WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION HOARD

 

One hundred and thirty-two years ago, Vance LaRue Wilson, a 40-year-old Iowan, attended the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. For many attendees, the Chicago World's Fair was their first time seeing a Ferris Wheel, electric lights, automatic dishwashers, moving pictures, or zippers. Wilson, a man of considerable wealth, was captivated by the spectacle and took home numerous souvenirs, including coins, medals, and tokens that would later surprise his heirs with their value.

According to Luke Christopher, a coin dealer who appraised the collection, Vance LaRue Wilson was a man of some means. A traveling salesman born in 1853, Wilson lived until 1943. He traveled the world, going on lengthy cruises and collecting numerous souvenirs, including coins. In addition to a collection of U.S. type coins and the items from the Columbian Exposition, Wilson also picked up foreign coins during a 1900 voyage, keeping detailed notes about each visit and the coins he found.

During his trip to the World's Columbian Exposition, Wilson bought several items, including pavilion medals, the United States Mint medal, two 1893 Isabella Quarters, and 200 1892 Columbian Half Dollars. The Isabella Quarters were sold for 75¢ each by the Lady Managers of the exposition. The commemorative half dollars sold for $1 each. Given that the average weekly wage for an industrial worker in 1892 was about $12.50, Wilson's investment of $200 in souvenir coins with a face value of $100 was highly unusual.

When Christopher inspected the coins, he was surprised to see that they had remained brilliant and untoned over the years.

Christopher took the graded coins and the rest of the half-dollar hoard to the World's Fair of Money in Oklahoma City, where he sold them to Jeff Garrett. The half-dollar deal netted the family approximately $20,000. Garrett then sold the coins to Jack McNamara of Rare Collectibles TV, which will offer the coins for sale in a future broadcast.

To read the complete article, see:
Man Attends World's Fair 130 Years Ago and Leaves an Incredible Coin Inheritance (https://coinweek.com/man-attends-worlds-fair-130-years-ago-and-leaves-an-incredible-coin-inheritance/)

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