Piggy bank dilemma
Blackhawk
Posts: 3,899 ✭✭✭
I got this piggy bank from the estate of an elderly woman ...I don't know the age of the bank, but it appears that someone put two or three BU rolls of 1940 Lincoln cents into a new bank at some time. Who knows, maybe someone gave it as a gift to a child in 1940. There are instructions on how to break open the bank on the bottom of it, but since I can't find another bank like it on the internet or Ebay, I'm wondering if the bank itself is worth something. Most of the cents appear to be bright red with no toning, although a couple might be red/brown from what I can tell through the glass. The slot is small enough to make it impossible to remove the coins without destruction of the bank. Should I "break the bank" and free the cents?...how much is a better grade 1940 cent worth (if there's one in there)?
"Have a nice day!"
0
Comments
link-a-rama
HULK SMASH!!
If it's three rolls of quality 1940 BU Lincolns, the value is probably around $400-$500.
put a butter knife blade in the coin slot( holding bank upside down)
wiggle it gently and the coins will slide down it and out
full tilt poker: speedracer75 (look me up on sharkscope or officialpokerrankings)
That falls in the category of "Cool things a Numismatist displays in their office", rite up there with a Fractional Currency Shield, a bust of Lincoln, Plaque of FDR and JFK kinda stuff.
I like it, I'd keep it like it is just for the conversations.
I specialize in Errors, Minting, Counterfeit Detection & Grading.
Computer-aided grading, counterfeit detection, recognition and imaging.
Oh, the butter knife idea is even better. Too bad I didn't think of that as a kid. I'd have been able to get enough coinage out to run after the ice cream man.
Jonathan
Buuuust it, Buuuuust it, Buuuuust it!!
Naw, keep it like that. Might come in handy on a rainy day.
wes
Too many positive BST transactions with too many members to list.
Why must we all be so anxious to ruin history for the benefit of a dollar?
wrap it up real good in bubble wrap and send it my way...
Its hammer time!!!!!
My vote though (not that you asked for one) is to keep it as is.
<< <i>That is
Coin's for sale/trade.
Tom Pilitowski
US Rare Coin Investments
800-624-1870
<< <i>Spare the pig. >>
agreed!
I was a Monkey
then the pennies inside. Check with an antique dealer
before you break it.
Camelot
Me too.
Steve
<< <i>Times must be pretty tough, I am starting to believe maybe the sky will fall, if one is forced to free up some pennies as opposed to leaving them intact and setting on a desk as a display piece I then think we are all in trouble and soon. I really thought the hobby was safe but now I am not so certain.
Basically what you are saying is that the hobby of coin collecting or just collecting period is to buy and show, and to sell for a profit is bad for the hobby of collecting and against all that it is about.
I was a Monkey
<< <i>
<< <i>Times must be pretty tough, I am starting to believe maybe the sky will fall, if one is forced to free up some pennies as opposed to leaving them intact and setting on a desk as a display piece I then think we are all in trouble and soon. I really thought the hobby was safe but now I am not so certain.
Basically what you are saying is that the hobby of coin collecting or just collecting period is to buy and show, and to sell for a profit is bad for the hobby of collecting and against all that it is about. >>
Once you break the bank open you have lost the history tied to the coins.. Buying a coin for a collection and selling it at a
later date for profit would not be bad for the hobby..Buying a rare coin that had original surfaces and cleaning it would be
bad for the hobby. Because you have lost the history tied to the coin.
Breaking that bank open to sell with the hopes of turning a profit would be bad. Because you are losing the history behind the coins.
Let's not forget the true meaning of "collecting" and "flipping" they are two different things. And yes in my opinion
flipping is bad for collectors.
JMHO
<< <i>Use a flat paper coin roll .. as stated above.. the paper is thin, but strong... coins will come flowing out... Cheers, RickO >>
I, too, think they can be gently removed. It will take a bit of work, but in the long run the bes solution.
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
you can never prove that someone else didn't do it previously
and of course there is curiosity
I vote for trying to get a handful out (one at a time of course) for grading, and keep the rest in tact.
If you're feeling really lucky, maybe you can pay PCGS to certify the whole pig
commoncents123, JrGMan2004, Coll3ctor (2), Dabigkahuna, BAJJERFAN, Boom, GRANDAM, newsman, cohodk, kklambo, seateddime, ajia, mirabela, Weather11am, keepdachange, gsa1fan, cone10
-------------------------
<< <i>Think about it...do you really want to destroy something that's been 70 years in the making?
I vote for trying to get a handful out (one at a time of course) for grading, and keep the rest in tact.
If you're feeling really lucky, maybe you can pay PCGS to certify the whole pig
PCGS BU uncirculated
(Grandma's Hoard)
They will certify a roll of Prezzies and ASEs why not a pig....
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
Personally I think it is way cool AS IS.
Edited to add: You could get some of the coins out if you wanted to, if not with a butter knife, then something else like a toothpick and some prodding and a lot of patience. If course the gem coin may be buried in the bottom, or middle, and the few coins you get out may not be worth the effort, if you're thinking of submitting that is.
I laughed out loud at Spud's suggestion.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
try-pry them out with a plastic tweezer one-at-a-time. Good Luck!
'WASTE HIM!!!!!'
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
"The more I know, the less I understand"
***********************************