Morning, all! Is everyone sleeping in?
This one was my last purchase of 2026, and it certainly was one of the highlights:
Bolen's masterpiece, the enormous "Letter to Hamilton" medal. It's graded by PCGS MS66BN, the finest known in any composition. Honestly, it doesn't need the slab. The surfaces are just incredible, almost flawless for such a big chunk of copper. It is a hulking 59mm, and it is housed in a PCGS oversized holder.
George Washington on the obverse with script on the reverse that should be read to every politician in America:
"I HOPE THAT LIBERAL ALLOWANCES WILL BE MADE, FOR THE POLITICAL OPINIONS OF EACH OTHER. WITHOUT THESE I DO NOT SEE HOW THE REINS OF GOVERNMENT ARE TO BE MANAGED, OR HOW THE UNION OF THE STATES CAN BE MUCH LONGER PRESERVED."
Stay caffeinated, and here is to a happy 2026!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Today’s Saturday AM coffee is a hotel red eye! My FUN show trip is wrapping up today. Unbelievable event - maybe even outdid last year’s extravaganza! For such a big venue, the aisles sure seemed crowded!
Here’s another pre show buy I picked up:
Per Doug Winter, the 1855-O Eagle is one of the toughest NO mint coins in any gold denomination. This example is a pure, crusty original I really like!
I got a belated Christmas gift last night... was expecting my daughter to fly in and got my daughter and son too! Woohoot! I'm getting coffee to start the day, making plans, and thinking (just a little) about these... I'll have to reimage the album once they get here...
Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;
@Copperindian said:
Today’s Saturday AM coffee is a hotel red eye! My FUN show trip is wrapping up today. Unbelievable event - maybe even outdid last year’s extravaganza! For such a big venue, the aisles sure seemed crowded!
Here’s another pre show buy I picked up:
Per Doug Winter, the 1855-O Eagle is one of the toughest NO mint coins in any gold denomination. This example is a pure, crusty original I really like!
I like that coin a lot. It looks like a Fairmont coin; do you think it was re-holdered to remove the pedigree or just similar looking?
Sorry I missed you at FUN! It was a whirlwind.
I posted a long thread about completing my trade dollar dansco. Here is a key date I picked up at FUN.
This pair of R7s (4-12 known) came in the mail today. There are about 6-10 examples known for each according to Bill Bugert (2009), Wiley and Bugert (1993), and from talking to other SLH DM collectors.
1877 Transitional with split lower bud [Type1] and strong leaf veins [Type 2], ANACS VF20 details - cleaned, Great Collections.
1877-S WB-6 "Weird F" that I grade as VF30 details - scratch, off eBay. Striking toning, with orange and red-orange around the devices and mottled black, gray, slate blue, and sky-blue toning in the fields. It does have an obverse scratch that likely will prevent it from straight grading. Someday, I'll send it to one of our excellent board photographers to wrestle with.
Late on Saturday but post-coffee that was the usual these days: Fresh ground Starbuck's French Roast beans with a bit of creamer, chocolate powder & cinnamon.
Although these are primarily US coins which I do love, here is a previously unknown pattern specimen obverse strike of the 1953 (Type 1 obverse) currency halfcrown. It looks to have had special treatment and is of "specimen" quality. As the coin is copper-nickel it had a bit of toning that is not so pleasant and so went through my ammonia algorithm to restore the somewhat unsightly surfaces.
Another issue when it comes to TPG grading of these type of specimens, some with "MODEL" on the otherwise blank side is that the blanks/planchets were not always treated that well and so the unstruck side looks to have handling that generally is PRE-STRIKE and ding the grade IMHO unfairly (not just on my coins).
Anyway, here is the pre-conservation coin with the post-conservation to be added just below::
Post-conservation, the lustre makes it quite hard to see:
Love that Milled British (1830-1960) Well, just Love coins, period.
First 5 minutes of the FUN show ran across a dealer's table and saw several Seated dollars. Very fair price, I feel maybe undergraded a little bit and CAC'd. Not a bad start to the show....Oh - BTW - Happy Saturday and no coffee yet.....
From the Jules Reiver Cabinet -
@EastonCollection said:
First 5 minutes of the FUN show ran across a dealer's table and saw several Seated dollars. Very fair price, I feel maybe undergraded a little bit and CAC'd. Not a bad start to the show....Oh - BTW - Happy Saturday and no coffee yet.....
