Post a coin which takes a specialist to love

Boosibri · April 10, 2016 9:42PM

Some coins take a specialist to truly appreciate for how special they are.

Case in point is this 1858-S $5. It may very well be the finest known as a "lowly" AU58. There is an MS61 out there but having seen it I would call it processed and unattractive even if technically mint state. The date is rare with maybe 45-55 known in all grade and it ranks favorably in rarity to all SF $5's save the 54-S and 64-S. Despite that it has never been afforded much attention along with the other pre-Civil War $5's.

The date itself usually comes unattractive with choppy surfaces or processing.

I love the coin and find it to be tremendously underappreciated... a state which it may continue to enjoy despite all that it has going for it.

rhedden · April 10, 2016 9:52PM

I love the S-mint half eagles and eagles of this era, and I would collect them too if it were not for my paranoia about the hoards of "S" mint gold that surface from time to time (shipwrecks, coins from Europe, Saddle Ridge type hoards, etc.). Yours has a perfect, original look that really appeals to me.

Boosibri · April 10, 2016 9:56PM

"Thankfully" the SS Central America went down in 1857 leaving this issue and the ones following it unimpacted. With such low mintages the chance of a huge hoard is unlikely but with a thin market like S-Mint $5's it would only take a few to turn the pricing on it's head (maybe even generate more interest in the original non-shipwreck pieces like the 1854-S $20).

ricko · April 10, 2016 10:00PM

Very nice coin..... the fixation with grades is approaching obsession - and to me, it is basically

meaningless. I like coins... yes, I prefer undamaged, attractive, not tarnished coins. However,

grade or no grade, I buy what I like. Understandably, if people are selling coins, it is best to cater to the demand. Cheers, RickO

oih82w8 · April 10, 2016 10:18PM

Beautiful Half Eagle!

There are quite a few varieties out there that are disputed between amongst collectors. While some are blatantly obvious (1955 Double Die Lincoln) and those that require a little closer scrutinization. In my opinion, let those who are "well versed" (having significant knowledge) remain to be the subject matter expert until proven otherwise.

Speaking of controversy varieties, I really like my 1872-S H10C MM Below MPD FS-302 PCGS AU58 Gold CAC. There has been at least one forum member who has "disputed" (for lack of a better word) the positive identification of a Mispaced Digit within Liberty's gown, the coin stands on her own as a really nice one, but it takes a specialist to truly appreciate what she has to offer. Is she the top grade for the variety? No...but I made that one also and presently have her as well.

rhedden · April 10, 2016 10:28PM

Here is my 1841-o WB-102 "Baseball crack" Seated Liberty Half Dollar. The defining features are the reverse cracks, which resemble the seams of a baseball. A non-specialist would look at this coin and say, "die cracks may serve to identify a die marriage, but they don't necessarily make a coin more valuable." A Seated Half specialist would recognize the coin as a late die state of a rare die marriage, which is worth at least 10 times the price of a common 1841-o in the same grade. This one is graded PCGS AU53, and although it is not the finest known, it is population 1/0 at PCGS, with only two coins available in variety-designated holders. The other is a VG-10. Thus, I think a specialist with a PCGS Variety Registry set would really appreciate it.

oih82w8 · April 10, 2016 10:45PM

Awesome variety rhedden!

Barndog · April 11, 2016 1:05AM

1832 LM-9.2 half dime. A handful exist. After this AU58, next finest is likely the plate coin from "Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837." That coin was described as XF45 and "Very lightly cleaned with bright silver surfaces and very minor abrasions." Maybe three or four more known, all Fine and lower examples.

At auction, I suspect this coin would likely set a record for an AU58 capped bust half dime.

asheland · April 11, 2016 1:31AM

Supposed to be a scarce variety. I just love the original surfaces!

oih82w8 · April 11, 2016 1:50AM

Not everyone can say that they have one of those shil(ings?) asheland.

steveben · April 11, 2016 2:10AM

i don't think i have anything that fits that bill...but i like your half eagle a lot!

lkeigwin · April 11, 2016 2:20AM

Originally posted by: Barndog

1832 LM-9.2 half dime. A handful exist. After this AU58, next finest is likely the plate coin from "Federal Half Dimes 1792-1837." That coin was described as XF45 and "Very lightly cleaned with bright silver surfaces and very minor abrasions." Maybe three or four more known, all Fine and lower examples.

