Recently we were fortunate enough to buy an OLD collection. When I say old, I mean over 100 years old. All of the coins were in old 2x2 envelopes, many of them from the legendary dealer B. Max Mehl. If you aren't familiar with Mehl I highly suggest you read his Wikipedia entry, but here is a summary: "B. Max Mehl, was an American dealer in coins, selling them for over half a century. The most prominent dealer in the United States, through much of the first half of the 20th century, he is credited with helping to expand the appeal of coin collecting from a hobby for the wealthy to one enjoyed by many. During his half-century of coin dealing, his customer list included Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Colonel E. H. R. Green and sold many rarities including six different 1804 dollars." Many of the coins are currently being slabbed but some of them we kept raw, this is my favorite piece. If you don't know me I'm a Liberty Seated specialist. So when I saw this coin I pretty much fell head over heals in love. 1843 Liberty Seated half dollar in XF. There are traces of luster under the old crust, the strike is super sharp and the color under halogen just pops, blues and greens. Enjoy!
I heard about this. Great history, great stuff. Is it true Mark is going to buy all the Mehl identified items back, to keep it in the family? Don't hit me. I am fragile.
Concerning the 43, given YOUR opinion (trusted), I would not hesitate to buy it raw. I think it is wonderful you are keeping it that way.
According to Wiley and Bugert: "We believe it to be the reverse image of a compass point "hole" temporarily on the working hub"
Then it could have been a test strike, no? Doesn't matter, that was one of the reasons I like the piece, I thought it was a test strike.
I too am a seated aficionado and am also a fellow that revels in a coin that has a story to tell. That half checks all the boxes. Very cool acquisition.
His office building still stands in Fort Worth, with his name carved above the door. Great looking half!
Wonderful coin! If representative of the entire collection, you have a lot of hard decisions to make.
