Does anyone collect the Susan B. Agony?
gsaguy
Posts: 2,425 ✭
Is it that I just gloss over such posts or is it that no one collects this poor misguided coin?
GSAGUY
GSAGUY
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SBAs do have a relatively small but growing and enthusiastic following, and several regular posters to this board have impressive sets. Several dates are very tough to find nice, and some SBAs have sold in the 4-figure price range -- not too shabby considering the general public's perception of the series.
The 1981-S is the key to the series in high grade, and in fact none have graded MS67 by PCGS.
It's kind of amazing that the same denomination and mintmark from exactly 100 years earlier is, by comparison, dirt-common in MS67+ grades, and certainly far cheaper.
JR
<< <i>It's kind of amazing that the same denomination and mintmark from exactly 100 years earlier is, by comparison, dirt-common in MS67+ grades, and certainly far cheaper. >>
Why? They were well struck and tens of thousands were saved in Government vaults. While the 1881-S was among the best struck Morgan's, the 1981-S was the worst struck SBA. Compare your SBA to a the many years that the New Orleans coins were struck flat or even the 1884-S and compare what is considered cheap (even the 1893-S has two in MS67, but they are worth close to a million).
Howie
<< <i>Hey, the history of US coinage is filled with poor misguided series! >>
Maybe so, but how many of them have a portrait of a woman who looks like a constipated Russian shot-putter?
Russ, NCNE
If you put the two coins next to each other and asked a man on the street, or even 99% of coin collectors on a bourse floor, which is the more valuable coin in today's market, I think they would be kind of amazed too.
Also for the record, I'd say the 1981-P is probably the worst-struck SBA, though it's a close race. However for some reason the 1981-S suffers from nasty scrape marks, more so than the 1981-P. So coins that might otherwise rate gem+ based on strike, luster, and bag marks get knocked down due to scrapes. There's one scrape that shows up in the hair regularly, almost a signature for the date.
Russ, don't make me pick on your favorite coin's reverse! But to answer your question, early capped bust coinage comes to mind.
The 1981-S SBA suffers from far more than nasty scrape marks!
GSAGUY
<< <i>Russ, don't make me pick on your favorite coin's reverse! >>
Okay, so it is a little busy. Well, hell, a lot busy. But, considering the time constraints in producing the coin, I think they did an admirable job.
Russ, NCNE
Now let's see: 1981-S SBA or 1886-O Morgan?
The 1979-S is (strangely) one of the easiest dates to find nice. After 1979 the San Fran mint went downhill fast, and the 1980-S is in fact the toughest of all the dates issued for circulation (the 1981 dates were only in mint sets).
Here's a nice well-struck example, an early die state with flashy fields and even a slight hint of cameo to the devices.
Nicely toned SBAs are very difficult to find, but here's my favorite. Happens to be a 1981-S, note the scrapes on the cheekbone and jawline, as well as around the obverse rim.
Proofs are readily found in high grade, though one as exceptionally well cameo-d as this one is unusual. The Earth on the reverse is a common place for the cameo to suffer.
and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
Your scans are too good. This is one of those rare times when I'd rather see a crappy, blurry out-of-focus picture of a coin. AAARRRGGGHHHH! My eyes, my eyes!
Russ, NCNE
Hey Susie gets my big thumbs up. I used to own a complete set of Proofs in PR70 DSCAM before the whole registery set craze and sold right at the beginning. Made a nice little sum...heck the 1999 went for like $1900 (well...I only paid about $1000). Beauty is all in the eye of the beholder and money is in the wallet of the owner after he sells.
Chris
"Most people dream about their future...only a few wake up and do something about it..."
Looking for COLORFUL and AUTHENTICALLY Toned Early Commems...got any?
Proof Dime Registry Set
Susan
I'm not sure I follow your reasoning, but in any case your statement about the bank vaults is no longer true.
At one time there were indeed large stockpiles of some dates, but they were used up. That is why the mint was forced to re-release the SBA briefly in 1999. New coins were needed to meet demand (primarily for subway fares, I believe) and the Sacagawea wasn't ready yet.
Also, for clarification, the 1981 SBAs were never released for circulation. They were available only in mint sets (the vast majority) or souvenir sets containing only the 3 SBAs, like these:
<< <i>Supercoin, does the $10,000 bounty still exist for the first 81-S SBA in PCGS 67 or should I quit looking?
Why ask supercoin? Why not ask the person who offered it (DRG)? He is a member here.
I expect that's about the amount it would reach in open bidding. It's virtually certain that it would set a new record for SBAs.
So you'll be handsomely rewarded if you find one, keep looking! And, don't forget to pick up a Lotto ticket at the 7-11 while you're at it.
As it turns out, the designer of the coin made her look like a Victoria's Secret model by comparison to reality.
Russ, NCNE
yyyyyyeeeeeeeiiiikes!
Seriously, i found a 80s I think has a chance to make 63-65 (i'm not sure, the coins always look better in my mind than they do in my hand) but the funny thing is, imust have found it in circulation, because i didn't start getting proof sets until this year, when i started back. I've got about a dozen of the Near dates, for a long time they were my highest- collector value coins.
