Where are all the Standing Liberty quarter collectors?

quattrocoins · January 15, 2002 12:43PM

I just registered my measly 49% complete set, and came in #6 out of a total of seven sets!

It wasn't too hard to top #7 since there is only one coin in it!

I'm surprised by the lack of sets. Are there no others who wish to register their sets? I can't believe that there aren't more collectors of, what I feel is, one of America's most beautiful coins.
It feels great being only three places down from Bill, in ONE set, though!!!

I hope that PCGS will be kind to me, and cross-over a few dates to fill holes and upgrades.

Regards,

Don

lordmarcovan · January 15, 2002 2:25PM

Whoa- you have some monster coins, there! I am only a type collector and not a date-and-mint guy, but I have three nice FH SLQ's in my 1900-present Modern Type set, which I hope to have back in the Top Ten of that Registry by the end of the week. My SLQ's might not touch some of yours, but I consider them an important part of the backbone of my set. The 1917-D Type 2 I have is actually the most expensive coin I own, outdistancing even my MS62 1907 No Motto $10 Indian and all the rest of the gold coins. You are embarking on a challenging set indeed, but the rewards should be great. It's hard to think of a prettier series of coins!

Since you are the specialist here, I'll ask your opinion of my "babies" (I'm adding pics to my set but the update has not gone through yet, so I uploaded 'em to andale.com):

1917 Type 1, PCGS MS 64 FH
1917-D Type 2, PCGS MS64 FH (obverse toning looks blotchy in scan)
1930, PCGS MS65 FH

Typetone · January 15, 2002 2:40PM

Don:

The Coinage Magazine that just came out had a real nice article on collecting SLQs. Almost made me want to consider collecting them, although I already have too many other coin collecting projects. I think some of these pieces are real nice buys right now.

Greg

cosmicdebris · January 15, 2002 6:17PM

They are some of the nicest US coins out there but way to expensive to collect a full set in high grade. I have the 3 I need for the modern type set like LM, by the way nice quarters LM.

pmh1nic · January 15, 2002 10:14PM

Quattro

Where are the pictures?

SLQ's are beautiful coins and although they're not inexpensive (relative term) with some patients they are available. I'm not sure why more people don't collect them. One guess is that people jump right in to collecting Morgans, another beautiful coin with high visibility and which offers a wide range of dates and varieties, and they never move on to collecting other types. Also, SLQ's don't get the press that Morgans do and I've never seen them offered on the Home Shopping Network

.

LM

Nice pictures...beautiful coins.

RELLA · January 16, 2002 12:43AM

Nice set you have going there Don! My thought on the relative unpopularity of the SLQ series is that unlike the other early 20th century series that are more popular, there is no easy entry point for the beginning collector to get their feet wet with a few inexpensive MS65-MS67 coins. No matter how challenging complete sets of Buffalo Nickels, Mercury Dimes and Walking Liberty Halves may be, a collector of moderate means can start out with the "modern" (1934 on) portions of those series in high grades and gain some level of knowledge about the series before moving on to the more difficult coins of the 20s and teens.

RELLA

CarlWohlforth · January 16, 2002 2:06AM

I stayed away because I mostly like proofs. But I have some for my type set. They are growing on me. They seem hard to find and do seem expensive to me. Great set BTW. Good luck on the crossovers.

lordmarcovan · January 16, 2002 5:47AM

This is another great thing about being a type collector. I get to be an "insider" on a discussion on SLQ's one day, but on the next day the topic might be Merc dimes or Buffalo nickels. I like being able to play in all the different series, even though I only have one or a few of each particular one. (Three coins, in the case of SLQ's). So I guess I get to call myself an SLQ collector in a small way, at least. They certainly are lovely coins. I see the pictures went up on my set. Quattrocoins- why don't you work on adding some pics to your set so you can bedazzle us? I sure would love to see some of those 66 FH coins you have...

DeepCoin · January 16, 2002 5:53AM

I plan on starting an SLQ set one day in my quest to collect one of every silver and copper coin minted (not incl varieties). The major issue for many people like myself is the high cost of entry.

Even in reasonably low grades, without full head, this is a very pricey set. The 1916 coin really stresses an individual on a budget. I am not counting the 1918/7, as that is a variety in my mind and the cost of one of those is equal to the cost of the rest of the set in most grades.

All that said, I love SLQs and they are in my top 3 of most beautiful coin ever, especially the 1916. I will just have to collect some lower grades when I get there. I concur with the comments on the short set issue to get started, again it all comes back to the buy cost.

Mark · January 16, 2002 6:18AM

Don:

Your SLQ are indeed most impressive. Personally, I think you should devote ALL your time, effort, and money to this set. Just let your Mercury dime collection sit and don't worry about a thing...

Now, removing my tongue from my check, I agree with everyone that SLQ's are beautiful coins. I'd love to add a few to my colelction, but as others have noted they also are expensive coins. I'd guess that overall, there are many more Mercury dime and Walking Liberty half collectors than SLQ collectors. I presume the Registry listing with 32 Mercury dime collectors, 7 SLQ collectors, and 16 Walking Liberty half collectors probably shows the approximate relative number of collectors: For every 1 SLQ collectors there are 2 Walking Liberty Half collectors and 4 Mercury dime collectors. Does this breakdown seem reasonable to others?

Mark

Fairlaneman · January 16, 2002 6:53AM

Don: As I said before NICE......NICE.......NICE.... !!! I'm with Mark. Concentrate on these Ladies. The Mercs are UGLY !!

