What the heck!?!?!?!

I was going thru my silver coins today, cataloging them for possible sale, and the ONLY Seated liberty I have at first nearly made me fall out of my chair, then I got pretty miffed, then I had to laugh...
I have had this coin since I was 13 and had bought it from a kid that got it from his grandma... I had not looked at it closely for years, and at 13 (and even older), had no idea it shouldnt look like this...

What the heck were they doing to this old coin? It appears as if someone tried their hand at engraving, but why a coffee cup?
The funny part is that they put a navel and nipples on Miss Liberty... This had to have been done long ago, as this kid couldnt have done it, and I cannot imagine his grandma doing it either... Wish I knew who/when this was done.. Back looks normal..

Here are a couple pics...  Maybe you all will get as much a kick out of it as my wife and I did...

LOL that is pretty cool.

Looks like hairy legs too!

heck man that most likely a southern bit of civil war "trench" art **similar to "hobo art" later on --- you got to think lilke a cold bored loney soldier --- a warm cuppa joe and a hot woman  --yah thats the ticket --so your take your pocket knife and carve em on a coin to pass the time --- thats a 1861 "o" half  thus new orleans mint  ( of the 2,532,633 half dollars made in 1861 the vast bulk of them were made using the us dies by the confederates since they took over the mint on jan 31st of 1861 -- only 330,000 of the halves were minted under us mint control with the rest 2,203,833 being minted under confedrate control -- so theres over a 7 to 1 chance ratio wize its confederate made money --so good bet its " southern made money" -- if you do not want it --I most surely do .

want to trade ?

That might be Hobo Art, do some research, Hobo Art with coins has become very valuable. I don't know much about Hobo Art. I heard about it in a magazine years ago. Someone on this forum has to know something about Hobo Art.

IS that what they call a NON draped bust??
~Nash~

Here is a link to Hobo and altered coins. 
[/url] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo_nickel

You guys sure that is a cup of coffee.. and not a chamber pot??? My wife said that it looked like a "toilet" heheh.

in new orleans (where this coin is from) -- after the yankee take over --union gen bulter was so hated that southerners painted his picture inside of their chamber pots

I strongly think its a southern made civil war half dollar coin from the new orleans mint --worked on during the civil war most likely . -- quite frankly I'd like to have it.

being born in new orleans in 1961 -- 100 years afterwards and a southerner by birth -- I've always wanted a 1861 "o" half dollar ( since chance are 7 to 1 it was indeed made  by the confederates)-- but a possible civil war "trench art" etched one --even better.

That is what is so great about this site.... I probably would have never thought of something like that (Trench art).... I have to immediately rule out "Hobo Art", since nickels were used in every case I remember (and have searched so far today) and for the fact that even in the 30's, 40's, and even 50's, a silver half-dollar from 1861 was valuable enough that a Hobo wouldnt have one, or if they did, surely wouldnt carve it like that.... I have to assume that whoever did it felt it wasnt worth that much (a half-dollar to a Confederate soldier was a lot of money, but what if you thought it wouldnt be or you wouldnt live to spend it?), maybe someone not to bright?
The kid I bought it from was 12, and tried to buy it back later (my grandma will be mad at me), so I dont know if he did it or not really... A kid WOULD do something like that, not knowing what he had, but he just didnt fit that kind of kid, nor do I think he (or I for that matter) could have done that back then. Maybe with a dremel tool, but I dont think we had them then...
At least I have SOME kind of possible story now, and it sure does make more sense than the alternative. The back is untouched, so they didnt spent a whole lot of time on it, whoever did it...

Keep the ideas coming!! I dont feel so bad about my only seated being disfigured now.. LOL..

being born in new orleans in 1961 -- 100 years afterwards and a southerner by birth -- I've always wanted a 1861 "o" half dollar -- but a possible civil war "trench art" etched one --even better.

I'll keep you in mind Ivan....

thanks

I think the new version is much sexier 
Nice one.
TnMountains

My thoughts exactly..........a chamber pot.

1861 porn, my oh my oh my?!/!?/

very cool and unusual....hh

Priceless  !

My thoughts exactly..........a chamber pot.

I have to agree with you guys.... After the first reference to the chamber pot, I got the reading glasses on and looked at it again, and I have no doubt that it is a chamber pot... Placed right under her bum... Oh my is right!
And since it looks more like a chamber pot than a cup, that would make the Civil War soldier theory a little more likely.. Makes me wonder how many guffaws that person got when he showed off his perverted coin... 

Got to be better than a coin spill of 5 normal seated

Isn't this what's called a "potty dollar"?  I've usually seen them on Trade Dollars though.  Always worth a smile!

