Bust, Barber Head, and Seated Liberty "monster" toned coins
cameonut2011
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Do these exist in any quantity? Post one if you have one.
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Probably don't qualify as monsters, and I'll probably be embarrassed by other coins that get posted, but I like them, and I did not pay monster prices when I acquired them many years ago:
Sunshine Rare Coins
sunshinecoins.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
19th century mint state seated, bust, and even Barber coins were not typically stored in albums for long periods from the day they were blast white, so you don't usually see "monster" toning like on bag toned Morgans or Wayte Raymond Album toned coins. If often takes a dipping and secondary toning to develop "monster" 19th century silver toning....followed by placing the coin in a more active toning environment (albums, flips, paper wrappers, etc.).
I don't think they exist in any decent quantity. 30-40 yrs ago you hardly ever saw them in bust/seated. Best you typically got were attractive blues/greens/russet. James A. Stack 1901-s MS67 Barber quarter is typical of that coloration. JA Stack 1904-0 gem Barber quarter is monstrous though....and when sold in 2014 was pedigreed to Hugon only....no mention of JAS. Sunnywood owned both of those for a while.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/barber-quarters/1904-o-25c-ms67-pcgs-cac/a/1213-30430.s?hdnJumpToLot=1x=0&y=0
The 1840-o MS67 ex-Colonel Green/Newman/Gardner quarter is about as monster as seated coinage gets.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/seated-quarters/1840-o-25c-no-drapery-ms67-and-9733-ngc-cac-briggs-1-a/a/1190-33361.s?hdnJumpToLot=1x=0&y=0
Both AU-58:
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Here's what I got. Not really "monsters" but fun to look at. Probably most are secondarily toned:
I don't own any personally, but I have seen the proof barber and seated coins develop some monster color. Mostly very nice blues but some other colors tbere as well. Not sure if you were looking for specifically MS coins, but there are a decent amount out there
I have some nicely toned Bust and Seated coins, but only one of them I would call a "monster," which is my 1873-S half dime in PCGS MS65 (old holder). It has irridescent, vibrant colors of the type that are rarely seen on any coin, much less a Seated coin. It also appears to be an MS66 to my eye. It is really too bad that I just cannot photograph half dimes very well with the point-and-shoot cameras I own, so posting a poor image of it is pointless. It may be time to re-grade that one with a TruView.
Here are a few Seated and Barber proofs that I would call "nicely toned," though they are somewhat short of what I would call "monsters."
1864 25c PCGS PR64+
1872 50c PCGS PR65
1878 50c PCGS PR64
1883 25c PCGS PR65
1902 50c PCGS PR65
1910 25c PCGS PR66
1915 50c PCGS PR66 Ex.: Newman-Green
there is a better coin that the 04O 25C-the 1898O 25C PCGS MS68 CAC! both are in a date east coast date set with nothing but monster 25C!
most of the coins posted here are really nice. There is a huge difference though between pretty and monster. a monster coin will knock you out the second you see it. a monster coin looks so wild you don't believe it even exists. many people do not know the difference and thus can pay too much for pretty toned coins.
at least pretty coins do always sell better then non generic looking pieces!
The good news about the pretty-toned proofs I have posted is that they command very little premium over a non-toned example in today's market. I overpaid for one of them from a dealer's inventory, and the rest were acquired for basically no premium. Pretty-toned proofs are quite a bit more salable than the non-toned examples, as caddyshack has said, excluding untoned DCAM pieces, which are highly coveted.
Cheers, RickO
Threads about silver sulfide make RickO cry. We should start a thread about blasty white silver type coins in his honor.
Here's my 1895 S Barber Quarter in a PCGS AU 58 holder:
Jealous at a lot of the coins in here! Nice coins everyone.
I would not turn down any one of Lance's coins. His CBH's rock!
Hi Guys - here are a few - PS the coins are nicer in hand than the pictures. Enjoy.
As @roadrunner said, these won't compare to "monster" Morgans but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
Easton I've seen most (if not all 4) of these coins over the years and they are truly "monsters".
Nice coins!!!
This I consider a "Monster"...I know Caddyshack would agree!
Gonna get me a $50 Octagonal someday. Some. Day.
Amazing coins in this thread!
Sold this coin a while ago. Nicest toned proof Seated quarter I have seen.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
1887 proof quarters seem to be available with nice toning. I have seen several of them offered for sale during the past 5-10 years. Mine is also nice, but not as nice as the one Rich posted.