What was your single greatest numismatic event of 2004?

WACoinGuy · December 24, 2004 10:57PM

What one event was your single greatest numismatic event of 2004? It can be anything coin-related: The best deal you got on a coin, the best upgrade you got, meeting Bowers, etc.

For me, the best event was giving a shiny uncirculated Morgan to my son at the Portland ANA show (he was 6 months old at the time). He had been looking at some of the coins that I had brought the night before, and I decided that I was going to find a 1903 MS-64 Morgan to give him (100 years older than him). The next day, I hit the bourse floor. It was harder than I thought to find an MS-64 slabbed 1903 Morgan. Everyone seemed to have them in MS-65, but I didn't want to pay that much. I finally found one for $65, and that night gave it to my son. He held it, turned it around in his hands, and seemed to enjoy studying it. Over the remainder of the year, he continued to play with the coin. Definitely the highlight of my numismatic year.

RYK · December 24, 2004 11:01PM

The YN Scavenger Hunt with my 5 year old son at the ANA in Pittsburgh

nwcs · December 24, 2004 11:06PM

Buying a 1967 SMS set for $17 and getting the quarter slabbed at 68CAM. The other would be finding a raw DCAM Accented Hair JFK for $8. Although it'll be a 63/64 DCAM. Unless PCGS robs me and it goes CAM.

Lakesammman · December 25, 2004 12:39AM

Putting the bulk of my collection up for sale (FE and IHC's, the #1 registry set w/varieties) and branching out in a new numismatic direction (still being determined). Using the procedes to reduce debt and stress.

MrEureka · December 25, 2004 12:44AM

Two days in the Smithsonian's vaults, helping to store away their dismantled coin exhibit.

JrGMan2004 · December 25, 2004 12:44AM

The few snipes and steals out from under Marty's nose!

Hedger · December 25, 2004 12:59AM

Coaxing my wife to authorize two mint purchases this month.

LanLord · December 25, 2004 1:00AM

The mint stopping the PROOF sets early.

I am hoping this bodes well for those that have put a few sets away.

Mistercoinman · December 25, 2004 1:11AM

Completing my silver Roosies in Full Band, only one of 6 or seven sets with complete full bands.

coinkat · December 25, 2004 1:16AM

The year is not over yet...

afew things could still happen

mrearlygold · December 25, 2004 1:19AM

<< <i>Two days in the Smithsonian's vaults, helping to store away their dismantled coin exhibit. >>

Gee Andy, dealers/people of your "ilk" were allowed to do that?

Merry Christmas

Tom

astrorat · December 25, 2004 1:23AM

<< <i>Two days in the Smithsonian's vaults, helping to store away their dismantled coin exhibit. >>

What Andy said . . . and did. What a blast! Holding a tray with two 1933 double eagles, three 1804 dollars, one 1822 half eagle, two $50 gold patterns, one 1974 aluminum cent, and the 1849 double eagle . . . what fun! Not to mention browsing through one of George Morgan's sketch book, spending several hours with the double-dimes, examining the old Indian Peace Medal to be traced as a gift to a particular American Indian, finding auction catalogs I had not been able to locate before, and of course, chatting with a cadre of oustanding numismatic researchers (and SO much more!). Yeah, that qualifies as the greatest numismatic event of 2004.

Okay, perhaps one does beat that . . . starting on staff at the ANA in Colorado Springs.

Lane

ColonialCoinUnion · December 25, 2004 1:23AM

I guess I'd say it was joining the Higley club, twice. But I guess that wouldn't qualify as a 'single greatest achievement', would it?

ibzman350 · December 25, 2004 1:24AM

Joining the forum

Herb

ARCO · December 25, 2004 1:24AM

I finished my VF/XF Barber half set after four years of daily and totally obsesive searching. I came across a nearly complete set of Barber halves for sale, some the nicest I have seen for the grades I collect in. It was like injecting myself with pure heroin when the mailman brought a huge package with twenty + Barber halves to my door step. The second was the discovery of the elusive, and previously unconfirmed Barber half variety; the 1898-O micro O on these boards.

mrearlygold · December 25, 2004 1:28AM

Meeting a buyer in Florida who was ripped off by a NJ Telemarketer for almost 2 million dollars. Rick Bagg and I went to see the guy and couldn't believe the prices this guy was charged. Great collection. But the guy will lose at least half of his money ( a million dollars ) when the coins are sold and this is after the coins have RISEN in value since he bought them!

Stay tuned. The NJ slimeball is going to have troubles he wasn't counting on and it will be in the media.

Same post as in the "worst" event. The good news about this one is the guy will not be ripped off any further and is now in the best hands in the business.

Tom

ziggy29 · December 25, 2004 1:29AM

Probably my acquisition of an 1877 Indian cent for my IHC collection in July, not so much because it was the largest dollar-value coin purchase I've ever made, but because it gave me the confidence that I can and will complete this set. There's a certain reassurance that comes with obtaining the key for a set which reminds you that you will finish it! I've never finished a significant date set for a particular type, so this marks a major milestone toward the completion of it.

In 2005, I "resolve" to pick up a nice '09-S and complete the collection.

100proof1957 · December 25, 2004 1:34AM

Finding my PR68 CAM 1957 Lincoln Cent (POP 19 Total) for a rip price !

cosmicdebris · December 25, 2004 1:47AM

Obtaining a great peice of history with a real cool pedigree. George III death medal from Mathew Boultons personal collection.

gemtone65 · December 25, 2004 1:47AM

Acquiring a rainbow toned PCGS66DMPL Morgan dollar from Adrian. Previously owned by Mike D. via Tom Cork. And, no, it is not the best piece in my collection, but it is my most expensive Morgan dollar.

Baley · December 25, 2004 1:53AM

What was your single greatest numismatic event of 2004?

