Urban legends of the numismatic business ...

291fifth · February 24, 2012 11:43PM

... do you know of any?

I'll start.

A paper money collector sat down at a dealer's table at a major show and asked to see a group of the dealers notes. The collector removed each of the notes from its protective holder and carefully examined each note. While doing this, the collector was also eating a bag of potato chips. The collector bought nothing. The dealer later noticed that all of the notes the collector had viewed now had grease stains from the potato chips!

Did it really happen? I first hear this story in the late 1980's or very early 1990's.

Whit · February 24, 2012 11:57PM

Good morning, everyone:

Is there really a Stella in a California landfill? If so, would someone be so kind as to provide a few of the details of that story?

Whit

Broadstruck · February 25, 2012 12:01AM

<< Good morning, everyone:

Is there really a Stella in a California landfill? If so, would someone be so kind as to provide a few of the details of that story?

Whit >>

Yes true accidentally discarded by one of the dealer members on this board.

PerryHall · February 25, 2012 12:09AM

<< 

<< Good morning, everyone:

Is there really a Stella in a California landfill? If so, would someone be so kind as to provide a few of the details of that story?

Whit >>

Yes true accidentally discarded by one of the dealer members on this board. >>

Fred Weinberg has posted about this mishap.

Broadstruck · February 25, 2012 12:15AM

<< 

<< 

<< Good morning, everyone:

Is there really a Stella in a California landfill? If so, would someone be so kind as to provide a few of the details of that story?

Whit >>

Yes true accidentally discarded by one of the dealer members on this board. >>

Fred Weinberg has posted about this mishap. >>

Waiting for a new Discovery channel show called "Landfill California"...

As after watching Gold Rush last night and seeing the workers where paid 5 ounces of gold for 5 months of 12-20 hour days finding the Stella might be more profitable!

SmallTownCoins · February 25, 2012 12:39AM

If the Stella pops up some day at the junk yard, can Mr. Weinberg claim it as his ?

ricko · February 25, 2012 12:40AM

The '64 Peace dollar.... rumored widely, and some have actually claimed to have seen one... It is a numismatic legend, however, I think there is some fact behind it...Cheers, RickO

braddick · February 25, 2012 1:18AM

A couple of threads that explore the folklore of the PKOK Ikes:

Are PKOK Ikes a National Treasure?
Are PKOK Ikes AT or not?

oreville · February 25, 2012 5:35AM

During the great silver boom of late 1979 and early 1980, a roll or two of beautiful mint state 1932-D quarters ended up in a metal coin counting machine and came out of the hopper before being discovered with ruinous circular grooves around each quarter.

AnkurJ · February 25, 2012 5:42AM

Would the 1792 Half Disme being made out of silver from Washington's tea set count?

OldEastside · February 25, 2012 5:52AM

Would'nt George Washingtons "Silver Dollar" that he threw
across the Deleware be one?

Steve

Oh yea, the other one I like may be true about the Mint Directors Daughter
spending a 1894s Dime on Ice Cream, after being told to save it

TennesseeDave · February 25, 2012 6:18AM

1895-P business strike Morgan dollars were supposedly minted,but none seem to exist. 12,880 reported in the Redbook.

BBN · February 25, 2012 6:27AM

<< 

As after watching Gold Rush last night and seeing the workers where paid 5 ounces of gold for 5 months of 12-20 hour days finding the Stella might be more profitable!

>>

Wow, for those hours in five months they could have made a lot more money working at McDonald's.

Justacommeman · February 25, 2012 6:27AM

I heard that Dave Wnuck once bench pressed 24 full blue boxes 39 reps at the PCGS table once. I was told be was inspired by the NFL combines that were taking place the same weekend.

I'm not sure I believe this. MJ

cladking · February 25, 2012 6:41AM

There's a legend that a full pallet of 1982-P quarters were found at the Kansas City FED in
late 1985. I have extreme doubt since the story on its face is inconsistent as the KC FED should
have only Denver minted coin.

Walkerguy21D · February 25, 2012 7:22AM

I have heard many.....one my deceased father in law liked to talk about was the then-missing fifth 1913 Liberty Nickel was on board a ship that sank at sea and never recovered.....I always wondered if this was a variation from the coin being lost during a car accident while transported by a dealer? In any event we now know all five are accounted for.

The others I like are the 'rumor' that bags of 34S Peace Dollars were seen in the San Fran Fed reserve during the 1950's, but never released to the general public - did they exist, and what happened to them?

