How much do you care about esoteric rarities?

topstuf · August 9, 2015 7:55AM

I'm thinking about "crosslet 4" 1834 gold

1812/1 Large 8 bust half

1829 Curl Base 2 bust dime

etc.

tradedollarnut · August 9, 2015 7:59AM

Meh!

topstuf · August 9, 2015 8:07AM

<< <i>Meh! >>

Okay, buddy. Turn in your TRUE NUMISMATIST badge!

JCMhouston · August 9, 2015 8:19AM

I collect mostly esoteric rarities (although not American), so they interest me greatly.

291fifth · August 9, 2015 8:45AM

As prices have risen my interest in such items has declined.

Overdate · August 9, 2015 9:16AM

If I was going to buy an esoteric rarity I would look for something more modern, like a 2007 "Frosted Liberty" platinum eagle or a 2008-W reverse of 2007 silver eagle.

valente151 · August 9, 2015 10:28AM

I'll take a superb gem common variety over a worn R8 variety of the same date. Same thing with preferring a superb gem type date over a key date in the same series. For me, I enjoy the eye appeal of a coin just as much if not more than the rarity, the date is just such a small portion of metal of the coin, heck I look at the overall pop of a coin before I even see the date. I'll take a MS65 BN large cent over an AG strawberry cent anyday... That's my rambling thoughts on the matter.

Walkerfan · August 9, 2015 10:51AM

Don't care much for varieties (even within my Walker series, as there is nothing that special). Would never pay big money for a 1946 DDR WLH, as an example. I like 1918/17-S SLQ----something like that excites me a lot more but that is less esoteric and more well known IMHO.

oih82w8 · August 9, 2015 10:59AM

The bigger majority of my Type Collection comprises of attributed varieties. Although some of more colorful coins are "ordinary". Variety collectors are a rare breed...maybe we need badges, lanyards, or secret handshake.

yosclimber · August 9, 2015 11:09AM

The examples you gave could be better described as "high priced Red Book die varieties".

Would I want to buy one (that is correctly priced)? No.

However, they are fun to look for.
They "keep the dream alive" for cherrypickers / treasure hunters.
Although it's even more fun to look for unattributed die varieties which are not in the Red Book,
as these are more frequently found.

jcping · August 9, 2015 11:22AM

<< <i>They "keep the dream alive" for cherrypickers / treasure hunters.
Although it's even more fun to look for unattributed die varieties which are not in the Red Book,
as these are more frequently found. >>

Well said

winky · August 9, 2015 11:43AM

Just a variety nut for rare variety's.

Nysoto · August 9, 2015 11:45AM

Yes.

It depends on what a person collects. If early die varieties, then esoteric rarities are essential. If date or type sets, not needed. I have a 1834 crosslet $5 because I used to collect the classic head gold series. It is scarce, but not rare per the Sheldon scale.

MrEureka · August 9, 2015 1:00PM

Meh!

Says the man that would trade his left nut for a chopmarked 1875 Trade Dollar.

lkeigwin · August 9, 2015 1:08PM

Yes, I am interested, in the series I collect.

I like bust halves and there's a solid market for scarce varieties and die marriages. Which makes buying one a pleasurable, low risk expenditure.

I have no interest in any modern rarity at any price.
Lance.

TopographicOceans · August 9, 2015 1:14PM

Just esoterically

howards · August 9, 2015 1:21PM

On a scale of 1 to 10, I care about 100 for esoteric varieties.

oih82w8 · August 9, 2015 1:57PM

Unattributed varieties are out there, you just gotta look for them. The sellers image of this coin is kinda dark, but if you know what to look for;

I have encountered alot of dealers who are not knoledgable, nor care to be, in varities and would only buy the coin as "common".

Purfrock · August 9, 2015 2:18PM

I love rare varieties!

mr1931S · August 9, 2015 4:36PM

I care about 10 on the esoteric scale about the esotericness of the 1933 St. Gaudens $20 gold piece.The pocket piece is the most esoteric one of the ten.I also care about 1894-S dimes which are esoteric too.

19Lyds · August 9, 2015 5:17PM

<< <i>I'm thinking about "crosslet 4" 1834 gold

1812/1 Large 8 bust half

1829 Curl Base 2 bust dime

etc.

>>

The thing is, unless you're deeply ingrained in all the varieties, some of this esoteric stuff is just chaff with the wheat going to the more widely accepted common varieties.
I care about some of these only enough so that if I run across something, I'll bite but I won't go out of my way searching for them.

There are an absolute TON of Kennedy Varieties but only a few which are of any significance. As such, even a dedicated Kennedy collector may not pursue all the various CONECA versions of the Kennedy Half Dollar which makes a majority of them "esoteric".

Just like all the versions of the 1972/72 Lincoln DDO. One, FS-104, is worth a ton of money and is quite rare, or so it seems. I expect that only a handful of collectors have the means to even care about picking up an example which outs it in the esoteric class despite its price.

ricko · August 9, 2015 10:56PM

Mostly, not at all...sometimes they are interesting to review. Cheers, RickO

How much do you care about esoteric rarities?

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