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DFW

(56,607 posts)
9. You don't start modestly, do you?
Fri Feb 19, 2021, 06:07 PM
Feb 2021

In perfect condition with no page yellowing of course?

I once accompanied an Austrian friend to a little coin flea market here in Germany. One dealer there heard I was an American, and asked if I knew the difference between the two varieties of 1913 Indian Head nickels. I said that I did. He showed me a Denver mint coin with the reverse side up, and I said it was the good variety. He asked what it was worth. It was worn, maybe "very fine" by coin grading standards. I said it was worth about €100. He asked if I would pay that, and I said, sure, why not. So I bought it, and apparently made his day. From the way he acted, he had paid less than a Euro for it.

I never took a close look at it, figured I'd make someone happy back in Dallas on my next trip to the USA. When I got home, I took it out to put it somewhere where I wouldn't forget it, and saw the date was pretty garbled. That doesn't happen with coins minted in 1913, since that was the first year of issue. There no dies from previous years to re-engrave. Well, whaddya know, it wasn't 1913 at all, but a 1918 over 1917, which was worth many multiples of a 1913.

It happens sometimes. Not the $1 million an Action Comics #1 would be worth in prefect condition, but I am content with modest bits of luck!

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Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»EBay, Collectors, Flea Market & Antiques »What is you fantasy find?»Reply #9