WHO'S KIDDING WHO?

"$25,000 REWARD for the location and legitimate recovery of my 1804 SILVER DOLLAR. The coin was stolen from my upstate New York home. Remarkably, this coin has extensive circulation wear and has (or had) three initials deeply cut into its surface. All replies confidential. FRANK A. BROWN, P.O. Box 924, Clearwater, Florida, 33757"

Among the rarest and most valuable U.S. coins, the 1804 silver dollar provides perennial fodder for pranksters, crooks, and the less-informed collecting public, who think they have a fortune on their hands when all they really have is a replica of the famous coin.

The new ad recalls the now-famous ads by Samuel Brown, beginning in the December 1919 issue of The Numismatist, offering to buy examples of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel. Brown had worked at the Philadelphia Mint, and after running his series of ads he unveiled an example of the coin at the 1920 Chicago ANA convention.

Only five examples of the coin are known, and all originated with Mr. Brown. Eric Newman wrote in 1963: "I still have the special leather case made for these nickels and had the opportunity to study all five coins at one time.... Samuel Brown, original owner of all five nickels, was guilty of deceptive practices from which one could conclude that the coins were improperly or unlawfully acquired by him." (As quoted in Adventures with Rare Coins, Q. David Bowers, 1979, p13)

At the time of his ads, Samuel Brown lived in North Tonawanda, N.Y. Hmmm, same last name (Brown), and towns in upstate New York. Coincidence? There are at least four possibilities:

With the recent issue of reproduction 1804 dollars by The Gallery Mint, it was inevitable that they would fuel an new round of tomfoolery. The coins are all marked "COPY" on the reverse, in compliance with the Hobby Protection Act. I wonder if the three initials on the mystery coin will turn out to be "COP" or "OPY"…?

Wayne Homren, Editor

Content presented in The E-Sylum is not necessarily researched or independently fact-checked, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

This is a static archive page documenting the originally published content. Links were active at the time of publication but may no longer work. Check subsequent issues for corrections and commentary.

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at http://www.coinbooks.org/ There is a membership application available on the web site. To join, print the application and return it with your check to the address printed on the application. Visit the Membership page. Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers (or wishing to Unsubscribe) can go to the following web page link.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: E-Sylum Editor

The E-Sylum: Volume 3, Number 4, January 23, 2000, Article 9

WHO'S KIDDING WHO?

Wayne Homren, Editor