How much of a premium (if any) for Blue IHC proofs??
BigE2
Posts: 1,037 ✭
So I'm thinking of a new collection to start. Proof Indian cents but with blue toning. I have a '79, '84, '04, '05, '06, '07. I've been perusing various auctions and dealer inventory and now am waffleing on if I can even make a full set. Any Input???
The 3 I've purchased I've paid BN money for. The last 3 were given to me by my Gramps 20 years ago. They've always been blue incidentally. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to have to cough up more for Blue.
Always looking for input. Thanks to all!!
The 3 I've purchased I've paid BN money for. The last 3 were given to me by my Gramps 20 years ago. They've always been blue incidentally. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to have to cough up more for Blue.
Always looking for input. Thanks to all!!
0
Comments
Blue proof Indians have been discussed and images posted of some nice examples on the TCCS boards
www.tonedcoins.org
These coins are very rare in the bronze dates between 1864 and 1877. They start showing up more after 1877 when the proof mintages started to increase. So as far as completing a set from 1864 to 1909 that would be a challenge indeed. As far as do these coins command a premium over ordinary BN Indians? the answer is yes!. Infact, some of these wild color coins bring more than RD money for the same grade and date. Why, because the "eye appeal" of these coins is so overwhelming and they are more beautiful than their Red counterparts. I will give one example and can suppy many more. In a superior auction last year a 1905 PR66RB with amazing colors brought $3,910 including the buyers fee. Goldberg auctions have had alot of these coins hammer down for huge premiums too. I think these coins are getting more popular and should do quite well as demand increases and more collector's become aware of them.
I sold an 1888 PF65 BN with bluegreen toning for 450$ about a year ago. I love the things truthfully and bid strong on all the ones in the goldberg auction. I have already been outbid.
I think it is an excellent idea however.
John
siliconvalleycoins.com
the true rare blue proof indians are the ones that have mostly even blue toning on both sides with no distractions in other words grade proof65 or higher
from being stored in original mint tissue in envelopes
you see ice blue mint tissue toned proof three cent nicks on occasion that where stored as such
and the rarest would be a proof two cent piece and these are many MANY times rarer than any indian proof
but the problem is the indians are more available still uncommon as such and much more demand
the ultimate in my opinion would be one of these blue toned mint tissue proof half cents or lrage cents and usually many proof half and large cents have some blue but usually not blue evenly on both sides from the original mint tissue stored in envelopes
they have a certian distinct coloration with usually rose in them and also the blue color i just cant explain it in words but it is like floats on the surface of the coin and the coin is really like a chocolate brown color with this blue sitting on topof the chocolate brwon color hard to explain i guess it would be neede to show you in person
i know of one collector that has a killer really deeply toned blue proof copper coin type set
with blue toned proof copper and copper nickel coinage it is amazing and not one of a kind but really rare and usually the tissue toned blue proofs you see are usually higher grades like these coins in other words gem and higher as if they where stored carefully in this tissue for many years it was not cleaned or handled and then when taken out of the original mint tissue usually not dipped but preserved
also the big problem with mint tissue tonee blue copper and copper nick blue proofs is that the toning causes black toning dots due to the copper alloy mixture especially so with the copper nickel coins and usually shows up again as black tonibng dots on the copper nickel proofs and fly specks or spots on the bronze copper proof indian cents and this is usually the case and not good or bad just the way it is and rarely you will find some with none/very few of these spots toning dots fly specks these are the best of the best so to speak but all have a similar look and color and with many times rose coloring mixed in and are extremely beautiful coins
cameo even better and added plus with the copper nickel coinage
and finally with the intense popularity of the proof indian cents it is taking hold and hopefully it will carry over to the proof half and large ents and the two cent pieces in proof along with the copper nickel coins like the three cent nicks and lib nicks in proof
time will tell
truly extremely beautiful coins and sleeper and totally undervlaued as it is usually not seen much with collectors as it is not understood as many have not seen as such and with little demand as you need a good supply to create demand and with no supply many do not even know of such animals existance
but they are out there certified for example if you look for them
one two or a few tasty morsels will be available for purchase for your collection if you look for a year or so
Nice post Michael,
I wanted to give the board a further explanation of why purple/blue/magenta IHC proofs are seen more on the dates after 1879 and not just because the mintages were on the rise during that time period.
Toned blue IHC proofs may very well be a remnant of the Proskey Hoard. David Proskey was a prominent dealer in the late 19th and early 20th Century. He bought most of the leftover unsold minor coins from the Mint in the 1880s and 90s including Proof Indian Cents, then left them in their tissue paper until he sold them one by one. When Proskey passed away, the remainder of the Proofs were bought by Tatham Coin and Stamp in the Boston area, and that is where most of them were sold over the next several decades. Many of these proof Indians acquired beautiful purple/blue/magenta toning from resting undisturbed for decades in their original mint tissue paper. This quote was taken from a talented poster from the across town boards.
and wonderful information brian!!
<< <i>So I'm thinking of a new collection to start. Proof Indian cents but with blue toning. I have a '79, '84, '04, '05, '06, '07. I've been perusing various auctions and dealer inventory and now am waffleing on if I can even make a full set. Any Input???
The 3 I've purchased I've paid BN money for. The last 3 were given to me by my Gramps 20 years ago. They've always been blue incidentally. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to have to cough up more for Blue.
Always looking for input. Thanks to all!! >>
BigE2
Here is a blue one that brought $2,760 with buyer's fee in Goldbergs auction yesterday. The coin is graded PCGS PR66 "Brown"
Nice blue proofs definately bring nice premiums.
You mean like this?
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to cohodk, yes and yes!