Whitman Blue Album, Standing Liberty Quarters

bcdeluxe · January 28, 2015 11:21PM

So, I've been working on this on and off for 15 years. Some I bought before I knew what I was doing. Those (well at least one) should be apparent and I'm working on replacing them.

Also, it was difficult to get a really good shot of the whole thing. For example, the 1917-P Type 2 is an easy MS63, but the luster is not apparent and it almost looks like it could be cleaned. It's not.

I've shifted from trying to find whiter coins to trying to find darker toned XF coins, which are really, really hard find.

The most expensive coins I've cracked out are in the $600-700 range (1923-S, 1921). I cannot envision a scenario where I'm going to crack out an 8 over 7 or a 1916, so those will either have to be filled with a low grade filler, or simply never filled.

291fifth · January 29, 2015 12:10AM

That's the way coins should be collected; no "plastic" or "stickers". It's too bad that the time for that type of collecting seems to have passed.

The toned coins in your set look very nice. The early Standing Liberty Quarters were always a challenge in the high circulated grades.

Walkerguy21D · January 29, 2015 12:19AM

Very nice!

I bought a nearly complete set of these in the same album some years back from my wholesale guy, who got it from an old estate.
I have no idea how long ago the set was assembled, but some of the coins had toned up beautifully in it.

SilverBlind · January 29, 2015 12:25AM

Nice set, I like them all. That 17 Var. 1 is a beauty.

ChangeInHistory · January 29, 2015 12:28AM

I did a set (almost) 10 years ago in F-12 and better. I lost interest, had other things to collect by the time I was ready for the 1916, 1918/7.

You're right, finding more original looking ones in VF+, XF is tough. You have a nicely developing XF+ set.

seanq · January 29, 2015 12:52AM

<< Nice set, I like them all. That 17 Var. 1 is a beauty. >>

Agreed, I could stare at a set of any early 20th century coins (Barbers, Mercs, SLQs, andc Walkers) in that condition all day.

Sean Reynolds

bcdeluxe · January 29, 2015 12:53AM

<< Nice set, I like them all. That 17 Var. 1 is a beauty. >>

Thanks, that was the very first Standing Liberty I ever purchased.

Many of these have been in the album for 12-15 years and are acquiring some peripheral tone (specifically, the 17-S Ty 1, the 18-S and the 23). The 17-D Ty 1 was totally grey when it got its spot in the album, and is now acquiring a reddish patina. The 1920 is a newer addition, as it is a better match to my intended look. The other 1920 I pulled out and posted in another thread.

The rest I'm just kind of waiting to see what happens.

I didn't image page 2, and I don't recall why. I will try to do that next time I have the album.

Sonorandesertrat · January 29, 2015 1:19AM

I put together a full set of ChAU SLQs in a Whitman album during 1973-1995, minus the overdate. I later transferred the coins to a Dansco album and sold them in 2007. It was an enjoyable project. Replacing the Standing Liberty design with the Washington series was a shame.

Did you buy your coins raw, or have you been removing them from slabs?

Baley · January 29, 2015 1:24AM

I'm absolutely crazy about this style of collecting. Very nice set. I really really like your 1921, would like to see the reverse. Also the 1919 catches my eye, along with several others.

A few, I can see moving to your "B" set, when they get upgraded. How's that last page coming along?

Flatwoods · January 29, 2015 1:25AM

I love seeing that. Nice collection.

ricko · January 29, 2015 3:59AM

Great set and a fantastic way to collect and display coins...Cheers, RickO

bcdeluxe · January 29, 2015 4:03AM

<< . . . I really really like your 1921, would like to see the reverse. Also the 1919 . . . >>

Those are a couple of my favorites as well. And the 1924.

My photo skills need some work. My images rarely turn out consistent. I am sure a lot of it is my lighting.

Some of these are undoubtedly headed to a "B" folder.

