As I was preparing to write this entry, I was looking for the posting where I wrote about a coin my wife gave me as a gift. I had taken a new picture of the coin before sending to NGC for grading. Apparently, I posted it elsewhere and not here. How dare I do something like that! I need to make up for this and now is as good a time as any.
My wonderful wife seems to be into errors, which sometimes makes me wonder. But the errors she finds are coins. For Chanukah in 2005, she gave me a 1955 DDO that ended up being graded by NGC as AU58BN. Last Chanukah, she gave me a 1937-D 3-legged buffalo. I did not get that graded. After a cent and nickel, what’s next?
On my birthday, I found a wrapped package on the table. I sat in my chair and unwrapped the package. It is a book. But not just an ordinary book. It is a children’s book about the planets. She tells me I have to read the book. I read the book aloud noting that the book is up to date since it shows that Pluto was voted out of the solar system! As I flip the pages, the book then explains the different parts of the solar system starting with the Sun. I turn the page to start with the planets and in the middle of the page is a piece of paper taped over the description of Mercury that says “Did you know that dimes come from Mercury?” Next to the note is a 2×2 holding a Mercury Dime. The holder had “AU” written on it by the dealer.
But this is just not an ordinary Mercury dime. It is a 1942/1 Mercury Dime! One of the most desirable Mercury dime errors. A beautiful coin with nice luster. The grade of AU is probably accurate.
While I am preparing to send the 1942/1 Mercury Dime for grading, the 1937-D 3-legged Buffalo Nickel is also being submitted. For a while, this coin was sitting in the album with the rest of my Buffalo Nickels. But a number of people suggested that I get this coin slabbed for many reasons including for insurance purposes. Although I would rather have the hole in the album filled, I agree with the arguments about protecting the coin and having a record for insurance purposes for this key date coin.
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