From the Jules Reiver Cabinet -
@EastonCollection That's a great 1843 Seated Dollar! And CAC'd which is almost impossible to find in the wild these days. First 5 minutes....right place at the right time. Congratulations!
@Inspired70 - Thanks! Yes, in the wild! What really caught my eye was the grade - Our hosts graded is XF45+. I didn't see the grade at first and I grade the coin AU53, so I was very happy.
@EastonCollection said: @Inspired70 - Thanks! Yes, in the wild! What really caught my eye was the grade - Our hosts graded is XF45+. I didn't see the grade at first and I grade the coin AU53, so I was very happy.
Looks way better than XF45+. Hard to grade from a photo, as you know, but when I saw it I thought 55 shot 58.
Good morning lads where do I sign up with my very first CBH! This one was taken in my last 5 minutes at the Houston show. I had already blew most of it on Morgan’s before I found her.
And quite honestly I think I like her better and am already looking to move the Morgans to make room for more.
@Coinscratch said:
Good morning lads where do I sign up with my very first CBH! This one was taken in my last 5 minutes at the Houston show. I had already blew most of it on Morgan’s before I found her.
And quite honestly I think I like her better and am already looking to move the Morgans to make room for more.
Very nice first CBH you got there…and you went after an overate, good for you. But be careful, collecting CBH’s can VERY addicting, however at the same time a lot of fun! 😉
Back home from the most rousing FUN show I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t think last year’s could be topped, but this one did it!
Good to have the home brewed Saturday AM Red Eye:
I posted pre FUN show buys the last two Saturdays that I picked up at the show. This one was at a dealer friend’s table & knocked me over:
I own a lot of FE’s as it’s my fave series. I sure wasn’t looking for one, but this coin was irresistible! Beautiful, lustrous & minimally marked, it’s definitely undergraded. How much so I can’t say, but it is unusual to see one of these with a gold bean.
Unfortunately, the TV is abysmal, but I’ll post it anyway:
Finally, I have no plans to get the upgrade for awhile.
@Coinscratch said:
Good morning lads where do I sign up with my very first CBH! This one was taken in my last 5 minutes at the Houston show. I had already blew most of it on Morgan’s before I found her.
And quite honestly I think I like her better and am already looking to move the Morgans to make room for more.
Very nice first CBH you got there…and you went after an overate, good for you. But be careful, collecting CBH’s can VERY addicting, however at the same time a lot of fun! 😉
Dave
Thank you Dave and yes I agree. I’m already getting a tingling feeling. I would go back today if I had time. This show is like sloppy seconds as a lot of these dealers just got back from fun.
The CBHs we’re far and few between and the place was packed.
I had gotten away from my roots lately and someone messaged that I should get back to pcgscacgold. I made a visit to offsite storage and brought some babies home for a visit.
Wish the 1835 R6s were CAC but since I got them at melt a few years back I’m ok with them.
.
.
Hi everyone, here’s a new one I’m enjoying with my tea this morning. My date set is pretty much finished but I’m a sucker for quarters that look like this.
Came across these this week. My first Seated Liberty Dollar could end up with our host soon. Enjoying both this morning before I ship one out and drop the other off in the SDB...
I can not post coins of the quality and appeal of those posted today by ElDorado and FlyingAl,............. but yesterday I did pick up a 1958 OGP proof set at a local show that contained this frosty gem (it looks much better in hand than in the photos):
Oh yes, a copy, replica, but as close as I’ll get to owning the real deal. Oddly enough, collecting nice copies of Sommer Island shillings is “officially” condoned by some numismatic writers who tell the tale of these coins. By the ring test, this one is cast, Part of the scarcity issue is that more than half are in institutional holdings.
@Coinscratch said:
Good morning lads where do I sign up with my very first CBH! This one was taken in my last 5 minutes at the Houston show. I had already blew most of it on Morgan’s before I found her.
And quite honestly I think I like her better and am already looking to move the Morgans to make room for more.
Very nice first CBH you got there…and you went after an overate, good for you. But be careful, collecting CBH’s can VERY addicting, however at the same time a lot of fun! 😉
Dave
Thank you Dave and yes I agree. I’m already getting a tingling feeling. I would go back today if I had time. This show is like sloppy seconds as a lot of these dealers just got back from fun.
The CBHs we’re far and few between and the place was packed.
I happen to agree with you @Coinscratch. I was at the FUN show too and the eye appealing CBH’s were definitely few and far between among the dealer’s tables I visited. I’ve learned long ago that sometimes you need to stretch a little when the good ones become available as you just don’t know when you’ll find another.
