Finest IH collection of all time

shylock

For the very few Indian Head collectors here, this quarters Longacre's Ledger has an interesting article about the Dr. Alan Epstein collection sold to Eagle Eye Rare Coins in 1995. Over a year ago I dug up old internet images of the early coins from this incredible set and posted them here. This new article by Rick Snow sheds some light on this collection.

Facts:
1.)The average grade was 66.25, almost a full point higher than the current #1 PCGS registry set which is incredible.
2.)It was assembled during the early years of certification (87-93) built up on a 65RD set with constant upgrades.
3.)Alan did many lateral trades to better coins in the same grade holder. All coins were PCGS.
4.)By the time he sold, there were only 9 possible upgrades -- one of which, the 1909-S MS67RD, has never been seen.
5.)It included the only 2 MS68's ever given out by PCGS, 18 MS67's and 37 MS66's.
6.)During the sale of the set Alan repurchased the 1899 MS68RD -- the most common date but his favorite coin in this very uncommon condition.

Coin Finder

Thanks Paul. I love copper. Just great info for anybody. Where is the 1909 S ms-67?? Is it in an old holder still??


Thanks

Tbig

CarlWohlforth

Wow! I guess you have to specialize and just focus for years and years to do something like that! Wow!

Blade

Paul,
Great display and wow - you have a great website! I am a type set collector, so I don't have this depth of expertise in any series. I got a real kick out of the toning. That is an impressive display and a great primer for anyone. My best Indian cent is an 1898 purchased by me in high school about 15 years ago - a nice AU58 mostly red with great lustre. I'm sure I'll plunge for the MS-65RD after I kick my current gold habit.

How long have you been collecting these?

Tom

STEWARTBLAYNUMIS

I had given my notes to Rick Snow prior to to him writing the article about the Alan Epstein collection.Dr. Epstein offered his collection to me for $463,000 in 1995. At the time I gave him my best offer of $325,000 for the set which was rejected. The set then added an 1856 S-3 in ms66 from Jesse Lipka and was marketed at major coin shows for $500,000 with no offers. Frustrated and needing funds for his stock venture he sold the collection to Eagle Eye for $325,000 in 1995.
In 2001 at the Superior Auction of the Paul Googleman collection, four coins 1856 S-9 in ms66,the 1872 in ms66, the 1877 in ms 66 and the 1886 type 2 brought about $300,000.

Stewart Blay

Coin Finder

Stewart and Tom welcome!! Please join us often!!!

Tbig

Dahlonega

Unbelievable wish I could have seen the set in person. Is their any story around the IHead 09-S P-68/collector or dealer? Incidentally the finest collection of Dahlonega coins I've ever seen was the Montgomery collection in Auction'84 realized about one half million dollars.

dragon

An 1899 in MS68RD ???? Wow!! My heart rate goes up just thinking about a coin like that!!

Dragon

Monstavet

Remember, '99s are common in 68red....at least 1999s are

IrishMike

Jumpin Jehosephat!!!!!!!!! First let me say thanks for sharing those pictures with us. Those coins are beautiful. Whenever I am able to attend a major coin show, the first thing I do is search out the high grade Indian Cents. I get the shakes just admiring their beauty. Two years ago after having purchased no coins since the early 60's, I finally completed my IHC collection as well as Lincoln Cent. I have had to ward off the temptation to send some in for slabbing. My heirs will have to make that decision someday. I found the only cure to this was to begin to purchase MS64's red and redbrown already slabbed.

shylock

Thanks for the kind words about my website Tom -- I played hooky today and worked on the Varieties page. To answer your question, I collected circulated IHs and Lincolns in the early 80s, then became re-awakened to IHs about 4 years ago when I had a bit more money to buy a few gems. I've since sold most of them and use the website, and forum, as a way to stay involved with them. Have to admit I enjoy looking at them and researching them more than haggling over them.

And thanks to Stewart Blay for stopping by with the great added info. I remember those 3 Indians from the Superior sale, and as you mentioned their escalated value almost equaled the 1995 sale price! A couple of the Epstein coins, including that 86 T2 from Superior, are owned by a west coast collector now and have updated images on my site. A vast majority of them haven't seen the light of day since Eagle Eye sold them, at least not publically. Says something about their quality.

Tbig -- the 1909-S PCGS 67RD, the only 67 they've graded, is a bit of a mystery coin. Rick Snow, who sees more IHs than anyone, writes "Has anyone ever seen it?" in this article.

jk

Stewart,

Thanks for the update; your history sort of puts things in the proper perspective. Thanks.

jk

shylock

Good job by PCGS for now adding this set to the all-time finest list.

Bear

Shylock- Thank you for showing those wonderful pictures of world class IHs. The sight of all of them together was overwhelming. What a feat for a collector to have assembled such an awsome collection. Regards Bear

TerpsRock

Way cool Site Paul!!! I'm still working on my Wheats....I think IH's will be next for me Nice Icon JK!