Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
For me, it was a Machins Mills Colonial copper at CoinFest last October at the CRO table. Not much compared to some of you guys, but a big deal for me!
Now, I didn't get to hold these, but I did get to see them...and photograph them...both of which are unique....and pretty darn cool! (I've never actually held a gold anything)
1787 silver Columbia & Washington medal (fully raw, one of about half a dozen known) Clafflin encased postage stamp (fully raw, one of around a dozen or so known) nice double struck Peace dollar (slabbed) the Keusch collection of assay commission medals (raw in auction viewing flips) 1944 & 1949 assay commission medals (fully raw) Indian cent overstruck on a Barber dime (slabbed) Indian cent uniface overstruck on a half dime (it's an error, not a pattern IMO; slabbed)
The most memorable for me: A PCGS graded copper composition pattern striking of the Clark Gruber & Co. / Pikes Peak 1860 Ten Dollar Gold denomination. Could have bought it around 1987. Haven't ever seen it appear again.
That is easy and not even a Mint issue. A 1939 NYWF souvenir spinner (brass coated copper with the Washington Inaugural reverse) that my father got when he was 3. Condition G4 or so, Rarity N/A. Value? Priceless.
Myself, and it's nothing like the coolest, but I did drop the Garrett 1804 S$1 on the floor at Stacks in 1985. Good thing they had thick carpets. >>
Did Sam Colavita smack you???
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
D-Tax - Thanks for the very kind words...appreciated.
If I can add a few items to my original post:
All 5 1913 Liberty Nickels, at 1:00 a.m. Baltimore 2002 ANA
Three 1870-CC $20's, raw, in my hand, at the SAME time (I bought all three in Paris in 1976-77). I believe I'm the only person alive that's ever actually held three of 'em at the same time!)
Some Great Patterns in a huge deal purchased from Abe Kosoff in 1974 (when I was working for Numismatics, Ltd.)
A Breathtaking 1851 $20 Liberty Struck on a Large Cent (still one of my very TOP Mint Error coins - in the Judd Appendex)
Lord St. Oswald specimen of the 1794 Dollar (around 1973/74)
Retired Collector & Dealer in Major Mint Error Coins & Currency since the 1960's.Co-Author of Whitman's "100 Greatest U.S. Mint Error Coins", and the Error Coin Encyclopedia, Vols., III & IV. Retired Authenticator for Major Mint Errors for PCGS. A 50+ Year PNG Member.A full-time numismatist since 1972, retired in 2022.
When I was a kid I used to play with an AU 1828 Bust Half. The coin started me collecting and my grandmother gave it to me for Christmas a few years back. I'll likely retain the coin until the day I die.
-D
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
A very, very well worn cent from around 1793............I'm still in awe to consider the number of hands it likely touched and history it might have seen..............
I'm not even close to being cool enough to answer that question, especially after all the previous responses. Mine would sound like a numismatic tinker-toy!
It doesn't qualify as a single "coin" but it was close. I had in my hands a clump of silver 8 Reales shipwreck pieces that had just been brought up from a salvage site off the Florida coast. The specialist I was with estimated that there were about 20 to 25 pieces in the clump, along with the usual coral and sea crud. A few of them could be seen around the edges of the clump. Nothing I have had since then comes close.
In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program.
<< <i>In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program. >>
I love the guitar story. What did you play?
I used to own James Longacre's original wax models for the $3 gold piece. Sole them to Rick Snow because of the Flying Eagle Cent connection.
TD
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
<< <i>In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program. >>
I love the guitar story. What did you play?
I used to own James Longacre's original wax models for the $3 gold piece. Sole them to Rick Snow because of the Flying Eagle Cent connection.
TD >>
I played some obligatory Vood Doo Chile, before drifting off into my own improv land.
That is very cool about those $3 models!!! I am actually about to release an album, where I considered incorporating the $3 design into my art work, and Rick Snow sent me picks of those models... very, very, very cool@!!! I really, really wish I had the $30K or so he asking for to buy them with... They are a true piece of American art... I don't have any tattoos, but if I ever get one, I am going for Longacre's Indian Princess.
<< <i>In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program. >>
I love the guitar story. What did you play?
I used to own James Longacre's original wax models for the $3 gold piece. Sole them to Rick Snow because of the Flying Eagle Cent connection.
TD >>
I played some obligatory Vood Doo Chile, before drifting off into my own improv land.
