The Great Birthday Coin Hoax!

[JamminJ]

Hello everyone,

 

Yesterday was my birthday and gmarguli and my wife LamminL seized the opportunity by conspiring to pull of an amusing (in retrospect) joke on me.

 

While I was preparing to head out to the Long Beach Coin Show my wife appeared holding a gift wrapped package about the size of an encyclopedia volume. I brought it over to the bed and opened it. In it was a big hollow volume with the words “Kennedy Mint” on the cover. This did not look promising. Inside were one smaller book and four cardboard boards holding coins in capsules:

 

The small book explained a bit of the history of each coin along with their tendency to “rise in value.”

The first coin board contained the “Presidential Collection” consisting of 3 Lincolns, 2 Roosevelts, 4 Jeffersons, 2 Washingtons, 2 Kennedys and an Ike. Most worn but polished and a few plated in what appears to be chrome.

The second had “The Obsolete Collection”: a pink Indian, slicked but shiny Barber dime and Liberty nickel, polished Buffalo, Merc, SLQ, WLH (ugh!), Frankie and a Peace dollar.

The third the “Lincoln Memorial Collection” 17 memorials and 2 wheaties, about a buck in value, but at least most of them had not been plated with any type of alloy.

And the final one the: “Proof Set Collection” a ’64 proof set. Actually not too bad, nice quarter.

 

Here’s a photograph collage of the set:

 

And a captioned action sequence of my reaction:

 

I kind on wondered why she seemed so giddy despite my clear unhappiness but she just smiled and took picture after picture. When I asked where she got it the reply was “Littleton.” I said “My God, can you return it?” and followed up with “why didn’t you just talk to Greg or Don (owner of the local coin shop) as have them pick something out?” In utter horror I began to get ready to leave for the show, telling my wife thanks for trying, but you should do a little more investigation before buying me anymore coins. I fully expected to sell the set for $25 on a local bidboard.

 

At that moment with my wife concerned I may drive my car off the freeway from depression appeared with another smaller package. This package contained the real gift which actually came from Greg’s collection. The coins are a rare 1772AS Maria Theresa Thaler and his beautiful MS67 1790 Brandenburg-Ansbach kreuzer and one other inexpecive but cute Italian coin with bees on the reverse (I’ll look for the links to the original threads on these coins). Talk about snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!

 

Apparently the joke was meant to run all day during the show so Greg could “help out” by rubbing it in. He had already been torturing with these two coins, never missing a chance to tout their qualities.

 

The shock still hasn’t quite worn off, but thanks to those two for a nice birthday surprise!

 

-JamminJ

[JamminJ]

Here's the link to the orignial Maria Theresa thaler thread, as well as the one for the Brandenburg Ansbach kreuzer.

 

-JamminJ

[gmarguli]

....... Greg =

 

Glad I could help make your birthday a memorable one. I had to replace some of the nicer stuff from that set with cull to make it worse for you. I could let you think there was value in the set! Had I had another proof set to replace the 1964 with (really nice UCAM quarter in it!), I would have.

 

BTW, there is no thread on the "Bee Coin", so you'll have to image it.

[JamminJ]

BTW, there is no thread on the "Bee Coin", so you'll have to image it.

 

It's on the list but for the moment the bee coin is oveshadowed by the other two.

 

-JamminJ

[DirtyGoldMan]

Great gag...I enjoyed reading about it. Happy Birthday!

[TomB]

Terrific gag! I don't think I would have had as much compassion as your wife...you would have had to sweat it out a while.

[JamminJ]

I don't think I would have had as much compassion as your wife...you would have had to sweat it out a while.

 

You may have changed you mind if you saw the utter dejection.

 

-JamminJ

[shirohniichan]

That LamminL's a funny one, all right!

[JamminJ]

BTW, there is no thread on the "Bee Coin", so you'll have to image it.

 

Here's an image of the bee coin:

 

The booger coming out of Victor Emmanuel's nose is on the plastic.

 

-JamminJ

[gmarguli]

The coin is a vibrant blue and a key date!

