What would you do if you found a box of coins in your attic worth $2,000?For Novatan Matthew Rodgers, the answer was simple: Give it back to its rightful owne Read more its exciting stuff on thelink http://bestcoin.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html#5589114937571827923
This would be sort of tough for me - and let me explain before everyone jumps on me and rips me apart - from previous threads I know we have some incredibly honest members here. There is no doubt that this gentleman did the right thing - and knowing myself, I probably would have done the same. This is why I ultimately collect coins - so that I have something to pass on to my kids when I'm gone. This is obviously what this gentleman wanted to do for his kids. Finders laws excluded - this would be the righteous thing to do. What's interesting though, is that the article never mentions what the coins were - therefore, two scenarios play out in my mind. First, hypothetically lets say this box was filled with silver rounds - nothing specific - just silver rounds - without a second thought these would be returned. I don't collect these, these would have no personal value to me, but understandably would have great significance to the family and most definitely returned. Second scenario - Now lets say this box is filled with silver dollars, half dollars and various other coins from the 1800's. Not slabbed - just raw coins. As a coin collector, I would inherently know the value of these pieces and would want to preserve them. It would be very difficult to hand these coins over when odds are that the kids probably don't collect coins and would probably just go down to the local coin store and cash them in for pennies on the dollar. Worse case scenarios are that they are just thrown in the basement or attic somewhere or given to their children to "play" with. There would be no attempt for preservation and the values of these potential historical coins would be destroyed. Ultimately still, I would probably return them - minus one or two of the more valuable coins. :kewl: Here is an example that illustrates the potential train wreck that could ensue once these "valuable" coins are turned over to the family. Several years ago, my sister in-law knowing that I collect coins and currency showed me a box filled... and I mean filled... with $1, $2, etc up to $20 bills from the late 1800's. There were several black eagles and other rare bills that I had never seen before. I almost crapped myself. No joke. She said that her dad collected these and when he died she just gathered them up and threw them in a shoe box not knowing the value of these. They were not protected by plastic covers or anything. She told me that she kept them for years up in her closet. I immediately asked her if I could preserve these for her. I went out and bought her plastic holders and carefully saved each one. Now - these weren't UNC bills, but regardless they were in decent shape and unprotected. She wanted to give me one for my troubles and I told her to keep them to give to her kids one day. Just the joy of looking at such items was payment itself. I did tell her that if she ever got rid of them, please take me along so that I could make sure she received proper compensation or that I would buy them myself. True story. Now that would be my dilemma. Not that I'm greedy or that I would cash these in for money - but rather I would preserve them for the historic value - and put them in my personal collection to be looked at and appreciated for years to come. Morally right - maybe not - but each one of you can't tell me that these very thoughts wouldn't go through your head if you saw a 1870CC or 1878S Seated Liberty Half Dollar or a 1871CC Silver Dollar or any of the Trade Dollars for that matter staring at you in the face. Some of you may want to trade any of the above in for instant cash, but as a collector I would be more concerned with preservation and historical appreciation. No more - no less. Hope I have made sense from all this rambling.
If they dont belong to you they dont what happens to them is the rightful owner;s business IMHO they can throw it down a lake or a wishing well if they want to
i am still reading the french book of gold coins you highly recommended and all that has done is caused me not to buy 7 gold coins ( my world gold collection has come to a screeching halt) the only good thing is all 7 of those coins were forgeries
? Burn what exactly the gold coin book? now if you are planning to burn down one of Hobo's cherished classics
I knew someone was going to say just this. LOL! I know, I know - I was thinking that same thing too when I was typing that novel. I was discussing this topic with a friend of mine who does not collect coins, but who has a lot more sense than I do. After telling him the story and the topic of the thread, his comment was if I knew what the value of the coins were and I knew that the rightful owners did not collect coins, why didn't I just present it this way to them that the coins were valuable and that I would like to pay you a fair price for them so that they would be preserved. He continued to say that they would probably be grateful that I even returned the coins and they probably would accept my offer. Win, Win for everyone. Of course - assuming that they had no interest in the coins themselves. Fortunately, my friend did comment that knowing me, he said I would probably return the coins no matter what the outcome was. He apparently doesn't know me that well! LOL! :mouth: And Bruce, I do remember your thread, but didn't feel comfortable commenting at the time. I just got on my band wagon this afternoon.
What I would do, if the time comes that she wants to sell them, bring along your most recent edition of a currency book, and show and explain the grade, and the price you would pay her. That way, she knows she's not getting cheated, and you're getting a fair deal.
