Know Somebody Sitting On A Super Rare Coin? Story Time!

Going to have some fun. If you know a person (directly or through some degree of separation) who has a very rare or unique coin. It does not have to be a coin you actually saw. It can even be a bit of a 'rumor'. For example I recall a rumor from a buddy of mine a few years back that a guy in rural California had a heavily worn 1894-s Dime he found in change. True? No idea and I highly doubt but my friend at least gave it a SMUDGE of credence. I do have one that is a little more grounded.

I have a close friend in southern Georgia who I was visiting and he told me he wanted to tell me something awesome: He knew an old timer with a 1792 J-2. I laughed and laughed. He kept a straight face and said he was serious. He was at this little coin club meeting at a VA and this guy who had strolled in a few times and he got a little friendly with this old fellow. Eventually this guy told him he had something he would like to show my friend. My friend thought nothing of it and BAM this guy takes a little 2x2 holder and pulls out the coin. My friend (I will call him Bill) thought "Oh this old fellow is a bit of a novice and thinks he has a genuine and should I just smile OR should I try and let him down easy?" Well Bill put on a show (sure it was fake) and smiled and said "Wow". This old guy was savy and replied something to the effect of "This is real and I know it is. I've had it looked at by experts". Bill still was not really buying it but said "Oh really". This guy whips out paper work from a very, very big coin dealer (Who I will not name but any collector knows the name) which was a personal letter from this dealer essentially begging him to sell it. The old guy told Bill that about 10 years ago (This was a few years back so I'd say around 2005) he wanted to have the coin authenticated. He contacted a few dealers who of course blew him off. I mean when somebody calls and says "I have a 1792 Judd 2" I think most coin shops are prone to hang up the phone. Well anyway this Unnamed Major Dealer sort of blew him off but told him he was going to be in Atlanta in a few months and if he wanted he could meet him. I guess he did and to this dealer obviously thought it was genuine because he sent a letter to him a bit later asking if he wanted to sell it. It was not begging but the letter was sort of pleading.

My friend took me to see this guy and when I saw the coin it blew me away. This guy let Bill and me look over the coin for nearly an hour. I have obviously never handled a genuine coin and am far from an expert but we could see nothing wrong with it. It was amazing. The old guy says he will never sell it. I ask Bill every know and then and he says he sees the old fellow but the coin never comes up except in passing.