RWB

Pattern and experimental pieces continue to be made for internal US Mint use. During the past century, accounting for planchets, dies, hubs and other materials has become increasingly rigorous. Information about most of them only appears decades later when documents find their way to NARA.

False. My opinions are based on standard scientific methodology - a key part of objective research. I do not "dislike the subject" - rather, I object to undefined terms, randomly applied, and to the "worship" given those meaningless words. That has considerable educational value - but only if one cares to have an open mind and is looking for truth not marketing .

There's nothing wrong with speculations --- but they do not result in sound conclusions unless backed with facts.

I thought it was a "Lee Monument" not one to James Conder ? Did I miss the memo?

To make the coin appear to be something it is not. Without publicly available data and clear definition of the term, it is equivalent to speculation or a wild guess. What any self-respecting TPG would do this is incomprehensible to me.

Yeah, that should be interesting, unless it's an incorrect description.

We presently have no information to indicate that any of the pattern pieces owned by Charles Barber were obtained illegally. Everyone who got one paid face value for it including Augusta S-G. Nope. You're making a long string of assumptions that lead to a false analogy.

It's one of those "fun" coins that can tolerate any level of amusement or abuse without taking any of it personally. It's had a long and useful life.

They are uniformly called "Special Mint Sets" exactly as designated at issue.

PS: I like the 1884 dollar as Unc-65, but 1896 is 64 -- too much razor-burn on the chin from Ms. Liberty's last shave.

It's really a "Cornet" cent - not worth a toot!

Not a "peeve" I care to "pet." More like want to squish like a roach. If there is no accepted definition, then the term is meaningless.

Yes, it is. Everything was wet, and we knew there was nothing of historical interest (except the photo which was just a newspaper clipping), but it was great to watch the staff remove and inspect things and then explain what was going to be done next. The only focus I could find for the contents was to demonstrate that Virginia, and Richmond City, had rebounded from the war and had an active commercial and fraternal organization life. ( Had originally expected much mroe focus on Lee and his life and accomplishments.)

Where's the remaining $4.90 ?

No one knows because the term is undefined. It is one of several "con-words" tossed about to get attention, get money, and give nothing in return.

Following coins identified: 1883 10 cent 1853 25 cent or half (rays not mentioned by curator) 1886 Silver dollar Unidentified date large 1C (Lee's birth year, 1807, would be logical) (I came in about 1/4 the way through examination, so other coins might have been found.) PS: There was no Lincoln photo. It was a Harper's Weekly fold-out engraving and of no special historical value.

https://fredericksburg.com/news/state-and-regional/second-lee-monument-time-capsule-is-opened-and-initial-items-match-the-1887-inventory/article_76723fb7-05a4-5454-a726-3b9534dd9e76.html

Ach....! Mere details.... What's a few thousand years in the span of earth's history?

Mohawk simply prefers ancient coins produced by Germanic peoples (i.e., Nemetes, Batavi, Ubii) who later immigrated to Canada. That is both a fine and esoteric collecting specialty and to be much admired. Back to the OP's question. The Hall graded coins will likely bring more from collectors of old coin holders and slabs, etc. than as raw coins. Great Collections might bring the most. The IGA coin will be considered "raw" by collectors. The NGC coins will sell based on their stated grade except for older holders which often bring a premium. The ungraded coins can be sold for about market value, but probably not more than adding the cost of slabbing + fair market value. You'll have to go through the assorted circulated coins to see if you have anything worth more than bullion. A Guide Book of US Coins will help. Lastly, collectors are highly skeptical of any coin not independently graded that is described as "appears uncirculated" or some similar language. Novices very rarely understand coin grading and almost never get "uncirculated" correct.

Yes, it does. Personally, I have no objection to the Lee family name being attached to the university. The object is not to erase Robert E. Lee from history -- as the Soviets and Trumpers do -- but to remove the idols of admiration for slavery and its supporters. When Virginia's legislature voted to secede, Gen. Lee chose to abrogate his oath of allegiance to the United States of America, thereby supporting a single state over the national constitution and identifying himself as a traitor. The post-war approach was to welcome back all who would repeat their original oath of allegiance, which Gen. Lee did, and thus absolve their previous actions. Lee was respected in north and south for his character and it was for this, that Washington College chose him to be its President. The college name was changed after Lee's death.

No. Totally different. 1933 DE were regular issue US coins.

The coins were eventually sold, but the information disclosed during the legal squabbling tells us much about the process and attitudes relating to pattern pieces.

I wonder if any historical group or college (Washington & Lee ?) received some or all of the listed contents between 1887 and 1890? The photo of a "Confederate cent" might be a marker for such a donation. Also, contemporary reports state that the cornerstone laying was cut short due to rain, and that very few non-whites were to be seen in the large crowd and none in the parade. Was the copper box damaged during the Masonic ceremony....? As of today, 12-27-2021 the following is reported: "Devon Henry, the contractor whose company was overseeing the removal, said the box was found inside a granite enclosure basically at ground level, surrounded by fill and other construction material. Workers pulled off the top of the granite enclosure to find the box, which appeared to be made of copper, sitting in water, Henry said." From CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/27/us/virginia-lee-second-time-capsule-open-trnd/index.html

You might have to have a few more sleepless nights....the research is several years from being complete.

To excerpt a little more from my draft about restrikes, novodels, and pattern pieces: The singular numismatic-related act of James Kimball’s term was his attempt to prevent sale of pattern and experimental pieces owned by the heirs of late director Henry R. Linderman. His demand letter to auctioneer Bangs & Company, dated just four days before the scheduled auction, claimed that lots number 55 through 171 – 118 pieces in all – were United States property and demanded their return “to the custody of the United States government.” This action, and subsequent response by the United States Attorney and the Linderman family, exposes several core elements of manufacture, issuance and distribution of pattern pieces. However, before we look closely at the Linderman sale, we have to understand how director Kimball came to his personal opinion about these pieces.