Not For Sale (Smile) 2nd Coin Came today. Not For Sale either. (Wink)

Fairlaneman

Merc folks here is the 19S from Northeast Coin. Will try to get better pictures in a couple of days. Had bad light tonight.

Edit for a Opps. Correct pictures up now.

The 16S made it here today. Two cool coins in one week. I'm shot for awhile.

Ken

remumc

Hi Ken,

That is a "Wowzer" dime! The obverse I think is the best strike I have ever seen on a 19-S. Really nice strong date with good separation from the rim. Nice toning also. How close is it to full bands? Looks to me there is a small place to the right of the center bands where they merge, but still a great strike for a 19-S. I understand why it is not for sale, it is a once in 5 years type of dime, if you are fast and have the money. Congratulations!

Regards,

Wayne

quattrocoins

"Not For Sale" (Frown)!

Nice coin, Ken.

Don

Winged Liberty and

Cocoinut

That's a keeper, Ken. Soooo close to FB. It's a great addition to your set.

Jim

LucyBop

beautiful!

grip

Thats a beauty,are you going to tone it.Al

coinguy1

Ken, at less (probably way less) than 5% of the price that an MS66FB example would cost, I like yours a lot!

And, with no disrespect to anyone who prefers a FB, FBL or FH coin, I like the "value" in pieces that do not carry those designations and the lofty price tags often associated with them.

As has been discussed in other threads, often a coin without that special designation, is still superior in other areas and in other ways. There are often huge price spreads, accompanied by barely noticeable differences in appearance/quality, etc. If/when you can find a coin that pleases you and still be left with extra $ to spend on others, I say go for it.

EVillageProwler

Ken,

I love your fish lure. I also second Mark's emotion... No disrespect to those who really want the ones with the strike designations, but that coin of yours have a lot of love to offer and deserve a lot of love in return. And, as if to make matters better for you, you still have plenty of love left over for so many other coins!

This may be the B/S/T forum, but I'm sure that the pure collectors will understand this lovefest.

EVP

Fairlaneman

Full Band Mercs are cool coins and really good looking. Problem I have is that when I see a earlier date that is almost completely struck the buy it light goes on. For sure I agree that these almost completely struck coins are a great bargain and in my opinion very under priced. I hate to bring up population reports but some of these dates have pops way under 50 coins total after MS65 and too just stroke the ego I like to own a coin that not everyone in the world can own. Heck I guess that may be a traight alot of people may have whether its coins, cars, guns or anyother collectable. If I'm correct I believe this 19S has a pop of 15 with 5 higher.

Thanks for the replys. Very enjoyable to read.

Ken

IrishMike

I too have an affinity for early mercs, I have the 16s in 63,64,65, and 66, all non fbs, plus several raw ones.

Cocoinut

Ken,

Nice color on the '16-S. You'd better start saving up your nickels for the final 4 coins in your set, instead of buying duplicates (that some of the rest of us would love to have).

Mark and EVP:

I echo your feelings about the early non-FB Mercs representing tremendous values. The center crossband is a very minor part of the design, and is given far too much importance, IMO. The favorite in my set is the '31-S in 66; if you haven't seen it, go to the link below and check it out. It's a lightly toned, lustrous beauty that I'd prefer over most 65FB or 66FB coins that I've seen.


Jim

marcmoish

Really nice pair - true Mark, my 18S and 19D are both NON FB examples and purchased b/c they are totally out of this world, and oh so close to FB. With the low POP's of 5 and 11 I believe they scream at me - so I can understand that logic, and indeed agree very undervalued. Good move Ken!


Marc

jom

<< <i>I hate to bring up population reports but some of these dates have pops way under 50 coins total after MS65 >>



It's really nice to see people coming around to the common sense of collecting these Non-strike designations coins. The fact is that many non-FB Mercs are not so "weakly struck" that it effects the EYE APPEAL. In most cases you really don't even notice it. Frankly, and again no offense to the FB people, but I just do NOT see the value in a lot of cases. Not when I can cherry-pick a high end strike.

Also, the FB designations have caused many to forget some of the other attributes of certain dates in the Merc series. So many people are thinking "non-FB" or "FB" they forget some of the more interesting things such as:

1) Notice Fairlaneman's 16-S. This date is not particularly rare in FB BUT it is supposed to be rare with the lower diagonal band fully struck. Note how this example isn't either.

2) There is another date (which I don't remember at the moment) that you almost never see the "0" in the date fully stuck. It's either the 20-D or 20-S, can't remember which.

3) A point about the 19-S. At one time (late 90s) there were less than 100 Unc. (> MS60) 19-S Mercs that were certified at PCGS. This was the RAREST date in ALL the Merc series for that. It was nice to be able to pick up a gem piece for less than $700.

These kinds of details seem to be forgotten in all the HYPE about FB's and whatnot. So it is nice to see that things might be changing.

jom