Wisconsin coin sends collectors scrambling
Wisconsin's quarter, showing a cow, corn and cheese, seemed an unlikely coin to cause a rush on the bank. But collectors in Arizona discovered that some Wisconsin coins had an extra leaf on the corn husk - in fact, two different kinds of extra leaves.
The discovery has sent collectors running for magnifying glasses.
Until it's known how many of these exist, no one knows how to value the examples found. Early discoverers are hoping for giant profits.
When the United States went off the gold standard in 1933, everyone from the treasury secretary to the lowliest day worker had an ethical or technical problem. Declared illegal to own, gold coins had to be returned to the Treasury.The U.S. Mint continued producing gold coins into 1933, then had to recall and destroy them.What happened to the last $20 coin legally sold by the Treasury is a story of intrigue, scheming, virtue and, finally, international diplomacy. As told in David Tripp's recently released Illegal Tender (Free Press, $26), the coin was cleared for sale in 1933 to Egypt's King Farouk. The king kept it until his death, despite diplomatic efforts to get it back.It was mysteriously disposed of, then resurfaced at the end of the century in London. How the coin was preserved is a convoluted trail of legal maneuvers well worth reading.
A Saint-Gaudens $20 piece with Roman numerals will be among the stars of a sale of a family collection this week at Le Parker Meridien Hotel in New York City.The 1908 coin was struck in high relief. Later coins were flattened to reduce breakage in the presses.That collection includes many territorial gold coins, 30 gold proof coins and many early gold coins. Coins from the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society will be offered the first day.The collection includes an extensive run of U.S. coinage, from half-cents to silver dollars, all in proof and uncirculated states. Stack's is the auctioneer.Daniel Webster is a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer; write to him at the Philadelphia Inquirer, P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, PA 19101.
