I have collected coins for over 30 years and I recently bought something that I have never seen or heard of and cant seem to find out anything about. I bought an 1893 gold coin that is in a gold colored metal container with the image of the american eagle that is on the reverse of the $5 coronet gold piece, on the top of the container. It would have to be the original mint container and is in great condition for the most part. I think it would have to have been rare just because i have never seen another. Anyone have any knowledge of these mint containers from 1893? Terry
Howdy Terry - Welcome to the Forum !! Boy Howdy !! - you have rung my bells with this post !! It's not often I get too terribly excited - but just the chance ........... I have no idea if what you have is original mint packaging or not - but I sure wanna see it !! Please tell me you can post pictures.
thatchette was kind enough to send me pics of this item - I am posting them here for him. I had hoped that by now that I would have been able to find some information about this that I could post with the pics. Sadly, I have not been able to find anything as of yet. But I am still looking. Meanwhile - the pics -
My guess is that it's some kind of aftermarket container. It just looks too nice to be a product of our Mint.
That was thinking too at first. But the velvet lining certainly has the look of original cases from the period. I am wondering if it was perhaps for a Proof coin.
It might be GDJMSP.....has there every been any info found on how the mint packed coins back then? Speedy
I have seen Proof sets from the 1800's that were issued in leather folders similar to the coin albums used today. But I have not seen containers for individual coins from that period. That doesn't mean they didn't exist though. I own several Proof sets that were issued in original packaging from the Royal Mint of Great Britain in the 1800's - like maundy sets and an original 1911 Proof set. So packaging similar to this was definitely in use in other countries at the time. But finding such packaging for US coinage of this period is almost unheard of.
Wasn't there a guy here that was collecting original packing for older US coins like Comms and such...I don't know if this is what he knew about but I just thought of him today... Speedy
