Your First Interaction with a Monster Coin - What Was It?
FlyingAl
Posts: 3,855 ✭✭✭✭✭
I remember vividly the first time I saw some top pop, exceptional coinage. I met @Eldorado9 in person at the ANA show several years back, and I was still a bright eyed, rather inexperienced YN. He sat down at an empty table, and pulled out a box of what are still today the finest Barber halves I've ever seen.
At the end of showing me this incredible set, he asked me what one coin out of the lot I'd choose as my favorite. Young me had no idea what to pick - they were all beyond what I thought could even exist in one collection. I ended up choosing the 1892 in PR67+CAM - arguably one of the finest Proof Barbers in existence (though this distinction was lost on me at the time).
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Later on I met @Floridafacelifter at the FUN show, and was blessed with seeing an array of true rarities. The Captain North/A&A 1907 HR $20 sticks out as one of the special coins in that group, as does a 1910 $20 in PR67. The Captain North set to my knowledge is still considered the finest assemblage of 1907 $20s, bested only by the Morse 1907 HR. This particular example may trace back to Charles Barber's personal collection.
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I have not yet had the pleasure of an in person, close up, experience (such as the one's you described in your OP) with any Monster Coin.
I did see an Exhibition of coins in the Tyrant Collection at a Long Beach show I attended a few years ago. That was a treat but I could only view them from a distance behind the Exhibition display cases.
Alas, my only experience with Monster Coins, to date, is viewing photos of same on the Forums (which is always a treat and which is always appreciated).
Fantastic memories @FlyingAl
I have had the pleasure to view some amazing coins over time, and I am especially grateful for every opportunity. But I will never forget that first time in the presence of greatness.
In fact, I remember it vividly enough, that even 35-ish years later, if I think about it enough, my breathing gets shallow and I start to sweat.
This would have been sometime around late 1990 or 1991. The place was at the Northgate Coin Shop in Seattle.
An original Pan Pac 5-coin set. Purple velvet case. Just spectacular.
I got to see, hold and even inspect the individual coins (well, I only took out and replaced the two $50.'s and the Half before I stopped, because I was shaking a little and was afraid I would drop something).
The set ended up going off to PCGS or NGC (I'm pretty sure it was PCGS). If I remember correctly (I probably don't) the Round and the Octagon both got 65's, the Half got a 66, and I think the $2.5 got a 66 too. No recollection of what the $1. received.
I do know this. I have never held or inspected any raw coins with that level of significance or value, up close and personal like that, other than on that day. It was like taking a powerful drug. I do remember thinking as I went to bed that night that I didn't even remember driving home (probably 25 minutes).
“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
Incredible. I remember when I did the NGC grading challenge the last coin was a $50 Octagonal in 67. They gave us 20 minutes to grade 20 coins, I used 13 or so to actually grade and spent every last remaining second looking at that Octagonal. As I remember a very significant percentage of graders called that coin a counterfeit simply because it looked far too good to be true.
Probably this coin that Stack’s handed to me when I visited their showroom in Boston. Without me even asking about it, they pulled this coin out of a display case and handed it to me and even let me take pictures of it with my phone.
Mr_Spud
It was a 1799 Heraldic Eagle Dollar. It had even midnight blue toning on both obverse and reverse and was fully struck. No visible marks on the coin. It was in a PC MS 64 holder, probably because the toning was a bit darker than many people like.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
My first time dealing with coins I was able to see and hold the Proof 1825/4/1 Half Eagle. I was brand new to the industry and after learning about the history and price I was immediately infatuated with coins. The second time I was really blown away with a coin was the 1850 Baldwin & Co. $10, this coin was just so different from every other rarity I had seen and the obverse design is one of my favorites.
I got to hold Jimmy Hayes's beautiful 1792 Half Disme at the 1973 BRNA show in Birmingham, Alabama.
I was 10 years old when I held a 1795 $5 at a show, leaving a huge impression and giving me an even more insidious collecting bug than I thought possible.
1792 disme.
It was my first time attending lot viewing at a major show. There were many amazing coins like Draped and Capped Bust gold, but the one that took my breath away was a $4 Stella. Never would I have thought I would be holding coins of this caliber.
Collector
91 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 56 members and counting!
instagram.com/klnumismatics
As a Canadian I use to attend coin shows and the most expensive coin I had the chance to view in hand is the famous 1936 dot dime worth about 150 000$-300 000$+ depending on the grade. Only 5 are known to exist the dealer was kind enough to let me view it. I could not even afford the taxes on such a coin.
It is one of the most famous Canadian coins that exist. If it was a US coin it would be worth millions.
This is just a sample of what the coin looks like this grades SP-63 the one I saw I believe was SP-68. Never saw the 1936 dot penny only 3 exist. Pittman owned both at some point in time.
I have not had the courage to ask and see if I could hold something of great worth. I may have to try that out at the ANA World's Fair of Money this summer. The worst the dealer could say is "get outta here."
