High tide for the 1855-S SLH?
Barberian
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If y'all haven't figured this out yet, I mine eBay for 1855 overdates the past few years. Lately, I've noticed a lot of straight-graded 1855-S halves up for sale on eBay when my recollection over the past 17 years is that unmolested 55-S halves were very difficult to find. Me thinks a hoard of 55-Ss just broke recently. Has anybody else noticed this?
I also get the same impression regarding the relative rarity between the 1851 and the 1852. Lately, the 1851 has been far more available (>2X) than the 1852.
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Six 1851s on Collector's Corner; only one 1852. Four 1951s on eBay; only two 1852s
Three 55-Ss in Collectors Corner. Eleven on eBay, 4 straight graded. Straight graded 55-Ss used to be uncommon on eBay.
Am I writing an article here? Do I have to research this further? I've been checking this for well over a year. I may do just do that.
Every time I check it's roughly two 1851s for every 1852, yet the 1851 is considered the scarcer, more valuable coin. Anybody else notice the change in the ratios of 1851s to 1852s on the market lately? Or the increased availability of decent, straight graded 1855-S halves lately?
"Live by the hoard, die by the hoard."
As I have said in several previous posts, Seated Liberty key and semi-key dates have been extensively hoarded over the past 40-50 years. As the hoarders pass from the scene the hoards hit the market.
In my opinion this hoarding has been detrimental to the Seated Liberty market as it has driven up prices to levels that cause collectors to lose interest in the series.
Seated Liberty coins in high very high demand. Especially the halves. Expect to pay up.
Well, it's interesting to me to see this play out, thereby proving your point. It's easy to fall into hoarding as well. I recall seeing a large horde of perhaps 30 examples of damaged 1855-Ss coming available about 10 years ago on eBay. It's been interesting to see this wave of 1851 halves contradict my understanding of their rarity for well over a year. Reciprocally, where are the 1852s?
there killing us, smalls
Tell me about it. Though I do a fine job mucking things up myself.
Two questions for you.
+1
Virtually all circulated grades. Back in the 1980s I could go to local coin shows and find semi-key and even a very few key date Seated Liberty coins available. Half dollars were especially plentiful and often in high circulated grades (but not the 1878-S). Semi-key Seated Liberty quarters could be found though they would show much more wear than the halves. My observations were of circulated coins as I had little interest in the more expensive mint state pieces.
I haven't followed the Barbers but suspect much of the same type of hoarding of the key and semi-key dates has taken place.
how ironic. On a different coin board I bemoaned that collectors today seem to be left chasing the leftovers because the earlier seated collectors had hoarded up the bulk of the attractive coins. several individuals told me the earlier collectors were not wealthy individuals and that my observation was unfounded. go figure. james
On the quarter side, the 1860-s is supposed to be a top 10 rarity. I've owned 3 in the past 2 years and a handful are out there for sale right now. Maybe it was rare 20 years ago and now a small hoard is being dispersed. Who knows, but it doesn't seem like a top 10 coin right now.
You might be on to something. I was very shocked when an appealing PCGS VF-30 came up for sale in 2022 via Instagram after years of searching and finding mostly ugly examples. Though they might be appearing more now, it's still a very tough date. I've also seen the 1851 a bit more than the 1852, but both are still tough.
Nice circulated 1852-O's though? Forget about it!
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...> @ElmerFusterpuck said:
I lucked out with the 52-O and purchased a VF35 CAC off of eBay with close to EF40 wear but with a hit for a low price. The coin looks to have been dipped a while ago because I don't see any clinging dirt, but it has retoned nicely. I wrestled with the purchase because I don't care for dipped coins in general, but it had a green sticker on it for its light wear. I figured that at least it's marketable and took a leap to see what they saw in it. I thought the coin was a very good purchase for the money and dropped it off at the bank. If I see something I like better, then I at least had this for trade.
The last time I looked at it, it was more attractive to me with its amber toning. it's also doubled in value since I bought it about four years ago. These are the best attempts I have to capture its appearance.