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Where are the 1815/2 Bust Halves?
1794half1839
Posts: 505 ✭
I have noticed that the supply of nice certified 1815/2 half dollars seems to have dried up. I had a Beautiful PCGS XF45 earlier this year, which was purchased raw as an AU, and was conservatively graded. It sold very quickly. Since then, quality high grade certified circs (VF30 and up) aren't trading at auction. Where are they?
Greg Cohen
Senior Numismatist
Legend Rare Coin Auctions
Senior Numismatist
Legend Rare Coin Auctions
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I have been trying to find one for about 8 months now.
I am sure there are many serious CBH collectors that have many 1815 dups. When the prices get sky high some of the dups will hit the market, just like is now happening with the 1807 CBHs. There are many 1815s still existing but the demand is very high.
<< <i>When the prices get sky high >>
Yep.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Only 6 MS coins. And there are quite a few other varieties that are valued way too low for their rarity--like the 1807 sm and lg stars, the 1809 XXX, the 1823 ugly 3, the 1820 sm date, no knob, and several more that have a PCGS pop in MS of 6 or less coins graded.
5 years ago, I bought an NGC 64 that has since crossed. I do not recall another MS coin that has been sold since.
When I started seriously collecting Early and CBH's, they were highly undervalued. This is still true for the early bust in Au, and the CBH's in gem or better. The AU58 thru 64 has caught up some, for the CBH series in dates that are available, but try to find the 1814 E/A in almost any acceptable grade.
Senior Numismatist
Legend Rare Coin Auctions
<< <i>I am sure there are many serious CBH collectors that have many 1815 dups. When the prices get sky high some of the dups will hit the market, just like is now happening with the 1807 CBHs. There are many 1815s still existing but the demand is very high. >>
I AGREE WITH HIM COMPLETELY. I do believe there is some hoarding going on.
The 1815/2, the 1807's, and even the 1820's command premiums - regardless of each individual die marriage's rarity rating.
Perhaps "hoarding" is NOT a word I should use, after all it is a "negative" word in the minds of many people. Perhaps the word should be "saving."
I know of several individuals (collectors) who are SAVING every 1807 and 1820 they can get their hands on. I also have heard of several individuals (this time, coin shop owners) who are also SAVING every one of these dates they can get their hands on.
I am positive that not only the 1807's and 1820's are on their lists, but the 1815/2's, the 1814/3's, and the 1817/3's are on their "to be saved" lists too.
I have three reactions to this form of SAVING: "bother and concern," "anger," and "jealousy."
I am bothered and concerned because these individuals are cornering the market on these coins. There are not that many of these coins still in existence. I believe that it does not take too many of these coins to be taken off the market before their values/prices directly are affected. I am concerned, because what happens to the coins' values/prices if too many of these coins suddenly hit the market at the same time? (Shades of the Hunt Brothers here?)
I am angered AT MYSELF. I knew several years ago that these Bust Half dates where not only fun to collect, but also a great, sure-fire investment. Again, there are not THAT MANY around. I am angered at myself, because I saw the value/price increases coming and I did NOT buy every darn one of them that I could get my hands on (when I could have afforded to do so).
...and I am jealous. I know, TODAY, it still may not be too late to be buying up as many of these coins as I can. ...but I no longer have the disposable cash to spend on these coins in any amount of quanity - even if they were offered to me.
I know of one 1815/2 on the market now. (I think it's still on the market. I haven't checked recently, but a few weeks ago the seller still had it.) ...and he has had it for several months. Nobody has bought the coin because (1) the seller calls it an EF-45+ and it probably is an EF-40, and (2) the seller has overpriced it about $500 - if it really is the EF-45.
I keep looking at the coin. I do not need it. I have MY 1815/2. ...but if I had the extra cash, I would quickly buy it up. (assuming it's still available).
I look at it this way: I could pay $4K today and $500 too much if it were graded properly (or $1K too much if it really is an EF-40). Or I could walk away and wait and wait for another one to come on the market. ...but, months or years from now, when another EF-40 (worth, let's say, $3K today) hits the market in not too many years in the future, it may then cost $5K or $6K to obtain it.
We have a limited supply and an ever increasing demand as the Baby Boomers continue to retire with their extra 401K funds. Therefore pay "X" amount of dollars today or TWO or THREE times "X" in the future. ...and THIS future may only be 3 or 4 or 5 years away.
These are my thoughts and opinions to "Where have all the 1815/2's gone?"
Regards,
Ed R.
Here is my ONE 1815/2:
Love the toning!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/1815-2-ORIGINAL-EF45-JEWEL-THE-RARER-O-101a-W-CRACKS_W0QQitemZ330168343803QQihZ014QQcategoryZ11969QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
"If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around to hear it. Am I still wrong?"
Good job being Sherlock Holmes.
This is the EXACT one I was talking about above.
Regards,
Ed R.
"If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around to hear it. Am I still wrong?"
You stated:
<< <i>...But every time I start thinking over the $3000 mark for a raw coin my knees start shakin!!! >>
I just PM'd you, but I felt a need to put part of what I said here on the Forum.
Facts:
(1) As coin collectors we are preached to over and over: "Buy the coin and not the slab."
(2) In today's coin market slabbed coins bring a premium over raw coins.
So what do we (rhetorically speaking) do?
Let's look at the following hypothetical situation:
We find two - almost identical coins - identical in grade, eye appeal, and condition. One coin is raw and the seller wants $3K for it. The other coin has been slabbed by the top - the very best - TPGS and this seller wants $4K for his coin.
What do we do? Because we feel more "comfortable" about the coin in the slab, we buy the $4K coin.
Now tell me we are still buying the coin and NOT the slab.
********
To the people who read the above and want to waive protest signs covered in writing with explanations and/or disagreements, please do not send me a dozen PM's.
The above is only my opinion.
Regards,
Ed R.
<< <i>Yes PQMorgans:
Good job being Sherlock Holmes.
This is the EXACT one I was talking about above.
Regards,
Ed R. >>
tis no longer available.
<< <i>
<< <i>Yes PQMorgans:
Good job being Sherlock Holmes.
This is the EXACT one I was talking about above.
Regards,
Ed R. >>
tis no longer available. >>
Excellent price if it cuts the muster.