1870-CC $5 Gold CC Coin of the Week - 8-15-2010

Hi again Garry

About Cal Tjader...I should have perhaps mentioned in my article that Cal was gone. i should've used the words "The late great Cal Tjader" or something similar. My oversite there.

Cal passed at a fairly young age...I think age 57 or 58 of heart failure. He was actually on tour with his band at the time.

Cal was not only a vibraphonist but a very gifted drummer as well. I do know that many many years ago he won a Gene Krupa drum solo contest in San Francisco. As luck would have it, the day he won the final was the same day that Pearl harbor was attacked.

I just had to include this tantalizing connection in my article. It's almost magic to see "CC" coin and music history intersect like this.

I'm glad you enjoyed!

Michael the drummer

Michael,

How can I possibly follow this masterful article next week? Your piece is the quintessentially perfect editorial representing our club's 111 coin writing project. As Rusty suggests in his comments about your article, the editorial captures the spirit and the essence of this fabulous avocation. I would add that it also displays the spirit and the essence of someone who truly owns the passion in his heart and lives the passion through his words.... our very own Drummer!

I take my hat off to you for one of the finest short articles about ANY Carson City coin we are ever likely to see.

Belay Off

Wow Belay!

High praise from such a top notch writer like yourself. I'm just glad that you enjoyed the post.

Normally, I try to keep my COW posts a bit shorter and apologize if this post is a bit lengthy. I felt however that 1870 is such an important "CC" date...heck, it's THE date....I just had to pay special tribute to the man who made it all possible.

Abraham was a visionary of his time...not only our beloved "CC" coins are due because of him, but probably the very state of Nevada itself.

Millions of thanks my friend for your most gracious words.

I'm sure that your post next week will be even better still....your great posts have not been topped yet!!

Michael the drummer

Just to clarify my observation, Mike, it does appear that the reverse rim between 3:00 and 5:00 is a little wide. So I thought the reverse die might be a bit off-center.

Good eye Gary

It does appear to be very slightly wide at the position you pointed out. It's hard to tell because of the uneaven wear pattern on this coin (especially on the reverse).

I will be bringing this specimen to Carson City at our upcoming regional C4OA meeting. If you could only be there you could take a good look at it for yourself live and in person!

Just for the hay...I'll have Rusty give it a good look and see what he thinks. If indeed it is slightly off-center then it would be very slightly off. That'd be great with me...it would be something special for a coin that is already special.

All drummers should own at least one "slightly off-center" coin! hahaha

Michael the drummer

Appropo, since drummers are slightly off-center from my perspective :laugh: :laugh: