Home PCGS Set Registry Forum

Amazing Complete Type Set Average!

Some of you may not have noticed...I sure did! High Desert is very close to a 65 average with his complete type set! Without sounding too selfgratifiying, this is an amazing accomplishment. I can speak from experience assembling my set in mint state. Many coins are simply not available in high grade mint state, either there are few coins certified; the 1793 liberty cap cent as an example, or if they exist, they are locked up in other great collections; a few examples are the 1793 chain cent, the 1792 half disme, 1796 no stars quarter eagle, 1808 quarter eagle, and the 1838/39 no motto eagle. Try to buy no drapery quarters or half dollars in ms 64 and 65 as well as arrows and rays quarters and halves in ms65...quality coins are few and far between. Find any flowing hair, draped bust small eagle, or draped bust large eagle
dollar in ms64 or ms65 and consider yourself fortunate and be prepared to spend $50,000.- $150,000.
This is an accomplishment that surpasses any registry set with the possible exception of Trade Dollar Nut's
collection.
Maybe someday we'll be able to view it.
Congratulations H.D.
JSwan / Swan Family Type Collection

Comments

  • KeyrockKeyrock Posts: 961
    I have to agree. trying to find classic coins in such a high grade is a remarkable feat. I can only hope to finish my set some day, let alone have a set in the caliber of either yours or HD. They are both wonderful sets!!!

    Rich
  • RGLRGL Posts: 3,784
    Agreed, an amazing numismatic feat. It's all I can do to scrape together a modern-day set better than 65!
  • keithdagenkeithdagen Posts: 2,025
    Swan,

    You are absolutely right. Some of the pieces for this set are rare even in grades below VF, and High has managed almost a 65 average.

    His gold set averages 64.50, leaving a 65.09 average on the Copper, Silver and Nickel portion of the set.

    In the modern arena (1900-forward), he's at 67.00 for CSN and 66.00 for the gold.
    Keith ™

  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm jealous. No, seriously. I am.
    Great set!

    peacockcoins

  • boiler78boiler78 Posts: 3,060 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just wish we could see it.
  • tjkilliantjkillian Posts: 5,578 ✭✭✭
    Yes, it is quite an accomplishment, but yours, Swan, is nearly as fantastic! Yours has an AVERAGE grade of over MS-64! That is one collection that I'm sure everyone would also like to see. I'm working on trying to picture my lowly #5 set. It is not as impressive, but I still like it and I'm not finished.

    Tom
    Tom

  • Swan,

    Weren't you going to open your set up for viewing at some point?
    Keith ™

  • Swan,

    Your set is very impressive and something to be proud of. I am putting one together but have not registered it yet(someday maybe).

    Just out of curiosity if you don't mind talking about it why do you hid your set? There have been a lot of threads on here with a lot of speculation but its all just that speculation.

    Hope this is not to intrusive.

    Bill
    Bill

    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
  • DAMDAM Posts: 2,410 ✭✭
    I agree with Bill, Swan I'd be proud to own your set.

    Regarding HD's set, I feel like I'm in kindergarden trying to compete against Michael Jordan when I compare my entire collection againt HD's Complete Type Set.

    High Desert, if you do show your set someday, please include images! I think I would take a day off work just to look at those coins.

    Another set to look at, if you haven't already, is the Cardinal Collection of Early Dollars. What a beautiful collection of silver dollars! Love those Bust Dollars!

    DAM
    Dan
  • I repeat, I am going to re-open my set as soon as I photograph some of the nicer, more important coins, then I will remove the set from the current finest list. I have to add the photos before I remove the set because you can't add photos to an "all time finest" set. At least that is my understanding.
    JSwan / Swan Family Type Collection
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 24,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Swan, I sure wish some of my coins could play with your coins! But, my coins ride the small yellow school bus and wouldn't be allowed. ;

    peacockcoins

  • TWQGTWQG Posts: 3,145 ✭✭
    Braddick, that's not very pc for a leftcoasterimage

    Sean
  • HighDesertHighDesert Posts: 46 ✭✭
    Swan,

    Thanks to you and the rest for the kind words. As you point out and well know from your experiences, the early coins are hard to come by in high grades. I have spent the past few months concentrating on only ten coins of the set. The recent upgrades have been accomplished with eight of the ten, giving you an idea of how drastic the upgrades have been. One of the coins was originally a VF-30 and I managed to replace it with a MS-62. It has truly been a gas to find these babies (and to have them available).

    Braddick,

    I still think you have hit upon the best way to collect. My Complete Type Set stays in the bank and never sees the light of day. I see it maybe once every six months in the little room next to the vault. The Braddick-style Set, however, stays at home and is there to enjoy, worn though it may be...

    High Desert
  • jcpingjcping Posts: 2,649 ✭✭✭
    Both sets are truly amazing. I wish some day you folks will open the set and let us know the amazing combination. image
    an SLQ and Ike dollars lover
  • To this day I still get a kick out of Braddik's "worse known" set image I agree it would be very much fun to see my coins more often. I do bring them home one or two at a time. Of course they aren't worth all that much, but I'd hate to replace them.
  • cosmicdebriscosmicdebris Posts: 12,332 ✭✭✭
    You guys leave me in awe of your accomplishments with these sets. One day I know HD will have the highest rated possible set in everything he has put together.
    Bill

    image

    09/07/2006
  • orevilleoreville Posts: 12,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    High Desert:

    Congratulations!

