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Collecting Coins from Behind Bars

This was first for me. I received a letter today from an inmate. The envelope was preprinted with the address of "[name omitted] Correctional Facility". There was a place for the prisoner to fill in his name and number. The letter went as follows:

"Dear Sir:

I seen your add in Coin World Aug 14 issue. Do you still have [item omitted] price [price omitted] if you do I would like to purchase the Coin I cannot call you from here all My Coin purchases are done By Mail please Respond and let me know. its hard getting the coins you want By Mail. hope you still have it

thank you
for your time"


Best part of it: the address of the correctional facility is "[xxx] Devils Den Road" image

Comments

  • DNADaveDNADave Posts: 7,308 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Morgan Freeman. Andy Dufresne?


    Ohhhhh Andy
  • tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭
    image
  • 123cents123cents Posts: 7,178 ✭✭✭
    Cons like Coins.
    image
  • CladiatorCladiator Posts: 18,256 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hows the hangover Wayne? image
  • jayboxxjayboxx Posts: 1,613 ✭✭
    I wouldn't recommend sending anything on approval.
  • coinguy1coinguy1 Posts: 13,484 ✭✭✭
    I think a well known forum member dealer used to (as in MANY years ago) have a client who bought/collected coins while in prison. If so, perhaps SHE will speak up on the subject.image
  • BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If you send him a slab, he can set it free.

    Then use the plastic shards to shiv smoeone.

    Sounds like a win-win.
  • a039a039 Posts: 1,546

    When I saw your ad it made me feel good to know honest dealers advertise there as well....image

    << <i>I seen your add in Coin World Aug 14 issue >>

  • Just a Old Guy here reading the paper i wouldn't take a Credit Card From this Guy
    but what ever
  • Moose1913Moose1913 Posts: 402 ✭✭✭
    Let me guess... Altona Correctional Facility.
    I pick things up
    I am a collector
    And things, well things
    They tend to accumulate
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,645 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Oh man.....that is right up there with buying raw Trade Dollars on ebay.
  • Altona Correctional Facility Devil Den Road Box 125 Altona, New York
    image
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I think a well known forum member dealer used to (as in MANY years ago) have a client who bought/collected coins while in prison. If so, perhaps SHE will speak up on the subject.image >>



    Sounds to me like the collector was a wannabe free person.
  • p8ntp8nt Posts: 2,947 ✭✭✭
    Anyone with Google can find the name of the correctional facility unless you do some editing to your post. The "Devils Den" address makes it SUPER easy to find.
  • Ya know that might be the coin that finishes a set.

    He could keep it until he serves his time , and when he gets out use it for Collateral to start a business.

    The guy could become prosperous and run for public office , eventually becomming President.

    NOW ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU ARE REFUSING TO SELL YOUR COIN TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

    sheesh...

    image
    If you dont make mistakes, you aint doing much
  • wayneherndonwayneherndon Posts: 2,357 ✭✭✭
    While I hadn't intended to make the location known I guess it is okay. Any of you huligans who were thinking about tracking down my new customer and taking his valuable coins need to be advised that his residence is locked up tight all the time and under the watchful eye of numerous armed guards. I suggest you not try any funny business!

    WH
  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,756 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I work at a software company, and we advertise free demo CDs. From time to time we get similar requests from inmates. In our experience, correctional facilities simply will not allow material goods to be delivered to inmates. In our case we didn't really care if the demo CDs got thrown in the trash, but that might not be a good idea for coins.

    It wasn't clear if you were planning on following up on the inquiry or ignoring it, but you might check the facilities policies before sending anything that you care about.

    jonathan
  • GemineyeGemineye Posts: 5,374
    They finally caught Laura and the Gang for rippin off e-bay .......!!!!!
    ......Larry........image
  • MICHAELDIXONMICHAELDIXON Posts: 6,596 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yeah! Yeah! Wayne, tell the truth! It was your old cell mate! image
    Fall National Battlefield Coin Show is September 11-12, 2025 at the Eisenhower Hotel Ballroom, Gettysburg, PA. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
  • You send a coin to an inmate, without contacting the facility first, and you will be under investigation.

    Have a Great Day!
    Louis
  • robertprrobertpr Posts: 6,862 ✭✭✭


    << <i>You send a coin to an inmate, without contacting the facility first, and you will be under investigation.

