COLLECTIBLES
Rare US coin sells for over $30,000 after being found in strange location
American money from years gone buy can sometimes auction for huge sums, but they’re not always found where you’d think.
A rare coin from the United States was discovered in a rather unusual hiding spot recently, and then went on to fetch more than $30,000 at auction (£25,000). Quite the delightful surprise for its unsuspecting owner.
The 1776 Continental Currency Dollar, a prized collector’s item, was found tucked away in a simple, rather unassuming, toffee tin, in the Cotswolds, England. The coin, which was minted in the late 18th century, is one of only a few hundred ever produced, making it an exceptionally rare find. Its owner, who had inherited the tin and its contents from a relative, was blissfully unaware of the coin’s value. When the coin was spotted it was sent for appraisal in America, where experts at the Numismatic Guaranty Company confirmed it was worth a tidy, if not life-changing, sum.
What makes the 1776 Continental Currency Dollar so valuable?
As you may have spotted if you have a decent knowledge of American history, 1776 is rather an important time for the nation. Indeed, this dollar is dated from the United States’ year of independence.
The rarity comes because it was part of a limited production run. The belief is that there are likely only 100 or so still in existence of the 6,000 that were made. A spokesperson for the auction house described the pewter coin discovery as being “in the top five of my career to date,” and added that it was, “the sort of thing every auctioneer up and down the country hopes they’ll find.
“It was examined by a committee of specialists and X-rayed and put through other scientific tests, and we were delighted to receive a notification a few days ago to tell us that it is genuine.”
How to know if you’ve struck gold with a coin find?
Finding rare coins in everyday places isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem. It turns out, many high-value coins lurk in attics, basements, and yes, even toffee tins. If you’ve got an old collection of pocket change lying around, it may be worth taking a second look, and then searching online first to see if there’s anything written about its value. You never know what might be hiding among your spare quarters and pennies.