Can't Wait For Image To Arrive

They must be very PL.

I found them in a Museum. I am just getting the images for my book project, not the coins. Wish I could though.

I'm not sure that there would be any frost at 400 pieces coined?

Can't wait to see the coins!

Thanks all for the questions and comments.



"Cardboard boxes had been prepared for the reception of the coins, not unlike those in which pills are sold."1

1.The Authoritative Reference on Commemorative Coins 1892-1954, From the Chicago Tribune, November 20, 1892, by Kevin Flynn, published by Kyle Vick, 2008, p. 342.

I have the images of all three envelopes and coins. Cost me some money to get them from the museum. There are restrictions that doesn't allow me to post the coin images here.

They will be in my book though.

They grade images now?

. . ." 'Particular attention was devoted by Mint Superintendent Bosbyshell and his assistant to the packing of one keg, which was distinguished from the others by the word 'Special' marked in blue pencil on the head. There were five bags of coins placed in this keg as in the others, but one of them was marked $4,998 instead of $5,000. This indicated the omission from contents of four half dollars, one of which is now the most valuable piece in its denomination ever produced. These four were the first, or '$10,000 beauty,' the 400th, 1492nd, and the 1892nd coins of the new issue. These pieces, on account of their extraordinary value, which was estimated at not less than $15,000, were placed in a separate package. Each of them was first inserted in a small circular pasteboard box which, after being wrapped in stout paper, was marked as follows:

'No. 1, 400, 1492,1892, Columbian half dollars. Sealed by C.O. Bosbyshell, Superintendent United States Mint.' This wooden cigar box, which was used to prevent the heavy bags of coins from crushing the package. These extraordinary precautions in sealing and packing were taken at the request of the president of the World's Fair commission, who in a letter to the Treasury Department asked that the coins be so arranged that they need not be disturbed by the sub-treasurer at Chicago. 'One of the pieces,' he wrote, 'has already been sold for $10,000, and it is very important that we should be able to show the purchaser that they are the identical coins called for on the separate certificates.'

'There it is,' said Mr. Peck. Pushed in at one side of the snugly-tucked canvas bag was a cigar box. It was lifted out and inside was the packet showing daubs of sealing wax. Across the space was the certificate of Director Bosbyshell of the Philadelphia Mint that it contained the first Columbian half dollar coined at the Mint [and] that it contained numbers 400, 1492, and 1892. This packet was torn open and the shell was given to Mr. Schwab for safekeeping. The envelope marked 'Number 1' was then carefully opened-the other three being tucked into the president's inside pocket. . ." 1.

1. Commemorative Coins of the United States; A Complete Encyclopedia, Q. David Bowers. Published by Bowers and Merena Galleries, Inc., Box 1224, Wolfeboro, NH 03894, 1991.