    Have a Great Day!
    Louis >>



    I agree. Contact the facility, tell them about the inquiry, and ask if it is OK/advisable to send the coin.
  • Years ago, it was rumored that prisioners were working as coin doctors and ATing coins with great expertise.
  • Nocerino18Nocerino18 Posts: 1,572 ✭✭✭


    << <i>I wouldn't recommend sending anything on approval. >>



    That should be the quote of the year!
    Coin Superstore's Ebay Auctions
    Personal Ebay Auctions
    My Website
    ---------------------------------------------
    ALWAYS LOOKING TO PURCHASE
    TOP 100 MORGANS / HOT 50
    TOP 50 PEACE VAMS
  • gyocomgdgyocomgd Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭
    Send the coin inside a cake, alongside a large file.
    image
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    one of the beatitudes is to visit the imprisoned....
    sending coins has got to be the next best thingimage

    that's a cool letter and I am glad to see that even if a numismatist is incarcerated, you can't take away his desire for nice coins image
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139


    << <i>

    << <i>I think a well known forum member dealer used to (as in MANY years ago) have a client who bought/collected coins while in prison. If so, perhaps SHE will speak up on the subject.image >>



    Sounds to me like the collector was a wannabe free person. >>



    Very good! I knew there was something half-witty to say.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member


  • << <i>Cons like Coins. >>



    It should be a club, "Cons with coins."
    image
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    Or...

    Homicido-numis-maniacs
    Rikers' Registry

    They could add so much colourful language to the hobby. Cracking out a slabbed coin woudln't simply be freeing it but paroleing it. Makes more sense as it will find itself back in a slab in time.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,893 ✭✭✭✭✭
    In all seriousness, I have often wondered if there were any collectors behind bars, and what it must be like for them.

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • BarryBarry Posts: 10,100 ✭✭✭
    Is his name Noe?
  • goose3goose3 Posts: 11,471 ✭✭✭
    It's probably just a dealer wanting to wholesale with you.


    Make sure you don't get paid in smokes.
  • Greetings,

    Are you going to sell the coin to him/her? if you still have it that is!!
    Bruce
  • bidaskbidask Posts: 14,029 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Call the correctional facilty and see if they will deliver the package to him. If so, after his payment clears, send him the coin and enclose a word of encouragement.
    I manage money. I earn money. I save money .
    I give away money. I collect money.
    I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.




  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,515 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>In all seriousness, I have often wondered if there were any collectors behind bars, and what it must be like for them >>



    Do you think they have to store their collection in the same place they keep their "war watch"?
  • ChangeInHistoryChangeInHistory Posts: 3,092 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Is his name Noe? >>



    Or Bogus?
  • was that letter from brett bogus?


  • << <i>one of the beatitudes is to visit the imprisoned....
    sending coins has got to be the next best thingimage

    that's a cool letter and I am glad to see that even if a numismatist is incarcerated, you can't take away his desire for nice coins image >>



    Nice to see everyone here is not a "wannabe" comedian! The apostle Paul and Jesus Christ himself were considered outlaws at one time or another!
    Joe
    P.S. Go ahead, throw a stone!
  • gyocomgdgyocomgd Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>In all seriousness, I have often wondered if there were any collectors behind bars, and what it must be like for them >>



    Do you think they have to store their collection in the same place they keep their "war watch"? >>



    Not if it's in a holder, buddy.
    This method works well for raw coins, however, and rumor has it that they tone up quickly And toning doesn't come more "natural" than that!
    image
  • garsmithgarsmith Posts: 5,894 ✭✭
    <<Collecting Coins from Behind Bars>>

    I thought you where talking about a wet bar
    image
  • Dog97Dog97 Posts: 7,874 ✭✭✭
    Just don't send him an undergraded slabbed coin or you might be responsible for a "Breakout."
    Nobody said that yet did they?

    My ole possum buddy wrote a song just for this occasion.

    Artist: George Jones Lyrics
    Song: Still Doing Time Lyrics


    Has it been a year since the last time I was raw
    My God I could swear it was ten
    And the ocean of EZest I drank to forget it
    Is gonna kill me but I'll tone 'til then

    I've been living in hell with a slab for a cell
    Still paying for my being PQ crime
    And I've got a long way to go
    Still doing time

    (Chorus)
    Still doing time
    In a hard plastic prison
    Still doing time
    Where a coin forgiven
    My poor heart is breaking
    But there's no escaping
    Each morning I wake up and I find
    Still doing time

    Oh when your caught toning twice
    It's twenty to life in a place
    That David Hall rules
    And tomorrow you're gonna find me right here
    Still doing time

    (Repeat chorus)

    Change that we can believe in is that change which is 90% silver.
  • lkrarecoinslkrarecoins Posts: 2,137 ✭✭✭
    "some coins werent meant to be caged, their colors are just too bright" or is it some "birds"?.......oh, I cant remember
    In Loving Memory of my Dad......My best friend, My inspiration, and My Coin Collecting Partner

    "La Vostra Nonna Ha Faccia Del Fungo"

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