This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22314257
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Rare Liberty Head nickel sells for $3.1m | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A century-old US five-cent coin, once branded a fake, has been sold for $3.1m (£2m) at auction. | A century-old US five-cent coin, once branded a fake, has been sold for $3.1m (£2m) at auction. |
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel, one of only five such coins, had a pre-sale estimated price of $2.5m. | The 1913 Liberty Head nickel, one of only five such coins, had a pre-sale estimated price of $2.5m. |
The coin's intriguing provenance - it was illegally cast, found in a car crash, deemed a forgery and abandoned for decades - explains its high value. | The coin's intriguing provenance - it was illegally cast, found in a car crash, deemed a forgery and abandoned for decades - explains its high value. |
It was located after a nationwide search and put up for sale by four siblings in the state of Virginia. | It was located after a nationwide search and put up for sale by four siblings in the state of Virginia. |
"Not only is it just one of only five known, genuine 1913-dated Liberty Head design nickels, this particular one was off the radar for decades until it literally came out of the closet after a nationwide search," said Todd Imhof, vice-president of Heritage Auctions, where the coin was sold. | "Not only is it just one of only five known, genuine 1913-dated Liberty Head design nickels, this particular one was off the radar for decades until it literally came out of the closet after a nationwide search," said Todd Imhof, vice-president of Heritage Auctions, where the coin was sold. |
The nickel was forged at the mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1912 - the final year the Liberty Head was cast - but with the year 1913 cast on its face. | |
It is believed that a mint worker named Samuel Brown made the coin, managing to change the die in order to create a coin bearing a bogus date. | It is believed that a mint worker named Samuel Brown made the coin, managing to change the die in order to create a coin bearing a bogus date. |
The set of coins' existence was unknown until Brown sold them in 1920, and they remained together - although with various owners - until 1942. | |
A coin collector based in the state of North Carolina, George Walton, had the coin with him when he died in a 1962 car accident. It was found at the scene of the crash among hundreds of coins scattered over the wreckage. | A coin collector based in the state of North Carolina, George Walton, had the coin with him when he died in a 1962 car accident. It was found at the scene of the crash among hundreds of coins scattered over the wreckage. |
The nickel passed to Walton's sister, Melva Givens, after experts said the odd date on the coin suggested it was a fake. | |
She placed the five-cent piece in a box containing other family items, where it remained for the following four decades. | |
The nickel was rediscovered after Givens' death. | The nickel was rediscovered after Givens' death. |
In 2003, her children brought it to the American Numismatic Association's World Fair of Money, where the other four Liberty nickels were on display. Experts determined it must be the long-missing fifth coin in the set. | In 2003, her children brought it to the American Numismatic Association's World Fair of Money, where the other four Liberty nickels were on display. Experts determined it must be the long-missing fifth coin in the set. |
Since then, the nickel has been on display at the association's Money Museum in Colorado. | |
The coin's new owner, Jeff Garrett of Lexington, Kentucky, said: "This is one of the greatest coins at that price range." | The coin's new owner, Jeff Garrett of Lexington, Kentucky, said: "This is one of the greatest coins at that price range." |
He is understood to have bought the coin in partnership with a man from Panama City, Florida. | He is understood to have bought the coin in partnership with a man from Panama City, Florida. |
Previous version
1
Next version