My Adventures in Acquiring Coins from Legendary Collections

Why Famous Pedigrees Make My Heart Race

After decades of collecting, nothing gets my pulse pounding like coins with storied pasts. These pedigrees aren’t dusty labels – they’re living history that connects me to legendary collectors who came before. Let me share some personal moments from my own journey chasing these numismatic treasures.

The Collections That Fueled My Obsession

My cabinet holds pieces that whisper tales of numismatic royalty. My gateway drug was a Colombia AV 9 Escudos from the Norweb Collection – holding that coin felt like shaking hands with history. That led me down the rabbit hole of Wildman coins, and eventually I scored several ex-Newman pieces. Imagine owning coins curated over nearly a century! One Newman coin taught me a valuable lesson: it originally graded EF but later soared to MS-GEM 65 at NGC – proof that pedigrees can sometimes rewrite a coin’s story right before your eyes.

• My hands actually shook when I won a Trajan Decius Tetradrachm from the Michael Prieur Collection – NGC MS 4/5 – 3/5, one of just ten known. That’s the rush we collectors live for!
• Patience paid off when I landed 15 coins from the Caranette Collection, including a Strasbourg Mint Louis d’or 1751-BB. I learned to sip tea slowly during Heritage bidding wars.
• Never underestimate shipwreck coins! My Atocha pieces feel like holding salvaged history – the ultimate pedigree with barnacles included.

Grading Surprises and Market Tricks I’ve Learned

Pedigrees can play funny games with grading. I watched a Preussag mining taler get special recognition at NGC – that provenance stamp matters. Always scrutinize labels though! I once spotted “Columbia” instead of “Colombia” and “Mendillin Mint” instead of “Medellin” – mistakes that could cost you. Market-wise, coins from collections like David Cervin’s (I grabbed 11 from his 2003 sale) or Dr. Jacob Terner’s Austria AV Dukat 1584 often carry premiums. And British collectors – that 1848 Halfcrown ex-Colin Adams is tough in high grades, but check those dates carefully! I once mixed photos in my catalog and nearly listed an overdate wrong.

Hands-On Tips From My Collection

If you’re starting your own pedigree hunt, here’s what I’ve learned through trial and error:

• Live on auction sites – Heritage and CNG are my second homes. Set alerts for sales like CNG Electronic Auction 524
• Provenance is king: Cross-reference using NGC’s gallery (like McCloskey’s page) to avoid attribution heartbreak
• Submit smartly: Slabbing with NGC/PCGS? Include every pedigree detail – that’s how my EF coin got its MS-65 glow-up
• Start personal: My John Quincy Adams connection made an ancestral coin priceless. Chase what makes your collector soul sing

Collecting these pieces isn’t just acquisition – it’s becoming part of a story. So grab your loupe, verify everything twice, and let these coins whisper their histories to you.