That is very cool about those $3 models!!! I am actually about to release an album, where I considered incorporating the $3 design into my art work, and Rick Snow sent me picks of those models... very, very, very cool@!!! I really, really wish I had the $30K or so he asking for to buy them with... They are a true piece of American art... I don't have any tattoos, but if I ever get one, I am going for Longacre's Indian Princess. >>
Very very cool story; and of course it was VooDoo Chile! I've played an original '58 Gibson Les Paul and Les Claypool's rainbow bass alongside him before a show here in Florida but nothing of Jimi Hendrix calibur! Though I'd rate Les in the top3 bass players of all time alongside John Entwistle and Geddy Lee.
-D
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
I was able to view this piece recently (Monsterman's) in hand. I tried to make a run for it with coin in tow and was tackled immediatetly. Bingham still has skillz................MJ
It would be best if ricko did not view this post. It may not be healthy.
I was able to also see another of Gregg's Oregon's. It was a PCGS 68 + Secure Plus. Flawless and could easily of been a 69.
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
This is not a competition though a part of me wants it to be. Mixed motivations: pass along knowledge and show off too. But, as with most dinosaurs, I'm no longer all that impressed with myself. And it cost me too much money and grief trying to be a Legend in my own mind.
Sitting in the same auction viewing rooms as MrEureka since the outset of our cross-country hegira for the Holy Grail is not wholly profitable. But four 1804 S$1 stories. Warning: JD will not include them in his pending book (another great addition to his numismatic ouevre) on rare proofs and master coins. Quoting directly "Not for this book, they're too common". I'm not counting the coins I've seen in the ANA Money Museum. View Museum, attend/ teach Summer Seminars, contribute some of the elusive spondulix.
QDB passes around that yellow leather box and resting on the velvet Unterman's entire set (B&M 1984?) (did not sell). Ask and granted permission and, raw, into my hand goes the S$!. My loupe calls it "64"
Auction '89. At this point Yul Brynner's coin is in a PCGS or NGC 66 holder. Let's not get into the politics of grade-flation. Every 1804 S$1 has a slab grade that places it in exactly the same place in the census as it had when raw in pre-slab days. The Dexter-Dunham coin is bought by Hugh Sconyers for chump-change below a million. A chance to break the barrier passes by. Sitting next to AJT at lot viewing I read the catalogue as I look at the coin. Me:"There's an effin "D" in this cloud on the reverse." he: "Don't worry kid, it's been there a long time".
Childs' sale (2000) in a flip My loupe calls it "66". OMG and miles ahead of any of the others. Graded P68 and that's actually just fine. Akers for Pogue at 4.14KK all in, Parrino under.
Best for last. Summer of '85. I drop the Garrett coin on the floor at Stacks. Good thing they had thick carpets. Then I called it 40+ish, now N58
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
Wow. First a DTaxay poster who is not actually DTaxay but is obviously in the know and now Colonel Jessup! Things are getting interesting around these parts. About time!
Colonel Jessup!
MJ
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Late breaking news. Web life 17 hr 42 min. Not going viral even if there was a video of the minting process imbedded.
People still haven't been able to determine if the posts from DTaxay were authored by the author. The one which.. is that a clove cigarette or ...? Opinions vary, even within and between DTaxay and himself. Issues of who or which doing a horrifying dance with the vagaries of time and space. OOOYY !
A few people fumbled and no one fell down.
For the good of the community Don Willis walked him up the ramp and later waved, a wistful smile passing over his lips, but not, as some reported, a tear in his eye, as he watched the spaceship take DTaxay away again.
DTaxay has left the house.
I'm here to speak as who I am in the voices I have and to give voice to the Elvis, er, Don in each of us.
This looks like it can be loads of fun. If I don't flame out. Or burn out. As long as they can keep the oxygen flowing. MrEureka took the under at eight months taking 3-2 odds.
JCM, thanks for another welcome.
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
<< <i>Best for last. Summer of '85. I drop the Garrett coin on the floor at Stacks. Good thing they had thick carpets. Then I called it 40+ish, now N58 >>
That Garrett 1804 could be the poster child for the EF-40 grade. TD
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
AJT at the 85 ANA walks up and spreads a 5 coin stack in front of Leon and says "how do you figure it?" A blink, another.. "175K", AJT: "Close, but not close enough"
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Geo. Orwell
I've personally bought and sold some really cool coins...
1896-S dollar MS69 1899-O $10 MS68 1939 $10 MS66 the list is long.
