PR: NGC Confirms Authentication of Recovered 1913 Liberty Nickel

See images on ANA web site:
http://www.money.org/press/20030911-walton.html

American Numismatic Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2003
CONTACT: Stephen Bobbitt
Telephone: 719-632-2646 ext. 113
E-mail:

NGC Confirms Authentication of
Recovered 1913 Liberty Nickel
"This coin would likely grade Proof-62" - Rick Montgomery

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC), the official grading service
of the American Numismatic Association (ANA), has confirmed the
authenticity of the 1913 Liberty Head nickel that was rediscovered at the
ANA convention in Baltimore this summer after being out of sight for more
than 40 years.
For the first time since 1920, all five of the 1913 Liberty Head
nickels were displayed at the ANA World's Fair of MoneyR in Baltimore,
July 30-August 3. This re-discovered specimen disappeared after a 1962
auto accident that took the life of its owner, George O. Walton. Thought
to be an altered date, the coin remained closeted until it was examined
at the show in Baltimore and declared authentic. It now is on loan to the
ANA Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"A coin of this magnitude doesn't come along very often," says ANA
Executive Director Christopher Cipoletti. "As the Association's official
grading service, NGC was asked to inspect it and verify the legitimacy of
this great numismatic rarity. We were fortunate to have Rick Montgomery,
one of the most recognized numismatic authenticators, review this
specimen."
After examining the rare nickel and comparing it to the specimen in
the ANA Money Museum's collection, Montgomery, NGC vice president and
grading finalizer, says, "I have had the opportunity to analyze other
examples of this rarity, and there is no question in my mind that this
piece is genuine. If I were to grade it as part of the NGC grading team,
I would say this coin would likely grade Proof-62."
Montgomery says he "loves the story" of the Walton 1913 Liberty
nickel. "It has a better story line than a Sherlock Holmes mystery."
Five 1913 Liberty Head nickels were produced 90 years ago under
mysterious circumstances when the United States Mint was changing from
the Liberty Head to the Buffalo design. The five coins remained as a set
until the 1940s, when they were separated and sold. One of them now is a
permanent part of the ANA Museum cabinet, another is part of the
Smithsonian Institution's collection and the other three rare nickels are
in private hands.
Walton acquired his rare nickel in 1946 and showed it for 16 years
before he died on his way to a coin show. His vast collection was sold at
auction in 1963 for nearly $873,00, but his heirs were told the famous
nickel was one of many altered-date coins produced over the years and
thus worthless.
Walton's relatives, who wish to remain anonymous, kept the piece
closeted for four decades. As part of producing the exhibit for the ANA
Baltimore convention, Walton family members began corresponding with ANA
Curator Lawrence Lee, who arranged for them to bring what was thought to
be their altered-date specimen to the show for inclusion in an exhibit of
the other four specimens. Lee believed the coin, even if an altered date,
would draw attention to the display since it belonged to the last owner
of the genuine specimen. Before placing the nickel in the display case,
and after a thorough examination and comparison with the other rare
nickels, the Walton piece was declared genuine.
"I appreciate the honor personally and on behalf of NGC to examine
this rarity," Montgomery says. "Although I didn't know where it would be
discovered, I always knew that, because of its history, the coin would be
found."

And makes poor Stack's look like idiots
since they earlier told the family the
coin was a fake. Oh well.