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Sunday, June 21, 2009

1876-CC twenty cent historic rarity

A most special coin just sold in Baltimore at the Bowers and Merena auction of June 11 - 12. The coin; an 1876-CC twenty cent piece. Other than the fact that there are only 12 to 20 known examples of this rare date, the fascinating thing about this particular piece is the most intriguing family history/story that accompanies it.
First of all, this rarity is graded PCGS AU-58 which actually makes it even more of a rarity so to speak as currently no known examples of this historic date are graded uncirculated! That's right, this is the only known 1876-CC twenty center known in circulated condition. The coin had previously been graded AU-58 by ANACS in the 1990's. Here's the brief 'five-generation' story on this important coin. 1: John Seagraves Pick originally from New York/become resident of Virginia City Nevada, obtained the coin from general circulation. More than likely 'on a whim' he decided to keep it perhaps in celebration of the 1876 date and our nation's centennial celebrations. John fathered a son. 2: John William Pick was born in 1872 in Virginia City and obtained the coin from his father John Seagraves Pick. He eventually moved to Berkeley California and became a doctor. He fathered 2 sons (who both passed away young) and a daughter. 3: Virginia Pick Jurgensen was born in 1904 and inherited the coin from her father, John William Pick. She survived the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 at age 2 and held the coin through two world wars and many long years until her death in 1993. 4: Her son, Wilfred Pick Jurgensen was born in Berkeley (1934) inherited the coin and held it until his death. 5: The coin then passed to his widow and son, Jean Lorraine and Stephen Frederick Jurgensen. The coin's amazing journey through time takes up to June of 2009 where some lucky soul bought this most amazing specimen for $207,000 in Baltimore Maryland USA. This coin is already known as one of the classic U.S. numismatic rarities, so to obtain a specimen with a most complete, five-generation pedigree such as this is simply mind blowing. No...this isn't one of the 'prettiest' specimens from this short and rare series, but it certainly has to be one of the most intriguing and fascinating.

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