The other is an original mint bag of 19S halves supposedly in the inventory listing of one of big Wells Fargo Bank Hoard (or one of the bank hoards). That would be something to see!

breakdown · February 25, 2012 7:48AM

The other is an original mint bag of 19S halves supposedly in the inventory listing of one of big Wells Fargo Bank Hoard (or one of the bank hoards). That would be something to see! >>

I have read about this legend in more than one place and it always makes me grimace. The most expensive coin in my collection is ... you guessed it, a 19-S in MS66 that pedigrees to GBW and Schultz. But if there are twenty more just as nice sitting in a vault somewhere, then that purchase won't look so great. No matter, i'll still love the coin.

My favorite story, though apparently more than legend, is the dealer that had the 1913 Liberty nickel and carried it with him everywhere, including to the bars, where he would often pass it around. Someone on here knows that story better than me but it's really pretty amazing when you think what the coin is worth.

JamesMurray · February 25, 2012 7:54AM

<< 

<< 

As after watching Gold Rush last night and seeing the workers where paid 5 ounces of gold for 5 months of 12-20 hour days finding the Stella might be more profitable!

>>

Wow, for those hours in five months they could have made a lot more money working at McDonald's. >>

I thought it strange old Jack would go into a room alone to count/weight the gold and come out later with a total. My trust just doesnt extend to those kinds of "traditions" as he put it.

Nic · February 25, 2012 9:25AM

Some urban legends are true. I doubted a bag of San Diego or Wisconsin commems until I saw them. Folks doubt "original" rolls of 1892 dimes, and I've seen one sell at auction, 20 years after I sold mine. Stuff is still out there ... less and less every year. And most of us never hear anything about it.

K

Lakesammman · February 25, 2012 9:50AM

I'm still looking for a slab with a Platinum CAC sticker.

NewEnglandNotes · February 25, 2012 9:57AM

I was told that there are coin dealers who, while at shows, wear Depends so they do not have to leave their table during the show.

OldEastside · February 25, 2012 10:42AM

<< I was told that there are coin dealers who, while at shows, wear Depends so they do not have to leave their table during the show. >>

Well that would explain why he did'nt buy that coin I showed him
that I thought he really, really, really liked

Steve

coindeuce · February 25, 2012 12:05PM

Anyone remember which coin it was that Secret Service agents confiscated as an alleged forgery, and then it was destroyed by Mint officials when they used acid on the surface to test composition? I believe it was a 1943 copper Lincoln cent.

braddick · February 25, 2012 12:15PM

<< Anyone remember which coin it was that Secret Service agents confiscated as an alleged forgery, and then it was destroyed by Mint officials when they used acid on the surface to test composition? I believe it was a 1943 copper Lincoln cent. >>

Somewhat unrelated, but the 1959 Wheatback also comes to mind regarding the Secret Service (actually authenticating the coin, at first).

lusterlover · February 25, 2012 12:23PM

the 1917 matte proof Lincoln...

WoodenJefferson · February 25, 2012 12:38PM

That three (3) no "S" mint marked 3-piece sets of the 1976 silver proof (prototype) bicentennial coins were minted at Philadelphia and summarily given to US dignitaries.

PerryHall · February 25, 2012 9:39PM

<< Anyone remember which coin it was that Secret Service agents confiscated as an alleged forgery, and then it was destroyed by Mint officials when they used acid on the surface to test composition? I believe it was a 1943 copper Lincoln cent. >>

This happened to some 1969-S DDO Lincoln cents that were sent to the Secret Service for authentication.

SaorAlba · February 25, 2012 11:31PM

The 1844 Little Orphan Annie dimes were sent with the US Army expedition to Mexico and subsequently lost.

CoinRaritiesOnline · February 26, 2012 12:40AM

<< I heard that Dave Wnuck once bench pressed 24 full blue boxes 39 reps at the PCGS table once. I was told be was inspired by the NFL combines that were taking place the same weekend.

I'm not sure I believe this. MJ >>

That is a wild, absolutely ridiculous statement.

It was actuallly only 38 reps.

A Mr. Ndamukong Suh was standing behind me in line at the PCGS table that day. He said I had inspired him to try harder at his own Combine the next day in Indianapolis. I hadn't heard about that one; I assume it is for some other hobby. I wonder how Mr. Suh made out that day....

IrishMikey · February 26, 2012 1:57AM

Once an "Urban Legend" turns out to be true, it stops being an Urban Legend, right?

IrishMikey · February 26, 2012 1:57AM

If you want to collect political Urban Legends, just listen in on a group of dealers at dinner.

Urban legends of the numismatic business ...

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