Which coin would you pick?

Billet7 · February 16, 2013 2:50PM

Here's a hypothetical. If you were putting together a date set of seated quarters, which of the two would you choose to represent the 1864 slot. They are worth roughly the same amount of money, one is higher grade and attractive, the other is nice for the grade, but much more rare. Which do you choose and why? Both PCGS certified.

Wooly · February 16, 2013 2:58PM

I prefer the 64 over the 64 S, especially for a date set.

Unknown · February 16, 2013 3:03PM

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mkman123 · February 16, 2013 3:18PM

The 1864 all the way!

illini420 · February 16, 2013 3:24PM

Unless I was building the full set, I'd go for the 1864 for sure. Although not as low of a mintage as the 1864-S, the 1864 still has a mintage of under 100k and I think that's pretty cool.

keyman64 · February 17, 2013 3:10AM

1864!!!

coinbuf · February 17, 2013 3:13AM

I would pick the 1864, but it could also depend on the motivation for the date set.

Type2 · February 17, 2013 3:16AM

I'll go 64-P alot nicer coin and will look nicer in time she will look very nice in a date set with all that meat on her.

LindeDad · February 17, 2013 3:29AM

Display the 64-P and keep the 64-S in inventory for the value.

sniocsu · February 17, 2013 3:41AM

Both

Billet7 · February 17, 2013 4:11AM

I'm sure I would regret selling either one, since I'm sure the date set will eventually evolve into a full set.

hchcoin · February 17, 2013 4:18AM

I like them both for the reasons mentioned. I have bought lower grade higher rarity coins. If you can swing it, keep them both.

ricko · February 17, 2013 4:20AM

The '64... not a fan of super worn coins....Cheers, RickO

Coinosaurus · February 17, 2013 4:49AM

If Billet7 has two quarters to pick from, you can be sure both will be nice in their own way.

I pick the 64-S. Like Jim O'Donnell used to say, buy the rare coins first. The 1864 will always be common (as far as seated quarters go).

The first quarter in my set was a 68-S that looked a lot like the 64-S here.

BillJones · February 17, 2013 4:51AM

I'd go for the 1864. The 1864-S is much rarer, but I'm not attracted to low grade coins unless that's all I can get, and I really want that date and mint mark combination.

Bullsitter · February 17, 2013 5:13AM

64-S

DennisH · February 17, 2013 5:35AM

Oh man...

I'd keep the 1864-S because of rarity. If the date set were ever to evolve into a full set with mint marks, you'd already have the much tougher one to locate.

ebaybuyer · February 17, 2013 5:57AM

that is a tough call. the 64-s would probably be easier to sell when the time comes, and you could always upgrade it, but that P is just soooo nice ! id have to buy them both.

EastonCollection · February 17, 2013 6:04AM

both! - then you got the complete date set for quarters.

johnny9434 · February 17, 2013 7:14AM

both then maybe upgrade the 64 s later. jmo

roadrunner · February 17, 2013 7:27AM

I love both dates but would go with the condition of the 1864, which is not easy to find like that. If one roams any major show it will become quite obvious that most of the
rare/scarce date S mint seated quarters (1855-1864) tend to be found in AG-VG. There are more than enough of those to go around to anyone who wants them.

Even though the 64-s is not damaged, the Fair-VG range is what is typically seen for these. So a G6 coin is rather "common" for a 64-s. Maybe 150-200 exist in all grades, most in
lower grades. I doubt there are 150-200 set builders out there. There probably aren't more than 100 1864 Philly coins in problem free VF-AU. I'd rather stretch for a Fine or
better 64-s. The 1864 Philly at XF/AU is in the sweet spot already for most set builders. Not a huge demand for uncs and those are somewhat available to those building unc sets.

Billet7 · February 17, 2013 1:12PM

Some good points, especially roadrunner...I always enjoy his comments. I'll keep both for now, upgrade the s mint later. Thanks for the input...I should retake the pic of the philly coin. Its much prettier in hand.

magikbilly · February 17, 2013 8:55PM

Agree with RoadRunner (again).

Eric

astrorat · February 18, 2013 12:14AM

Whichever fits the set the best. Or ... keep the 64-S and look for a different example to fit the set. Not being a Seated quarter collector, I am not sure how tough it is to find the 64-S.

roadrunner · February 18, 2013 1:04AM

<< <i>Whichever fits the set the best. Or ... keep the 64-S and look for a different example to fit the set. Not being a Seated quarter collector, I am not sure how tough it is to find the 64-S. >>

I'd estimate that the 64 is 3X as common as the 64-s in all grades (4.7X the mintage). So that might give an extant total in all grades of 150-200 of the S mint, and 450-600 of the P mint.
The 1864 is roughly on par with the 1852 and 1857-s in total numbers. Rarity in grade is another matter. Of the lower mintage 1860's Philly coins I'd put the 1864 in the 5th slot
(after the 1866/1869, and 1867/1868). The 470 Philly proofs minted in 1864 is a factor as well.

In the current market, I'd say the 1864 Philly coin above is rarer and more desireable than the 64-s when condition/grade is factored in. Most 1864 Philly coins are either found in unc,
proof, or cleaned. Relatively few found in original, nicely fully detailed XF45-AU55. Over the long haul I'd expect the above Philly mint coin to outdistance the S mint coin.

Kaline6 · February 18, 2013 1:21AM

<< <i>Whichever fits the set the best. . >>

+1

I love the 1864 personally, very attractive coin that gives pleasure to look at.

nwcoast · February 18, 2013 1:39AM

I'd go for the 1864 being that it might be a better match visually to the rest of the set. Unless of course, you're going to be filling thise spots with heavily worn examples...

One consideration might be the aesthetics of the set as a whole.... Good luck

phnatacc · February 18, 2013 1:48AM

Completely dependent on the type of set I was building. I build my sets to match as closely as possible within whatever parameter I've made for the particular set.

noow · February 18, 2013 2:11AM

They are both of the same value, but the 64P has much more eye appeal, so for a date set chose the 64P.

golden · February 18, 2013 2:18AM

I will take door number one.

Billet7 · February 18, 2013 2:55AM

The other coins in the set have little bearing on which coin I would keep, the set varies from FA-AU depending on how difficult the coin is to find. I have a sweet-spot for rare dates, which is what makes the hypothetical decision between the two more difficult. I'm not actually going to get rid of either coin, I just thought it was an interesting exercise, and more telling than I expected.

DAVEatHLRC · February 18, 2013 2:58AM

<< <i>I love both dates but would go with the condition of the 1864, which is not easy to find like that. If one roams any major show it will become quite obvious that most of the
rare/scarce date S mint seated quarters (1855-1864) tend to be found in AG-VG. There are more than enough of those to go around to anyone who wants them.

Even though the 64-s is not damaged, the Fair-VG range is what is typically seen for these. So a G6 coin is rather "common" for a 64-s. Maybe 150-200 exist in all grades, most in
lower grades. I doubt there are 150-200 set builders out there. There probably aren't more than 100 1864 Philly coins in problem free VF-AU. I'd rather stretch for a Fine or
better 64-s. The 1864 Philly at XF/AU is in the sweet spot already for most set builders. Not a huge demand for uncs and those are somewhat available to those building unc sets. >>

Brilliant analysis. Great advice, RoadRunner!

Which coin would you pick?

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