It's got to be this:

JrGMan2004 · December 25, 2004 1:57AM

You still need to take a new picture of that purrty coin Baley

Edited to add: And this too, right?

mrearlygold · December 25, 2004 2:02AM

Congrats Baily! Cool huh?

Rgrds
Tom

Craton · December 25, 2004 2:12AM

Being sued by a certain coin certification company.

MFH · December 25, 2004 3:01AM

Acquiring Peter Shireman's duplicate 1892-O Micro O Barber Half Dollar. Currently in an ANACS holder and graded AU 55. This coin came out of the 1996 Bowers & Merena "Pryor" sale.

DennisH · December 25, 2004 4:06AM

Found a raw 1880-O VAM 6B Morgan on eBay that was advertised as MS63... and asked all the right questions... and asked for all the right scans... and took a well researched and homeworked chance.

PCGS graded it MS63 -- which makes it tied for finest known (ANACS-63 is the other) among only about half a dozen mint state examples that are known to exist.

coinkat · December 25, 2004 10:16AM

great find DennisH

solid · December 25, 2004 10:59AM

Getting solid-craft up and running and producing some of the finest showcases
available after spending a couple of years in developmental stages!

Ken

Jdurg · December 25, 2004 11:02AM

Completing my Roosevelt Dime set with all but 6 proof coins. (1950-1955). However, my best moment was finding a $5 Half-Eagle for only $150 and having it not only be real, but with good eye appeal and from 1880. (100 years before my birth).

fcloud · December 25, 2004 11:11AM

The completion of my Mercury Dime set. And I'd like to say thank you to some board members who were able to provide a few coins to help with completion. I am at the point where I only would like to upgrade the 1921-D with a minimum AU coin. My latest upgrade was also great for me this year, too. I was able to upgrade to an AU50 1916-D around Thanksgiving--something I didn't think would ever happen.

Bear · December 25, 2004 12:10PM

Getting a truly monster frosted 1893 Barber half, PR-66DM from Laura.

kryptonitecomics · December 25, 2004 12:16PM

Just getting back into coins again after taking a couple years off

TonedPeaceNut · December 25, 2004 12:21PM

Purchasing a half roll of 34-D Peace $ off Ebay for $160.00 only to find that of the 10 --- 6/7 are VAM4s in MS61-63 grades.

Which should allow me to achieve my greatest numismatic accomplishment for 2005 ----

(almost) Finish my 20th Century Proof Only Registry Type Set --

I still need the proof Morgan, proof Barber Dime & 2 -- proof Buffs. (and a 09-VDB proof, but I doubt that I'll ever get one)

TPN

oreville · December 25, 2004 12:30PM

Completing my California Fractional Mini type set with this wonderful Washington Head 1/4 piece.
It only took me 11 years to complete this 6 piece set.

But this is no more exciting than all of your great 2004 events!

.

Lakesammman · December 25, 2004 12:54PM

Baley - nice job! That had to be a real thrill.

morgannut2 · December 25, 2004 2:34PM

Two related events: 1) Buying a roll of mixed date Morgans in January at a local Washington D.C. auction house that contained 2 AU 1894-P Morgans for $420 plus 15%, 2) Selling them both to a dealer providing the majority of the money to buy an 1886-O Morgan. It's in PCGS MS-62DMPL (very PQ-might 63) which I've lusted after for years after seeing the Wayne Miller coin in Gem+ DMPL, but near as I can tell only 7 have even been offered since 1993 in all grades. And without the dumb luck with the 2 94's, I could have never afforded one if I found it!. It even matches toning to the choice PL VAM-2 S/S PCGS 1886-S next to it in the set, so Im thrilled!!

Wolf359 · December 25, 2004 2:43PM

Had to be the 1878 7/8 Vam-44 I picked up for $23 bucks this month at the Baltimore Show.

clackamas · December 25, 2004 2:52PM

Finally after a 6 year quest made made FS 1968-S Jefferson, in MS65FS. a POP 4/3 coin. My birth year so it is big for me.

magikbilly · December 25, 2004 2:57PM

Learning, with MUCH help, about 1895 Proof Morgan diagnostics.

Billy

morgannut2 · December 25, 2004 3:15PM

Wolf359 you actually found a 78 7/5 TF Tripple Bloossoms Vam 44 from a dealer for $23!!!!!!!! For those who don't know the Top 100 Book says " "Considered by most specialists to be the Number One Morgan Variety" (Fey and Oxman, 1997, pg.29).

Hudge score and good eye!

razorface1027 · December 25, 2004 7:56PM

Selling all my PCGS slabbed coinage and starting all over again from scratch.

Should be a cool endeavour.

SilverDollarMan · December 25, 2004 9:22PM

Aquiring my 1st PCGS DCAM 68 slab.....

pursuitofliberty · December 26, 2004 5:14AM

I think my single greatest event was purchasing my camera, because it allows me to enjoy my coins more often. Here is one I purchased this year that I've never shown here.

1956Quarter · December 26, 2004 5:21AM

Finishing 5 sets I had started years ago.

Russ · December 26, 2004 5:24AM

Making two DCAM 1967 SMS Kennedys on the same submission, then using one in a trade deal to acquire a DCAM 1966 SMS Kennedy - putting me one coin short of 100% DCAM in my set.

Russ, NCNE

jdimmick · December 26, 2004 5:52AM

Probably making the finals in the PCGS grading contest. To me, I was quite pleased with myself, as up to then, I had very limited exposure to the volume of coins that many get to see from attending larger shows and conventions. Very limited material comes through here locally and you never get to see the stuff. Also, being self taught with books, publications and of course the forum with limited exposure with no formal training.

jim

What was your single greatest numismatic event of 2004?

Comments

Leave a Comment