Sorry I missed you all this morning. I did have coffee, and it's a good thing too, because even as I was leaving West Point, NE at 11am it was 4°F with 26mph winds.
I really didn't think I'd post anything today, but then I found myself in the Durham Museum in downtown Omaha. Wow!
It's a great place, in the old Union Station. Very art deco, and lots of train history. And a secret in the far corner of the basement.
The collection of Byron Reed!
Needless to say, it made for a good day!!
And absolutley worth it if you are in Omaha and have a few hours to kill.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Saturday AM Red Eye time - today we have our oldest grandson’s lacrosse tournament in SF:
But first, I have a VERY SPECIAL addition & the final one from this year’s awesome FUN show:
Large cent collectors revere the 1839 Booby Head variety. Appropriately, it concludes the Coronet cent series. This coin? It’s the finest known & 1 of only 2 RD’s in the PCGS pop. I bought it from a forum member; I was actually shocked when he offered it to me as I knew it was one of his fave pieces. For me, it was like a dream come true!
The coin is stunningly beautiful & 100% RD. There are no issues of any consequence - it’s as perfection as any Booby Head can be in any color designation. Perhaps of interest are the 3 contrasting styles/types for the 1839 LC:
Comments
Wow really nice coins.
@rkp - Love the toning on the 1837 dime! Just amazing.
That’s a WOW coin indeed.
Other passions include golf, Moto Guzzi motorcycles, and Euro motorcycles in general.
Chris
Early morning coins are a favorite of mine.
Morning, all! Is everyone sleeping in?
This one was my last purchase of 2026, and it certainly was one of the highlights:
Bolen's masterpiece, the enormous "Letter to Hamilton" medal. It's graded by PCGS MS66BN, the finest known in any composition. Honestly, it doesn't need the slab. The surfaces are just incredible, almost flawless for such a big chunk of copper. It is a hulking 59mm, and it is housed in a PCGS oversized holder.
George Washington on the obverse with script on the reverse that should be read to every politician in America:
"I HOPE THAT LIBERAL ALLOWANCES WILL BE MADE, FOR THE POLITICAL OPINIONS OF EACH OTHER. WITHOUT THESE I DO NOT SEE HOW THE REINS OF GOVERNMENT ARE TO BE MANAGED, OR HOW THE UNION OF THE STATES CAN BE MUCH LONGER PRESERVED."
Stay caffeinated, and here is to a happy 2026!
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
Today’s Saturday AM coffee is a hotel red eye! My FUN show trip is wrapping up today. Unbelievable event - maybe even outdid last year’s extravaganza! For such a big venue, the aisles sure seemed crowded!
Here’s another pre show buy I picked up:
Per Doug Winter, the 1855-O Eagle is one of the toughest NO mint coins in any gold denomination. This example is a pure, crusty original I really like!
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Copperindian II
Indy Eagles
Gold Rush
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Early Walkers
Successful transactions: redraider, winesteven, renomedphys, splitaces, oreville, ajaan, Cent1225, onlyroosies, justindan, blitzdude, DesertMoon, johnnyb, Heubschgold, SunshineRareCoins, ParadimeCoins, ndeagles, Southern_Knights, pcgsregistrycollector
Many of us might be at FUN, or traveling in between. No pictures yet ... hopefully by the end of the weekend, so maybe next Saturday here.
Sold more than I bought, but I'm okay with that.
The hotel and airport coffee this morning, not so much.
I did find a few, so there are some new bohemian girls for the group.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
These were fun and quick to do. I may give them to my grandkids as gifts. They are hard to find. Had to go to eBay to find the last 2 albums.
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
I got a belated Christmas gift last night... was expecting my daughter to fly in and got my daughter and son too! Woohoot! I'm getting coffee to start the day, making plans, and thinking (just a little) about these... I'll have to reimage the album once they get here...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
Looking for PCGS AU58 Washington's, 32-63.
Sounds like FUN was super well attended...Eager to hear from all the guys out there, and see newps. Happy Sat guys!
I like that coin a lot. It looks like a Fairmont coin; do you think it was re-holdered to remove the pedigree or just similar looking?
Sorry I missed you at FUN! It was a whirlwind.
I posted a long thread about completing my trade dollar dansco. Here is a key date I picked up at FUN.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
@lermish: I don’t know, but my best guess would be yes. My seller bought it from Doug Winter. Yes, great show! Next time!?
