Silver Commemoratives 50 Piece Set
Along
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When building a set, which pieces are the most difficult to find with strong eye appeal?
Which ones if you can find an attractive example should you pay up for?
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Do you like colorfully toned? Do you like white or untoned? Do you like original packaging toning? Do you prefer rolling or satiny luster? Do you prefer PL examples?
These answers will go a long way toward determining the answers to your questions.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I’d say - colorful peripheral toning, strong strike, clean fields, no distracting bag marks, and not dipped blast white.
In Bowers book on Commems, he identifies about seven of the 50 Type Classic Silver Commems as often found with problematic eye appeal. In no particular order:
Lafayette, Alabama, Missouri, Pan-Pacific, Vancouver, Washington-Carver. The worst is Monroe.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Great reference. I forgot about that. I would agree, but I’ve seen some nice Vancouver’s in 63-65 recently.
While it's all in the eye of the beholder, regarding the Vancouver, Bowers says "The design.... was such that even a small amount of handling produced friction on the higher spots. When contemplating a coin for purchase, check the obverse portrait, for it nearly always shows evidence of friction and handling, often on coins certified in high grades." In 1980, Anthony Swiatek said "...thousands being barely Mint State or sliders or worse, many poorly cleaned." In 1982 there was a small nice hoard found that added to the supply of Mint State pieces, but even with that, Bowers says "TRUE Mint State coins are rare".
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Thanks for the info. I’m really enjoying putting a set together.
Strike is most important to me
Nice balance in toning.
You might want to spend some time on CoinFacts to see what the most frequent toning patterns are for each issue. One issue which is very hard to find with toning is the Spanish Trail. Vermont often comes with golden or brown toning but rarely with wild color. Connecticuts are hard to find with really colorful toning. Etc.
That’s a great idea, thanks