Law Collection Seated Half Dime set registered
lawman9753
Posts: 7
It was a 15 year effort of love to put this set together. I started it in about 1992 when I purchased three MS68 Liberty Seated half dimes at a show in Secaucus, NJ. I thought that they were absolutely beautiful. That started what I thought would be an impossible task - to put together a complete set in the finest grades available. With the help of Laurie Sperber, I began securing pieces for the set still not believing that I would complete it in the grades that I was seeking. When the unique 1870-S half dime went into the Bowers-Merena auction, I hoped that I could acquire the coin to ultimately allow the completion of the only possible totally complete set of Liberty Seated half dimes. I was fortunate to have been the successful bidder for the coin at what I believed to have been a very reasonable price. If the coin had sold for substantially more, I could not have afforded it since I had to scramble to raise the funds to purchase it. I hope that I will be able to share this set with everyone as I am presently negotiating the exhibiting of the set at the Baltimore ANA show in July. If and when I ,or my estate, let go of the set, I hope it will be sold intact to allow the set to remain together. In the meantime, I intend to attempt to upgrade it whenever feasible. I can't over emphasize how much I enjoyed putting this set together.
lawman9753
0
Comments
Also, welcome to the boards and hopefully you'll stick around and add to the discussions!
LAWMAN 9753
I would rather have you exhibit your mint state Barber dime collection next to mine if you have the chutzpah.Half dimes are too too small to get excited.
Stewart Blay
<< <i>Half dimes are too too small to get excited. >>
Small things can get excited too! (I've heard.)
Who is John Galt?
LAWMAN9753
Joel,my mint state Barber dime set with varieties is on view for you and everyone else to see.I did it because of your request.If you have the chutpah to put your dime set next to mine for an exhibit, the coin collecting community can see the finest Barber dimes in existence.Anytime,Anywhere and you can call the shots.
Stewart
Your compilation of coins must be truly spectacular and I hope to be able to see the set some day.
I have enjoyed looking at your other sets as well, and even (I think) witnessing the Trime set in Milwaukee last year.
Truly a remarkable feat.
Sometimes, it helps to have a set open to the public. For instance, I just happened to know that Law had a low mint state 1873 half dime. Then when RYK posted a newp that he'd just purchased for type, and it happened to be an MS66 1873, I inquired whether he'd sell it to help out a fellow collector and make enough to buy a different type coin. He did, and the Law set received a significant upgrade. Had the entire set been secret, this situation of collector helping collector never would have occurred.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Your background story of how you started and continued working on your set plus your admission that you did not have unlimited funds
makes for a more compelling read than the actual set itself!
Although I will certainly look over your set along with Stew's set.
You said you found THREE MS-68 half dimes at ONE Secaucus show back in 1992???????
It is Chutzpah not Chutpah. Well you did spell it right half of the time.
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Lawman9753:
You meant over emphasize not under emphasize.
Now these two collectors have a lot more in common than we ever imagined!
Sometimes opportunity is more important than price.
I was on that coin and surely would have purchased it myself. But when I learned of Mr Law's interest, I backed off as his set is certainly where it deserves to be!
You said:
<< <i>I was told by another dealer that no one wanted half dimes and I was crazy to spend my money on those coins. >>
Yes, I have heard that many times before. The complaint by many is that half dimes are so small. But don't feel bad. Just wait until you see my California Fractional Gold 25c pieces. You will need a telescope to see them.
I also collect half dimes but just in a type set format!
As far as your 1870-S:
Indeed TDN said it right. Sometimes opportunity is more important than the price. I would amend that statement to "more often than not, opportunity is more important than the price."
Your pursuit of quality is a noble pursuit. Carry on!