example!
Just to round out your options, the 1984-D $10 Olympics commemorative is the only Denver mint proof offered to collectors.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.