A question of ethics.

New scenario.
What if you saw the Morgan in a fountain that has a posted sign that says "DO NOT THROW COINS IN FOUNTAIN"?

 

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Fine. Then let the targeted charity take it to the bank for their dollar. OR, let whom ever is responsible for cleaning the fountain out, take it to the Bank for a buck. I mean, it's not like each and every coin is examined for collectibility when this stuff is cleaned out. Some folks don't have a clue what a Morgan Dollar is and as such, just deposit them at the bank.

How many brass tokens need to be looked at by a non-collector to determine which one happens to be an authentic gold piece?

The whole point being that whim ever tossed the coin into the fountain certainly didn't toss it in because of it's numismatic value. They tossed it in because it was a buck. Whoever cleans it out may or may not know it has value more than a buck but with the amount of silver that can still be gleaned from banks, there's a lot more that only think its a buck.

I would not consider it thievery any more than pulling 90% Silver Half Dollars from bank rolls or asking tellers for the half's that you spot in their drawer which are silver and only paying fave value for them.

 

I'd put in more than just 4 quarters, but "all the change in my pockets" wasn't an option, so... I went with 'replace with 4 quarters'

 

I don't want my hand smelling like that nasty water in public fountains. I would leave it.

 

I believe your assumption that they threw it in there since its "just a buck" is your own assumption. There was a case in Iowa some years back where for years every Christmas someone put a gold Kruggerand in a salvation army kettle. Are you assuming they didn't know its value either?

I simply do not equate this with finding silver in change. The morgan BELONGS to someone, whomever owns the fountain. You assuming the donater did not know the value is your ASSUMPTION, which may or may NOT be true. What if they knew it was worth $40 but still wished to donate it? Its not your job to assume they were stupid and did not know its value, right? Even if they did not know the value, who are we to take advantage of that situation? Is it any different than being at someone's house and seeing a morgan on a table? Would you take it there and put 4 quarters in its place?

 

You could stretch the dilemna a bit further: what if it was a 1795 FH or bust dollar? A Fugio, or gold or rare date coin? When the coins are collected by the person in charge, will they get top dollar and thus be good stewards? Very unlikely they will get top dollar for valuable PMs or collectable coins...

I have given US eagles in various forms over the years to charities. I sent along directions with the coins so that they would not take them to the bank or a pawn broker. The question to me is about stewardship, are we being good stewards and are those we give to being good stewards of money received in whatever form?

 

thats easy, take it and replace it with the same amount (4 quarters). I mean its not like whoever cleans out all of the change is going to in a stroke of brilliance recognize it and go and sell it to a coin shop (they probably have never even seen a morgan dollar anyway.)

 

If you don't own the fountain the change in it, is not yours to take. Nor can you take a valuable coin out and replace it with face value coinage. That coin is not your property.

 

That was somebody's wish. That has undefinable value. Whether you think someone else will take it or not, it's still your decision to take it or not and establish yourself as greedy or unselfish.

 

This whole "throw a coin in water and make a wish" thing is such a racket.
A wish has a definable value. It's zero. A wish is nothing more than a thought. Nobody is out there granting wishes, particularly based on whether or not you've thrown something into a pool of water.

 

Well, the best thing you could do is call and alert the owner of the fountain, (the mall, even if they are giving it away, the mall owns the fountain and thus should be responsible for getting the donations to where they need to be, be that charity or the owner's pocket) of the value of the coin which has been donated. Then, if you liked it, you could offer the value of the coin for it, as it would be wrong to take part of the value, (even if little) from the place the coin should go. That is my ideal for how such a thing should be handled.

 

You mean all these years I've been rubbing lamps for nothing?????!!!!!

Chris

 

some advice, try it at the beach, I think the sandy enviroment encourages genie growth

 

Having spent 20-odd years on the Maryland shore and 30-odd years on the southwest coast of Florida, where do you think I was looking for lamps? In Goodwill or Kiwanis?

Chris

 

Leave it. It's not mine.

And wish's do have value. Just as hope and love have value. Hate and greed too. Some would put prayer in there somewhere...

 

well, maybe donations encourage genie growth, thus making it obvous that you should go to good will, or maybe you should just burry one for a year? I am no a genie breeder! (or a genie for that matter) I wish you luck in your search:thumb:

 

...Are you sure that's ethical?
Just kidding!

 

I completely understand where you are coming from, this must be the sort of drudgery that drives you to tears!

I remember a CO once in the military who heard the rumbling of a conversation in the other room, and rushed over after he couldn't bear it longer: "what's this a ***" meeting of the minds???"

 

GDJMSP is right. There is also the side from which you could argue that our job as collectors is to protect coins for future generations to view, and letting it sit ouside in the water where people can touch it would go against that, and the counter-arguement that to do so would make you no more than a thief and ultimately cause damage to the hobby.

way to complicated:dead-horse: