Create a Virtual Coin Collection Contest. (Plus a YN opportunity)

This contest runs until there is a winner or 3 months, which ever comes first. Anyone in the U.S. can enter for the main challenge. If you are entering, you may want to check to see if a winner has been announced before entering. The prize for the main challenge is a 2011 US Silver Proof Set:


Prize to be sent within US only.


I would love to have as many YNs play this as possible, too. If you are a YN (under 21 years old) you can either do the main challenge and try for the Silver set, or you can do a secondary challenge. A secondary challenge winner (YN only, no adults) will win a special prize which I will determine later than the start of this contest. I will announce this special prize within a week or two. The secondary YN challenge is to find three coins that would go together in a small set (type or mm set) and explain to me why you chose those coins, and write a history of the coins and the designer. Do not plagiarize other people's work on this, but you can, if you want to illustrate the coins you chose, post photos from elsewhere, only attribute them so we know where you got them. YNs can enter this secondary challenge in the US or outside the US. I will try to find a prize that can be mailed easily to where-ever is needed. Adults, please do not enter this portion... leave it for the YNs (those under age 21).


Main challenge: (for the Silver Proof Set as a prize)

I have a 10 coin virtual collection I want you to put together. All coins are listed in one of the more current Red Books (since I referenced a red book to decide which coins I wanted in my collection). There is a theme to this, though. It is a virtual collection because will never own it in real life.

There are three parts to this.
The first one is in this format to let me know which coins are in the collection: (list in order of coins in display)
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
and the other two are photos of the coins you propose to have in my collection and a formatted display for these. The formatted display does not have to be fully done, as the display can be 'empty' except to show where the coins would go (by number, above). These last two must be pleasing to the eye and all photos of coin must fit in with each other aesthetically. In other words, it has to have a lot of eye appeal.

I will verify people's choices periodically. Each member may put up two groupings of coins each day to try to figure out what the collection will have in it.

You can take your photos from anywhere to put on here, but likely you won't want to be putting any photos up until you know where this is going. If you do pull pictures, please note the grade, etc. If you do put up photos and a display, make sure you also have put up a list of the coins in the display. Otherwise it may not count for you and someone else could abscond with your ideas. Remember: all three portions have to be done (and shown to me)

The person putting who is first to put up a full presentation that encompasses all three points (above) that I would love to have, wins. Eye appeal is going to win it in the end. So if you find that you think, based on the confirmation of coins that you are seeing, that you know the scope of the collection, at that point you might want to start designing the display and looking for coins that would work together.



PS. If you haven't already.... read and fully understand what is needed. Don't lose because you only give part of what is asked for in the end.

 

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Bah, only US coins?...

 

I'm ready to play, but I feel I will be the guy who loses because he doesn't fully understand the rules. Correct me where I am wrong... 10 coins, listed in order of display. And somehow we create a display?

 

Kasia, I (age 66) took too much prune juice last evening and did something very childish today. Does that qualify me as a YN?
Steve

 

I'm with you....not sure I get the idea here....I wanna tho


@Kasia are we supposed to guess which coins you want? Fdo we post pics with the number here and when we've guessed them all put then in some sort of virtual display?

 

Someone has to be the guinea pig... this is in a 2x5 box (sorry, I don't have CG options, so use your imagination) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 top row, 6, 7, 8, 9 , 10 bottom row, red felt in each box.

1.) 1793 Cent, Strawberry leaf variety


2.) 1913 V Nickel


My own, personally taken by me, picture.

3.) 1792 Half Disme


4.) 1804 Silver Dollar

Pics are from Heritage Auctions

5.) 1916D "Mercury" Dime

Pics courtesy of Coinfacts.com

 

1) An 1836 golbert dollar
2) an 1856 flying eagle cent
3) an 1854 d dollar Indian Princess head gold coin