And then there were all the Eliasberg, Garrett, Norweb, and Pittman coins I got to hold and view at the auctions. ADVICE TO ALL WHO LOVE COINS: go to a major auction and look at all the great coins...and/or go to a major show and look at all the cool coins.
But what really makes me luckier than most is that I get to hang out in the PCGS grading room. So I've handled (and even graded) the 1794 dollar SP66, the King of Siam proof set, the Amazonian gold patterns, and all the 1913 Liberty nickels, 1804 dollars, 1894-S dimes, etc. we've graded.
But bottom line the greatest coins I feel I ever held in my hands were when we graded the first part of the Naftzger Large cents 15 years ago or so. I held in my hands at one time these three coins...1793 Chain AMERI cent SP65, 1793 Chain cent SP67, 1793 Wreath cent MS68RD!!!! I'll never forget that day.
I consider myself one of the luckiest coin wienies in the world!
Go to the auctions...go to the shows! have fun looking at coins!
hrh
Edited to add: and Sotheby's let us grade...and hold in our hands raw...the 1933 $20 they sold for $7 million plus.
And it was pretty cool to hold a different 1933 $20 in my hands at the 1980 FUN show...oops, did I say that. I really don't remember much about that, like who had it, when it exactly was...honest.
<< <i>And it was pretty cool to hold a different 1933 $20 in my hands at the 1980 FUN show...oops, did I say that. I really don't remember much about that, like who had it, when it exactly was...honest. >>
Do you recall holding a 1964 Peace Dollar?
There is no "AT" or "NT". We only have "market acceptable" or "not market acceptable.
Comments
<< <i>I'd have to say a 1933 $20 St. Gaudens. Twice.
I had one raw in my hand around 1977, and I was able to hold raw, out of the holder, the one sold by Sotheby's in 2002 for $7.6 Million. >>
Ah...I was going to say something but never mind.
Lance.
<< <i>
My favorite design!!!
TD
Now, I didn't get to hold these, but I did get to see them...and photograph them...both of which are unique....and pretty darn cool! (I've never actually held a gold anything)
Also at last year's CoinFest...
Edit to add: Sorry for the somewhat poor picture quality...it was my first attempt at photographing gold, ever...
Photo Album with all my pictures from 2009 CoinFest
1787 silver Columbia & Washington medal (fully raw, one of about half a dozen known)
Clafflin encased postage stamp (fully raw, one of around a dozen or so known)
nice double struck Peace dollar (slabbed)
the Keusch collection of assay commission medals (raw in auction viewing flips)
1944 & 1949 assay commission medals (fully raw)
Indian cent overstruck on a Barber dime (slabbed)
Indian cent uniface overstruck on a half dime (it's an error, not a pattern IMO; slabbed)
Ed. S.
(EJS)
A PCGS graded copper composition pattern striking of the Clark Gruber & Co. / Pikes Peak 1860 Ten Dollar Gold denomination. Could have bought it around 1987. Haven't ever seen it appear again.
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
The name is LEE!
I was 11, even then I knew it was cool.
That is easy and not even a Mint issue. A 1939 NYWF souvenir spinner (brass coated copper with the Washington Inaugural reverse) that my father got when he was 3. Condition G4 or so, Rarity N/A. Value? Priceless.
Eric
<< <i>
Myself, and it's nothing like the coolest, but I did drop the Garrett 1804 S$1 on the floor at Stacks in 1985. Good thing they had thick carpets. >>
Did Sam Colavita smack you???
If I can add a few items to my original post:
All 5 1913 Liberty Nickels, at 1:00 a.m. Baltimore 2002 ANA
Three 1870-CC $20's, raw, in my hand, at the SAME time
(I bought all three in Paris in 1976-77). I believe I'm the
only person alive that's ever actually held three of 'em
at the same time!)
Some Great Patterns in a huge deal purchased from
Abe Kosoff in 1974 (when I was working for Numismatics, Ltd.)
A Breathtaking 1851 $20 Liberty Struck on a Large Cent
(still one of my very TOP Mint Error coins - in the Judd Appendex)
Lord St. Oswald specimen of the 1794 Dollar (around 1973/74)
The NGC PR 64 - 1913 Liberty Head Nickel - sold at Heritage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coin collecting is not a hobby, it's an obsession !
New Barber Purchases
-D
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
-Horace
BTW, the link is the actual coin, not just a generic 1848 CAL.
