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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,171 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
This just arrived today. Aside from it being my first Colonial, it is also graded by Walter Breen. It's a 1788 Massachusetts Copper, Period after Massachusetts. I probably over-paid a bit (but not too much I think) simply because I liked the idea of Walter Breen having actually laid his eyes and hands on it. So what's your grade? Additional pics available if you'd like. Reveal in 48 hours or so.   |
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Moderator
 United States
34410 Posts |
Great pick-up! I'll let others with more experience give you a grade, but seeing this coin reminds me of what William Sheldon says in Early American Cents: Quote:
"Old copper, like beauty, appears to possess a certain intrinsic quality or charm which for many people is irresistible." As noted by Bowers in his book, this statement was originally directed at early cents, but is often also applied to colonial copper coins. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Gonna guess at FR02. Have no idea how colonials are graded, just going by what I've seen in bust grades. At least it has good details to determine variety. My only is a 1773 Virginia half penny in PO-0.5  only because enough shadow remains to tell date/shield and an ugly king Geo. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
AG3, clear enough to identify, and any Massachusetts is nice to own!
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
887 Posts |
Oh, and to add; there is no number grade assigned, so I guess you can choose from PO, FR, G. VG. F. VF/XF, AU, etc.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7620 Posts |
"Good" would not surprise me at all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2189 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
11922 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
Ok, it's 47:30 since the opening of the thread, so here's the big reveal!  I know you're all on the edge of your seat in anticipation of this momentous occasion! Walter Breen and Bert Cunningham graded this as 'GOOD' (and genuine) back in the day. As for when that day was, I'm not sure. There is an embossed 'seal' on the paperwork and photo, which may have a date, but I haven't been able to read it. Here's the documentation that came with the coin;    Exciting, right?  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11887 Posts |
Don't know how to grade these but super cool and definitely exciting.  IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11887 Posts |
IN NECESSARIIS UNITAS - IN DUBIIS LIBERTAS - IN OMNIBUS CARITAS THE MAN IN THE ARENA, Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne Paris on April 23, 1910: " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." My coin website: https://fairfaxcoins.com |
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Moderator
United States
34410 Posts |
Very cool to have Breen's autograph! Nice to have that provenance.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
887 Posts |
numismatic_student - yeah, seems like they were they TV hucksters of yesteryear.
Spence - that's what I thought as well. Even with Breen's less then saintly private life, he is a huge name in numismatics, and adds something unique to a coin, IMO.
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Valued Member
United States
184 Posts |
Interesting find! The Breen connection make sit worthwhile no matter what First Coinvestors Inc. has to do with it. The coin's grade seems fairly obvious, but the paperwork makes this a real gem IMHO!
Edited by NJcoppers
08/27/2017 7:45 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
36745 Posts |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,171 |
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Posted 08/25/2017 8:05 pm
