This article was originally printed in the latest issue of Numismatic News.
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The M&S Seated Collection, one of just two complete sets of circulated Seated Liberty dollars in existence today, will be on display Labor Day weekend at the Ohio State Coin Show, sponsored by the Central Ohio Numismatic Association.
The father-son team of Stephen and Mark Petty started building the set in 2006, aiming for coins graded extra fine or better. By 2009 they had purchased 44 of the 45 coins in the set but still needed one piece, the rare 1870-S dollar.
Mint documents do not record any silver dollars struck in San Francisco in 1870, but a handful are known to collectors today. Their origin is shrouded in mystery, though collectors have speculated for decades that the coin was struck for inclusion in the cornerstone of the “Granite Lady” San Francisco Mint building on May 26, 1870.
Last year Legend Numismatics bought the FCC Boyd specimen for the Pettys at a Bowers and Merena sale.
In a report written shortly after the purchase, Mark wrote, “... the 1870-S was always a ‘dream’ coin for us. A coin we joked about someday obtaining but really never thought we would ever own one.”
The coin first appeared in a 1926 William Hesslein sale, but it had the initials “F.H.I.” etched onto the obverse. The initials were later removed, leaving tool marks behind. It is currently in a Professional Coin Grading Service holder, ungraded but with the notation “Genuine.”
The Pettys will display their Seated Collection from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 3-4 and will be available to answer questions regarding the set.
Ohio State Coin Show hours are set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 3-4 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-Dublin located at 600 Metro Place North in Dublin, Ohio.
The suburban Columbus show will feature 125 all-coin tables. More information can be found at the club’s website, www.cnscoins.com.
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