I've just purchased an 1883 authentic gold plated racketeer nickel off ebay!

At this point, I'll retract any reference I have made to "Josh Tatum" and declare that I think the whole story of "Racketeer Nickels" is bogus. There aren't any examples with provenance, there aren't any verifiable period newspaper articles on the subject and the varying stories on the subject tend to show that there is no "real" story.

This article - http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n08a15.html - has a bit of research on the subject and indicates that the story is a relatively modern invention.

Maybe an examination of the Mint's records from 1883 would shed some light on the subject but I don't know if they're accessable. I'll start by emailing the Mint's Public Information Office. Stand by for more.

There is NO verification yet that there ever was anything like what is now known as a Racketeer's Nickel - a gold plated 1883 Liberty 5-cent piece.

 

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As an interesting side note, in the 1890's Great Britain began issuing their farthings with a blackened finish so that unscrupulous people would not gold plate them and pass them off as half sovereigns being that they were the same size and had the same portrait on them. But to the best of my knowledge there is no contemporary evidence of anyone passing gold plated farthings either.

I'm not sure but I think there are similar stories from some other countries around this same time period as well.

 

I think there is some "leg pulling" going on here. Its a good thing you can't tar and feather people over the internet.

 

Aren't you the same one who purchased a cheap Trade Dollar from Thailand and swears it's the real thing?

I agree with GD. You either need to buy some books or spend more time reading on this forum. To say it as nicely as possible.

This is the first I ever heard of a racketeer nickel. After reading this thread, if I had the opportunity to buy a known genuine one, I would likely pass. This story doesn't do anything for me.

 

An interesting thought.

 

If we can remove ourselves from the land of Asian Trade Dollars and SGS MS90 coins for a second..

It's worth considering that the press was FAR more sensationalist back then than they can even come close to today, heck, 9 years later a newspaper effectively started a war. So I wouldn't be surprised if there was quite a bit of artistic license taken by the contemporary press over the issue.

 

Yup, William Randolph Hearst.

 

I love this one.

 

I actually think GD has a point. We have been giving Isaiah a lot of criticism about his purchase...but in the end it was his money and he is entitled to spend it anyway he pleases. I agree that he could have gotten a better deal, but it's his choice. There is no need to crucify him over this. I have been crucified on this forum before and trust me, it's not a lot of fun.

 

You are absolutely correct provided he really bought the coin in the first place. Calling people stupid is never a correct thing to do. I do wonder though about something. There is another thread regarding coin mentors here on CT. Will Isaiah be a coin mentor now? I don't think he ever bought the coin in the first place.

 

yes, although it was China, not Thailand.

 

I don't think GD called Isaiah stupid...I think he was referring to the general view that the members here have for this purchase. I have made stupid purchases too, I'm sure every coin collector has. I would like Isaiah to understand that this may not have been the most economical way to get the coin he wanted. Frankly, in this case, it really isn't an expensive lesson.

As far as him becoming a mentor...who knows. Who knows about any of us. Am I a mentor? Hopefully I have given some good advice here, I'm sure I have given some bad...I still have a lot to learn. I personally don't think that I am, but hopefully I have contributed. Isaiah has a lot to learn about this hobby too I think, and you never know; he may one day be one of the most knowledgeable people on this board.

Did he actually buy this coin, I hope so. I'd hate to think this thread was for any other reason than him genuinely posting about a coin he bought. There's no way to know for sure, but I tend to give the benefit of the doubt.

 

It was. I swear on the Holy bible that I did. I purchased this and I wanted other's opinions on my coin. I wish I could prove it to you.

 

No, I don't think he did, but part of what I wrote was in humor (especially the mentor part) sounded more serious than I really am. I don't know if he bought the coin or not, but as said on HSN, "what's done is done". I certainly consider myself being mentored instead of a mentor. I never post what I think a person's coin grade is even it is a coin I know very well. I only give grades to my coins. There is the price, grade I assigned to it, and will Mrs. Coin Lover still love Mr. Coin Lover after the purchase.

 

Oh I wouldn't go so far as to write the whole thing off.

 

How could I prove that I bought this to you people?

 

You can mail it to me

 

Sorry, I wouldn't trust anyone with my coins that I didn't know

 

I believe you. And I really mean it.

 

pic of u with the coin next to your face n sticking out your tongue