Here's a thread on the PCGS coin forums showing some pics off...
http://forums.collectors.com/messag...ghlight_key=y&keyword1=potty%20

one more for good measure...
http://forums.collectors.com/messag...ghlight_key=y&keyword1=potty%20

I have been searching and searching for similar examples of my Porn-coin, and found this auction from 2 yrs ago...
As Testing123 posted, they call them "Potty Dollars", but most are from much later in the 1800's, and on dollars, not halves....
It also went for a pretty penny...  
Thanks Testing123! I may be partial, but I think mine is better than the one that sold at auction....   

   What  the ?   

  Very cool!

  A few years back I seen a George Counterfeit halfpenny with Britainnia holding something she shouldn't have been. It sold for over $1,000.

I like it

XXX Very Cool! Sure don't see that much in coin land!

Yep...that ain't no coffee cup!  Very cool!

   The mintmark is fitting too!   "O" ... OH!

That is cool as heck. I've seen several coins altered by soldiers and well done. One was a flying eagle penny and the eagle was carved into a   winged man part that we won't mention and back in the 70's a guy I know dug several large cents with the e in cent changed into another letter and I'll leave that at that except to say his wife made him get rid of them.  But in his words " I did keep one though" ha ha

 :oAll she's wearing is socks ! woo woo

i agree with viper !
looks like shes taking a dump !

a nude woman using a "chamber pot" would be very smutty for those times -- and upon reveiw thats what it appears to be.

That is one kick a$$ treasure  I luv hobo nickles   that is american folk art  WOW  congrats  HH

so most likelty its a civil war era "southern" new orleans mint "o" 1861 half dollar ----made into a smutty "potty " half dollar --by a bored civil war soldier ( good chance he was a southerner *) maybe the kid you got it froms great great grandad even  --that why  his "granny" would be so mad over the loss of a family heirloom type item.

Thats awesome!!I have seen two "modified",large "CENTS",that had a letter changed,absolute precision too!!!Both dug.

that's cool, never seen that b4..

check  out this nickel..

That might be Hobo Art, do some research, Hobo Art with coins has become very valuable. I don't know much about Hobo Art. I heard about it in a magazine years ago. Someone on this forum has to know something about Hobo Art.

I am convinced that "hobo coins" are a genre created after-the-fact to create collector interest.  I have never seen nor heard of a dug "Hobo Nickel" for example.  There should've been one lost somewhere, sometime--especially in one of our illustrious parks in the U.S. that have been pounded with metal detectors for decades now...

This is certainly just an example of someone having some fun with a coin.  Yes, the engraving is probably 19th c.


Cool coin! 

in new orleans (where this coin is from) -- after the yankee take over --union gen bulter was so hated that southerners painted his picture inside of their chamber pots

I strongly think its a southern made civil war half dollar coin from the new orleans mint --worked on during the civil war most likely . -- quite frankly I'd like to have it.

being born in new orleans in 1961 -- 100 years afterwards and a southerner by birth -- I've always wanted a 1861 "o" half dollar ( since chance are 7 to 1 it was indeed made  by the confederates)-- but a possible civil war "trench art" etched one --even better.

I don't see why it was necessarily a Southerner that did the engraving.  There is nothing on the coin to justify that assumption.  Nor is there anything on the coin to justify that it was "trench art."  Were all the engraved love tokens "trench art" as well?  How about the rings and other jewelry made from coin silver during the same time period?


-Buck

Must have wanted a Bust Half instead of a seated...

buckle boy -- which is more likely it being one of  330,000 federal  US mint halves minted in jan of 1861 ( the mint was taken over by the state of louisana (confederate forces on jan 31st of 1861 )-- or it being one of 2,202,633 mint by the state of louisana  and the confederate govt -- the confederate forces minted until the silver stock ran out using the old US Govt dies -- so using the mintage numbers the odds are a bit over 6 1/2  to 1 -- that its a confederate made "half" dollar on a ratio basis --ie most likely its "southern money " --thus it was most likely in "southern hands" --ie a southern soldier logically --- bored soldiers in war time often did lil art objects to while away hours of boredom --these types of items are called "trench art" by most folks -- the potty dollars were risque type of item of that time era --this one just happens to be a half dollar and being its of the civil war era --its logical  -- to think a southern soldier got a coin in or from the new orleans mint and carved upon it -- makes sense to me at least ---might not be cast in stone 100% beyond doubt ---- but I think its a reasonible and logicial ideal.

most likely its "southern money " --thus it was most likely in "southern hands" --ie a southern soldier logically --- bored soldiers in war time often did lil art objects to while away hours of boredom --these types of items are called "trench art" by most folks -- the potty dollars were risque type of item of that time era --this one just happens to be a half dollar and being its of the civil war era --its logical  -- to think a southern soldier got a coin in or from the new orleans mint and carved upon it -- makes sense to me at least ---might not be cast in stone 100% beyond doubt ---- but I think its a reasonible and logicial ideal.

