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What coin would you use for each coin type in the All-Time #1 "Impossible Set?"

Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited October 12, 2019 6:29AM in U.S. Coin Forum

I think the "Impossible Type Set" is being formed.

At one time I tried building a 20th Century Type Set using the rare "keys" for each denomination. I did not get very far. :( However, when Mr. Hansen is done, he'll be able to make THE/or one of the best Type Sets imaginable by adding most of the highest graded or rarest coins from each series into it. You know the drill:

WHAT COIN would you use to fill each hole? He does not need to own it yet. These are some easy ones:

1894-S Barber dime
1885 Trade dollar
1913 Liberty nickel
No "S" Roosevelt dime
1804 dollar
1870-S Half dime
1876-CC 20c

and...

Comments

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Didn't Leo Young from Oakland do just that back in the fifties?
    Man, that's even older than me.

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Just looked it up. Yes he did.

    http://www.patrickmint.com/writings.html

    " He introduced himself as Leo Young, a name I was already familiar with from his auction catalogues, and told me that the bust dollar was not for sale. However, he was very polite and opened the case to show it to me. In the minutes following he showed me a number of coins in his type set. Believe me, the impact of what I saw was slow to sink in. The superb barber dime in the type set was not just an 1894 but an 1894-S! His trade dollar was an 1885! You see, Leo Young not only collected type coins but tried to include the rarest coin of each type whenever he could. Not only were his coins of high quality but any given type might include the rarest coin of the series and occasionally, as above, a legendary rarity."

    I also only met him once or twice.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Great story. Too bad we don't know all the other coins in his set or all of the other collectors who did the same thing. As I wrote, If Hansen reaches his goal, I don't think his Type Set could ever be beat.

    BTW, the 1796 fakes in the article were DIE STRUCK COUNTERFEITS. The Numismatist featured them in an ANACS column.

  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    There was nothing like the SF Bay Area in the late 60's early 70's for coins.
    AMAZING stuff. EVERYWHERE!
    All over SF and I even recall a little hole-in-the-wall in Vallejo near the tracks that had a good ...selection... of Large Cents.
    Steve Ahajanian in SF had a cool security thing.
    He had a couple banks of safe deposit boxes in his shop.
    HE.... knew which ones had anything in them. Could always count on him having lots of gold coins.
    The oldtimers around there kept bringing them in.

    Wish I'd had some.. MONEY when I was haunting the bay area. :'(

  • GoBustGoBust Posts: 605 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 12, 2019 9:48AM

    From the Early American Silver Capped Bust Coinage Collection world lets give some choices to add to you amazing type set idea. For circulation issues, The 1822 Capped Bust Dime PCGS MS65 CAC tied finest known, 1823/2 Capped Bust Quarter AU58+ Gold CAC Gardner finest known, 1817/4 Capped Bust Half Dollar PCGS AU53 Eliasberg finest known, and the 1836 Reeded Edge Capped Bust Half PCGS MS65 Pogue finest known would fit nicely into your new set.

    IF you prefer proofs, substitute the 1822 Capped Bust Dime PR66+ CAM CAC Gardner unique, 1823/2 Capped Bust Quarter PR64 CAC unique Gardner (or possibly the 1818 Capped Bust Quarter PR 66+ CAC Col. Green [only pre-1820 silver or gold proof certified at PCGS]), 1822 Capped Bust Half in PR65+ CAM Norweb [earliest proof half certified proof at PCGS]), and the 1838-O Reeded Edge Capped Bust Half PCGS PR64 CAC Eliasberg.

    If we're combining, then I'd place the 1822 proof dime, 1823/2 proof quarter and 1817/4 half dollar as my small contribution.

    That pretty much covers my little corner of your set.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 12, 2019 10:05AM

    @GoBust said:
    From the Early American Silver Capped Bust Coinage Collection world lets give some choices to add to you amazing type set idea. For circulation issues, The 1822 Capped Bust Dime PCGS MS65 CAC tied finest known, 1823/2 Capped Bust Quarter AU58+ Gold CAC Gardner finest known, 1817/4 Capped Bust Half Dollar PCGS AU53 Eliasberg finest known, and the 1836 Reeded Edge Capped Bust Half PCGS MS65 Pogue finest known would fit nicely into your new set.

    IF you prefer proofs, substitute the 1822 Capped Bust Dime PR66+ CAM CAC Gardner unique, 1823/2 Capped Bust Quarter PR64 CAC unique Gardner (or possibly the 1818 Capped Bust Quarter PR 66+ CAC Col. Green [only pre-1820 silver or gold proof certified at PCGS]), 1822 Capped Bust Half in PR65+ CAM Norweb [earliest proof half certified proof at PCGS]), and the 1838-O Reeded Edge Capped Bust Half PCGS PR64 CAC Eliasberg.

    If we're combining, then I'd place the 1822 proof dime, 1823/2 proof quarter and 1817/4 half dollar as my small contribution.

    That pretty much covers my little corner of your set.

    I wonder how many of those Mr. Hansen has.

  • WCCWCC Posts: 2,859 ✭✭✭✭✭

    1822 half eagle
    1854-S half eagle
    1933 DE
    If you are going to mix proofs in there, 1804 eagle
    1796 (or 1797) SP half
    1807 SP-65 half
    1794 SP-66 dollar

    I would exclude any coins that are actually patterns such as all stellas. I also consider all three 1866 no motto liberty seated (quarter, half and dollar) to be fantasy coins.

  • tradedollarnuttradedollarnut Posts: 20,197 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Hansen doesn’t have enough nice early stuff to create a memorable type set

  • GoBustGoBust Posts: 605 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 12, 2019 1:01PM

    He does have an 1804 silver dollar of course, like you Bruce! I have a picture of the two of you studying side by side with two 1804s. His flowing hair and draped bust half dimes are also finest known or close to it I believe. So I'd say Dell Loy has a solid starting foothold.

    Those other coins are actually within my current sets.

    Your 18th century type set would be able to contribute quite a few coins to this rarity type set I suspect. What you've done is simply astounding in such a short period. By the way thanks for the show and tell at the Vegas show, that was so much fun to see.

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @tradedollarnut said:
    Hansen doesn’t have enough nice early stuff to create a memorable type set

    He could have the best 20h Century set though.

  • GoBustGoBust Posts: 605 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 12, 2019 4:19PM

    That's the picture, look at those two smiling 1804 owners. Now that's a tough club to join.

    He very well might have the best late 19th aand 20th century set. I wholeheartedly agree.

  • yosclimberyosclimber Posts: 5,026 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 12, 2019 5:35PM

    Any good Impossible type set should include:
    1873-S No Arrows half dollar.
    Apparently 5000 minted, but the search may be long.

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