Gold coin give-a-way (questions)
mhammerman
Posts: 3,769 ✭✭✭
Ok, we have to talk. There was a story on national broadcast news on Tuesday this week about someone putting rare coins in salvation army pots. Initially it seemed like it might be the guy/gal that puts the gold coins in salavation army pots every year but I think this is someone different. Well, they never said what the coins were but I suspected Morgans since most folks wouldn't know a trime or liberty nickel.
So, is the rare coin guy the same as the gold coin guy? That's the first question and I'm being overly optimistic that someone might actually know the answer to this but there is a greater question....
Would it be feasible for our forum to "salt" salvation army pots with some type of coin such that it would be a national effort to make a statement about rare coins. Maybe it isn't something uber hard to find...maybe just a seated dime or something. If everyone here put one ef common date barber quarter in the pot, maybe that would make the media...hummmmmmm. So you don't have a ef common barber...well, maybe go to a local coin store and just get one, or maybe something else. A common ef morgan ($8) certainly isn't too much to ask of our forum. We could do this and feed our nerdy behavior and do a good thing at the same time and then we could run back here and tell stories about it.
So there are much wiser folk than myself here but I wanted to open this thread to discussion because...
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
So, is the rare coin guy the same as the gold coin guy? That's the first question and I'm being overly optimistic that someone might actually know the answer to this but there is a greater question....
Would it be feasible for our forum to "salt" salvation army pots with some type of coin such that it would be a national effort to make a statement about rare coins. Maybe it isn't something uber hard to find...maybe just a seated dime or something. If everyone here put one ef common date barber quarter in the pot, maybe that would make the media...hummmmmmm. So you don't have a ef common barber...well, maybe go to a local coin store and just get one, or maybe something else. A common ef morgan ($8) certainly isn't too much to ask of our forum. We could do this and feed our nerdy behavior and do a good thing at the same time and then we could run back here and tell stories about it.
So there are much wiser folk than myself here but I wanted to open this thread to discussion because...
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
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My Auctions
edited for spelling.
That's a Fantastic Idea...
Might be a good idea to describe/tag the coin and staple it in a flip so it's easy to pick out...
Got ten flips in my pocket this morning..."-)
Currently Listed: Nothing
Take Care, Dave
Edit: It would make it a more interesting story if we put on the flip "CU", then they'd have something to figure out
And I do like the idea, but let me play devil's advocate for a sec:
Assuming the coins are found, and assuming they make it to the good guys before someone along the way pockets them, you're not talking about an insignificant amount of work to get a payback for those coins.
Salvation Army operates with volunteers and low paid workers, if I recall correctly. If you expect the coins to be worth anything to the organization, they'll have to sell them. That's no big deal for us, but for people who don't know anything about what to do with coins, how much they should be worth, where to sell them, etc., that's taking already overworked volunteers and workers out of their primary position: Helping those in need. Again, that's if they make it to the right people in the first place.
Now there is the *potential* for some publicity out of this, both for the coin hobby and the SA.
But if you consider that the coins might not be found, or if they are, they almost certainly won't receive a fair market value for what they are worth, then we're actually reducing what the value of the coins would be to the SA.
Maybe a better idea would be to create an online auction from the coin hobby, with proceeds going to the SA. Heck, call it something like a red-kettle auction. Try to get the TPGs or major dealers involved. Notify the media. That way, you'll benefit our entire hobby and the SA in the absolute best way instead of a hit-or-miss way.
--Severian the Lame
If you would like to make a larger donation than your pocket change, they would much prefer a check instead of a 'rare coin'.
Edited to say: Weiss, you beat me to it!
Random Collector
www.marksmedals.com
<< <i>Would a 2x2 fit into the slot?
Yes, it does.
--Severian the Lame
The name is LEE!
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<< <i>Absolutely feasible. And some members do this already in a sense with daily commerce. >>
I think there is someone who does this at the Pentagon...my hubby has gotten a fair number of wheaties and whatnot over the last year, and I've gotten a couple where I work too...with alot of people coming through via the Pentagon makes me say hmmmm. I even got a 1964 dime not so long ago.
Regarding the Salvation Army, I love the idea, but like others above worry that it would cause more work for the people you are trying to help. The person putting in the gold eagle coins is giving them a non-collectable bullion coin that has a relatively large value fairly easy to determine, and hard to rip off. If only I could be so generous! Hmmm...
Cathy