Ephemera that gets lost to time...
Proofmorgan
Posts: 821 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've seen this on many occasions, but what triggers the thought is the GC sale of the Elmer Sears 1796 Quarter Eagle. The original auction from 2021 with Stacks included a small box from 1926 in which the coin was housed with inscriptions noting such. The box is missing from the GC auction.
I see this often where when the coin is fresh to market, this type of ephemera is included. On subsequent sales it typically disappears.
I personally find it meaningful to keep these items with the coin and preserve the history. I always include these items if I sell and would pay a tad more for coins that come with this type of material when buying.
I feel there are those that keep these as trophies or trinkets when they sell the coin, which I feel is a shame.
Use this discussion to share your thoughts or simply post some cool ephemera that you've acquired.
Posted below is an envelope that contained a 1829 $2.5 with inscription of its origin and contents. I used the detail on the envelop to track down 200 years of family lineage on the coin. Short version: Purchased from the bank by an early US Senator (who was close to becoming President by luck) and given to his daughter. Then passed down through several generations and auctioned locally. I even have the original wooded coin cabinet that housed the envelop as well as several raw proof morgans. The gold coin wiped out my budget at the time so I couldn't afford to buy the morgans in the auction.
Comments
I've had similar experiences in doing research on exonumia that have come into my possession. Estate sales and clean outs are chaotic by their very nature. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
I keep all associated material in my collection. I have many envelopes, boxes and presentation cases. I can see how my heirs, absent instructions from me, might discard these. Slabs probably accelerate these ephemera losses.