Silver Dollar Lining: How Much is a Life Worth

Patrick Wiabel

(01/21/2021)

Silver Dollar Lining: How Much is a Life Worth

The 1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar is one of the most sought after coins for any major coin collector. In uncirculated condition it can be worth upwards of half a million dollars. It is unattainable for most, unless they come across one in their family heirlooms or perhaps metal detecting in a historically known spot. With chances so few and far between you wouldn’t expect to come across one in your daily life.

From a young age I was interested in antiquities, especially coins. The older the coin, the more questions arise. There is something about their history that intrigues me. Who’s pocket had those coins been in? Who’s hands? 

I live an unusual lifestyle that allows me to travel extensively and even still there is little to no chance of coming across this particular coin.  One day as I rode in a horse drawn carriage through the streets of Luxor, Egypt that would all change.

Abdullah was my driver, and his horse Siad, although malnourished (As were many of the animals in Egypt, sadly.) was able to keep trotting all day long. Abdullah had lived a rough life of poverty. He was born and raised in Luxor on the east side of the Nile River. The carriage he used was passed down from his father who had made enough in the heyday of Egyptian Tourism to buy a small apartment, which was also passed down to Abdullah and his two sons.  The first day I was in Luxor he had found me walking aimlessly down the streets gazing at the countless archeological wonders that fill the historic town. He offered a ride for 50 Egyptian Pounds and I agreed to hop on and let him take me wherever. 

After passing the Luxor Temple and the Luxor Museum I asked him if he knew of any antique shops around. He nodded and said “Of course brother, I know a place.” At this moment I got excited because I had set aside some funds to purchase some antiques or vintage souvenirs. Maybe this was my opportunity to find something, in the mystery shop Abdullah told me about. So I told him to take me there. 

We were both in good moods now. I had promised him extra money because of his help and I was on my way to an antique dealer in one of the oldest inhabited parts of Egypt’s history. We entered the shop together and Abdullah and I greeted the owner. I asked about “old things”  and the dealer told me the laws about antiquities in Egypt and how they are not able to sell any artifact over 100 years old. Then he grabbed a small box from behind the counter and opened it to reveal a small collection of artifacts he had personally found.  

I was intrigued and scared at the same time after finding out the antiquities law and my nerves got the best of me and I rightly, turned down the purchase.  But as I pondered my options I saw a familiar silver coin in the display case. Before my very eyes was a 1799 Draped Bust Silver Dollar in incredible condition. I had only ever heard about the coin.  I’d never seen one in person.  Never held one.  I asked to see the coin and he happily opened the case and handed it to me.  I felt I should’ve been wearing gloves or some other form of protective gear for the coin’s sake. I asked him how much it was and he thought for a moment, looked at me, as I stared hungrily at the small piece of silver.  He responded with an offer of 4500 Egyptian Pounds, which, at the time, was roughly 250 US dollars. 

Who wouldn’t spend $250 to make thousands? Needless to say, I bought it.  My heart was pounding, my hands were sweaty, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky I was to have come across Abdullah, the shop, and the coin.  I pulled the money out, handed it to the dealer, and shook on the sale. After the deal was done, we three sat in the back room together, sipping on brandy and watching soccer on the small tv that hung in the corner.  Eventually we said our goodbyes and Abdullah and I left with a small buzz, a smile, and a silver coin.

Abdullah dropped me off at the boat docks and told me he would be around tomorrow if I needed a driver again.  I handed him 200 Egyptian Pounds as a thank you and told him not to wait up since I didn’t know what my plan was.  I said goodbye and headed down to the dock, my fingers still clinging to the coin that sat in my pocket.

Once I arrived on the other side of the Nile and to my hotel I grabbed the coin out instantly and started researching online to see exactly what I had purchased.  Everything I read made my smile even bigger until I came across an article about one of the most famous counterfeit coin operations, the 1799 “chicken-headed Eagle”. I looked at the picture then back at the coin, doing a quadruple take to find out that I had been scammed. The coin I had been so excited about was now burning a hole in my pocket.  

I woke up the next day angry, annoyed, and feeling used. I made my way across the Nile and went to Karnak Temple with the intention of going back to the antique shop afterwards. I had accepted the idea that I may not get the money back and strolled through the temple pillars with a crooked smile.  As I left the temple I heard a man’s voice saying, “Brother!  Brother! Wait!”.  I responded abruptly with “No. I don’t want a ride.”  The man said “What is the matter? I waited for you this morning.”  I looked up to see Abdullah standing before me.  I told him that I never asked him to wait, and that I needed to go back to the shop because the coin was fake.