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Copperindian II
Indy Eagles
Gold Rush
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Early Walkers
Successful transactions: redraider, winesteven, renomedphys, splitaces, oreville, ajaan, Cent1225, onlyroosies, justindan, blitzdude, DesertMoon, johnnyb, Heubschgold, SunshineRareCoins, ParadimeCoins, ndeagles, Southern_Knights, pcgsregistrycollector
Happy Saturday everyone. How about a Trade Dollar today for the contribution.
This pair of R7s (4-12 known) came in the mail today. There are about 6-10 examples known for each according to Bill Bugert (2009), Wiley and Bugert (1993), and from talking to other SLH DM collectors.
1877 Transitional with split lower bud [Type1] and strong leaf veins [Type 2], ANACS VF20 details - cleaned, Great Collections.
1877-S WB-6 "Weird F" that I grade as VF30 details - scratch, off eBay. Striking toning, with orange and red-orange around the devices and mottled black, gray, slate blue, and sky-blue toning in the fields. It does have an obverse scratch that likely will prevent it from straight grading. Someday, I'll send it to one of our excellent board photographers to wrestle with.
seller's photos
scans
Late on Saturday but post-coffee that was the usual these days: Fresh ground Starbuck's French Roast beans with a bit of creamer, chocolate powder & cinnamon.
Although these are primarily US coins which I do love, here is a previously unknown pattern specimen obverse strike of the 1953 (Type 1 obverse) currency halfcrown. It looks to have had special treatment and is of "specimen" quality. As the coin is copper-nickel it had a bit of toning that is not so pleasant and so went through my ammonia algorithm to restore the somewhat unsightly surfaces.
Another issue when it comes to TPG grading of these type of specimens, some with "MODEL" on the otherwise blank side is that the blanks/planchets were not always treated that well and so the unstruck side looks to have handling that generally is PRE-STRIKE and ding the grade IMHO unfairly (not just on my coins).
Anyway, here is the pre-conservation coin with the post-conservation to be added just below::
Post-conservation, the lustre makes it quite hard to see:
Well, just Love coins, period.
Busiest FUN show I have ever seen. Just an old collector but I saw plenty of buying and selling. My new modern purchase. CACG Proof 68
Yeah, I know it’s Sunday, but I was traveling back from FUN yesterday.
Here’s my two favorite commodities: coffee and gold. Both FUN NewPs.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
@P0CKETCHANGE
Those are great! Congrats
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
I used the proceeds of forty ASEs to buy tokens that sat on my watch list for months. I also rewarded sellers who did not raise the price of silver.
First 5 minutes of the FUN show ran across a dealer's table and saw several Seated dollars. Very fair price, I feel maybe undergraded a little bit and CAC'd. Not a bad start to the show....Oh - BTW - Happy Saturday and no coffee yet.....
From the Jules Reiver Cabinet -
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
@EastonCollection That's a great 1843 Seated Dollar! And CAC'd which is almost impossible to find in the wild these days. First 5 minutes....right place at the right time. Congratulations!
Good morning everyone... I'm away from the office this morning, but with you in spirit...
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
+1
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
@Inspired70 - Thanks! Yes, in the wild! What really caught my eye was the grade - Our hosts graded is XF45+. I didn't see the grade at first and I grade the coin AU53, so I was very happy.
Looks way better than XF45+. Hard to grade from a photo, as you know, but when I saw it I thought 55 shot 58.
Good morning lads where do I sign up with my very first CBH! This one was taken in my last 5 minutes at the Houston show. I had already blew most of it on Morgan’s before I found her.
And quite honestly I think I like her better and am already looking to move the Morgans to make room for more.
Very nice first CBH you got there…and you went after an overate, good for you. But be careful, collecting CBH’s can VERY addicting, however at the same time a lot of fun! 😉
Dave
Back home from the most rousing FUN show I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t think last year’s could be topped, but this one did it!
Good to have the home brewed Saturday AM Red Eye:
I posted pre FUN show buys the last two Saturdays that I picked up at the show. This one was at a dealer friend’s table & knocked me over:
I own a lot of FE’s as it’s my fave series. I sure wasn’t looking for one, but this coin was irresistible! Beautiful, lustrous & minimally marked, it’s definitely undergraded. How much so I can’t say, but it is unusual to see one of these with a gold bean.
Unfortunately, the TV is abysmal, but I’ll post it anyway:
Finally, I have no plans to get the upgrade for awhile.
