No, not at all.... It is called a bar token due to the thirteen parallel bars on the reverse that represent the thirteen colonies. They traded in commerce with the same value as a cent.
Ohhh ok xD. I only asked because I know in the Wild West they had brothel tokens for prostitutes ("Good for 1 screw") and they also had tokens for general stores so I figured maybe some bars had tokens of their own or something. Lol!
O-M-G!! That's seriously #1 on my most desired coins list. Basically any American pre-1800 gold coin. Very nice!!
Some very nice coins, folks! Like many, I have several favorites, but one of the tops would be this commoner. I remember as a teen I loved how this looked with a bit of circulated wear, some lady with wings on her head and something on the reverse I had no idea what it was. It showed artistic beauty and typical monetary use...simplistic and beautiful. This first Mercury purchase started a long love/lust relation with dimes.
I have to cheat a little. My favorite find was too expensive for me to own. It is the Third known 1793 NC-6 which I Attributed from the Heritage Archives. It has a provenance older than the Discovery coin and had been attributed as S-16. Mark Borchhardt wrote this find up in the April 2019 issue of Penny-Wise. The favorite coin I was able to purchase was this recent cherry pick of a 1796 NC-2 and is either the 10th or 11th known.
I've only been collecting for a few years and became fascinated by Barber Halves about 12-18 months ago. During my search I found this 1897-S graded MS-63 PL and I became obsessed with it. It was and still is the only PL graded 1897-S that I'm aware of.
Bravo! [Absolutely no need for some CT validating photos - mine doesn't include one either] Your account captures that lifetime "hook"; that first numismatic coup/epiphany/kiss. For me, it was a 1964 laundromat change maker on L.I.. In went a shiny 1962 quarter and out came two amazing - but numismatically unremarkable - Barber dimes and a Liberty nickel. Lifetime addictions often catch coin collector dilettantes off-guard... even at thirteen. Oh, BTW, I didn't convert them into mini-boxes of Tide... Sorry, Mom.
I've always liked Indian Head Cents, but, being a cheap guy, have never bought a really nice Unc or AU one. Saw this one for cheap and had to order it. Additionally, it is a "smoothed" coin, which I had never seen outside of ancient coins (the fields are shaved to make them smooth). After I got it, I noticed the easily visible clash behind the Indian's head. What's not to like?
My 1853 C $5 gold piece. I guess it really isn't mine any more, since I gave it to my wife about 25 years ago. She must wear it about half the time she goes out - probably knocks about 25c of collector value off it from wear each time. Before you get too upset, hidden under that bezel is the worst rim nick [rim gouge?] I have ever seen. I know, it's weird, but I value human relationships more than material things. And in case you haven't guessed, my wife's name is Charlotte.
I will post a pic of it soon but, I have an 1853 Gold dollar coin (ANACS MS 50/50). I am amazed at the fact I have something from back then and wonder who may have touch it, owned it or its path to me from my wife's uncle. Just trying to imaging the lineage is intriguing to me.