Are there any coins authenticated to have been shot through the middle by a famous gunfighter
HalfDime
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are there any coins authenticated to have been shot through the middle by a famous gunfighter
Yes, there are coins authenticated to have been shot through the middle by famous gunfighters. A notable example is a coin believed to have been shot by Annie Oakley, a renowned sharpshooter of the Wild West. Annie Oakley was known for her exceptional marksmanship and reportedly once shot a small coin—tossed in the air—as a demonstration of her skill. Such a coin, marked by a bullet hole, is considered a rare piece of Western memorabilia associated with her shooting feats. Experts have studied these coins to determine bullet size (.38 caliber in one case) and have made attempts to replicate her shots with period firearms, supporting the authenticity of these coins being shot by her or similar sharpshooters.
There are also stories and examples of coins from wartime eras (e.g., World War I, the Civil War) that had bullets shot through or that stopped bullets, but these typically aren't attributed to famous gunfighters but rather serve as life-saving artifacts or battlefield curiosities.
While many coins with bullet holes exist, the most famous authenticated cases of coins deliberately shot through by a renowned gunfighter are connected to Annie Oakley and her sharpshooting exhibitions.
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In the movie The Fastest Gun Alive the fastest gun shot silver dollars.
Comments
i'd like to see it done mythbusters style and on camera
Is the text in the OP from AI? 🤔
The question involved "gunfighters", but that's not what Annie Oakley was.
Another non-gunfighter coin:
There is the famous $20 gold coin that the captain of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley was carrying when it sunk. That coin had a large dent in it from a bullet fired on a Civil War battlefield in an earlier battle.
I see that the shot coins were stamped "OAKLEY" and then handed out. I haven't heard of the counterstamp being mentioned in Brunk. If it were, then I imagine our hosts would authenticate them.
This 1854 penny brought £5,120 at a Bonham's sale a couple years ago.
https://www.bonhams.com/auction/28726/lot/208/a-rare-oakley-1854-penny-coin/
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
They did do it apparently and it was discussed here in 2006. Don't recall the episode.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/549191/mythbusters-shooting-up-silver-dollars
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
Didn't find it on Youtube though it may be there within a full episode without coin in the title.
This video has me wondering how a coin would do against a cannon ball, though I have a guess.
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MythBusters Cannonball Mishap hits house, car, mini van and road, Dublin California accident
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
OAKLEY was stamped with individual letter punches. I wonder how in the world they authenticated that.
A very good example of "Murphy's Law" in action.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
There were no "gunfighters". The whole concept just like much of the modern world was invented by Hollywood.
Many things people are certain of never existed at all.
Visit YouTube and look for 'Balistic High Speed'. They've done it twice that I remember...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikHuPQFDVBA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjXeGtMnK4g
Once, they hit heads on:
And a second time they hit a bullet in flight by a faster bullet:
They also reference a Smarter Every Day episode.
ANA 50+ year/Life Member (now "Emeritus")
Author: 3rd Edition of the SampleSlabs book, https://sampleslabs.info/
It looks that way, but the depth of the letters is consistent with an "OAKLEY" gang punch having been made. I'd like to see more of them.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Mark Twain might beg to differ. From his time in Virginia City in his book "Roughing It"...
“A person is not respected until he has ‘killed his man.’ That was the very expression used. If an unknown individual arrived, they did not inquire if he was capable, honest or industrious, but—had he killed his man? If he had not, he gravitated to his natural and proper position, that of a man of small consequence; if he had, the cordiality of his reception was graduated according to the number of his dead. When a man came with blood of a half a dozen men on his soul, his worth was recognized at once and his acquaintance sought.”
“The deference that was paid to a desperado of wide reputation, and who ‘kept his favorite graveyard,’ as the phrase went, was marked, and cheerfully accorded. When he moved along the sidewalks in his excessively long-tailed frock-coat, shiny, stump-toed boots, and with the dainty little slouch hat tipped over left eye, the small fry roughs made room for his majesty.”
I think this is a semantics issue. There were definitely hired guns. There may not have been draw downs at 20 paces, but there were people who made their livings as hired guns, both as outlaws and as law enforcement.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
You have never heard of the OK Corral?
HoledandCreative’s photos from—https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1078993/coinage-under-duress-post-photos-of-bb-bullet-or-buckshot-targets#latest
I saw the movie
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Ten years ago, or so, I reviewed a collection of a 90 year old gentleman who showed me a V Nickel “that had been shot by Annie Oakley.” It was a cool story but there was no way to prove it.
@MasonG . Please understand. Mark Twain wrote satire. He blended exaggeration with reality for humor. He in no way was trying to be a historian.
There are many gunfighters from the old west but all most all of it has been misconstrued and exaggerated ; not for satire but for salaciousness. Check the old annals from Deadwood, they dramatize an actual gunfight there every summer. Most the names you know, Billy the Kid, Hickkock, Wyat Earp, Wesley Hardin etc. are real people with slightly improved upon stories. James
Through the middle? Laws of physics not on your side if you believe this. Go ahead and believe that a projectile from a firearm such as a pistol or rifle would make a more or less clean hole in a coin and be wrong. In America you have that freedom. But you are wrong.
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
There is plenty of money to be made off jokers with more money than sense.
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
Nice example from google.
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
Great movie! 👍
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
Not coin related, but many years ago when i detected, I found two bullets fused together where they collided in mid air on the averasboro battle field. Confederate/union fused head to head smashed. I did find a large cent once on the battle field that could have been struck, but was never positive on it, at this point in time I dont think i still have it. I
You have no idea how literal the rest of the world takes Hollywood’s movies/stories. My ex-wife from 23 years ago was from Belgium. When I took her to New Mexico where I’m from, the first thing she said was ‘where’s all the cowboys and Indians?’….and she was serious. This was coming from a brilliant woman that speaks five languages fluently and knows more about the USA than 95% of the population in it! They have a pre-conceived idea of what we are supposed to look like, but reality hits them hard when they actually see it! Btw..on a coin note, she gave me my only gold Belgian coin and I love it! 😉
"The Wild Bill Hickok vs. Davis Tutt duel was a quick-draw gunfight on July 21, 1865, in Springfield, Missouri, stemming from a gambling debt and Tutt holding Hickok's pocket watch. The duel occurred on the town square after Tutt refused to return the watch. Hickok shot and killed Tutt, was arrested, but was later acquitted of manslaughter at a three-day trial, a verdict that sparked public criticism."
That real one sounds like it came straight out of a movie.
@safari_dude . I grew up in a town with a large Lakota population which is also a large Native American tourist site. I could tell you aome of the most bizzare ideas some people have; and that is not counting the overseas visitors. James