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Copperindian II
Indy Eagles
Gold Rush
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Early Walkers
Successful transactions: redraider, winesteven, renomedphys, splitaces, oreville, ajaan, Cent1225, onlyroosies, justindan, blitzdude, DesertMoon, johnnyb, Heubschgold, SunshineRareCoins, ParadimeCoins, ndeagles, Southern_Knights, pcgsregistrycollector
Thank you Dave and yes I agree. I’m already getting a tingling feeling. I would go back today if I had time. This show is like sloppy seconds as a lot of these dealers just got back from fun.
The CBHs we’re far and few between and the place was packed.
Happy Sat Boyz. Got my 4 shot here and ready to face the day! Here's some color:
PF-68 Cam
PF-67+ Cam
PF-68 Cam
PF68+ Cam
Good morning to all.
I had gotten away from my roots lately and someone messaged that I should get back to pcgscacgold. I made a visit to offsite storage and brought some babies home for a visit.
Wish the 1835 R6s were CAC but since I got them at melt a few years back I’m ok with them.
.
.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
The Eagle has landed!!
Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
In love with this one this morning, and I have a 2012 Silver quarters Proof set I got below melt to image today:
Coin Photography
Hi everyone, here’s a new one I’m enjoying with my tea this morning. My date set is pretty much finished but I’m a sucker for quarters that look like this.
Recent upgrade to my 7070 registries. I own very few blast white coins…..this is my ode to @ricko
Came across these this week. My first Seated Liberty Dollar could end up with our host soon. Enjoying both this morning before I ship one out and drop the other off in the SDB...
Mark
@Copperindian that '58 is absolutely amazing!
CAC | PCGS | NGC
I can not post coins of the quality and appeal of those posted today by ElDorado and FlyingAl,............. but yesterday I did pick up a 1958 OGP proof set at a local show that contained this frosty gem (it looks much better in hand than in the photos):
Happy Saturday gents and:
Go Broncos, beat Buffalo.
Oh yes, a copy, replica, but as close as I’ll get to owning the real deal. Oddly enough, collecting nice copies of Sommer Island shillings is “officially” condoned by some numismatic writers who tell the tale of these coins. By the ring test, this one is cast, Part of the scarcity issue is that more than half are in institutional holdings.
Very, very cool!
"There's no such thing as a stupid question..."
I happen to agree with you @Coinscratch. I was at the FUN show too and the eye appealing CBH’s were definitely few and far between among the dealer’s tables I visited. I’ve learned long ago that sometimes you need to stretch a little when the good ones become available as you just don’t know when you’ll find another.
Dave
Picked up this coin for my collection. Coffee in hand and waiting for NFL playoffs games to start.
US half dollars (1839-1891) condition G04 to F12
Sorry I missed you all this morning. I did have coffee, and it's a good thing too, because even as I was leaving West Point, NE at 11am it was 4°F with 26mph winds.
I really didn't think I'd post anything today, but then I found myself in the Durham Museum in downtown Omaha. Wow!
It's a great place, in the old Union Station. Very art deco, and lots of train history. And a secret in the far corner of the basement.
The collection of Byron Reed!
Needless to say, it made for a good day!!
And absolutley worth it if you are in Omaha and have a few hours to kill.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Very cool @pursuitofliberty, thanks for posting!
CAC | PCGS | NGC
@pursuitofliberty - thank you for sharing and I wasn't aware of this museum existence.
Saturday AM Red Eye time - today we have our oldest grandson’s lacrosse tournament in SF:
But first, I have a VERY SPECIAL addition & the final one from this year’s awesome FUN show:
Large cent collectors revere the 1839 Booby Head variety. Appropriately, it concludes the Coronet cent series. This coin? It’s the finest known & 1 of only 2 RD’s in the PCGS pop. I bought it from a forum member; I was actually shocked when he offered it to me as I knew it was one of his fave pieces. For me, it was like a dream come true!
The coin is stunningly beautiful & 100% RD. There are no issues of any consequence - it’s as perfection as any Booby Head can be in any color designation. Perhaps of interest are the 3 contrasting styles/types for the 1839 LC:
“The thrill of the hunt never gets old”
PCGS Registry: Screaming Eagles
Copperindian
Copperindian II
Indy Eagles
Gold Rush
Retired sets: Soaring Eagles
Copperindian
Nickelodeon
Early Walkers
Successful transactions: redraider, winesteven, renomedphys, splitaces, oreville, ajaan, Cent1225, onlyroosies, justindan, blitzdude, DesertMoon, johnnyb, Heubschgold, SunshineRareCoins, ParadimeCoins, ndeagles, Southern_Knights, pcgsregistrycollector