Peace and Morgan Silver Dollars at Face Value

[PGHDigger]

Stopped at the convenience store to get a coffee on my way to work this morning... The cashier was arguing with some kid, when I got to the counter and realized what it was about I almost dropped my coffee as my heart skipped a beat... I am a regular and familiar with the cashier so I asked what's up... The cashier said the kid was trying to pass counterfeit money, the kid turned around and showed me what he had in his hand... It was actually 2 Morgan's and 5 peace dollars... I asked him if it would help if I gave him the seven dollars for them and he agreed... He bought his cigarettes and went on his way...

I just got home from work and got my first real look at them... Couldn't be happier...

Now all I need is the snow to go away and the ground to thaw so I can get out and detect...

 

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[PGHDigger]

It's a 23 - the Morgan's are both 21 - peace are a 22, 23 x2, and 24 x2.

 

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[Nitric]

Great find!!!

I would have done the same thing....

Why in the Hell would you offer him more? He was going to use them to buy smokes, at a buck a piece anyhow! It's not your job to teach him what he has. Your knowledge should pay off sometime!

"Hey kid, Those are pretty old, not sure you can even spend them?, I'll give you 50 cents each though!" That's how it should have went!

 

[Steve in PA]

You didn't mention whether you educated the clerk after your transaction

 

[screwynewy]

There is no doubt that the coins were stolen and I'm pretty sure it is illegal to buy stolen goods. Having said that, I can't blame you a bit for helping the kid with his problem.

 

[Terry Soloman]

When I was about seven, I took my Dad's coin collection down to the Rexall, and bought candy and a B-17 model. That druggist made out like a bandit.

 

[PGHDigger]

You didn't mention whether you educated the clerk after your transaction

I told him they were real currency and worth more than face value... I could tell he didn't really care... So I left them my phone number and told him to take them if offered... Said I would buy them same day any day... Makes me want to go to a few more of the local hole in the wall urban corner stores and tell them the same thing... Who knows what they have taken in or refused...

Could be interesting to see what I could get...

 

[jewelerguy]

hot or not, that was a great score

 

[Nitric]

There is no doubt that the coins were stolen and I'm pretty sure it is illegal to buy stolen goods. Having said that, I can't blame you a bit for helping the kid with his problem.

I do have doubt that they were stolen! Even a thief knows approximate value? If this guy was trying to pass them as a buck, he either wanted a pack of smokes real Bad or just had no clue what he pulled out of the box of stuff left to him by grandpa. Just taking guess's too. How can so many be so sure they are stolen? Some people just have no interest in old coins.

 

[basque-man]

Great eyes! Tweekers around here will spend silver coin on smokes and booze all the time. Get silver where ya can!

 

[WHADIFIND]

I'm not going to defend my decision to do this as it was definitely questionable... The kid I'm referring to was easily in his mid twenties, and definitely was not on the up and up...

Should I have offered him more? I could argue that all night long... But I'm not going to do that... I did what I did...

In the future I think this would go down differently... I would definitely offer the individual more money and ask more questions...

This is the first time something like this has happened to me, hopefully not the last though...

It is just one step from happening to see them in the tray of a cash register. Granted, it is a rather large step.
In one case you "might" be just getting the good end of a slightly less than perfect business transaction. (gettin' one over on a rookie cashier)
The other one though, could conceivably be receiving stolen goods.

Remember, being a "Pirate" has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with being a metal detectorist. We have enough labels to fight while out there! Please! People! Don't add to our woes by trying to associate the two.

But, I guess, if one is a "pirate", then they don't need no shtinkin' permissions!!

 

[uglymailman]

Right place, right time. I had a bunch of my collectible coins taken by druggie family member. Sold at face value. Not a great total, maybe couple hundred bucks worth. They cleaned up & doing good more than 7 yrs now. Don't hold it against them. But Karma evens things out, I've found some good coins in change & a couple of 20's in the street. I'd probably done the same thing. Good luck.

 

[WHADIFIND]

When I was about seven, I took my Dad's coin collection down to the Rexall, and bought candy and a B-17 model. That druggist made out like a bandit.

Did you have fun eating it standing up? LOL

 

[Beans]

Until I read this I was happy finding a Canadian 1933 small cent in my change today.

 

[diggummup]

I do have doubt that they were stolen! Even a thief knows approximate value? If this guy was trying to pass them as a buck, he either wanted a pack of smokes real Bad or just had no clue what he pulled out of the box of stuff left to him by grandpa. Just taking guess's too. How can so many be so sure they are stolen? Some people just have no interest in old coins.

I agree. Even some of the older folks don't have a clue. I had a bunch of Ike dollars once and spent a couple of them at a convenience store. I had the opposite reaction. The clerk thought he was getting a rare collectible coin or something. Had the same reaction with $2 bills before also.

Besides what was he supposed to do? Call the cops and tell them some guy is trying to buy a pack of smokes with silver dollars and I suspect they may be stolen? The cops would have laughed at him. In this country there is a thing called the burden of proof, and it needs evidence to support it.

I was going to suggest that PGHDigger leave the clerk his number but I see he already did that. Smart man.

 

[toasted]

Aren't there counterfeits of these out there too?

 

[masterjedi]

First, Congratulations PGHDigger

!!​

Second, which one of you in exactly the same situation would not have done the same thing? Stop being jealous and envious, and Growl like a Pirate!

Me .. I would have detained him and called the police.. Really

 

[masterjedi]

As your asking, I will answer - 'me'

Really Crusader

 

[masterjedi]

Its amazing the integrity of the group here. You either have integrity or you don't. Its that simple... Its sad really... I have integrity.
Gary from Oregon.

 

[trapperart]

Nice coins

 

[richardson]

Right place at the right time. Nice save