With the Whitman Baltimore Spring Expo coin show going
strong this week, we hope to have a few contributions from the show for the
next issue of the JR Newsletter. For
this issue, Frank Colletti offers his thoughts in response to a post from last
week:
Regarding the writer’s question about the hoard with a mark,
it was called the Mohawk Valley
hoard.
They were slabbed by NCS,
and they state:
NCS has recently
encapsulated the Mohawk Valley Hoard in NCS
Genuine holders. This hoard was found near Albany
New York buried in the ground. The hoard
had existed only in legend until it was recently discovered with the help of
metal detectors. The hoard contains bust half dollars as well as a significant
number of bust quarters. Spanish Colonial pieces consisting primarily of 2 Real
coins were also discovered. While it is not known when the coins were buried,
the most recent date on any coin in the hoard is 1842. The coins were
discovered in rows and may offer a glimpse into the silver coins in circulation
in the first third of the 19th century.
NCS Continues:
The coins appear to be intentionally marked by those who buried the hoard.
Notches were punched into the coins either along the top edge of the coins or
in the center of the coin often in front of the portrait always on the obverse
of the coin. These marks, along with environmental damage to some of the
pieces, would prevent the hoard from being certified by a major grading service
such as NGC. It is speculated that these marks were made so that the owner
would know the hoard was found should coins with such marks begin appearing in
circulation.
All coins in the hoard have been
encapsulated under NCS Genuine Only service.
There is no mention of the grade of the details on the label. Each half dollar
is fully attributed with Overton numbers according to Variety Plus standards
and the quarters have been attributed according to the Browning reference. The
Spanish Colonial pieces have been fully attributed according to date, mint, and
assayer initials. All coins have the pedigree "Mohawk Valley Hoard"
listed in the coin's description.
An example of the mark can be
seen here:
The story as written can be found here:
Formerly at the web site of http://www.keshequacoins.com/MVHStory.html
But it has apparently been deleted.
Additionally, another search showed that Stack's sold a
number of coins form the hoard, but apparently all photos have been deleted.
Frank Colletti
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