[JamminJ]

It is a very nice bee coin. Photographing dark coins in the NGC slabs with the white inserts is quite difficult - even with the jom photography method. LamminL had to trade off the color to prevent the coin from looking like a hockey puck.

 

BTW, my most recent birthday gift to her was the camera she uses predominantly to take pictures of my coins. Hardly seems fair!

 

-JamminJ

[thebeav]

Great story....I only wish I would get nice coin gifts for such occasions. Unfortunately, I would end up with stuff like that Kennedy Mint Set for real !!

Happy Birthday J.....

Paul

[EVillageProwler]

Happy B-day, JamminJ.

 

G-man told me about the gag Sat eve over dinner. With friends like him, well, your life is more interesting!

 

EVP

[GDJMSP]

Really sorry I missed your B-day JJ - figures the one day I didn't stop by But a happy belated one anyway

 

Gotta say though - I like your wife's attitude I'd have given 2 ducats to have been a fly on the wall

 

 

What's really amazing though is that Greg was that nice

 

OK - I'm leavin now

[JamminJ]

Thanks for all the happy b-days!

 

I am also please to report that the shock has now officially worn off.

 

-JamminJ

[gmarguli]

What's really amazing though is that Greg was that nice

 

It was hard giving up that Maria Theresa. I REALLY liked that coin, but I knew James did also. Oh well, I know I am first in line to get it back should James ever decide to part with it.

 

The 1K was always going to end up with JamminJ - I just wanted to torture him a little (OK, a lot - a LOT, - LOT LOT!). The bee coin was for resale when I purchased it.

[golfnut99-migration]

Fun Thread!!

[Bruceswar]

Happy Late B day... It is nice to see a gag gone good... hehe ...

[JamminJ]

It was hard giving up that Maria Theresa. I REALLY liked that coin, but I knew James did also. Oh well, I know I am first in line to get it back should James ever decide to part with it.

 

I like it too, and gift coins are particulary difficult to part with for me. However, I have a nice MS64 Leopold the Hogmouth thaler that may fill that Hapsburg hole in your collection.

 

The 1K was always going to end up with JamminJ - I just wanted to torture him a little (OK, a lot - a LOT, - LOT LOT!). The bee coin was for resale when I purchased it.

 

Almost too much torture. I was almost ready to tell you to put the damn thing on e-bay already!

 

-JamminJ

[gmarguli]

However, I have a nice MS64 Leopold the Hogmouth thaler that may fill that Hapsburg hole in your collection.

 

That is a tempting offer, but I don't think I could take it from you. It'd be like exchanging really cool coins on your birthday rather than you getting more cool coins. When you tire of the Leo thaler, I'm a buyer.

 

 

The 1K was always going to end up with JamminJ - I just wanted to torture him a little (OK, a lot - a LOT, - LOT LOT!). The bee coin was for resale when I purchased it.

 

Almost too much torture. I was almost ready to tell you to put the damn thing on e-bay already!

 

Once I knew exactly when you were going to get the coin, that's when I ramped up the torture. Had there not been a set date for you getting that coin, the torture would have been a lot less.

[GDJMSP]

And they say you're only "slightly evil "

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A man after my own heart I must admit

[GP_]

awesome gag/gift!

 

Happy Belated B-day JamminJ

[TomB]

One of my favorite threads, and I still say that your wife showed you too much compassion!

[Hoot]

Happy belated B'day to you JJ. However, it sounds like you seriously guilt tripped your wife and probably were entirely too harsh with her! After all, she blew the gag WAY too soon. You should be ashamed of yourself.

 

I hope Greg takes his gifts back and you get locked in a white room, lights always on, with nothing but the Littleton sets for a minimum of 30 days.

 

Now, how did you make up for your bad behavior?

 

 

Hoot

[JamminJ]

Thanks, my birthday was far more uneventful this year.

[Hoot]

Thanks, my birthday was far more uneventful this year.

 

Perhaps, but just as eventful to unearth!

[toyonakataro]

Happy birthday