Finding a 1793 coin in a garden - amazing ! I'm happy for the owner... but there are some things about this article which don't add up. For instance - "David Wilson, owner of 4 Star Coins and Jewelry in Burnham, said he had sold a chain cent that was in mint condition for $22,000" When did he sell it ? 1794 ? Because if he sold an MS Chain anytime within anyone's memory, it's worth a heck of a lot more than $22,000. In over a million coins sold, Heritage has only one listing for a MS Chain - an MS65 sold for almost $190,000, and that was nine years ago. Recent sales in the $20,000 range would be VF20. NGC has certified a total of only 11 Chains MS60 and better. Miniscule.
^ chances are the article said that just to raise hype? who knows. lol maybe he's an older guy and sold it in the late 1800's
That's an excellent find. How great of a feeling would that be for anyone, let alone one of us collectors.
Not to mention that he told her it's only worth a couple hundred. Luckily she obviously told him No Thank You or we wouldn't be reading this story.
PS Did anyone call up Mr.David Wilson yet and ask him if he had any other chain cents to sell for a couple hundred.
He didn't say a couple hundred, he said a few hundred. And remember tha apparently the coin IS heavily corroded, and the dealer was pobably taking wholesale purchase price. In the past couple years I have purchased RETAIL three chain cents for a thousand or less each. I would assume the dealers paid a "few hundred dollars" for each of them. We don't know what condition this coin is in. If it is low grade and heavily corroded, he might be right.
1793 chain cent I have been in Mr. Wilson's jewelry/coin store. If it is the 1793 Unc. that I seen there, it was in a 2x2 flip with 1793-Chain-Unc. typed on a paper insert. I got to hold the raw coin in my hand. GREAT dealer!
condor: Three chain cents!! wow, can you post some pictures. I have always wanted one, and at those prices I may be able to do it. I always thought of them in the thousands, even in cruddy grades, no date.
Here's a live auction. A VF20 is currently $28,000 (+12% buyer's premium)... http://www.teletrade.com/coins/lot.asp?auction=2405&lot=1002
