The Coin Dealer's Art

This is from a long time ago but the story repeats itself in various forms:

Mr. Henry Ahlborn, one of the oldest coin dealers in Boston, is about as
keen
a man for a bargain as one can find. He tells how one summer day, trade
being
unusually dull in store, he started on a pick up trip along the north
shore, going
through the old towns of Salem, Marblehead, Hamilton and Essex. He stopped
in
all the country stores, and talked with many an old farmer always with a
view of
finding some rare old coin. He at last, heard of an old lady who had in her
possession a number of fine old cents and silver coins.
Mr. Ahlborn paid her generous prices for the cents and some silver and was
about to go away when the old lady said that she had another piece, that
was a
gift from her father, and was made in the year he was born, but that she
would
not part with it for anything. He asked to see it and she brought out the
finest
1796 half-dollar he had ever seen.
His eyes snapped, and he immediately considered how he could get
possession of that half-dollar.
A lucky idea struck him, he bethought himself of a fine 1796 dollar he had
bagged that morning and taking that he offered to exchange it with the
lady for
her half-dollar making prominent the fact that this was a whole dollar,
while hers
was only a half-dollar besides it bore the same date and was equally as
good.
Convinced by this reasoning, she readily made the exchange and Mr. A. went
on
his way satisfied with his days work.
He afterwards sold it to Mr. Parmalee for $159.00 and I think he holds it
to
day for $350.00. It bears the only slight traces of circulation.
Mr. Wm. E. Woodward related how at one time, he bought a roll of 50
halfdimes,
which was one of the wedding presents of an old man 90 years of age.
They were all dated before 1800 and were as bright and sharp as it just
coined.
The old lady hoarded them away and never disturbed them. The idea of
contributing to an old ladies Home induced her to part with them. Mr.
Woodward
realized as high as $100. for some of them. H. E. M.



Jorg Lueke ANA 197036, ANS 11206, CSNS, ACCG, TCACC , CWTS
The Numismatist 1888-1893 http://www.ancientcoinvalues.com/25.phtml