Abdullah couldn’t believe it, and as if he were taking some of the blame he offered to take me there and help get the money back.  At first, I was thinking that I would handle it myself but Abdullah seemed to have good rapport with the dealer so I accepted.  Siad trotted all the way back to the shop.  As we enter, the dealer says, “My friends, you’ve come back.”  I sullenly walked up to the counter and set the coin on the table and explained that it’s fake, showing him the article about the “chicken-headed eagle”. The dealer examined it and then agreed that it’s fake.  Abdullah says he must give me the money back to make amends.  

But the dealer doesn’t have the 4500 Egyptian Pounds and wouldn’t be able to get it until the next morning.  So Abdullah once again steps in and makes a deal, knowing where else he can get the money.  So Abdullah and I left the shop and hopped on the carriage to Siad’s displeasure. He took me through some of the poorer parts of town and arrived at a small storefront.  He leaves me on the carriage as he walks in.  I’m sitting there thinking, “have I just been scammed again?” 

After 15 minutes, Abdullah emerges.  He sat next to me and counted out all 4500 Egyptian Pounds.  I quickly stuffed the funds into my backpack as we made our way back to the shop.  The dealer apologized and we all sipped another glass of brandy.  

As we exited the shop Abdullah invited me to his home for dinner and to meet his sons.  I didn’t actually want to because I was exhausted from the day, but I had read somewhere that if you are invited it is best to go. So, i said “yes” and Abdullah woke Siad.  On the way to his home he made a stop and came back giddy with joy.  He had just acquired a “finger” of hash and was looking forward to sharing it with me.

I was not surprised when we walked into his home.  It was small, with tar stained walls, and a single room where him and his two sons slept.  He had the older boy run and grab some traditional Egyptian fast food and when he made it back we opened it up and began to eat.  The two boys kept smiling at me with some sense of curiosity and asked questions that Abdullah would translate for me.  

The night was going well and shortly coming to an end. It was at this time that Abdullah stopped laughing, and asked me, “Do you know what I need from you?” At first I laughed thinking it was some kind of joke, but I was wrong. Abdullah was serious. I said, “I don’t know. What do you mean? Money?” Abdullah nodded his head and said “Yes. I need 3500 Egyptian Pounds.” at which I gasped and retorted with, “I can’t give you 3500, I was thinking I would give you 1000.” But Abdullah, shaking his head said, “No. 1000 is not enough.” The tone in the room drastically changed. His boys giggled and Abdullah frowned. I began to formulate the idea that this was all a con and the man that had been so kind, was now trying to take advantage of my kindness.  

I asked “Does this happen often? You? Bringing people here to take advantage of them?”  He was visibly shocked to hear this and I started to get angry and raised my voice. He told his sons to go away then after a long talk I agreed to give him 2000, and when I did, his expression changed from desperation to joy.  As I counted the money, his two sons watched from behind the corner of the wall. Seeing them there smiling, made me again assume that they were taking the piss out of me so, at 1400 I stopped and said, “that is enough.” Abdullah said again it is not, that he needs more. But I was done, so I said authoritatively “that IS enough.”   

I said thank you and that I was going to leave. But he wouldn’t let me go without taking me to the river.  So Abdullah, his sons, and myself piled onto Siad’s carriage and made our way to the Nile where I hastily got off, said goodbye, and made my way to the docks. 

I would never see him again. But I think of him often, and not in a negative way. It took me a long time to realize just how wrong I was. He had taken me around, shown me what I wanted to see, invited me to his home, got food, hash, and my money back. For all intensive purposes he was very good to me. 

In countries such as Egypt it is often an act of shame for people to ask for money. But Abdullah was desperate, and willing to be vulnerable because of that desperation. It says alot about the struggles that he goes through every day just to put food on the table for his family and for Siad. In the heat of that moment though, I couldn't see that.  Instead, I saw a man trying to con me.

That coin that I had spent 4500 Egyptian Pounds on was in all reality just a piece of silver, yet, I found more value in it, than in a human being that had done nothing, but everything I had asked. I look back on this experience with many regrets, often wishing I knew how to find him to apologize and give him the other 2100 Egyptian Pounds. I learned a lot from this experience but my greatest take away is that no one’s life is worth so little. So, value your own and value other’s.