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
I find that lot viewing is usually a better option. Dealers can (usually are?) be really touchy.
I guess the closest I've been to one is the ten 33 saints they had at the 2006 ANA world fair of money in Denver.
Seeing Jay Parrino’s (The Mint) display of early large cents at the ANA in Detroit, I think it was in1994. Chain cents, Wreath cents, etc all in 65 -68 PCGS holders, including some Specimen Proofs. One of many “I’m not worthy” experiences in my life lol!
I remember going to one of my first major shows in a long time in 2009. I got to speaking to this really nice dealer who had a 1916 standing liberty quarter in 65 full head. I told him that I couldn’t afford it, at the time, but he still let me hold it and look at it and told me a little bit about it. Funny how such a small yet kind gesture is not soon forgotten. Met the late great John Burns at the same show. Purchased Ambio’s Walker book from him there.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
States Half Dollars
My first Monster Coin was probably seeing a Giant Kennedy Half Dollar at a coin show with my Dad in 1964 - The Ren Basin Clay Model that the dies were based on. I'd like to see a photo of it. But I can say it was at least 18 inches wide.
pogue $1 1794 and $5 1822
For me, it was some of the monster toned Morgans (maybe early aughts) that @AuroraBorealis owns at this time. These were the Morgans that had names like Black Mamba, Green Ghost, Black Opal and others that were way off the charts on eye appeal.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
The first million dollar coin I shot is also, unofficially, the first TrueView. I shot this MS67 1796 quarter in June or July of 2005. We used this coin to develop the TrueView template, and it was part of the first marketing material for the service’s release at the ANA that year.
Phil Arnold
Director of Photography, GreatCollections
greatcollections.com
Very much a lifetime goal to be able to own this monster, perhaps one day....
Founder- Peak Rarities
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I have had the opportunity to see a few of the numismatic rarities at major shows, including a 1913 V nickel and 1933 DE, but the coin that stands out for me happened about 3 years ago at my local B&M. I was visiting and it was a slow day for the owner, so I asked if he had any neat items or colorful coins come in lately. I was hoping to come across a few raw gems to cherrypick, however the owner smiled and said he had a few. He went to the back of the store and came back with a pcgs box and then set it in front of me. What I saw, I could only imagine! Inside was a small hoard of proof coins from the late 19th century. Most of which graded in the PR63-65 range. All were nicely toned. Then, I came across the gem, it was an 1894 PR68+ Barber half. I knew it was special the moment I saw it. I asked the owner permission to take a photo, but when I got home I realized just how special it was! It remains a pop 1/0 coin to this day and has a 30,000 PCGS guide price tag.
Admittedly toned Morgans are an acquired taste. Some collectors love them, some not so much.
This coin, with the name the "Grand Dame" struck me when I first held her.
I don't have pics, but I did get to see George Walton's 1913 V nickel at the FUN show in Orlando years ago.
Never held what I would truly call a "monster" coin. Sad, but true. 67 years collecting and have held some beautiful coins, but nothing like the many, many monsters @Floridafacelifter has shown here among other members with so many. I still love to see them, though.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
My first monster coin experience was in May 1990 where I saw and held the King of Siam Proof set at Superior Galleries in Beverly Hills, CA. There were many other super coins in the auction but my palms were sweating while viewing the set.
At the ANA in Denver in August 1996 Doug Winter introduced me to Jay Parrino (The Mint).
Mr. Parrino treated me to an unforgettable experience viewing his inventory. The finest and rarest of all US coins were there. 1913 Eliasberg nickel, Brasher Doubloon, 1894-S dime in Proof 66, 1876-CC 20 cent in 66, Chain cents in Specimen 65 and 67, 1793 Wreath Cents in
SP68 Red and MS 69 Brown and a 1794 dollar in MS66 to name a few. He could not have been nicer and was happy to talk about all of his coins.
When I lived in Boston 1980, I happened to view the only privately owned 1866 No Motto Seated Liberty Proof Dollar. One of two known, as the other resides in a museum.
At the March 2019 Baltimore show, I displayed my 70-coin set of Liberty Seated Half Dimes at Seated Fest II. But in this photo, there's an extra coin...
Collector of Liberty Seated Half Dimes, including die pairs and die states
Awesome set. The 1870-S is pretty cool!
Ok, Mr. Modest. For those that don’t know, at Winter FUN in January 2024, when @FlyingAl had not yet graduated High School, he participated in NGC’s grading contest. Not only did he receive the highest score and beat out collectors of every age and every participating dealer, he received the highest score EVER in all of the years and places this grading exam was administered!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
OK, ok, a LOT of extremely nice and very rare numismatic items shown above. However, when it comes to a MONSTER coin, even those above don’t compare to what I’m about to post in my next reply below.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
So you want to see a real Monster coin?
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Two ounces of .999 silver, diameter 39mm or so, roughly 1/4 inch thick!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996