I would have the flying eagle cent, the gilbert dollar, and the three dollar princess head in one type set. This is because the flying eagle cent which was first minted as a pattern in 1856 was designed by Jmaes Buchanan Longachere and was the first small cent. I choose to have his coin because it contains the wreath reverse of the three dollar princess head that was designed by Longachre as well. I choose to have the Gilbert dollar(which is also a pattern) because its obverse design that was designed by christian Gilbiet and adapted for the use of the obverse of the small cent. This type set would be good because it would be extremely impressive to have quality examples of these three coins and an interesting correlation that the designs have. Also, the unique history and beauty will be something that every coin collector would want to show off in the type set I would include an 1836 Gilbert dollar to the left, in the center an 1856 flying eagle cent, and to the right a 3 dollar princess head to the right.
The Gilbert dollar is PCGS Grades MS67+, the 1856 flying eagle cent is grades PCGS Proof 64+ and the the three dollar princess head is graded NGC MS64+

 

I like that try, but sadly No

 

I was going to do German or World ones but then I remembered

 

Yes this could work in the 10 coin set but not in the #4 spot. As a side note, aesthetically I was looking not for slabs to be displayed, although if it was done right, all slabbed examples could be really pleasing to see. I just think that would be a little too much work for this, but perhaps not.

 

Yes, I have a display of coins I want, and you guessing the coins in there is part of this.

 

@brandon spiegel thanks for the entry. That is a really nice set you put together. Perhaps you can go and do a little more reading on the coins and their makers and post a quick (without the photos) rewrite of your info on this so that names can be corrected. Thanks!

 

Lol, since I'm a YN I could throw out three ancients just for laughs!

 

Okay, I'll take a dive for the second challenge. Me, (age 13, 14 tomorrow).



Flying Eagle Cent
Image Source: eBay.com (I bought it)

The flying eagle cent was one f the shortest issue, as a pattern in 1856, and in circulation in 1857, and 1858. This was the first small size penny, and was made of 88% copper, and 12% nickel. This coin was issues to replace large cents, which were too big, and their copper value was too inflated, and Spanish colonial silver coins, which were not legal tender. So many were produced that it clogged commercial lines, and foreign money wasn't much of a problem anymore. The coin's design did not strike well, so James B. Longacre, the creator of this coin, created the Indian Head Cent, which was easier to strike.



Indian Head Cent
Image Source: en.numista.com

James B. Longacre, the creator of the Flying Eagle Cent above, made a new coin, that could strike easily. The coin in 1859 had a different design, it had a laurel wreath with no shield, and Liberty's face look a bit different. It was replaced in 1860. The coin was produced with copper until 1864, where there were two types, the standard copper-nickel composition, and the new copper-tin composition. The new composition was because of private minting of Civil War tokens. Because pocket change was scarce during the Civil War, companies, markets, and even some stores began privately minting 'currency', along with the coinage act of 1864 which banned the trade of these tokens. After the Civil War, the coin struck quite well. It was a success, a beautiful design, easily made, easily spent, are some of the pros of this coin. The coin was minted more than ever in the late 19th century, and early 20th century, reaching 100 million in 1907. In 1908, Teddy Roosevelt wanted a coin of Abraham Lincoln, because 1909 would be his 100th birthday. In February of 1909 pennies with Lincoln were successfully minted and circulated alongside the Indian Head Cent, which was now retired.



Lincoln Penny
Image Source: coinauctionshelp.com

In 1908, Teddy Roosevelt, wanted a coin to commemorate Abraham Lincoln, his childhood hero, the man who preserved the Union, and the man who abolished slavery. In February of 1909, the Lincoln cent was first struck with Victor David Brenner's (creator of the coin) initials, VDB on the reverse. The initial was taken out because it was supposedly too big. in 1918, the VDB returned on Lincoln's shoulder. in 1943, World War II was ongoing. The penny's copper composition had to be temporarily removed because copper was used to make bullets, so a steel composition was issued. A few copper 1943 cents were made, along with steel 1944 cents, however they are incredibly rare, and only a few are known to exist. In 1959, the coin's 50th anniversary, the reverse was changed to commemorate the Lincoln memorial, which didn't exist in 1909. In 1974, the penny's composition was about to be changed to aluminum, however congress denied the design. They were made in Philadelphia, and Denver, only 12 - 14 standard 1974 cents may exist, but one is confirmed to exist, and it is in the Smithsonian Institution. Only one 1974 D aluminum penny is known to exist, and was found in January of 2014. It is currently in jeopardy of being taken away and destroyed. In 1982, the composition was changed to 97.5% Zinc, and 2.5% copper, opposed to the 95% copper, and 5% Zinc. In 2005, it costed more than a penny to make a penny, so the penny may be in jeopardy today. In 2009, the US mint made four penny designs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the coin, and the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. in 2010, the reverse was changed again, now in the image of the Union Shield, to this day.

