ASE 9/11 Recovery Ground Zero- PCGS?

What are your thoughts on this coin? I've wanted one for awhile but not sure if it will actually be worth anything in the far distant future. I know some are MS and others are Gem Uncirculated, which is better?

 

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If you are planning to buy this with the thought that any of your purchase price is going to help survivors of the 9/11 tragedy, don't waste your money. I also wouldn't pay any more than melt for one of these. IMO, The label carries no premium.

 

The label DOES in fact carry a premium as many folks DO collect them. Some folks get a certain amount of pleasure out of collecting different slab types BUT thats a decision that one must make on their own.

http://www.teletrade.com/coins/sear...ton=Search&s_d16=1&searchid=7023562&pagenum=2

Numismatically speaking, the coin "may" or "may not" have been produced with Ground Zero Silver and/or had actually been in the World Trade Center Vaults. I do not know for sure. Other than that, its simply a silver eagle in a slab with a special label.

I've shopped for these in recent years and have never found one for less than a $100. If I bought one at $100, I would be foolish to believe or even entertain the thought that the coin/slab would appreciate in value. There is a STRONG Possibility that I might be able to sell it for what I paid or, knowing me, within $20 of what I paid.

Personally, I like to collect the different slab labels which have appear on Silver Eagle Slabs. It has no numismatic relevance as its just something I've decided to do. At the bear minimum, I have some silver set aside and being a big boy, I can accept that consequence.

My advice is, If your entertaining the thought of purchasing one of these, do so with the understanding that you could lose money on the proposition as these, and any other coin for that matter, are terrible investment vehicles.









Collect what you want but know what you collect.

 

I won't buy any ASE in a slab except (maybe) for ones from an anniv set. the rest are gimmicks IMO.

 

I dont understand all the hostility surrounding these coins and how people figure they wont be collectible. I was intrigued by this particular coin as well so I bought one (paid about $100 for it). It is a nice coin, and these are slabbed with that particular label because they were recovered from the vault beneath the World Trade Center AFTER they collapsed.

I think this coin DOES have some value because it is different than ALL the other ASEs. This one was in a particular place where the worst loss of American Lives has happened in recent history on OUR own sovereign soil. To me it is no different than collecting money from Pearl Harbor or from a shipwreck. It is a significant marker of history and has a story to tell more so than any other coin from the last 50 years. I know alot of people collect coins because of the stories they could tell and the history behind them, just like the Morgan dollar. People collect those because they are beautiful and lots of folks attribute them to the old Cowboys and Outlaws with likely stealing and hoarding the Morgans. To me this ASE is no different. It has a story to tell and a verified place that its been. How could it not be worth more than a regular ol' silver eagle that just made its transit from the mint to your collection. Mine has actually been somewhere and seen some things (for instance mine has some small brown spots that are on the coin, likely rust, but could it be blood from those that perished, or drops of sweat from the recovery workers, how about fuel from the planes? what is your eagles story?)

Then of course theres that theme that all collectors tell one another: 'Collect what YOU like' as long as YOU get enjoyment and appreciate the coin, buy whatever strike your fancy (within budget and reason)

 

In reality, theres just no way to tell where that silver actually came from. True, they did use some silver from the WTC to mint coins. But, that silver was sent out to the manufacturer who makes the silver blanks and came to the mint along with silver from mines in Idaho and Montana and Nevada. Like the "first strikes", there is no way to know. Collectible labels...sure. An investment...I wouldn't count on it.
Guy

 

With all numismatic considerations aside, I personally would not want 1 of these, especially if it could be shown it originated in the World Trade Center. I'm thinking there is some pretty bad "chi" associated with these things. I'd rather have something with a more positive "mojo". However, to each his/her own.

 

Is there any type of proof that these actually came from the comex vaults? Does PCGS have somewhere that shows these were taken from the vaults? Any idea of the total population of these coins?

 

Sold mine, I think they would be worth alot to people who live in New York and surrounding areas but after having mine for around a year I couldn't justify keeping it. JMHO

 

Messed up

 

My understanding of these coins is that they were actually stored in the vaults under the WTC, as in they were already made and held for storage in their vaults. I dont think the ASEs are the same coins that were created from silver recovered from the WTC wreckage, these ASEs were minted as usual and were recovered after the towers fell, in fact some of the only real things that survived that catastrophe and in such great shape.

You also have to realize there will never be any 2002, 2003, 2004, etc WTC recovery coins, the Towers fell in 2001 and so there was only the possibility of 1986-2001 coins found, plus some gold and world silver and gold as well.

To BigTee:

I personally feel like PCGS' label is proof enough for me. They are a coin guarantee grading company and stand by their grades and labels as such. Its no different than taking their word that the 1932 D Washington Quarter you have is genuine and not counterfeit. PCGS is not in the market of de-stablizing their own company by doing something fake like that, alot of people would lose trust in them quite quickly. Just my 2 cents of course, but I am no expert. Either way I like the coin and think it will retain some value, and will always be worth the silver content found in it

 

I don't know if it was proven true by anyone, but PCGS does offer special labeling on bulk submissions by an approved PCGS dealer, and the OP is a special label. No specific grade other than Gem Uncirculated and no serial number, which is what these special labels are. Some do not even have a grade such as gem. And as mentioned there are no scientific ways to prove or disprove the silver's origin or storage, except the word of the submitter. So if an authorized PCGS dealer claims these coin being submitted for bulk special label are from the WTC, then they would be labeled as such.
Just another sad effort to make money on a terrible event. IMO.

Jim

 

I have 2 of them 1993 and a 2001… besides some spots there in great condition id keep them.. I liv in the city a to me its a peice of history

 

Actually, Brinks was assigned to bring the 9/11 coins to Pcgs for grading.

 

I've heard that along with other things but have never seen anything to back it up.

 

I was unaware of the scenario you just outlined for me, and I appreciate the lesson in how PCGS' services could be used for nefarious purposes. Thanks for clarifying that for me. I still dont think these are any thing other than what has been described though. To me they are like a hybrid from the GSA Morgan dollars and a shipwrecked coin. Graded the way of a GSA but with the historical significance of a coin found in a shipwreck.

 

PCGS will also put first strike on a label. It has absolutely nothing to do with when the coin was struck by a particular die and was also at the request of a dealer/submitter.

 

+1 I think it's too close to grave robbing for my taste.

 

I see what you are saying, and if I remember correctly Collectors Universe was the one who had them sent off and graded. Which would lead me to believe that they wouldve been on the up and up with saying they came from the Twin Towers Vaults. It would look real bad for PCGS to send their own company coins to be slabbed as something they are not just to make a buck. If through all that the coins still come out to be fake from the WTC, well then I got suckered i guess.

 

Huh?

For 2006, the Proof and Uncirculated "Anniversary" set coins were the exact same coins whichg could be purchased individually. Having them in an "Anniversary Set" slab is gimmicky.

For 2011, the bullion version of the Silver Eagle was the exact sdame one which could be purchased individually from coin dealers and having it in an "Anniversary Set" slab is gimmicky.

As an aside, some of us actually enjoy "gimmicky" since we cannot afford 6 million dollar nickels, even $40,000 Morgan dollars or even $1,000 Lincoln cents.

Gimmicky can be quite pleasing yet also serve some tiny pupose in justification for continuing to purchase the coins which we can afford.

BTW, a 9/11 Recovery Site Silver Eagle is on my buy list and when I come across one, I'm gonna oick it up for my SAE collection.

Hmmmm, I wonder if the Lance Armstrong slabbed SAE's have dropped in price?