Odds are in favor of the coin being minted under Confederate supervision--but that is still an assumption.  It also appears that these "potty coins" were made post-CW.  So I think it is rather silly to assume that this is trench art.  It is still a wonderful piece, and quite valuable too.  But the coin is not an ID disc--so any ideas about its origin are nothing more than conjecture.


Regards,


Buckles

That's a cool coin !


TommNJ

I would have to agree with you Buckles, conjecture is all you can have with anything like this, even Hobo coins... What I find most intriguing though, is that the only examples I can find of "Potty Dollars", or coins, is that they are all from the 1870's and newer, and all on "Trade" dollars... Could it be people were afraid back then to "deface" actual Govt minted coins? All in all, what something is worth all comes down to one thing... How much someone is willing to pay for it..
If anyone can find another example of a potty dollar on actual Govt coinage, please let me know.. I am trying to find out as much as I can about this coin..

Those are not hairy legs . Those are garters ! I just can't understand how anyone could believe that a guy would go to all that work and then go to the extra effort to put hair on her legs . Oh well I guess God made sick puppies too . 

Very kool SS Thanks for posting!!

[That's just super cool!!! What a great piece!!]

That's just super cool!!! What a great piece!! 

I would have to agree with you Buckles, conjecture is all you can have with anything like this, even Hobo coins... What I find most intriguing though, is that the only examples I can find of "Potty Dollars", or coins, is that they are all from the 1870's and newer, and all on "Trade" dollars... Could it be people were afraid back then to "deface" actual Govt minted coins? All in all, what something is worth all comes down to one thing... How much someone is willing to pay for it..
If anyone can find another example of a potty dollar on actual Govt coinage, please let me know.. I am trying to find out as much as I can about this coin..

THIS ONE ISNT A TRADE DOLLAR,SO IT WOULD BE WORTH ALL THAT MORE???

not bad for a piece you thought of as a "just" defaced coin --till you posted it here.  surprizing what all you can learn around here.

THIS ONE ISNT A TRADE DOLLAR,SO IT WOULD BE WORTH ALL THAT MORE???

I cant say, but there are a lot out there made from "Trade Dollars", and I cant find any on CW era coins, or even "real" money for that matter. You know what they say, "The fewer of them there are, the more they are worth"... One can only hope.. ;-)

THIS ONE ISNT A TRADE DOLLAR,SO IT WOULD BE WORTH ALL THAT MORE???

I cant say, but there are a lot out there made from "Trade Dollars", and I cant find any on CW era coins, or even "real" money for that matter. You know what they say, "The fewer of them there are, the more they are worth"... One can only hope.. ;-)

I was wondering what you folks thought about this... I was thinking of listing this coin on epay, but have no idea the ballpark to start it at, or maybe a reserve?
I have proof that the only same year (but imho not as nice) potty coin sold for nearly $400 in 2007 at an auction, but you just never know with epay...
Any and all opinions as far as value will be appreciated (ballpark of course).

I was wondering what you folks thought about this... I was thinking of listing this coin on epay, but have no idea the ballpark to start it at, or maybe a reserve?
I have proof that the only same year (but imho not as nice) potty coin sold for nearly $400 in 2007 at an auction, but you just never know with epay...
Any and all opinions as far as value will be appreciated (ballpark of course).

If your a member of www.ha.com hertiage auction.. they do free appraisal...

as such a rare odd ball type item -- who knows what it might be worth fiscally ?--as a highly possible confederate new orleans minted 1861 "o" half dollar (roughly 7 to 1 odds that it is) -- its a bit rare to start with --with the potty design on it even scarcer I would say -- as I often say when folks ask "whats it worth?"---as little as you'll take for it ,and as much as they will pay for it ---when those two ends over lap --a deal is stuck at thats what its worth at that second in time.

Those are not hairy legs . Those are garters ! I just can't understand how anyone could believe that a guy would go to all that work and then go to the extra effort to put hair on her legs . Oh well I guess God made sick puppies too .  