B.
A Tax is a fine for doing good.
I'm glad to see a thread on SBA's!
Since I'm a newbie I figured on collecting SBA's as my first series. I thought since they were recent, had a low number of years of production, and not well received by the public, I could get a good collection for a low price. This post seems to list some pretty pricey coins though!
I have searched the internet, these forums, as well as my "Coin Collecting for Dummies" book, and it's hard to find any thorough info on SBA's. Hopefully some of you can give me some answers...
-Can you get SBA proofs by themselves, w/out buying the entire coin set for that year?
-What are the most difficult SBA's to acquire, such as expensive dates and mints?
-If it's not too much trouble I would love to see a list of all the years and mints (or a thread would do).
Thanks for the help.
BTW I think the SBA is a beautiful coin, easily one of my favorites.
Always liked it since I was a kid even though she looks like my grandma.
Can you get SBA proofs by themselves, w/out buying the entire coin set for that year?
In 1999 the proofs were issued separately. All the others were part of the year set, though of course many have been broken apart for individual sale.
What are the most difficult SBA's to acquire, such as expensive dates and mints?
In typical condition, by far the most expensive widely collected SBAs are the 1981-S and 1979-S Type 2 proof mintmark variety.
Beyond that, you can buy them all for just a few dollars each in typical condition. The expensive prices being bandied about here are for "condition-rare" coins in PCGS holders.
If it's not too much trouble I would love to see a list of all the years and mints (or a thread would do).
Here's a list including commonly collected varieties:
1979-P
1979-P Wide Rim
1979-D
1979-S
1979-S Type 1 Proof
1979-S Type 2 Proof
1980-P
1980-D
1980-S
1980-S Proof
1981-P
1981-D
1981-S
1981-S Type 1 Proof
1981-S Type 2 Proof
1999-P
1999-D
1999-P Proof
The series (as you can probably gather) is still widely unappreciated. So there are many opportunities for "cherry-picking" valuable coins, particular condition-rare coins, more so than in more established series.
Thanks supercoin.
Exactly the type of information I needed.
In fact, I'll print out your reply to use as a guide.
What are differences between the Type 1 & Type 2 proofs from '79 & '81?
Your picture of the SBA cameo proof certainly clarifies the "frosty appearance" that I read first struck proofs have.
Late in 1979 the mintmark punch (79 Type 1) wore out, and a new one was created.
This punch was used for the remainder of 1979 (79 Type 2), 1980, and most of 1981 (81 Type 1).
Same thing happened again, and a new mintmark was used briefly in 1981 (81 Type 2) and later years.
The Red Book has good photos of the differences in the SBA section. It's easy to tell the difference between 79 Type 1 and Type 2 in real life, but the 81 Type 1 and 2 are tougher to distinguish. Be particularly wary buying any raw coins labelled as an 81 Type 2.
To see what a known example looks like in real life, you can look at coins from these years:
1978 - Same as 1979 Type 1
1980 - Same as 1979 Type 2, 1981 Type 1
1982 - Same as 1981 Type 2
morgans were essentialy concieved and minted as an outlet for the silver lobby and the result was a coin that saw limited circulation relevant to production with the vast majority going overseas as bullion or ending up in treasury vaults------despite the romanticized vision of riverboat gamblers and barroom poker games.
the anthony dollar had a political agenda tied more to votes and money but the end result is still a coin that ended up for the most part in bank vaults.
from my lofty perch the coins are opposites after that. the morgan is big and heavy and the SBA seems to be too small. one depicts a young woman with a slaves cap on her head while the other depicts an older woman who championed womens suffrage. one depicts an eagle perched in midair while the other shows an eagle in flight above the moon. interesting coins no doubt.
both coins are easy to find in all but the highest grades and to be really honest about it, although the morgans were minted 100 years earlier than the SBA's some of the nicest coins we have available today were only "released" 20 years earlier than the SBA's.
i think most collectors add too much to morgans and take too much away from the smaller dollar. the big knock always seems to be that it's an ugly coin and i couldn't disagree more. perhaps a not too complimentary portrait of an unattractive woman, but still an overall design that has a lot going for it. and looking beyond that, the woman herself did a lot for all of us to be grateful for.
just my take on the whole deal!!!!
al h.
Here's another one I like. This one was found in one of those privately made "First Day Cover" things that I bought on eBay a couple years ago. When I got it, it was typical eBay dreck -- i.e. the set had been damaged years ago and the brittle plastic capsule enclosing the coin was cracked and repaired with some long since yellowed tape.
But, in a happy twist of fate, the coin itself was exceptionally nice, and the crack in the plastic allowed the coin to interact with chemicals in the paper to produce the obverse toning seen here -- steely blue center (doesn't show well in the photo) with a lustrous warm gold halo. Strangely the reverse stayed fully brilliant.
Actually, the set was a freebie thrown in by an eBay seller. Apparently, he was having no luck getting anybody to actually pay money for them. Bwuahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
Russ, NCNE