Price help needed...the silver coins of Hawaii

SethChandler

I just looked at a complete set

Dime MS62
Quarter, Half, Dollar all MS63

All PCGS graded, very original, from an old time collection. The Dollar is very PQ. Easily the best coin in the set. What's a fair price to pay?

Seth

lava

Hawaii stuff is odd. There isn't a lot of demand. Most of the coins have been cleaned at some point. Quarters are the most common, followed by the dimes, half dollars, and dollars. The fact that the coins are slabbed by PCGS is a good starting point. Then there is a question of eye appeal. A lot of the coins may not have original luster, so that would lower the price. If the coins have original luster, that would be a great bonus and may command a slight premium. I have bought and sold many nice looking Hawaiian coins, but most are au55 or au58 -- that reflects my personal preference for lightly circulated coins with high eye appeal than higher graded coins with low eye appeal.

The difficulty in giving prices is that the coins trade so infrequently, and the prices of those that do are meangingless unless the coins are similar in appearance. A ms63 quarter is the only one that might trade with any frequency, and that should run several hundred dollars ($300-$500). Since quarters are fairly plentiful, make sure you get one that has eye appeal. Dollars are tough to price. Make sure the detail is all there in the curls in the hair, and in the mustache and beard. You might check Heritage's archives for pricing help.

SethChandler

Thanks for the info and the summary of the current market. Any idea on the 63 Dollar?

jamesfsm

This is actually one area where I know alot about. I have in the past had nearly all the Hawaiian pieces and some proof ones but traded them off for other coins many years ago. There's a dealer in California that has quite a few of them (Harlan White and use to run the "Old Coin Shop"). As the other writer said, the grade on the slab is somewhat meaningless as the market for these coins is thin and many have been cleaned and look lifeless. I would guess that an average MS63 Quarter is $300-400 (or less), an average MS63 Dime is $700-1000, an average MS63 Half is $1,000-1,500 and an average MS63 Dollar is $5,000-6,000. I'm referring of course to slabbed examples only. I would have some interest in the dollar if it is nice and you choose to pass on it. If you buy the more expensive pieces, be prepared to hold them a long time in case demand slacks off.

jamesfsm

PM me if you want to discuss further.

darktone

I have had a very easy time selling Hawaiin dimes and quarters- even the cleaned circulated stuff. mike

braddick

Try finding a truly, RED Mint State Hawaiin cent that hasn't been enhanced.
(So many were transported by 'slow boat' they discolored while en route to the islands...)

Lakesammman

Would agree with the Heritage suggestion, if for no other reason than to gaze on the dolar that sold at the FUN Platinum night auction.

If anyone has an original appealing Hawaiian cent in AU58 or so, I would appreciate the opportunity to buy it.