Most Obscure US Coin Facts

mrbrklyn · Apr 6, 2012

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Kirkuleez · Apr 6, 2012

Leadfoot said: ↑

Here is a little-known coin fact.

In 1982 a hoard of coins was found and taken by a constructoin crew in New Orleans.

It was uncovered in October 1982, during the construction of the Meridian hotel, on the site of a former bank. There were approximately 1000 coins in two wooden chests, representing French, American, and Spanish coinage. It was located about 12 feet beneath street level. The coins were immediately dispersed (alternately "seized", "stolen", "acquired", or whatever euphemism you like!) to about two hundred bystanders, this being in a downtown area during the day. There was never any inventory of the hoard and the construction company didn't worry about litigation as it was impossible to track the coins and they were more concerned about just getting the work done. I have not been able to determine the exact location of the Meridian, so I suspect it has changed names since the 1980s.

I own a what I believe to be a 1841-O DDO Seated Liberty Quarter from this hoard:

According to Heritage:

Along with the 1841-O, the 1840-O No Drapery was well represented in the New Orleans Hoard of 1982. As many coins from this hoard were heavily abraded and/or corroded. and often-seen softness of detail over the star centrils.

According to the Briggs LSQ book, where he rates the coin an R3 and the rest of the varieties of this date a R5+:

Existing populations [of the 1840-O] more than doubled by the "New Orleans" Hoard. More than 200 pieces of the double die obverse (1841 2-C) within this hoard. Most UNC's from this hoard are impared from moisture and being buried. Coins of all varieties are very difficult to find well struck up.

PCGS has graded a total of 51 pieces with MS 64 being the highest grade. NGC has graded 49 pieces in total, with 5 attributed as DDO, the highest of them all being a MS 66.

Enjoy...Mike
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I remember this happening. I was watching the local news when they reported a treasure chest being found downtown. They had video of kids and businessmen scooping up dirt with their hands looking for coins. I begged my mother to drive over there (I was 7or 8 at the time), and she took me over there. By the time we got there, the site was off limits.

snapsalot · Apr 6, 2012

Makes me want to buy a boat put on some pirate clothes and sail around looking for lost wrecks for treasure.

mrbrklyn · Apr 6, 2012

thats been done. I think I have a link on my website to ship wreck coins

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Most Obscure US Coin Facts

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Kirkuleez 80 proof

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