Todays New Arrival Below.

boiler78 · January 16, 2002 7:12AM

It might have something to do with the fact that the top 5 all time sets are 100% complete with all coins in 65 and most in full head. Pretty hard to get to the front page with that kind of competition.

quattrocoins · January 16, 2002 12:46PM

Thanks, everyone, for the replys and well wishes. I agree with all the points made. I still think that every collector should have at least one of each type in their collection, though!

LM,
You have quite the nice "short" set. Those 64FHs sure look clean for the grade. You could be the new #7 if you so desired!

Perhaps PCGS should make this a "mini" set!

Greg,
I read that article, also. I hope that it arouses interest in some of the new collectors!

I too believe that some are at bargain prices. It's the hard ones, in the grade that I prefer, that are out of my reach !

Ken and Mark,
I'm now surfin' too many categories on eBay!!! It's down to whatever hole I can afford! And, there's more holes in my Merc set!!!

Sorry for no pics, but I don't really have the coins. I just collected #s off the www!!!

Just kiddin'!!!

As for pictures; I just got a Nikon coolpix 775 and took a few shots, but I'm having problems with the USB port on the 'puter. My computer expert(my wife) says that it's a problem with the hardware drivers for the port. I can't get an e.t.a. from her as to when this problem will be resolved. She says that we may need a new 'puter!

I'll be here with experiments when we get things runnin'!

Kind Regards,

Don

jcping · January 16, 2002 1:56PM

Good luck on your crossover. PCGS is very tough on the corssover of the SLQ, IMO. Let's us know the result if you can.

Some grading companies grade the surface and head separately.
That is, if the surface is MS66 (PCGS standard) but the head
is not sharp full head, the coin might be in an MS66FH holder.
When try to crossover to PCGS, .....

, 99% you won't make it

Cocoinut · January 16, 2002 2:54PM

I love the SLQ's, and have 23 different dates/mints in MS64/MS65, with only 2 full heads. I've slowly acquired them over the past 15 years, when I could find eye-appealing coins. I'm missing all of the S mint coins from 1918-1927, the 1916, and a few others - all the tough ones. I try to pick up a couple of new ones each year, but completing that set isn't a real high priority. I happy just to have some truly beautiful coins.

Jim

quattrocoins · January 21, 2002 1:59PM

Now there are eight!

New #7

Thanks for the idea, Mark!

Regards,

Don

lordmarcovan · January 21, 2002 2:19PM

Way to go- hope you don't have to mortgage your home to get a 1916 to match the rest of your set!

BTW, did I mention that I also have a 1916 quarter in PCGS MS64, with a full head? Really!

(OK, it's a Barber, but so what? The head is full...)

billywls · January 22, 2002 1:12AM

I agree that the SLQ set is one of the most beautiful sets. It's also a budget buster in full head. My set is all full head except the overdate and the 27S and has some awesome coins. It is not even in the five all time finest. It's a tough crowd.

I have decided to sell my set in the coming months and use the money on my type set(Swan and HD are getting too far ahead). Anyone with an interest should send a PM. The set would be near the top of the ATF with a few upgrades($75k-125k). Many of these coins are VERY hard to find in FH.

Keyrock · January 22, 2002 10:31AM

Some day I hope to join you but I've got a few other sets I need to finish.

Stay focused, stay focused..........

Rich

BTW my Merc set is only 40% I hope to list when I hit 50% (by summer)

BigD5 · January 22, 2002 10:52AM

I'm a closet SLQ collector. I think there are plenty of collectors out there for SLQ's, just not the "Registry type" of collectors. Different series have different types of collectors. The older the series, the more important appearance becomes as opposed to technical grade.....in general.

DeepCoin · January 22, 2002 8:56PM

Keyrock,

Jump into the Mercury set now. Dont bother waiting to be 50% complete. It is a great bunch of people who all share a common interest and root each other on.

If you check the registry, it looks like a checkerboard (not my term) with all the red from upgrades! I am holding down 23rd place and treading water

Mark · January 22, 2002 9:35PM

Don:

You sly dog--I REALLY like your #7 SLQ set. I've been chuckling over it for at least 5 minutes. We have a bunch of cats, but I don't think my wife will go for a "Cat Collection"...

Mark

grip · January 23, 2002 3:15AM

Don,
Nice set,i just love that design as i do on many others

I guess that's why im a type collector.LM that 17 looks better than MS64,a beauty.Al

boiler78 · January 23, 2002 7:40AM

Just because we haven't registered our sets doesn't mean we are not out here. I completed my SLQ set in the mid 80-s and with the exception of the 1916 and 1927-s the coins are all resting in a capital plastics holder. My overdate is AU and the balance of the set would probably average ms 64 with half in FH. I don't think I could ever compete with this set so why bother slabbing and registering?

quattrocoins · January 23, 2002 1:35PM

Bill,

Sorry to hear that you're pickin' up stakes. I hope it isn't because of me and my dogs movin' into the neighborhood!

Good luck with the sale of your set. It should bring you enough to really give Swan and HD a run for the money! (and maybe me a spot on the front page!)

LM and other Type collectors,

Please don't get between me and my dogs!

Hey Mark,

Thanks, once again, for the reminder.
I almost forgot a set for the cat!

Turns out he's currently "Top Cat"!!!

Regards,

Don

Barber and

Where are all the Standing Liberty quarter collectors?

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