    What you are doing is exactly what I hope to accomplish someday. But those pesky patterns seem to get in the way all the time!!!!

    I have conversed with swan and he seems like a really nice fellow. He seems to really take pleasure in seeing other collections get built and put together and upgraded.

    I do send my sympathies to you on your having to visit your set (like many of us) when time permits! I could send you an old dateless buffalo nickel just to have around in your pocket to ease the pain and withdrawal symptoms. LOL. image
    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i would figure if you're chasing coins that will cost $50K-$150K when you find them, that they are probably a little easier to find, if that makes sense. image

    al h.image
  • HighDesertHighDesert Posts: 46 ✭✭
    OK...

    If you haven't noticed, Swan has now unmasked his set. And what a beauty it is!

    As I have commented before, his early dates are OUTSTANDING. Indeed, of the 24 types 1792-1808, Swan and I are tied in 8 categories, I have higher grades in 7 categories and Swan has the better of me in 9 categories. When weighting comes to this set I expect Swan would close the gap significantly.

    He obviously has only filled holes with his 1900-1964 coins. This man has a passion (which I share) for early American coins!

    Swan's set deserves strong consideration for one of PCGS's soon-to-be-awarded plaques. I didn't see anywhere in the rules where a set had to be #1 to be considered.

    And I vote for Swan continuing the quest with upgrades. Speaking for myself, I find the search for finer examples to be almost as much fun as the original search.

    Way to go, Swan!!

    High Desert
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i have two questions for swan and high desert

    do you guys tend to locate slabbed coins or raw coins?
    regarding raw coins, which do you feel have been your biggest accomplishments?

    al h.image
  • keets, If you are spending any kind of money, don't buy raw coins! Since 1986 I have only purchased a few raw large cents, nothing else. There are too many "doctors" and they are getting better by the day at their practice! One of the large cents I purchased happened to be a chain cent from the Norweb collection, so I had the pedigree to give me some assurance. But, generally I don't buy raw coins!
    JSwan / Swan Family Type Collection
  • orevilleoreville Posts: 12,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I personally have found it works best to try to stay within 2 or 3 denominations at the most at one time otherwise you are all over the lot trying to buy coins for the type set before you build the knowledge of grading.

    I too am keeping my coins at MS-65 or better but have not yet hit the stone wall of type coins that simply are not available in 65 let alone mint state.

    I have worked with the dime and $20 gold to try to stay focused within a more narrow range (except for 20th century coins which is easier to locate) but it is hard to choose when so many nice coins come around.

    Of course, spouses want to know why they are getting coins instead of jewelry for their presents. :-)

    (HINT) It helps to buy the type coins that you need with their birthyear on the coins as it helps in your "argument" that it really was for them!
    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • Congrats. As a long time collector I can appreciate the effort as I move up. How did you acquire most of the rarer coins? I assume auction or through private treaty as against e-bay etc. which I do not trust. I get concerned about security issues even though coins in vault with sets like yours and mine. Thoughts please?
  • pcm, Turn on your private message icon.

    I don't buy any coin that I, or my advisor/dealer haven't seen. Therefore I have never purchased a coin from e-bay! I buy from established dealers and from major shows and auctions. I try to buy original (undipped) coins that are PQ for the grade and have good eye appeal. I learned through experience, as we all do, and when I started collecting (before PCGS) I bought many coins that were overgraded and not very attractive. Later losses from selling those unattractive coins was written off to the cost of education.

    Read the book before you buy the coin!
    JSwan / Swan Family Type Collection
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,582 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wow. I always said that, but it bears repeating. This in regards to all of you big guys: High, Swan, Walser. Very impressive. I would love to play in your league, but I'm afraid I could only be the bat boy in the dugout, on my budget...

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • orevilleoreville Posts: 12,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lordmarcovan: Many collectors would give their throwing arm to trade places with you. You are younger than most of these high rollers and will get all these great coins when they are ready to move to the big coin board or big coin slab in the sky.
    A Collectors Universe poster since 1997!
  • scherscher Posts: 924
    What incredible type sets both high desert and Jim Swans are..I have seen a few of Jims coins up close and they are WOW and very original looking..i however agree with oreville about the narrow focus needed due to potential jewelry problems...
    super collections guys, congrats really not enough to say.
    bruce scher
  • keithdagenkeithdagen Posts: 2,025
    Oreville,

    I caught the jewelry bit, but how do you justify that 1796 $2.50 No Stars? image

    I have not had the opportunity to see any of HD's or Swan's coins, but I saw a lot of Bill Walser's SLQ's at a show in May at several dealer tables and they were very nice. I know that he has a great Type set going as well that is nearly complete.
    Keith ™

Sign In or Register to comment.