Who knew coin collecting could cause bodily harm.....

I was going through some of my Dad's coins today. Since I'm a newbie I was super-careful. I did everything you guys told me to do. I put on the gloves. But, when I opened the little envelope this coin was in it ended up falling out the other end and onto my toe. I said a bad word out loud. (Note to self-wear gloves AND slippers while playing with coins).
Diane

 

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@Diane Harriet

Well, uh, um........there is one other thing we should have mentioned. When examining coins, use a table........not a bathtub, and by all means, be sure that the lid of the toilet is down.

Chris

 

@cpm9ball ....LOL
are you proud of me that I did not use the thumbnail version???

 

Beautiful coin. You must be very pleased. And I love, love, love the envelope showing the old pricing and conditions. If it's your dad's handwriting, I'm sure it's worth as much as the coin.

 

The coin is all the more interesting to me because it appears to be an 1896-O micro-O variety, VAM-4 which accd to PCGS, NGC et al is not of US mint origin - but imminently more collectable if indeed it is a VAM-4. I have a VAM-4 myself and can image it later for comparison - but so far with the somewhat fuzzy pictures above it does indeed appear to be one of them.

It is conjectured that these coins were "privately" minted, ie counterfeited during the early 1930s and were tumbled in a tumbler to give them the appearance of having been circulated. That would give them the appearance of legitimacy in circulation. They were probably monetary counterfeits and not made to fool collectors, but rather to take advantage of using then about 25c worth of silver(silver was worth little during the depression) and make a coin worth a dollar.

To myself and others like me, we find those "privately" made coins a lot more interesting than the ones cranked out of the US mint. Just think that someone made these over 80+ years ago and successfully filtered them into circulation, and the coins were not determined to be not of US mint origin for over 70+ years and the perpetrator or perpetrators have never been identified and probably never will be.

 

it's actually my Mother's handwriting. they had an antique business in the late 50's. it's part of what I really love about this collection-the idea that my parents sat together and priced out coins, etc.

when I look at all of his coins I like to think about what my parents might have been doing at the time, what was going on historically during the year the coin was made, who made the coin, why the coin even survived, who's hands touched this coin, and also the person who modeled for the coin. I have a cousin who is a retired art history professor and we discuss the art on the coins.

I don't know....it's just enjoyable to sit and think.
Diane

 

The story/history of the model of the coin is very interesting, yet sad. She was a school teacher who, it is said, lost her job and her fiance as a result of modeling for the coin. It was a one-time thing but "back in the day," modeling was quite disreputable and ladies who did it were apparently not regarded highly by society. She never sought fame (understandable for the time - it destroyed her reputation) and died unmarried.

 

I guess the "Thumbnail" thingy must have been your idea. Otherwise, you wouldn't keep harping on the subject.

@Diane Harriet - I'm posting this "Full Image" in your honor.

Chris

 

Her name was Anna Williams, but that is about all I know about her.

 

i've heard that story too.

 

You weren't wearing your Wonder Woman boots!?

 

LOL. No I didn't have them on. I was taking a break from fighting crime.

I tell you though, it's a good thing my Mom's already in Heaven because she was well known to wash out our mouths out with soap.

 

Beautiful! Morgans are my top 3 favorite coins maybe even number 1. Also to note, I don't think you have to wear gloves. I mean I never have. Just don't touch the surface of the coin and you'll be fine. Just hold it by the rim

 

This thread is so_much_fun.

 

You might want to stay away from the five ounce silver America the Beautiful hockey puck quarters.

 

I have a FSB Mercury Dime sitting in the trap in one of our bathrooms getting a good tone...

 

That brown color isn't toning!

Chris

 

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww