BillJones, I'm middle class and on a budget, and will do it.
Not fast, not at the quality level that a rich guy would, but it will happen, someday.
Roadrunner, I don't personally think there is such thing as a "Stinker coin", there are only stinker prices. Some coins, you'd have to pay me to own and store and I wouldn't voluntarily show them to anybody, but I love coins and every one has a price. After all, if you get even a "stinker" coin at the "right" price, you can always sell it for a little bit more than that
Here's my classic head half eagle.
If someone said, "oh, that's not original, I wouldn't even own it" well, I respect their opinion, but obviously do not agree.
If I said, "hey, look, I paid $3000 for this" you'd say, "you paid too much" and you'd be right.
If I said, "hey, look, I paid $300 for this" you'd say, "great deal, but don't you feel bad for ripping off the seller?"
And you'd be right.
edit: while I'm at it, here's a half eagle without the IGWT motto.
These coins, I've had even longer, well over 20 years now.
Will upgrade someday, and that will be easy, compared to finally (finally!) getting the 1795-7, 1813-29, and 1829-33 types.
I just wanted to chime in with appreciation for Analyst taking the time to work through so many collecting options. I find that I am not a "box of 20" person (yet). Instead, I like a project. And there are great projects out there at all price levels. I, for one, want to consider projects at my more advanced level - admittedly at a price point that would scare off many novice collectors - and I want to thank Analyst for doing some of the legwork to help me get a feel for the options.
Roadrunner, I don't personally think there is such thing as a "Stinker coin", there are only stinker prices. Some coins, you'd have to pay me to own and store and I wouldn't voluntarily show them to anybody, but I love coins and every one has a price. After all, if you get even a "stinker" coin at the "right" price, you can always sell it for a little bit more than that
My "stinker" coin is simply one that doesn't fit with one's set at all, whether in quality/grade/eye appeal, etc. It just doesn't fit or match and looks totally out of place, as if someone else chose it for you. It doesn't mean it can't be a money maker for you if purchased right. To the top REG set dealer builder/afficiando's all the coins must fit a quality theme and be solid for the grade....no low end crap or dreck. Anything coming up short supposedly lessens your set and casts doubt on your methods. So they say.........hence my use of the term "stinker." Maybe I should use "sinker" instead. Just paraphasing what I've been hearing for the past 5-10 years. Doesn't mean I agree or disagree.
I wish you luck with finishing the gold type set, Baley, but when you get to the Small Eagle $5 and $10 gold pieces, I don't think it's possible to acquire those for less than 5 figure number, even with problems that make them a "no grade."
You can do most of the others except for the Capped Bust $5 gold (1829 - '34) I mentioned earlier. That one also goes for more than figures no matter what.
And here is my example ... the ugliest gold type coin in my set for design and preservation.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Mr. Jones: ... when you get to the Small Eagle $5 and $10 gold pieces, I don't think it's possible to acquire those for less than 5 figure number, even with problems that make them a "no grade."
I discuss the values of 1795 Eagles in my recent article.
As for the half eagles, my article about a type set of those does not focus upon the least costly pieces. I do note now, however, that, in April 2016, Heritage auctioned a 1795 half eagle, Fine Details," for $8812.50. In August 2014, Stack's-Bowers auctioned one for $4406.25:
Roadrunner: Not a believer in the "no problem coin allowed" set mentality. And sometimes, you just don't see the coin as having "problems" or weaknesses. I know I've been there as others roundly criticized some of my purchases over the years. If someone put together a neat set of 50 wonderful pieces that showed exceptional expertise, while coin #51 was a stinker, I'd just close my eyes and forget it was there. I'm grading them on the other 50 coins, not the 1. Tough crowd here when batting 98% is a disappointment to some. By that nearly unachievable standard, might as well include Gene Gardner, Newman, and Pogue and others into that category as they only stickered around 55-75% of their coins. Even Norweb, James Stack, Reed Hawn had a few stinkers in their sets. Who can begin to guess why? Some could have been pass down coins from others they knew in the hobby. Different era....different mind set.
Yes, well said, all of the epic collections just cited by Roadrunner each contained some awful coins. It would not make sense to be 'turned off' by a whole collection because of a few problem-coins. Mickey Mantle struck out many times. He did, though, bat above .350 and hit more than 50 home runs in the 1956 season. Overall, his accomplishments are legendary.
Baley: Roadrunner, I don't personally think there is such thing as a "Stinker coin", there are only stinker prices.
Yes, I keep mentioning hypothetical, though realistic, situations where a PCGS-graded coin may cost $X and a coin struck from the same pair of dies in a PCGS Genuine holder, with similar details, may cost $Y, where X is greater than 2Y. In some cases X is greater than 3Y or even 4Y!
Prof. Liz: And there are great projects out there at all price levels. I, for one, want to consider projects at my more advanced level - admittedly at a price point that would scare off many novice collectors - and I want to thank Analyst for doing some of the legwork to help me get a feel for the options.
You are welcome and I am delighted by your interest. Please tell the members of this forum about the coins that you have been collecting, and how you find my articles to be beneficial.
