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Question about 1805/4 half dollar in 1999 B+M Childs auction - Pistareen, help!
PreTurb
Posts: 1,184 ✭✭✭
Lot 337 in the 1999 Bowers + Merena auction of the Walter Childs collection was an 1805/4 O.103 half dollar, which is a classic rarity to us Bust Half Nuts. Unfortunately, the coin was not plated in the catalog! No online photo exists that I am aware of. I am trying to positively identify this coin, and I'm hoping that:
1) Someone here is the owner or has personal knowledge of where the coin went.
2) Someone at ANR or B+M may know where to dig up a photo record of the coin. I think there's a good chance that a photo was taken during catalog preparation, but was edited out at some point.
3) Someone has knowledge of where the coin came from - possibly from an older auction appearance with a photo.
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!!
1) Someone here is the owner or has personal knowledge of where the coin went.
2) Someone at ANR or B+M may know where to dig up a photo record of the coin. I think there's a good chance that a photo was taken during catalog preparation, but was edited out at some point.
3) Someone has knowledge of where the coin came from - possibly from an older auction appearance with a photo.
Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!!
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Comments
Jenna
I will ask some of the other staffers what they may or may not remember. Unfortunately, if it wasn't photographed in the catalogue, I doubt a photo exists. Jenna correctly noted that the B+M photo archives no longer exist in Wolfeboro, and most of the images that were preserved from even the Bowers and Ruddy days were unceremoniously deposited in a dumpster. I regret to this day not being in town at the time to go dumpster diving.
Regarding where the coin came from, the collection was assembled at an early enough date that it is possible that it was never photographed in a sale catalogue before Childs too.
My recommendation would be to find a dealer who was in the room when the collection sold, and hope they noted prices and names in their catalogue. You may be able to track the thing that way.
Betts medals, colonial coins, US Mint medals, foreign coins found in early America, and other numismatic Americana
Cameron Kiefer
I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
eBaystore
<< <i>Hell, no, it is not Jenna. >>
I didn't know. Who is it then?
Cameron Kiefer
Jenna
<< <i>I love blondes! >>
Me too! Blondes are A+
Cameron Kiefer
<< <i> Jenna correctly noted that the B+M photo archives no longer exist in Wolfeboro, and most of the images that were preserved from even the Bowers and Ruddy days were unceremoniously deposited in a dumpster. I regret to this day not being in town at the time to go dumpster diving. >>
That's a damn shame
Q: What kind of collector or numismatist takes years of history and scholarship and just gives it the old heave-ho into one of those rusty royal blue dumpsters?
A: Neither. Its some bean-counter or his minions who is operating a coin business but could just as easily be selling aluminum siding or used automobiles.
Good luck on your noble quest, Pre-Turb.