<< <i>A PanPac Octagonal $50 gold coin.... I really like those and they are truly impressive in hand. Cheers, RickO >>
This is the coin I dreamed of when I was a kid.
Empty Nest Collection
David was kind enough to let me hold it after getting it back from NGC. Truly an amazing coin and memorable experience for me.
U.S. Nickels Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
U.S. Dimes Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
shipwreck pieces that had just been brought up from a salvage site off the Florida coast. The
specialist I was with estimated that there were about 20 to 25 pieces in the clump, along with the
usual coral and sea crud. A few of them could be seen around the edges of the clump. Nothing I
have had since then comes close.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program.
>>>My Collection
Like VOC Numismatics on facebook
<< <i>In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program. >>
I love the guitar story. What did you play?
I used to own James Longacre's original wax models for the $3 gold piece. Sole them to Rick Snow because of the Flying Eagle Cent connection.
TD
<< <i>
<< <i>In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program. >>
I love the guitar story. What did you play?
I used to own James Longacre's original wax models for the $3 gold piece. Sole them to Rick Snow because of the Flying Eagle Cent connection.
TD >>
I played some obligatory Vood Doo Chile, before drifting off into my own improv land.
That is very cool about those $3 models!!! I am actually about to release an album, where I considered incorporating the $3 design into my art work, and Rick Snow sent me picks of those models... very, very, very cool@!!! I really, really wish I had the $30K or so he asking for to buy them with...
>>>My Collection
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>In 1968 or so, Fender made two of their iconic electric guitars out of Brazilian Rosewood... 1 Telecaster, and 1 Stratocaster. The Telecaster went to George Harrison of the Beatles, who used it extensively on their 'Let it Be' album; the Stratocaster was intended for Jimmie Hendrix, but he died before he could take delivery. One day, I got a call from a friend who manages the vintage division of the entire Guitar Center chain, telling me to come done to the store ASAP... and that I should bring a camera. When I arrived, I was escorted to a private office, where I was presented with late 1960s Fender guitar case that was in pristine condition... I opened it up, and there inside was the Brazilian Rosewood Stratocaster intended for Jimmie Hendrix...! It had basically never been played... it still had the hang tags from the factory attached to the headstock. The feeling I had, was that I was experiencing a moment intended for one of Rock's greatest guitar players ever, that fate, sadly, had never gotten around to allowing for. I was allowed to plug the instrument in and take it for a test spin, but honestly nothing compared to just laying eyes on this piece of history that seldom ever sees the light of day.
Oh wait, we're talking about coins here, not guitars...
Well, at Long Beach, I guess I have held some valuable stuff... Pan Pac $50s, Stellas, PCGS66 High Relief Saints... one time, I even was allowed to hold a PCGS PF69 Deep Morgan (the date of which escapes me...) but I think the coolest 'coin' I have ever held in my hands would have to be the original wax sculptures for some of the SHQ designs that I was allowed to examine when I worked for the Mint as a Master Designer in the Artistic Infusion Program. >>
I love the guitar story. What did you play?
I used to own James Longacre's original wax models for the $3 gold piece. Sole them to Rick Snow because of the Flying Eagle Cent connection.
TD >>
I played some obligatory Vood Doo Chile, before drifting off into my own improv land.
That is very cool about those $3 models!!! I am actually about to release an album, where I considered incorporating the $3 design into my art work, and Rick Snow sent me picks of those models... very, very, very cool@!!! I really, really wish I had the $30K or so he asking for to buy them with...
Very very cool story; and of course it was VooDoo Chile!
-D
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
-Horace
It would be best if ricko did not view this post. It may not be healthy.
I was able to also see another of Gregg's Oregon's. It was a PCGS 68 + Secure Plus. Flawless and could easily of been a 69.
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
1854-S quarter eagle
1884 Trade dollar
MS-69 Saint
Sitting in the same auction viewing rooms as MrEureka since the outset of our cross-country hegira for the Holy Grail is not wholly profitable. But four 1804 S$1 stories. Warning: JD will not include them in his pending book (another great addition to his numismatic ouevre) on rare proofs and master coins. Quoting directly "Not for this book, they're too common". I'm not counting the coins I've seen in the ANA Money Museum. View Museum, attend/ teach Summer Seminars, contribute some of the elusive spondulix.
