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Who got hosed?

NapNap Posts: 1,756 ✭✭✭✭✭
In 1843 Matthew Stickney famously traded a gold Immune Columbia coin for an 1804 dollar at the US mint. The Immune Columbia coin is unique and the 1804 dollar is the most famous of rare coins.

Would you make this trade in 1843? Keep in mind the Class II and III 1804 dollars had not yet been created and the only other Class I's in private hands were from the sets given to the foreign princes. So this was essentially a trade of two unique coins. Of course at this time the 1804 dollar was "modern junk," having been produced a mere 10 years before.

Would you make this trade now? The 1804 dollar is by no means unique anymore and Class III restrikes were made in the 1850's. Still, it remains extremely rare and is the most famous and one of the most expensive coins every time it comes to auction. The Immune Columbia remains unique in gold but it is certainly less appreciated outside of colonial collectors.

So who got hosed? Or was it a fair trade then or even now?

Comments

  • ColonialCoinUnionColonialCoinUnion Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭
    Might be about = in value these days. So I vote for:

    C) No one got hosed.
  • RyGuyRyGuy Posts: 1,465 ✭✭✭
    Mint got hosed.
  • COALPORTERCOALPORTER Posts: 2,900 ✭✭
    What became of the Immune Columbia ?
    Is it still around or did it get melted ?
    Does anyone have a picture ?
  • Aegis3Aegis3 Posts: 2,920 ✭✭✭


    << <i>What became of the Immune Columbia ?
    Is it still around or did it get melted ?
    Does anyone have a picture ? >>



    Smithsonian
    --

    Ed. S.

    (EJS)
  • ColonialCoinUnionColonialCoinUnion Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Mint got hosed, darkside coins are a no go. >>



    Huh? Columbia means "Land of Columbus", as in America. Get it?
  • RyGuyRyGuy Posts: 1,465 ✭✭✭
    Ahh gotcha. Read too fast, thought I saw, "Columbian." Thanks for clarifying.
  • fcloudfcloud Posts: 12,133 ✭✭✭✭
    thanks for the cool post. I think it was a good trade for both, and I'm glad to see the coin still exists.

    President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay

  • CoinRaritiesOnlineCoinRaritiesOnline Posts: 3,682 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>In 1843 Matthew Stickney famously traded a gold Immune Columbia coin for an 1804 dollar at the US mint. The Immune Columbia coin is unique and the 1804 dollar is the most famous of rare coins.

    Would you make this trade in 1843? Keep in mind the Class II and III 1804 dollars had not yet been created and the only other Class I's in private hands were from the sets given to the foreign princes. So this was essentially a trade of two unique coins. Of course at this time the 1804 dollar was "modern junk," having been produced a mere 10 years before.

    Would you make this trade now? The 1804 dollar is by no means unique anymore and Class III restrikes were made in the 1850's. Still, it remains extremely rare and is the most famous and one of the most expensive coins every time it comes to auction. The Immune Columbia remains unique in gold but it is certainly less appreciated outside of colonial collectors.

    So who got hosed? Or was it a fair trade then or even now? >>



    I think my business partner and I would cough up somewhere in the seven figures for that gold Immune Columbia, so I don't think the mint did too badly.
  • MidLifeCrisisMidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,584 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>thanks for the cool post. I think it was a good trade for both, and I'm glad to see the coin still exists. >>


    Ditto...

    Personally, I would not have made the trade then or now.

    But I don't think anyone got hosed.
  • mcheathmcheath Posts: 2,441 ✭✭✭
    Im not sure if anyone got hosed. I am sure that this is a pretty neat thread.
  • adamlaneusadamlaneus Posts: 6,969 ✭✭✭
    "Immune Columbia".

    Learning stuff like this is why I come here.

    But on the other hand I don't see myself ever talking to a lay person about an "Immune Columbia". Fascinating.


  • ColonialCoinUnionColonialCoinUnion Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Ahh gotcha. Read too fast, thought I saw, "Columbian." Thanks for clarifying. >>



    The name of the country in South America is Colombia (with an 'o', not a 'u').

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