All dates in this album not the best of shape, but I feel the 1909s VDB looks pretty good. Been in friend’s vault over 54 years.
Oh yes, the beauty of it needs work. But it opens etc. Weighs about 1500 lbs. I would love it in my home after refurbishing it lol. That kind of quality is gone.
My brother in law has a nice safe similar to this in his law firm. It’s unused and unlocked but I’d sure like to have it.
It’s a nice piece. This one opened just fine. It’s in his shop so weather got to the beautiful but gosh, sandblasting would be magic. The name is embossed in the steel on the bottom of wheels so the name is there which is a plus. Any stampings of course not there.
That's a cool safe, but I'm always nervous about raw S VDB examples, even ones that have been locked away since before I was born - they've been faked for a lot longer than that. This one looks like a good match for Position 4 to me. The bottom serif looks slanted instead of vertical, which would be bad, but that might just be the photo. Crossbar in the B looks good, as does the dot position. So... maybe good?
I'll add my two cents on this: I read the same advice about buying key coins in the raw state. It can be a risky proposition. Unless you can attribute the specimen via established diagnostics, you could end up with a dud. Buying a slabbed specimen from a respected TPG is the safest route as a result. That said, you could pick up an authentic specimen for a bit less if you know what to look for. I feel reasonably confident about what to look for on some of the key coins, but I prefer to pay for the slabbed versions for good measure. Counterfeiting is getting better.
Thank you. I know these people. And I took these right out of an 88 year old man’s vault. My friend’s dad. It was his dad. Was in his vault after their dad split up his collection four ways, over 54 years ago. I do understand there is always a chance. My gut, I trust it but that’s me. He has the full set from 1909 to 1940. Grant you, they are not in pristine shape like the 1914-D etc, but still rare. Thanks for your two cents. Every cent counts. I have three but one is in the set of the 1909s VDB. Which I know you know this lol…
Just remember: every slabbed coin was once raw. And despite the TPG's very best efforts, they have not managed to slab every key coin ever produced. And, as I've said elsewhere, producing counterfeit slabs may in some ways be easier than faking or altering key-date coins...
Oh yes...collectors need to still do their due diligence. For certain there are counterfeit slabs out there as well. Plenty money in it...so there will be some to go that route. I used to frequent a local antique store that also had a coin section. The owner would tell me stories about a 3-legged Buffalo that he took in with a bunch of other nickels. Lightning hit for him that day. Sometime after, someone came to him with a 1955 DDO and he bought it for a couple hundred dollars. It was counterfeit. That particular coin wasn't even in a 2x2 flip...just like the 3-legged Buffalo. No lightning that day. Aside from the Henning nickel I found, that was the first counterfeit I held in hand. No plastic to look through...no obstructions. But also...no diagnostics.
That would make me feel more comfortable too...but I'd still be looking for the attribution diagnostics. Just to be 100% sure...I'm extra cautious that way. Pristine or not, having a coin like the 1914-D in Fair condition is a good place holder while a slabbed/better specimen remains in a safer location. I did that with my 1909-S and 1914-D album slots. Slabbed specimens are in the safety deposit box.
Today, I cringe thinking about all that came through our hands in working in the bank and especially dealing with the New Orleans vault. I should have figured all out when a couple of customers would come in, asking for $20,000 in ones every few days. My head teller would say, ugh! I said give the man the ones! A customer forever he was. He would find many different bills from errors to dates etc. The coins, I don’t think about it because I say “ugh”! Younger and, well not stupid, just did not think of tomorrow. My son has gotten interested, so I’m happy about that. Thanks for your info!
