1854-D $3 gold coin

I think this needs to be enshrined as one of the all-time great threads on CT. It still sends chills up my spine to read it!

 

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great thread!

 

Make an exhibit of all the things you learned here and I'll add it to the Coin Museum.

Ruben

 

Sorry for the long delay in my response. I finally convinced my friend to let me have his other two gold coins graded. The 1854 $2 1/2 dollar gold coin came back graded AU-58.
The 1853 $1 goin coin came back MS-63. See attached scans.

 

The things I have learned on researching these $3, $2 1/2, $1 gold coins:
1) Learned what, where, and when about the Dahlonega Mint. What a great history lesson. Also the correct pronouciation : dah-lo-ni- gay. Not easy to say.
2) Learned more about die clashes. Also more about die scratches and die wear and and what they look like. The 1854D $3 coin has them all. The diagnostics are well described. With close careful observation all parameters can be found.
3) Learned that patience and perserverance are invaluable virtues.
4) The gratification when the coins came back graded at least three grades higher than what I thought. Amazing!

What a very nice SET of coins. When the months and years roll by I'll still have the pictures of the three gold coins to enjoy.

 

Well the coins are at The Heritage Auction House scheduled for The Chicago International Coin Fair. Link here:

http://coins.HA.com/common/search_i...r_No=35&type=friend-consignorlive-notice&FC=0

Bidding is open right now. THANKS----------------- zeke

 

This was such a cool story and a fun read. It's amazing that a surprise like this can still happen in 2011. Thanks for posting.

 

$26k already, nice.

 

Congrats on your discoveries and Kudos for helping out a friend!

 

It's already had 7 bidders and 10 people tracking it. I will really be surprised if this coin doesn't come close to 50k. I didn't realize how rare this coin is. Only 1120 were minted and it is estimated that only about 150 survive.

 

As of 04-26-2011 4:30PM EST the 1854-D is at $32,500.00. I'm a hopin' for $40K before the auction starts at 7:00PM EST on
the 28th, Thursday. Can't believe this is happening.

zeke

 

Good luck buddy!

 

Totally exciting to see this coin come full circle! Hoping you (and your buddy) hit the 50K mark, but whatever happens, you should be more than ecstatic that it has come this far. Best Regards, George

 

Just wow. As much as that money would help pay off my house, I don't know that I could make myself sell the $3. How many chances does a person have of ever owning one? That thought would weigh heavily on me.

Amazing thread and amazing find though. Congrats to your friend for hitting the jackpot.

 

Just read all eight pages of this amazing story. This is by far the best coin story I've ever heard!!! CONGRATS!!

 

I guess this thread will end this Thursday night at the Heritage Platinum Night auction. I have to try and get on to Heritage Live
and view the happenings as they occur. There is one auction tonight so this will be my practice night. Maybe I'll call the Heritage representative and ask him about it. Wish I could be there but I probably wouldn't know or understand what's going on because I have never been to one. As I've said, I think, this $3 dollar gold 1854-D is by far not the most valuable going
up for sale tomorrow. Their catalog, Heritage's, just for tomorrow night is large with beautiful pictures and descriptions using high grade paper. Stand by for the final sale price.

 

Is there a way to post the story on heritage? I wonder if people knew the story and how cool it was, if it would sell for more?

 

This thread has been running on and off for over a year now. I just went back and re-read the entire thing. It's been a long road for you and your friend Zeke..... a trip that has ended quite happily. Again, my congratulations to you both and thanks for sharing this story with all of us Zeke. It's been most entertaining.

 

Thanks greenie, yes over a year now. I have gotten to know you and many others that have followed me on this thread. Hmm, thread doesn't seem to do it justice. You and five or six others have helped me several times. A total of thirty one friends have posted.
I finally reread all the pages just now and it is hard to describe what has happened. I could have screwed up so many times not knowing what to do or just backed away from this whole thing. But the advice given and moral support from the very first page was just what I needed.
Talking to NGC and later to Heritage was easy using the advice I was given. I did mention, I think, again, that there are no seller' fees involved with either of the three coins. I did ask for the extra percentage above the final gavel price but was politely turned down saying it was not their policy and/or they don't do that and saying only the smaller auction houses do that. That's kind of bush.
I really haven't communicated with Heritage much at all. I wonder if they would have sprung for a trip for me out to Chicago, Rosemont. lol! Fat chance.!
Last comment: There are several $3 gold coins in this auction. Some are high Mint State too. But NO OTHER 1854-D gold coin is there. So it's all alone with no competition. So hang on.

 

Not surprised in regards to it not having competition, there's only about 150 surviving specimens according to HA.com