At auction, I suspect this coin would likely set a record for an AU58 capped bust half dime.

Love it, Barndog!

Lance.

Boosibri · April 11, 2016 2:30AM

Originally posted by: steveben

i don't think i have anything that fits that bill...but i like your half eagle a lot!

That 1859 counts I think!

asheland · April 11, 2016 3:22AM

Originally posted by: oih82w8
Not everyone can say that they have one of those shil(ings?) asheland.

Yep it's a shilling. My favourite Darkside coin of all time!

BillJones · April 11, 2016 5:30AM

1855-C gold dollar. Virtually all of these coins look like this regardless of the grade.

Baley · April 11, 2016 5:39AM

Here are a couple of draped bust quarters with issues, only the early quarter specialist would know or care about the scarce die varieties

An early die state B-7 with a bit of a graffito

and a late die state B-10

that some artistic genius decided to add some hair "at some time in the past" as they say. The mssing detail from k3 to k5 is the characteristic die bulge

dogwood · April 11, 2016 5:51AM

I don't get this one at all. I just wanted another Peace Dollar and really liked the look of this one.

BIGAL2749 · April 11, 2016 9:39AM

The finest of the 3-4 know 1795 plug half dollars that went through several steps at the early mint.
Made with planchet lamination thus under weight, plugged to bring up the weight resulting in an overweight planchet so then adjusted to bring the weight down.

[URL=http://s306.photobucket.com/user/bigal2749/media/1795 plug 8_zpsxlwveiye.jpg.html]

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[URL=http://s306.photobucket.com/user/bigal2749/media/754b7a27-f613-4a8a-b73a-cd1b11f624b4_zps3xiqoci0.jpg.html]

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CharlotteDude · April 11, 2016 10:07AM

I really like the look of your '58-S HE, Brian... However, San Fran minted stuff typically doesn't do anything for me. I guess if it had been shuttered decades ago and had a more intriguing history, or if I was from the West Coast, things might be different.

I still appreciate the look and rarity, but i don't think I'd ever "branch out" into that branch mint. Carson City product would be a more compelling pursuit for me.

DIMEMAN · April 11, 2016 10:38AM

I love the 58-C. Actually I love all of the coins shown here.

kaz · April 11, 2016 10:47AM

1874-CC "wide space cc" trade dollar, maybe a handful in graded holders and a couple of handfuls in the raw (maybe Keoj or another TD specialist has some real figures on these). The rev die was used for 1873, 1874, and 1876 issues, the 1874 is supposed to be the most scarce. Weakly struck rev. is typical.

mvs7 · April 11, 2016 1:31PM

As a follow-on to the OP, here is my lowly 1858-S that only a specialist would love. Doug Winter stated last year, "CAC has approved just three for the date and [after an AU58] the next “finest” grades VG8(!)" Well, here's your VG8/CAC version. I bought it off of eBay five years ago and had it stickered myself. I've found it's actually easier to find not-yet-stickered CAC-quality $5s in low grades, as they probably weren't worth the trouble to mess with the surfaces as much as the higher-graded pieces.

hchcoin · April 11, 2016 1:41PM

R-5+

HoledandCreative · April 11, 2016 3:43PM

My specialty.

oih82w8 · April 11, 2016 7:19PM

I have never been a fan of the design, but have always respected the importance of the 1792 Half Disme...and that one makes my head hurt.

Boosibri · April 11, 2016 7:54PM

Originally posted by: mvs7

As a follow-on to the OP, here is my lowly 1858-S that only a specialist would love. Doug Winter stated last year, "CAC has approved just three for the date and [after an AU58] the next “finest” grades VG8(!)" Well, here's your VG8/CAC version. I bought it off of eBay five years ago and had it stickered myself. I've found it's actually easier to find not-yet-stickered CAC-quality $5s in low grades, as they probably weren't worth the trouble to mess with the surfaces as much as the higher-graded pieces.

Nice acquisition!

Post a coin which takes a specialist to love

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