Last year also saw a rare 1870 Japanese Meiji gold Proof sold for '$470,000, against a $100,000 estimate'
Posted on 01/06/2018 11:14:59 AM PST by mairdie
When is a penny worth $300,000?
When it's one of the first copper coins struck at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, in 1793.
The annual Florida United Numismatists (FUN) convention is being held in Tampa this week, and three historic coins, including the pricey penny, went up for auction Thursday evening.
Mark Borckardt, a senior numismatist with Heritage Auctions in Dallas, said the George Washington-era penny is one of about 500 in existence.
The 63rd annual FUN Convention also features 'over 600 dealer booths, a competitive exhibit area, 15 educational programs' and a host of other activities. FUN describes itself as 'an organization dedicated to involving and growing the numismatic community.'
Other high-value U.S. coins sold at auction included a half-dollar minted in New Orleans in 1838 and a $4 gold piece called a 'Flowing Hair Stella,' that sold for $750,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Last year also saw a rare 1870 Japanese Meiji gold Proof sold for '$470,000, against a $100,000 estimate'
A Capac rose, a Capac fell
A thousand fathoms o'er my cell;
And to my dismal dark recess
E'en Spanish thunder could not press.
At length discordant sounds arose
To fright me from my long repose.
I saw the light -- the human face --
And man usurp'd my native place.
Borne from the mine, far, far away
A mass of kindred ores we lay
But stay not long -- Fierce chemic fire
Bid ev'ry drossy part retire
Till at the forceful last essay
A splendid ingot fair I lay.
Commerce now join'd me to its store
And o'er the foaming ocean bore,
Safely within the Mint was flung
Where other changes o'er me hung.
The Die and the terrific Screw
Another form around me threw;
I rose an Eagle fresh and new.
A congress sage of aspect grave
Not over wise nor quite a knave,
Receiv'd me in the shape of pay
(The stipend of a single day)
And bore me to the south away.
Here I was bounc'd and urged through
Adventures rare as well as new.
A man of rice thro' one whole day
Controul'd with undisturbed sway
But e'er the dawn of morrows light,
Evanish'd from his purse and sight.
From rice to cotton I was flung:
Then in a Reticule was hung:
My mistress was all smirk all smile
And bore my jingling well a while,
Then in a fit of finery lost me
And to a Canton Crape man tost me:
He grin'd as he receiv'd the treasure
And dropt me in his till at leisure.
Here I lay slumbering out of sight
Two long, long days and one short night
The sherriff came with stern Fi Fa
And bore me from the till away.
How I came there I scarcely know
Or right or wrong 'twas truly so
I found myself with lott'ry Waite
Who long had whirl'd the wheel of Fate
A paltry prize a carman drew
And in his leather pouch I flew
But er he sought his crib of rest
A grocer hous'd me in his nest.
Dandies and Belles by turn carest me
And Feds and Tails by fits possest me.
I'm worn a little I must own
And my first blush of brightness gone;
A little too decres'd in weight
But what is left is sterling plate;
Tho' clip'd and sweated, worn and old
My latest atom will be GOLD.
One little word of moral o'er
And then we part to meet no more.
Pursue me reader if you please
With moisten'd brow or yawn of ease;
Urge on the chase or slow or keen,
Keep conscience clear and fingers clean.
The golden calf of Moab's plain
Was Israel's sin and Israel's shame
Till wiser Moses made them quaff
Their recent God the molten calf.
R--.
You are MARVELOUS!
That is funny right there.
PING
A question to the researchers out there.
“And Feds and Tails by fits possest me”
Obviously, Feds are Federalists. What are Tails?
THANK YOU!!!!! It’s amazingly beautiful. Very pure design.
Stella!!!
why is America abbreviated “Ameri”? they could have easily fit the “ca” and balanced out the letters better, the whole phrasing around the edge seems unbalanced, not centered.
Fascinating. Good catch.
why is America abbreviated “Ameri”?
—
You gotta ask the guy that struck it, but I don’t know.
Maybe the guy who was engraving the die ran out of room and deicded to truncate “America” rather than start a new die.
Wow.
LOLOL!
The most common explanation I’ve heard is that the engraver wanted the reverse lettering to seem balanced. “AMERI.” balances with “STATES” and “UNITED”, while “AMERICA” would have looked long and out of place. The “AMERICA” version exists and is much more common with ~650 in existence vs ~200 for the “AMERI.” variety.
This one sold for $1.38 million in 2012.
https://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/-1.38-million-1793-chain-cent-draws-international-attention-to-heritage-auctions-64-million-fun-event.s?releaseId=2150
One of my cousins learned Arabic to help her father, who collected ancient mideastern coins. All completely beyond me. I got excited at finding pennies from before 1944.
That’s fascinating. Great factoid.
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