Often, we will post a story that is not Fleet related but is very interesting and worthy of sharing. This article is about a stash of coins that stayed in a bank vault for years and turned out to be quite valuable. This is a prime example of a family grossly underestimating the value of the coins that were stashed. Fortunately, they had the wherewithal to get professional help. And that is the moral of this story.
Henry Chapman Coin Collection in Philadelphia Discovered
Over the years we have been contacted a number of times by family members who have found Fleet related coins in a safety deposit box following the death of a loved one. Luckily, they contacted us to find out the value of the coins BEFORE running off to the first coin dealer and selling them. Selling coins without thoroughly investigating the value happens more often than you may think. If you happen to have a safety deposit box that contains rare and valuable coins, it may be a good idea to inventory the collection and get some current values. This would help family members when it comes time to dispose of them. Ideally, you should have a Will that not only describes the collection but also provides the name of a trusted individual who can assist your family in liquidating the collection.
It takes years to acquire a valuable collection. Make sure that you family gets the benefit of your hard work. Take some time to inventory your coins, obtain current values and identify a trusted colleague to help your family when it comes time to sell your coins. It takes very little effort to do this but in the end your family will thank you for it.
