Coins in old movies

[spy88]

This morning, when I got home from work, I usually turn on the boob tube for background noise while I visit both forums to catch up on the days threads/posts. And most of the time, there is something on that I would normally watch and pay attention to. But not this time.

 

So I tuned in to AMC to "watch" an oldie western called "Cimarron" with Dichard Dix and Irene Dunne made in 1931. Although I didn't get in on the start of it, nor was I able to stay up to see the ending, I won't bother you with the plot. Suffice it to say, it covered quite a few years in the late 1800's.

 

At one point, there was a scene in a bar where a character uses a silver dollar to pay for a couple shots of brandy. Then a decent shot of the bartender opening the register by dropping in two balls at the top of it for 75 cents. The register opened and there were a few coins visible. He dropped the dollar in one bin then took out a quarter for change. Then I thought to myself, "Wow. How neat! To see actual coinage from a period in history that could very well be in someones collection right now, and no one would know it had been used in a movie!"

 

Then, later on, there was a scene showing the proceeds from a church collection. Then I REALLY said "WOW"! There on the table was stacked 100 silver morgans, $20 in Lib halves, $13 in Standing Lib quarters and one Winged Lib dime! WOW!

 

Now granted the movie was made in 1931 and depicted the era of 1880 thru 1895 (guesstimate, but close), I could be wrong about the halves, 25c, and dime. I doubt they were very concerned as to the authenticity of sticking coins in this scene from the actual time period. But as for the Morgans, I could clearly make out the open wings of a Morgan vs folded wings of a Peace. They were stacked in piles of 20 so some Peace dollars could have been in there.

 

Here was over $133. in silver coinage all dated pre-1931! I wonder where all those actual coins are now? Again, in someones collection and not knowing it? WOW!

 

Doesn't take much to amuse me sometimes!

 

David;)

[lclugza]

Sometimes they do make huge mistakes in movies and TV shows, showing coin types that were made years after the date the movie or TV show was set in. I think I saw a Peace dollar on "The Big Valley" (supposedly 19th century). And I think I saw a Roosevelt dime on either "Bonanza" or "Gunsmoke" (again supposedly 19th century). By using the VCR pause button, you can see things you otherwise would have missed.

[lclugza]

Link to an interesting old thread about coins in movies, on the PCGS boards

[jom]

Yeah, like I said in that other thread, the Barber dime was correct for the Titanic movie. In the movie about Geronomo I know they used Liberty head $10s which was kind of neat to see.

 

jom

[Count_Erfit]

MY real fun. (I'm wierd)

.....is looking at the COINS in my collection and seeing MOVIES!

 

Movies of Model T Fords crowding the streets while my SLQ was being used to buy groceries and ....get change back.

 

Movies of a college graduate getting my $20 gold piece and a wish for good luck from a bootlegger uncle.

 

Movies of my seated dimes being used to buy ammo to actually hold off the injuns.

 

Movies of my bust dollars being used to pay for a new slave.

 

Movies of the Kennedy half being a poignant RECENT reminder of the day in Dallas.

 

And all sorts of other visions that my coins bring to me without a movie screen.

 

[spy88]

Geesh, Count! Didn't realize you were THAT old!

 

Yea, I try to do the same thing with my coins, but my brain can't turn off the horns, sirens and screetches from the highway that make it to my place! Too many people moving into Vegas and non-stop construction of houses and roads!

 

Hey, hoot! Ya got a barn or something I could move into way up there?

 

David;)