Walkerfan · January 29, 2015 4:20AM

What a beautiful, well-matched set. Those are really something!! I like them all but the 1919-S is especially pretty.

bcdeluxe · January 29, 2015 4:42AM

<< How's that last page coming along? >>

It's complete, but is need of replacement coins in several holes. There are a lot of tough coins to find on that second page. The keys in this series - 1916, 1919-S and 1919-D, 1923-S, 1927-S - are far easier to find than a good looking looking 1926-D and S with any type of decent head detail. 1926-D is so notoriously poorly struck, I have never seen anything close to what I'm looking for in a reasonable price range.

bcdeluxe · January 29, 2015 4:47AM

The least attractive coin on this page, IMHO, is the 1918-P. I bought it on ebay from a well known AT doctor (well, I subsequently discovered this on this board). It wasn't incredibly costly (maybe $100), but used to be a nice looking gold color. I had suspected it was AT when I bought it, but was also pretty new to this series, and collecting in general.

It has turned to whatever you want to call this monstrosity of a Stander now. I'll probably pull it out and throw it in acetone to see what happens, but I am afraid the chemist used both heat and chemicals to do this.

rec78 · January 29, 2015 5:06AM

Congrats on a nice set. That is where my set is, no 1916 or 18/7. Your 1920-D seems well struck. This is a difficult coin as well. The 1920-D was the last one I acquired as it was very hard to find a 1920-D with a well struck date that I liked. The 1923-S also.

Bob

Scootersdad · January 29, 2015 10:23AM

very nice set!

ready to pull trigger on starting a set

Timbuk3 · January 29, 2015 11:07AM

Sweet, I love SLQ !!!

DeepCoin · January 29, 2015 12:51PM

I love the 1917 type I, like everyone else. This SLQ thread makes me sad when I think of the passing of J.H. Cline. Did you buy and SLQs from him and I wonder if someone will take over the niche or if the heirs will just liquidate his inventory.

lasvegasteddy · January 29, 2015 12:55PM

sweet series and examples here
congrats

TwoSides2aCoin · January 29, 2015 5:20PM

wtc & wtg

Way to collect … and way to go.

Treashunt · January 29, 2015 7:29PM

nice set.

I have one like it

SkyMan · January 29, 2015 11:13PM

Sweet looking set. Raw albums are the way to go.

mightyhunter · January 30, 2015 12:04AM

A very nice set. I prefer this type of collecting over my Registry Set in PCGS boxes. Good luck trying to find a solid XF 1926-D with any kind of a strike. I have one in XF 40 in PCGS plastic but it isn't all that great. Here is a 1918 D that I am fond of. I don't care about the PCGS grade.
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bcdeluxe · January 30, 2015 8:34AM

<< I love the 1917 type I, like everyone else. This SLQ thread makes me sad when I think of the passing of J.H. Cline. Did you buy and SLQs from him and I wonder if someone will take over the niche or if the heirs will just liquidate his inventory. >>

I agree. I never met him but talked to him on the phone a couple times. I have a signed copy of the third edition. That book is a must for anyone collecting this series.

I notice his website has gone "under construction". He always carried so much in inventory, at least in $ value, I would hope the heirs would continue. He had an eye for SLQs though, so I also wonder if they'll keep it going.

I was a coin show last week, and of course each dealer asks "What cha looking for?" and my answer is always "Standing Libertys". (or is it Liberties?) Several then said "Did you see that Cline passed away?" Sad indeed.

bcdeluxe · January 30, 2015 8:42AM

<< I put together a full set of ChAU SLQs in a Whitman album during 1973-1995, minus the overdate. I later transferred the coins to a Dansco album and sold them in 2007. It was an enjoyable project. Replacing the Standing Liberty design with the Washington series was a shame.

Did you buy your coins raw, or have you been removing them from slabs? >>

I bought the 23-S and 21 in an ANACS and ICG holder respectively, and cracked those. The others were purchased raw either at B&Ms in NC, NY, and MI, where my job has taken me, and several on ebay (that's where I've made my biggest mistakes, like that 1918-P). I have a great dealer where I live now and have no problems buying raw, but the issue of actually obtaining them (him getting them in inventory) is the problem. Last month when I was in there, he had a raw 8/7 and a raw 1916. Neither of which was I ready to pull the trigger on. But the overdate was really tempting. It had a nice grey patina and was in VG to VF, so affordable (if you consider buying something like a 5k used car in cash "affordable").