What a SHAME!!!

Perhaps the artist purposely used a coin from this particular mint to make a statement of rare beauty chained and confined, or set free to beautify the wearer instead of cast into the dungeons of pockets to be spent and spent again.

 

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Well, I wasn't exactly expecting a lot of "likes" from my post it is just another way of looking at it. Coin jewelry is part of our history, and I think that should be preserved also. I know you see the coin as "lost" but it is not, it is just not in a condition that you prefer.

Also as far as we know, turning the coin into jewelry, may very well have "saved" the coin from the melting pot or some other demise. You just never know.

 

Oh don't get me wrong i love exonumia (sp) I just don't expect it to be made out of coins worth thousands of dollars

 

The coin was probably worth $10 when it was made into the jewelry at hand.

 

Of course, and I would never suggest, such a rare coin be turned into jewelry today, but the past is the past and I just think it can be appreciated for what it is.

 

Oh don't get me wrong, I'd still love to own that example or any example of Dahlonega or Charlotte gold for that matter!

 

Would you wear it?

 

Like I said earlier this is most definitely a genuine piece. I paid more then melt... Double melt actually... I was thinking about an eBay special...

 

This is all hypothetical because at the moment I probably couldn't afford any gold, save for some 1/10 oz. AGEs, let alone an 1857-D $1 in any condition. That being said, if I obtained this piece I would probably send it off to NCS to see what they could do to help this rarity. Maybe it could then be put it in an NCS conserved slab or an NGC details ex-jewelry slab. So, no, I wouldn't wear it!! LOL!

 

Matt - What are those dark lines under the D?

And I'd keep an eye on it if it went to feeby.

 

This is the kind of piece that even though it may sadden us because we would rather see it pure and unadulterated cannot but evoke thoughts of who owned it, how did they wear it, was it a special piece, was it worn at parties, was it handed down through family lines for a time, and whatever.

 

Not that it matters much, but I believe what is attaching those clips is just straight lead, if it was made when new. I dont believe they had flux back then so they just probably roughed it up, heated it up with a couple dabs of lead until they melted. What I'm getting at is I dont beleive it will be that difficult to remove the lead from the coin, besides you pretty much have nothing to lose by trying considering the condition. Way cool find either way!

 

Ahh, what could have been....

Is there any chance of removing the jewelry parts and salvaging the coin?

 

Maybe even just 1 dollar if the conversion was made when the coin was current. If it's real in the first place.

But what's wrong with leaving it as it is? Why can't it be both a beautiful coin and a piece of jewelry? Tons of people collect holed coins, love tokens, coins made into buttons, etc. What's so bad about this?

P.S. Yeah I meant Georgia not North Carolina. Oops.

 

Also, think of it this way...It isn't a coin to be added to the known population of such problem free coins. Since this coin is severely damaged, owners of problem free 1857-Ds can be happy that the rarity of their coin hasn't changed.

 

I find that with non-collectors, their first thought regarding a gold coin is to make a nice ring or necklace with it. The idea of "rarity" doesn't come into the equation at all.

 

Don't know what non-collectors you've met. I think most would at least regard it as an object of value, and if they didn't want to keep it, they'd be at least smart enough to know you want to not damage it so you can get good money for selling it. The worst instinct an non-collector (or an inexperienced collector) might make is to try to clean or polish it. Don't think many would think "hey let's make that into a ring." Some maybe, but not all, or even most.

 

I owned an antique business for several years and purchased a lot of estates. Over the years, I had dozens of pieces of jewelry that were made from gold coins. Bracelets, necklaces, rings, tie tacks, you name it. Some of the coins would have been highly desirable by coin collectors but they were either damaged with solder like Matt's or they were trimmed to fit into a bezel.

If I had nice silver dollars in my showcase, the comments I heard most often (regardless of how high a grade the coin was) was "That would make a great belt buckle!"

It is very common to find amazing coins, like gold ancients in rings or necklaces. Check out some of the auction sites. It'll make you cringe.

http://www.ebay.ca/sch/Vintage-Antique-Jewellery-/48579/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=gold coin&_sop=3

http://arcajewelry.com/store/index.php?CategoryID=75

http://www.ferbers.com/ancient-coin-jewelry.html?gclid=CKmusJm507MCFWlxQgodN0IAkw

 

It looks like a plumber did that soldering job........

 

This one would be a good candidate for NCS conservation. The reverse will always bear some damage, but you'd be surprised what they can do. They could at least likely remove some of the hack job soldering on the reverse and put the coin into a details slab. Might be worth the investment for such a rare piece.