QDB passes around that yellow leather box and resting on the velvet Unterman's entire set (B&M 1984?) (did not sell). Ask and granted permission and, raw, into my hand goes the S$!. My loupe calls it "64"
Auction '89. At this point Yul Brynner's coin is in a PCGS or NGC 66 holder. Let's not get into the politics of grade-flation. Every 1804 S$1 has a slab grade that places it in exactly the same place in the census as it had when raw in pre-slab days. The Dexter-Dunham coin is bought by Hugh Sconyers for chump-change below a million. A chance to break the barrier passes by. Sitting next to AJT at lot viewing I read the catalogue as I look at the coin. Me:"There's an effin "D" in this cloud on the reverse." he: "Don't worry kid, it's been there a long time".
Childs' sale (2000) in a flip My loupe calls it "66". OMG and miles ahead of any of the others. Graded P68 and that's actually just fine.
Akers for Pogue at 4.14KK all in, Parrino under.
Best for last. Summer of '85. I drop the Garrett coin on the floor at Stacks. Good thing they had thick carpets. Then I called it 40+ish, now N58
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>A PanPac Octagonal $50 gold coin.... I really like those and they are truly impressive in hand. Cheers, RickO >>
Me too, George at Legend insisted I examine one, it was sort of like sitting in a car at a dealers that you will never be able to afford.
At a coin show years ago , I had in my hands a XF/AU 1918/7 D Buffalo Nickel
and an XF 1918/7 S Standing Liberty Quarter. (at the same time)
They were nice but unaffordable, And still are !
Late breaking news. Web life 17 hr 42 min. Not going viral even if there was a video of the minting process imbedded.
People still haven't been able to determine if the posts from DTaxay were authored by the author. The one which.. is that a clove cigarette or ...? Opinions vary, even within and between DTaxay and himself. Issues of who or which doing a horrifying dance with the vagaries of time and space. OOOYY !
A few people fumbled and no one fell down.
For the good of the community Don Willis walked him up the ramp and later waved, a wistful smile passing over his lips, but not, as some reported, a tear in his eye, as he watched the spaceship take DTaxay away again.
DTaxay has left the house.
I'm here to speak as who I am in the voices I have and to give voice to the Elvis, er, Don in each of us.
This looks like it can be loads of fun. If I don't flame out. Or burn out. As long as they can keep the oxygen flowing. MrEureka took the under at eight months taking 3-2 odds.
JCM, thanks for another welcome.
Does it have to be a coin?
Leo
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
<< <i>probably the punch on breast Brasher. >>
I'm kind of surprised you didn't answer with the CC-mint errors.
Ed. S.
(EJS)
<< <i>Best for last. Summer of '85. I drop the Garrett coin on the floor at Stacks. Good thing they had thick carpets. Then I called it 40+ish, now N58 >>
That Garrett 1804 could be the poster child for the EF-40 grade.
TD
AJT: "Close, but not close enough"
Ike Specialist
Finest Toned Ike I've Ever Seen, been looking since 1986
1896-S dollar MS69
1899-O $10 MS68
1939 $10 MS66
the list is long.
And then there were all the Eliasberg, Garrett, Norweb, and Pittman coins I got to hold and view at the auctions. ADVICE TO ALL WHO LOVE COINS: go to a major auction and look at all the great coins...and/or go to a major show and look at all the cool coins.
But what really makes me luckier than most is that I get to hang out in the PCGS grading room. So I've handled (and even graded) the 1794 dollar SP66, the King of Siam proof set, the Amazonian gold patterns, and all the 1913 Liberty nickels, 1804 dollars, 1894-S dimes, etc. we've graded.
But bottom line the greatest coins I feel I ever held in my hands were when we graded the first part of the Naftzger Large cents 15 years ago or so. I held in my hands at one time these three coins...1793 Chain AMERI cent SP65, 1793 Chain cent SP67, 1793 Wreath cent MS68RD!!!! I'll never forget that day.
I consider myself one of the luckiest coin wienies in the world!
Go to the auctions...go to the shows! have fun looking at coins!
hrh
Edited to add: and Sotheby's let us grade...and hold in our hands raw...the 1933 $20 they sold for $7 million plus.
And it was pretty cool to hold a different 1933 $20 in my hands at the 1980 FUN show...oops, did I say that. I really don't remember much about that, like who had it, when it exactly was...honest.
<< <i>And it was pretty cool to hold a different 1933 $20 in my hands at the 1980 FUN show...oops, did I say that. I really don't remember much about that, like who had it, when it exactly was...honest. >>
Do you recall holding a 1964 Peace Dollar?