30 year Journey for my 1923-D Saint
Avocet
Posts: 270 ✭✭✭✭
I wanted to share the story of this St Gaudens as it has been with me for many years. I picked this coin up from an old dealer in Beaverton, Oregon, around 1994. The dealer was about 90 years old, and was a great friend and supporter to me as a serious young numismatist. Back then, I then paid nearly $550 — much more than my monthly apartment rental— a huge purchase for me. The dealer had two of these coins, and even offered a discount if I purchased both. There was no way that my budget would allow the second coin to be part of my collection. I spent perhaps an hour choosing between the two coins. I knew then that this mintage was a very common variety, but the coin's beauty was just exceptional. I suspected it had been part of a hoard for quite some time and been left untouched.
After almost 30 years of protecting this coin, I finally decided to include it in a recent large submission to PCGS; I should post more about that experience later (it was a great experience). I estimated that the coin would return as MS-64, and I was glad to see that the result matched my expectation. I then sent the coin as part of another large submission to CAC this summer, and the coin just returned from CAC today.
Another significant milestone for this coin has just happened, and I am glad to have it as part of my collection. This coin brings back great memories of the excitement for coin collecting that I had at such a young age. Do you have a similar story to share? Do the grades seem right? Thanks for taking a look… 
Raw coin -- before PCGS submission:
After PCGS -- True View:
After a trip to New Jersey-- Just got back today:
Comments
Looks really nice.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
Great story and a great looking coin. Congratulations.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
Its beautiful! To my eyes, it looked like a 65. A 64 CAC is a great coin.
A great coin and story!
My YouTube Channel
nice coin
What a stunning coin!
."It's a dangerous business... going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to" -JRR Tolkien_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Outstanding BST transactions as a seller, buyer and trader with: ----- mustanggt, Kliao, claudewill87, MWallace, paesan, mpbuck82, moursund, basetsb, lordmarcovan, JWP, Coin hunter 4, COINS MAKE CENTS, PerryHall, Aspie_Rocco, Braddick, DBSTrader2, SanctionII, Histman, The_Dinosaur_Man, jesbroken, CentSearcher ------ANA Member #3214817
Awesome story!!! Thanks for taking the time to share it.
Oddly enough, my first major coin purchase was a 1908 No Motto Double Eagle. I thought it was the most beautiful coin I had ever seen. It was 1987 and I paid $600 for it and like you I remember it being more than double my monthly rent. I wish I had kept that coin, as it would be interesting to see what it would grade out now. A few months later, I remember selling the coin back to him to start my PCGS graded type gold collection. I wish I still had them today as they were all in PCGS first generation rattlers purchased from 1987-1989.
Unfortunately my story does not have a great ending like yours, but it did remind me of my first big coin purchase.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
Looks like a 65 to me, nice Saint! Thanks for sharing your journey with it.
I only started collecting a few years ago - I hope one day to have owned a coin for 28+ years!
Instagram
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.
Wonderful coin...
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
Excellent!
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
Very nice coin and story
Congrats
Mike
My Indians
Danco Set
Nice story and nice coin.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
Thanks for sharing your journey with this beautiful coin. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
I love back stories like this, thanks for sharing!
@Avocet ... Thanks for sharing that great story and showing us that gorgeous gold coin. Some coins, such as yours, become a part of us... As noted by some above, selling one produces years of regret. I am glad you have kept yours. I have a couple that have been with me for many, many years - and will not leave until I do. Cheers, RickO
Very nice looking Saint and story. I'm thinking the hits on rays on the reverse kept it from 65.
A wonderful coin with a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing!
Great story!
Great Double Eagle!!
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
It looks more like a gem, too bad for the few hits that kept it back. With all the stories connected to that it should be worth more.
Beautiful coin, Great story
Thanks for sharing
Positive BST as a seller: Namvet69, Lordmarcovan, Bigjpst, Soldi, mustanggt, CoinHoader, moursund, SufinxHi, al410, JWP
🥰 Hello @Avocet and Welcome!
What a bicoastal journey that beauty made …….. now adorned with CAC 🤗 and You definitely have keen eyes.
Looking forward to read about your other experiences ❤️
I would certainly choose a 23-D Saint to represent the type if I was building a 20th century type set in BU condition. They're such attractive coins in MS64/better. Their luster is superior IMO to the common P-mint issues from 1924-28 and they're well struck to boot.