Disappearing Coins, (Gone Forever)

DesertRat · January 18, 2007 10:44AM

I witnessed a motorhome fire a few years ago where a high-end class A motorhome burned to the ground in an extremely hot fire. While heling the owner the next day as he was sifting through the ashes he remarked that his coin collection was in cases in the RV and when the fire happened he was away from the area. After searching a while we finally found the melted metals that once made up his collection. Not one coin was spared the meltdown.

For some reason (maybe the FUN thefts) I was thinking about this today and wondered just how many beautiful rare coins disappear each year, never to be seen again; whether through loss in a fire, flood, tornado etc?

It's sad to see these kinds of things happen but they are probably more common than many want to admit.

Musky1011 · January 18, 2007 10:59AM

maybe they were the coins from the FUN theft?????

Gemineye · January 18, 2007 11:16AM

<< Disappearing Coins, (Gone Forever) >>

It brings us back to the storms of Rita and Katrina not long ago.The devastation of the homes and collections are gone forever...

roadrunner · January 18, 2007 11:25AM

But many more go under the brillo pad/toothbrush with brasso/silver polish each year and are effectively "lost" forever.

roadrunner

291fifth · January 18, 2007 11:30AM

<< But many more go under the brillo pad/toothbrush with brasso/silver polish each year and are effectively "lost" forever.

roadrunner >>

Don't forget ink erasers.

Coinosaurus · January 18, 2007 12:06PM

RR is right. No doubt much more harm is done by "intended" accidents than by real ones.

PrivateCoinCollector · January 18, 2007 12:12PM

Don't worry. What ever is lost of any real value will be added back in circulation by the Chinese.

NumisOxide · January 18, 2007 12:34PM

It is a shame.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · January 18, 2007 12:43PM

although a lot of gorgeous coins are lost every year, most true rarities remain in safer areas (SDB) or in fire-proof safes and mainly what we lose are generic <S65 Morgans and MS63 Saints. Nevertheless, a lot of nice ocins have been lost

keets · January 18, 2007 12:54PM

whenever someone mentions attrition from fires, etc. it always seems like an exxageration to think that much is lost in that manner, but with the storms down south the past several years it's likely that quite a bit gets lost over the years to stuff like that.

PerryHall · January 18, 2007 3:51PM

Don't forget the great silver melts under the Pittman Act (millions of Morgan Dollars were destroyed in 1918) and the great gold and silver melts of the 1979 / 1980 when silver hit $50 and gold hit $850.

Rodius · January 18, 2007 9:07PM

<< Don't forget the great silver melts under the Pittman Act (millions of Morgan Dollars were destroyed in 1918) and the great gold and silver melts of the 1960's when silver hit $50 and gold hit $850. >>

I think the $50 silver and $850 gold was in late '70's or early '80's. I sold all my silver for a great profit. I walked away with over a $1000 in cash. sold all my merc's, SLQ, Morgans, Peace, and junk silver. Hind sight...

I also had a fire, but oddly enough my coins made it through. I had them in a metal fire box that was stored in a wooden box under my bed. As you can guess, the fire started by faulty wiring next to my bed. After the fireman through everything out of the bedroom onto the lawn, I found a the burned wooden box. The coins inside were safe, the plastic and cardboard did not burn. They were smelly and some water damage. As I reholder them I only noticed a few were toned. I still have a few of the coins just as a reminder of the fire. Here is the picture of one.

They were stored in a 2x2 cardboard.

Shamika · January 18, 2007 10:25PM

Ksteelheader had a bad fire a few years ago and lost his collection. I'm sure he'd have something to say.

PerryHall · January 18, 2007 10:25PM

[qI think the $50 silver and $850 gold was in late '70's or early '80's. >>

You are correct. I edited my post to reflect this change.

cladking · January 18, 2007 11:12PM

<< although a lot of gorgeous coins are lost every year, most true rarities remain in safer areas (SDB) or in fire-proof safes and mainly what we lose are generic <S65 Morgans and MS63 Saints. Nevertheless, a lot of nice ocins have been lost >>

This is true of course, but banks burn too. They collapse in earthquakes and
get flooded by hurricanes. They are looted in the middle of the night.

They are much more secure but over long periods of time even things kept in
banks are at high risk.

unknowncomic · January 19, 2007 2:24AM

After reading this thread I was reminded of the Coalinga CA earthquake in the early 80's. There was a jewelery store there named Petty's Jewelery that was completly destroyed and the clean up was done before the owner had a chance to salvage anything. It all went to the dump which was guarded by armed guards. The owner got a chance to go through the dump but didnt find much. As a young man I would go to his store and look at the gold and silver coins he had there.
It was said that he recovered about 10% of his stock. Mr. Petty never recovered from the loss.
As far as anyone knows the stuff is still there but buried several feet deep by now.

ksteelheader · January 19, 2007 2:59AM

To be really safe, a storage area (preferably some type of safe) should be in the lowest part of your home such as your basement. Heat rises and the lower your safe is in elevation, the better.

kwmorgan · January 19, 2007 3:03AM

I treat my GSA "CC" Morgans differently than the others. I can get to them fairly quickly in case of a fire, so they have a better chance of survival. The GSA CC's are a special piece of history, they're old West Americana.

Coxe · January 19, 2007 4:36AM

<< 

<< although a lot of gorgeous coins are lost every year, most true rarities remain in safer areas (SDB) or in fire-proof safes and mainly what we lose are generic <S65 Morgans and MS63 Saints. Nevertheless, a lot of nice ocins have been lost >>

This is true of course, but banks burn too. They collapse in earthquakes and
get flooded by hurricanes. They are looted in the middle of the night.

They are much more secure but over long periods of time even things kept in
banks are at high risk. >>

Yep. I still haven't heard about the lost coins and currency from New Orleans. Since banks were closed on that weekend of the population exodus and most probably felt more secure with their rarities there than in their car on the road, undoubtedly a lot was left for Mother Nature and subsequent looters to handle. Certainly some coins and paper currency was forever lost to us during Katrina, but how much and what?

Disappearing Coins, (Gone Forever)

Comments

Leave a Comment