Why i chose these is because the penny is my most favored coins. No, i love pennies, i like their design, size, how collectible they are, history, and use.



James B. Longacre
Image Source: Wikipedia

Longacre was the fourth cheif engraver of the United States Mint. Longacre was born on August 11 1794, on a farm in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. His mother Sarah Longacre, maiden name Barton, died when he was young. His father, Peter Longacre remarried. Longacre left home at the age of 12, seekign work at the nearby city of Philadelphia. He married Eliza Stiles in 1827 or 1828. Longacre became Cheif Engraver on September 16 1844. He made lots of coin designs, the silver three cent, flying eagle cent, Indian head cent, type four half dime, two cent piece, shield nickel, and the Coronet head $20 gold coin. He died January 1st of 1869.



Victor David Brenner
Image Source: Wikipedia

Brenner was born on June 12 1871 to Jewish parents in Sialiui, Lithuania. His birth name was Viktoras Baranauskas, But changed it to Victor David Brenner because he thought it would be easier to obtain American citizenship. He came to this country in 1890, he settled in New York for most of his life. In 1898, he went to Paris to study Oscar Roty, a French Medalist. Brenner was chosen to create the Lincoln cent in 1908. In 1909, the coin began circulating. He died on April 5 1924.

Okay, I got this information from Red book, USA coin book, and overall knowledge. The image's source is in the title. I believe you wanted me to make a short biography on the coin's creators, yes? This took me about an hour and a half to type. Why i chose these coins is because the penny is my most favored coins. No, i love pennies, i like their design, size, how collectible they are, history, and use. Abraham Lincoln was actually the reason why i started collecting anything other than state quarters. I think of Lincoln as my favorite president.

Thanks for reading this huge post.
-John

 

Thank you I am glad that you like it=) I definitely will once I get home from school tonight, I have a few things to research for my research project before the end of the school day.

 

Thank you I appreciate it, here is the rewrite:
I would have the flying eagle cent, the Gobrecht dollar, and the three dollar princess head in one type set. I would include these coins because the flying eagle cent which was first minted as a pattern in 1856 was designed by Jmaes Buchanan Longacre and was the first small cent ever produced by the United States. I choose to have this coin because it contains the obverse from the Gobrecht dollar and the refers from the three dollar Indian princess head. I choose to also have the Gilbert dollar(which is also a pattern) because its obverse design that was designed by christian Gobrecht, one of the most talented engravers to ever work at the mint. I find it interesting that the obverse which contains a soaring eagle was adapted for the use of the obverse of the small cent; legend has it that the bird depicted on the dollar was modeled after peter, who was the mints mascot and ran afoul of a flywheel and lost his life(according to History of the united states mints and its coinage by David W. Lange, page 46). This set would also include an 1854 Indian princess head. This is because the reverse design was adapted for the use of the flying eagle small cent. Furthermore, 1854 it is the first year that this three dollar gold coin was minted and it was minted at three different mints. So you could choose to have one from Danglough north carolina, new Orleans or Philadelphia. this allows for the ability for this coin to be upgraded extensively with starting out by having a more common coin from the Philadelphia mint. This type set would be good because it would be extremely impressive to have quality examples of these three coins and an interesting correlation that the designs have. Also, the unique history and beauty will be something that every coin collector would want to show off in the type set I would include an 1836 Gilbert dollar to the left, in the center an 1856 flying eagle cent, and to the right a 3 dollar princess head to the right. I find it interesting how all of the designs connect together, and how each coin has had a different impact on the history of america.

 

James Barton longachere

 

Guessing the 10 coins, not in any particular order
1804 Silver Dollar, 1792 Half Dime, 1877 Indian Head Cent, 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent, 1916-D Mercury Dime, 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter, 1878-S Seated Liberty Half Dollar, 1854-D $3 Gold piece, 1927-D Double Eagle, and 1894-S Barber Dime.

 

@swish513 The 1804 Silver Dollar could work, but none of the others, thanks!

 

Your contest is extremely frustrating, but I plan to win it.