[CLOSED] The "It's About Time I Had Another Giveaway Because H8_modern is so Awesome" contest

OK, so @H8_modern is awesome. I already knew this, and suspect many of you did as well, but that fact was recently reinforced.

Check out the loot I won in his recent giveaway.

(*Just kidding about the gold coin, but everything else in that post was in my surprise package- and I wasn't the only one who got an awesome surprise package from him, either!)

So this means it's time for me to do another, because "what comes around goes around".

(Never mind that I'm grossly behind schedule in shipping my last giveaway obligations- from the "Epic Treasure Hunting Game" - so I beg those folks to continue being patient. I should have their goodies finally mailed off before this next giveaway closes.)

So here's the new giveaway.

Imagine you have a time machine that is good for exactly one round trip in time. The controls are rusty and some of the gears are stuck (hey, it's an old H.G. Wells-type time machine with analog controls, not a Doc Emmett Brown-style DeLorean with a flux capacitor.) So you don't have much choice in destination. But it could've been worse...

You are going to end up at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois in late May of 1893!

Here's your ticket.

(One of you will actually win this in the drawing.)




Let's say you also have five circulated Morgan dollars to spend on souvenirs at the Exposition, and one outfit of late-19th century clothing so you won't stick out like a sore thumb.

To enter, tell us how you would spend your virtual five bucks in 1893, and what souvenir(s) you would bring back. (Coins or whatever else- anything goes- as long as you would've been able to find it for $5.00 or less in Chicago in 1893.)

Everyone who posts an entry will get one chance in the final drawing on or shortly after June 1st, 2017.

People who make what I consider to be particularly interesting souvenir choices for their virtual $5 in 1893 will get additional chances in the drawing, at my discretion.

Two winners will be drawn.

One will get the original Columbian Exposition ticket shown above.

Another person will receive this linked pair of 19th century hand-engraved love tokens, which are the sort of thing that might have been sold at the Exposition. These particular pieces were hand carved on dimes, including a nice bird pictorial and an 1883 Seated dime host coin, and the original chain still joins them together.



NOTE: Naturally, all "purchases" made here in this contest are "virtual" and hypothetical. Nobody is making any real purchases here. The two prizes shown above are real, however, and will be awarded in the drawing.

 

Because of his awesome generosity:

This post is to give @H8_modern an additional chance in the drawing.

Therefore, if he posts an entry, he will thereby get two chances in the drawing.

(One from his entry, and one from this post.)

If he doesn't, he'll still automatically get one chance from this.

 

Because I felt like it:

This post is to give @LaCointessa an additional chance in the drawing.

Therefore, if she posts an entry, she will thereby get two chances in the drawing.

(One from her entry, and one from this post.)

If she doesn't, she'll still automatically get one chance from this.

(I sorta figured she might dig those love tokens.)

 

Because we discussed this time travel scenario yesterday:

This post is to give @Deacon Ray an additional chance in the drawing.

Therefore, if he posts an entry, he will thereby get two chances in the drawing.

(One from his entry, and one from this post.)

If he doesn't, he'll still automatically get one chance from this.

 

Interesting. I know nothing about vintage sewing needles. Surely you could buy plenty in 1893 Chicago for five bucks, though, right? Were these issued in special packaging? Got pix? What would they be worth in 2017 (not that that matters, for a sentimental gift)?

This is the kind of strategic thinking we wanna see. Trouble is, there is no mint in Chicago. But yes, let's assume you can find a fresh, newly struck, super Gem 1893 $5 gold piece in or around the Exposition grounds. I suppose it would be a Philadelphia coin, but...?

Oh- and I'll bet five bucks would've bought a whole LOT of popcorn in 1893! (Like, a wheelbarrow full, maybe? More?)

 

Numismatically speaking, let's say you theoretically have access to anything coin- or currency-wise that could have plausibly been in circulation in Chicago in 1893. You've befriended a few cashiers and tellers who don't mind you checking their drawers (oops, that sounded bad) - um - looking through their tills- for stuff to buy at face value.

Were there world proof sets available at the various foreign venues? I don't know. Seems possible, at a World's fair like that. (I know the British issued some fantastic proof sets that year- I used to have a gorgeous Cameo proof 1893 half-sovereign I regret selling. But those British proof sets with gold coins likely cost more than $5, even assuming any were for sale at the Exposition.)

Were there coin dealers at the Exposition or nearby in Chicago, where you might've been able to purchase older coins, like Colonial issues? Again- dunno- but it seems possible. Google us up a coin dealer pricelist circa 1893, find a dealer in Chicago, and make your case for what you selected!

Sell us your "souvenir scenario" to make it plausible. Google up some links or pictures to support your hypothesis, if you like. Have fun with it. I think most of us have daydreamed scenarios like this before. Give us your best.

Anyone who posts a scenario gets entered in the drawing, and the winners will be chosen randomly, but some of the more interesting scenarios posted may get extra credit (i.e., be awarded extra chances in the drawing).

I also might sweeten the pot with some additional prizes later.

 

Yes, good choice on the Isabella quarters. What did they cost, at the issue price? I'm pretty sure it was more than face value, so maybe you can't get 20 of them for your $5, but you could still get several! And you can cherrypick top-quality pieces, too!

 

Dayum! That's a LOT of popcorn!

Too much, I think!

You're gonna make yourself sick! LOL

Personally, I think I'd stick with the Gem 1893-P $5 gold piece!

 

This "nerded out" post is awesome. Extra entry in the drawing for @Seattlite86. Brilliant!

BTW, you're already presumed to have had a ticket, so no need to pay for admission, unless you want an extra ticket for a souvenir. So you can spend another 50 cents. I know you'll get full value for the money! Bravo!

(And thanks for all the info.)