Featured Vesta McCurry's WW1 love token coin is going home!

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by lordmarcovan, Dec 22, 2018.

  1. Renee F

    Renee F New Member

    Hi! This is Renee, Richard and Nancy's daughter, Vesta and Howard's great-granddaughter (lordmarcovan, I can PM you proof if you wish). They let me know what had happened, and I just wanted to express our thanks! My mother is very into genealogy and loved her grandparents very much, and this coin turning up means the absolute world to her. Thank you so, so much, and Merry Christmas!
     
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Hi, Renee!

    I think it's awesome that it turned out this way. Makes for a great story. :)

    Happy you joined up to post here, too. That was a surprise. Your mother mentioned you in our phone conversation. The name stood out because my wife's name is Lenee, which rhymes with yours.

    I do hope you'll post any pictures and family anecdotes you see fit, though I don't suppose you're old enough to have met your great-grandparents?

    Isn't the timing of this neat, to all be happening on the 99th anniversary of their wedding?
     
    Neal, kountryken, Theodosius and 8 others like this.
  4. Renee F

    Renee F New Member

    It does make a great story! I'm still a bit floored by the whole thing. Glad you all found us, and what fantastic timing!

    I will look around and see if I have any, I know my mom does, I'll see if she can send me some. Unfortunately, I never met either of them, but I do have great memories picking pecans with my grandmother Vivian at their little house (no longer standing, sadly) in Hartwell though.
     
    NSP, Stevearino, Neal and 10 others like this.
  5. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    If @Renee F or anyone else is curious what the front of that coin looked like before it was planed off and re-engraved, here is is the obverse of a French silver 2-franc coin of this type (KM #845), which was minted from 1898-1920.

    The design features La Semeuse, "The Sower", an eternal symbol of the French Republic that is featured on modern Euro coins to this day.

    (Picture courtesy of the Numista listing.)

    [​IMG]
     
    NSP, frankjg, Theodosius and 7 others like this.
  6. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Now, ladies and gentlemen, thanks to some family photographs shared by her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, I am pleased to present to you...

    Miss Vesta McCurry, the lady on the coin, circa 1918!

    VestMcCurry1918.png

    And, later in life, with her husband Howard G. Pearman, the man who had the coin inscribed to her in France, during the final year of World War I. (This picture taken before 1958).

    Vesta  Howard.png


    Is this not fantastic? I certainly think so. Call me superstitious, but I like to imagine that maybe Vesta and Howard themselves might have even had a hand in this, and are smiling down from above.

    Merry Christmas, everyone, and happy 99th wedding anniversary to Vesta and Howard! :)


    WW1 trench art badge - 1918 2F.png
     
    NSP, Hookman, Stevearino and 28 others like this.
  7. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    Lord M... Just shared this story with my wife. Who happens to share Christmas Day as her birthday. She was near moved to tears by the reunion of this token to the family. And we may need to visit your part of Georgia’s coast soon. I owe her some beach time. A late Christmas card will be in the mailbox tomorrow morning headed your way. Thank you for reuniting this family heirloom to where it rightfully belongs. This is the best Christmas story ever.
     
    Hookman, frankjg, CircCam and 8 others like this.
  8. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Now that, that I like ! ;)

    And Renee, I realize you probably don't truly understand that comment but I guarantee you everybody else around here does. Suffice it to say it caries sincere and heartfelt meaning :)
     
  9. Maxfli

    Maxfli Well-Known Member

    Great story. Thread Of The Year!
     
  10. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    ("Likes" from our Fearless Leader are not lightly given! It is something of an inside joke.)
     
    Theodosius likes this.
  11. Gilbert

    Gilbert Part time collector Supporter

    Talk about a great Christmas story! @lordmarcovan you are The Man!
     
    Hookman, CircCam and lordmarcovan like this.
  12. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    That is absolutely fantastic! You are one awesome guy @lordmarcovan ! Happy Anniversary Howard and Vesta!!
     
    Hookman, Spark1951 and lordmarcovan like this.
  13. Elizabeth Shamblin

    Elizabeth Shamblin New Member

    Wow, that is a terrific story! So nice that you wrote it up and helped the coin find its way home.
     
    Theodosius, Kasia, Rassi and 2 others like this.
  14. Nathan401

    Nathan401 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

    Blown away by this heartwarming story. Bravo LMarcovan, and everyone that helped.
     
  15. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Hey, speaking of family reunions, I didn't expect to see my sister posting here!
     
  16. TheFinn

    TheFinn Well-Known Member

    That is a great story. Lose the gloves - they make you look like you don't know what you're doing.
     
  17. DUNK 2

    DUNK 2 Well-Known Member

  18. Elizabeth Shamblin

    Elizabeth Shamblin New Member

    Well, I don't know much about coins but I do know a good story when I see it!
    And I was the first coin-finder in the family. When I was 3, I dug a hole at the beach and found a shiny quarter in it! But instead of saving it for posterity, I spent it on a pink and white coconut bar.
     
    Hookman, Stevearino, Nyatii and 7 others like this.
  19. DUNK 2

    DUNK 2 Well-Known Member

    Another example of the difference between siblings. Your brother would likely still have that quarter. :)
     
  20. sonlarson

    sonlarson World Silver Collector

    Awesome story, and what a magnificent ending. Truly amazing that you were able to take a random lost coin and present it the family. That has to be something that they will cherish forever. Thanks @lordmarcovan for taking the time and effort to see this through. I, for one, am very proud of you. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
     
    Hookman and lordmarcovan like this.
  21. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    I remember that freaky incident. She dug down and there was a quarter right there, dead center in the hole, as if by magic. A quarter was still actually something worthwhile to us at the time.

    (Not being partial to pink and white coconut bars myself, I had forgotten that latter part of the story.) ;)
     
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