BillJones, that's an awesome coin, starting with, you have an example of the type at all. If someone were to criticize it in any way, shape, or form.... have them show you theirs
As I'm teaching my 8 year old son when we're practicing archery, the point is isn't to see how far away you can miss from!
Thank you for bidding me good luck, I do know what these cost (and if I didn't, Analyst's article provides starting figures), the coins are out there, the "luck" will be in finding the coin with the number it costs being appropriate to the context (and my other bills being paid at the time it happens along).
It's a goal, and a long term one at that. I just think I'd be happier as a lifelong numismatist, dying someday having owned a "filler" of those most difficult types, rather than having standards of quality (price) that can never, ever be actually be attained.
Comments
Thanks, Zoins!
BillJones, I'm middle class and on a budget, and will do it.
Not fast, not at the quality level that a rich guy would, but it will happen, someday.
Roadrunner, I don't personally think there is such thing as a "Stinker coin", there are only stinker prices. Some coins, you'd have to pay me to own and store and I wouldn't voluntarily show them to anybody, but I love coins and every one has a price. After all, if you get even a "stinker" coin at the "right" price, you can always sell it for a little bit more than that
Here's my classic head half eagle.
If someone said, "oh, that's not original, I wouldn't even own it" well, I respect their opinion, but obviously do not agree.
If I said, "hey, look, I paid $3000 for this" you'd say, "you paid too much" and you'd be right.
If I said, "hey, look, I paid $300 for this" you'd say, "great deal, but don't you feel bad for ripping off the seller?"
And you'd be right.
edit: while I'm at it, here's a half eagle without the IGWT motto.
These coins, I've had even longer, well over 20 years now.
Will upgrade someday, and that will be easy, compared to finally (finally!) getting the 1795-7, 1813-29, and 1829-33 types.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
I just wanted to chime in with appreciation for Analyst taking the time to work through so many collecting options. I find that I am not a "box of 20" person (yet). Instead, I like a project. And there are great projects out there at all price levels. I, for one, want to consider projects at my more advanced level - admittedly at a price point that would scare off many novice collectors - and I want to thank Analyst for doing some of the legwork to help me get a feel for the options.
My "stinker" coin is simply one that doesn't fit with one's set at all, whether in quality/grade/eye appeal, etc. It just doesn't fit or match and looks totally out of place, as if someone else chose it for you. It doesn't mean it can't be a money maker for you if purchased right. To the top REG set dealer builder/afficiando's all the coins must fit a quality theme and be solid for the grade....no low end crap or dreck. Anything coming up short supposedly lessens your set and casts doubt on your methods. So they say.........hence my use of the term "stinker." Maybe I should use "sinker" instead. Just paraphasing what I've been hearing for the past 5-10 years. Doesn't mean I agree or disagree.
I wish you luck with finishing the gold type set, Baley, but when you get to the Small Eagle $5 and $10 gold pieces, I don't think it's possible to acquire those for less than 5 figure number, even with problems that make them a "no grade."
You can do most of the others except for the Capped Bust $5 gold (1829 - '34) I mentioned earlier. That one also goes for more than figures no matter what.
And here is my example ... the ugliest gold type coin in my set for design and preservation.
Mr. Jones:
I discuss the values of 1795 Eagles in my recent article.
Building a Type Set of U.S. $10 Gold Coins
As for the half eagles, my article about a type set of those does not focus upon the least costly pieces. I do note now, however, that, in April 2016, Heritage auctioned a 1795 half eagle, Fine Details," for $8812.50. In August 2014, Stack's-Bowers auctioned one for $4406.25:
https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/1-1P57X
Roadrunner:
Yes, well said, all of the epic collections just cited by Roadrunner each contained some awful coins. It would not make sense to be 'turned off' by a whole collection because of a few problem-coins. Mickey Mantle struck out many times. He did, though, bat above .350 and hit more than 50 home runs in the 1956 season. Overall, his accomplishments are legendary.
Baley:
Yes, I keep mentioning hypothetical, though realistic, situations where a PCGS-graded coin may cost $X and a coin struck from the same pair of dies in a PCGS Genuine holder, with similar details, may cost $Y, where X is greater than 2Y. In some cases X is greater than 3Y or even 4Y!
Prof. Liz:
You are welcome and I am delighted by your interest. Please tell the members of this forum about the coins that you have been collecting, and how you find my articles to be beneficial.
Classic U.S. Coin for Less Than $500 Each, Part 26: Capped Bust Quarters
Insightful10@gmail.com
BillJones, that's an awesome coin, starting with, you have an example of the type at all. If someone were to criticize it in any way, shape, or form.... have them show you theirs
As I'm teaching my 8 year old son when we're practicing archery, the point is isn't to see how far away you can miss from!
Thank you for bidding me good luck, I do know what these cost (and if I didn't, Analyst's article provides starting figures), the coins are out there, the "luck" will be in finding the coin with the number it costs being appropriate to the context (and my other bills being paid at the time it happens along).
It's a goal, and a long term one at that. I just think I'd be happier as a lifelong numismatist, dying someday having owned a "filler" of those most difficult types, rather than having standards of quality (price) that can never, ever be actually be attained.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry