Rare coin found in firefighter charity drive

A few weeks ago Orlando firefighter Brad Lehnen and the crew at station 10 hit the streets like they do every year, collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, dollar after dollar filling the boot. But what Lehnen didn't realize is there was a little surprise inside when he dumped out his boot. “I started counting all the bills. Sifting through the change and their was a gold coin at the bottom, “said Lehnen.

Firefighters often find things other than coins and dollars in their boots phone numbers, watch batteries once even an engagement ring, but this is the first time the MDA in central Florida got a rare coin, a 1912 gold coin with an Indian head on it. "Every year we get a surprise donation. I don't think a rare coin is going to be sitting in the ash tray. I feel it’s an anonymous donor that picked the Orlando boot to drop it in.” said Amy Clelland from the MDA.

Gold coins like the one found in the boot could be worth thousands of dollars. FOX 35 took it to coin and currency of Orlando. They told us the two and a half dollar coin is worth about $200.00.

Not a bad day for the firefighter. Collecting for the MDA is a friendly competition between the Orlando fire stations and it looks like with this rare find this firefighter Lehnen will get the credit this year but he doesn't care about that, "Muscular dystrophy is getting credit for it. I don't think it’s us.”

This is not the first time a charity has received a gold coin. For years the Salvation Army all over the country has had rare coins dropped in anonymously, some worth thousands of dollars.

MDA is hoping they can sell this coin and take all the proceeds to give to their charity.

Source: myfoxorlando.com

Hawaiian coins put on block

An auction of a collection of Hawaiian coins and bank notes will be conducted Sept. 7 jointly by Ira and Larry Goldberg with Stack’s.

Among the highlights are Hawaiian coinage patterns. A silver eighth dollar graded Proof-62 by NGC is expected to bring $25,000-$35,000. The catalog notes that only 20 pieces were struck. King Kalakaua I appears on obverse and on reverse the denomination in Hawaiian, HAPAWALU, is surround by a laurel wreath and the English value is given below it.

Also among the more than 500 lots are 44 lots of 1847 Hawaii cents in various grades.

Silver coins of 1883 are well represented with multiple examples of 10 cents, quarter, half dollar and dollar coins.

A cameo Proof-63 1883 quarter dollar graded by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. carries an estimate of $8,000-$10,000 and a notation that it is the only cameo graded for this issue.

Two cameo Proof-62 Hawaii dollar coins graded by NGC are estimated to bring $12,000-$15,000, while an MS-64 example of the dollar graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service and which depicts King Kalakaua I on the obverse and the royal coat of arms on the reverse, is expected to bring $10,000-$12,000.

Multiple examples of the Hawaiian U.S. commemoratives of 1928 and Hawaiian overprint U.S. paper money are part of the collection.

Also going on the block in the same sale is the Tom Kelly Collection of California fractional gold.

This portion of the sale is conducted by the Goldbergs.
Source: numismaticnews.net