Dime minted in 1894 auctioned for $1.3 million

[davidinalameda]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/08/auctioned.dime.ap/index.html

A dime struck in 1894 at the San Francisco mint was auctioned Monday for $1,322,500, the most ever paid for a United States dime, experts said.

The winning bidder took part in the sale by phone and was not identified.

The coin, described as being in nearly pristine condition, was one of only 24 dimes made that year at the San Francisco mint, whose director had requested them as gifts for visiting bankers.

[Pab Sungenis]

1. There is a great story.

The director gave a few of the 1894-S dimes to his daughter, saying to hold on to them, and they would be valuable one day.

She did so...except for one, which she used to buy ice cream on her way home from the Mint.

Today, nine of the 24 are known and accounted for. One is well worn after years of circulation before its rarity was acknowledged. It's known affectionately as the "Ice Cream" specimen of the 1894-S!

[Aiptasia]

2. pfft...

Just think how many homeless shelters could be heated this winter for that money. Farging rich eyesholes.

[baldguy]

3. Sounds like the Bush SS plan.

[tjdee]

4. Why can't *I* find me one of those dimes?

ARGH! I was looking around here for things to sell, that'll catch me more than a buck, ain't got nothin'.

And some guy gets a mil for a stinking dime!

Some people have all the luck. And who is paying for that dime, jiminy! What a world.