LMAO

As far as the coin.  Probability does rest on the side of being a Confederate produced half....anything beyond that is simply unknown unfortunately   Have it appraised that will go a LONG way into us finding out about this intriguing coin

Oh, you all are missing a very important clue.   Look closely at the breasts and think a little history of N.O. here.

well new orleans in general in the old days esp. was known for its "cat houses" and rather kinky and risque entertainments

Think "cross-eyed".

I was wondering what you folks thought about this... I was thinking of listing this coin on epay, but have no idea the ballpark to start it at, or maybe a reserve?
I have proof that the only same year (but imho not as nice) potty coin sold for nearly $400 in 2007 at an auction, but you just never know with epay...
Any and all opinions as far as value will be appreciated (ballpark of course).

I think you should post your "potty dollar" over on the PCGS forum.  They have a "Buy, Sell and Trade" section of the forum where you can post stuff like this for free.  Might be worth a shot.  Or, you could ask some members there where  they believe the best place to sell it is.  If you don't have an account, I can poke around if you'd like...

heck man that most likely a southern bit of civil war "trench" art **similar to "hobo art" later on --- you got to think lilke a cold bored loney soldier --- a warm cuppa joe and a hot woman  --yah thats the ticket --so your take your pocket knife and carve em on a coin to pass the time --- thats a 1861 "o" half  thus new orleans mint  ( of the 2,532,633 half dollars made in 1861 the vast bulk of them were made using the us dies by the confederates since they took over the mint on jan 31st of 1861 -- only 330,000 of the halves were minted under us mint control with the rest 2,203,833 being minted under confedrate control -- so theres over a 7 to 1 chance ratio wize its confederate made money --so good bet its " southern made money" -- if you do not want it --I most surely do .

want to trade ?

Well said!

Never seen one like that before

Interesting "coin." 

The question I have is I notice below the chamber pot or cup there seems to be a word engraved.  It might just be scratches but it looks like something.

I had heard the chamber pot stories (how they placed a picture of general so and so at the bottom as a target) when I was a kid back in the 1970's in one of the old plantion houses turned into a museum.   There was even a chair style toilet with ceramic insert and picture of one of the Union generals at the bottom.  As for the coin to have been engraved at that time it looks like it was probably done at a later time.  The coin is too worn down. 

the general painted on the bottom of the chamber pots in new orleans was union gen butler * aka as "the beast" by southerners --commander of union forces in new orleans ---he was totally despised by the southerners of new orleans for his brutal treatment of the people of new orleans -- it might say "beast" below it .---as in "c*ap on the beast"

You guys sure that is a cup of coffee.. and not a chamber pot??? My wife said that it looked like a "toilet" heheh.

  i agree the guy who did it had some kind of fetish.   willy

I like it!! That would be my new avatar!

That is cool as heck. I've seen several coins altered by soldiers and well done. One was a flying eagle penny and the eagle was carved into a   winged man part that we won't mention and back in the 70's a guy I know dug several large cents with the e in cent changed into another letter and I'll leave that at that except to say his wife made him get rid of them.  But in his words " I did keep one though" ha ha

After reading this I went through my large cents, (all 2 of them), and looked at the back.  Am I just trying to see this or is it real?  Not really sure if i should post this or not, but here goes...
side by side
left
right

That's a cool coin there! I've collected coins all my life and I've seen other half dollars and even a couple of quarters altered into potty coins. I remember the quarters selling for about $50.00 a piece and the halves being around $100.00 each. These prices were for better quality, "original" period pieces - which yours certainly appears to be. There are collectors out there for these coins, I would try consigning it in a national coin auction - it would have great exposure to those specialized collectors and bring the best price.

I like it, I think its banner and a great ID BTW. I am just guessing here but I would imagine these were altered at about the same time period that love tokens were being made from silver coins. Its an original authentic.

Cool Find Silver Surfer,

You have an added bit of history with the carving which makes it all the more special.

In the first year of detecting I and my dad had dug an 1861-O half from our cornfield. I had always wondered if it was one of the Confederate coins too.

This is mine which I use as my avatar.

Yep I had used silver polish on it too, well against numismatic rules but hey I like it being shiny and do not plan on parting with it.


 


 

well using known data on mintage -- the us govt ran mint in new orleans had made 330,000  1861"o"halves when it was taken over on jan 31st m 1861 - the state of louisana and the confederate govt (both confederate ) made 2,202,633 halves with the silver stock that was on hand using the us dies --roughly a 7 to 1 ratio of confederate made vs union (us govt) made --so odds are yours is a confederate made coin --most folks think of 1861 "o" halves as "confederate money" even thought they are marked by the us dies.

i say banner

Thinking about, it cant be in the banner because its an old find.