Question about Merc Collecting

CheckersFred · April 12, 2003 2:39AM

OK...remember me? I am new to collecting Mercs. And I have this question: If I had to choose between these two options, would I do better to collect MS-65 FSB or MS-66 ??? Please advise. Your Pal Checkers

fcloud · April 12, 2003 2:56AM

Checkers,

I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer to your question. I would recommend you collect what you like best. You may also find a combination of FB or not FB to be an acceptable solution. What ever you decide--good luck.

Tony

DIMEMAN · April 12, 2003 3:15AM

I personally thing full bands are over rated. I will buy the bands if they are not crazy extra in price. The coins I do have in no bands are almost full, so the strike is good and the coin is much cheaper. I think the strike and eye appeal is most important.

Deep Coin is doing the whole set in higher grades without bands and he is building a really cool set.

Jon

Fairlaneman · April 12, 2003 3:38AM

Hey CF hows the Weather where you are ?

The answer to your question is just how DEEEEEEEEEEP are you pockets or how LARRRGGGEEEE is the wallet. Three examples are shown here that would set you back about 40 Grand if you insisted on having a FB Set in the grade these are, 66. Heck a nice complete set can be had for that amount. The Choice is yours. Of course I doubt if you would ever lose any money on these three dates, 39S, 45P, and 45MicroS if you bought them in FB.

My cost on these three that are close to FB.......Under 200 Bucks. Enjoy.

Ken

PTVETTER · April 12, 2003 4:08AM

I try to collect FB dimes myself, but won't pass a nice dime just becouse it doen't have FB! High grade partial bands would make a very nice collection. However 20 or 30 years from now FB coins will most likly out pace non-FB dimes

python1 · April 12, 2003 4:47AM

If it fits your taste, it is totaly up to you, I of course have set myself up to make it much harder to find affordable coins, all white, and TRY to get full bands.

jonesy · April 12, 2003 6:24AM

Fairlaneman and Python1 have given you the advice needed. Get those Merc's!!!

Glenn

izzy452 · April 12, 2003 7:24AM

Checkers, Like the rest of the group said " Its up to you" Collectiog coin is a hobby, have fun and enjoy what YOU like. You have many choices Full Band , None Full Band, White or Toned or a combination of all. Its up to you. You made a great choice by choosing the most beautiful coin made,now go for it.

Walt

Dimetime · April 12, 2003 9:39AM

Ken, Those are as close to FB as you can get. I hate it when the tiniest nick on the bands means a no-bands designation. Great looking coins. J Voege

marcmoish · April 12, 2003 10:28AM

Checkers,

ditto to these comments...generally speaking how deep are your pockets? ...full band examples will always rule mightier than non fb's but if the coin is cool I'll stick to non-FB too like some of my examples.

Marc

Fairlaneman · April 12, 2003 10:43AM

John one of these days I just may give PCGS another shot at the 39S. IMHO it is FB. The 45Micro has a shot but not a very good one. The 45P, well I can just dream on it.

Ken

Cocoinut · April 12, 2003 12:20PM

I'm in the same camp as Dimeman on this one. I'll buy FB coins if they're not outrageously priced, but non-FB Mercs are just fine for my set. A couple of examples: a 1924-D in MS64 non-FB is bid at $435, and a FB is just $450, so why settle for a no bands coin? At the other end of the spectrum, look at the 1918-D in MS65. A non-FB coin is bid at $450, but a FB coin will set you back a whopping $22,000! Probably more than that, if you could even find one. My goal is to have nothing lower than MS64. A quick glance at the Greysheet shows 14 coins in the basic set bid at over $1000 in 64FB. The total of the bid prices for those 14 in 64FB is $38,750; MS 64 non-FB bid is $13,450. So like others have said, it depends on how deep your pockets are, and whether you have other collecting interests to which you have to allocate your funds.

Regarding your choice of a 65FB or 66 non-FB set: it is currently impossible to assemble a set in MS66 non-FB condition - there are
no 1921-P or 1925-D Mercs in 66 non-FB. There are 8 other dates that have a population of just one coin in MS66 non-FB: the '16-D, '17-P, '18-P, '20-P, '20-S, '24-D, '24-S, and '26-D. Those 8 dates have a combined population of 699 in MSFB or better; the scarcest is the '24-S, with just 15 coins.

If you're serious about a MS65FB or MS66 set, you have your work cut out for you. Good luck, and happy hunting!

Jim

Fairlaneman · April 12, 2003 10:35PM

Jim has brought up a very valid point when considering NB versus FB which I am sure most serious Merc collectors take into account. The spread between NB and FB should be considered by newer collectors of the series and I just wonder how many of the newer collectors even consider this point especially with the early dates.

Ken

CheckersFred · April 13, 2003 1:34AM

Thank you all for your serious and thoughful answers to my question. In regards to Jim's point--I do have other collecting interests. My traditional commem collection lacks only a Hawaiian and a Lafayette (see Links to Other Sets), and I am working on a BTW sub-set as well (this is my primary focus at present). So I doubt I will ever assemble a complete Merc set in MS-65.

BTW i do have a very nice circulated Merc set missing only the 1916-D. This set has some fairly nice examples even on most of the early dates. The 25-S is probably F and the 27-D is probably VF. I would be interested in upgrading these, but the overall quality of the set is pretty nice IMHO.

Question about Merc Collecting

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