@KollectorKing said:
Aren't most MS CC MORGAN dollars over priced & over rated? They can be had by the "truck load" anytime.
Mostly if you are talking about the 1882's, 3's and 4's.
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 ... ?
Anything "rainbow toned", especially Morgans. Maybe I'm just an oddball, but given the choice of a rainbow toned or blast white coin, I would take blast white every time. I have found a few copper coins with color attractive, but not too often.
Best regards, Dwayne F. Sessom Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
I think an overrated coin is a coin which in one's eyes commands too much of a monetary premium relative to the ease or difficulty of getting said coin in a specific grade.
You can toss the 1912 S Liberty Nickel into the mix.
"Vou invadir o Nordeste, "Seu cabra da peste, "Sou Mangueira......."
I have always considered the 1856 Flying Eagle cent to be the most vastly overrated US coin.
Some debate whether the coin is a pattern or first year of issue. While an interesting academic exercise, with most favoring the pattern theory, it really is a distinction without a difference IMO.
To would be rare is to see a major auction without this offering - most have multiple examples.
If truly a pattern, it would probably be the most common issue. Yes, there are many variants that clearly are patterns and some are rare. It takes a knowledgeable collector or dealer to discern the nuance differences between varieties.
The value has flat-lined for decades
I have a vast collection with many rarities but have never owned a 1856 FE - never have and never will.
Overrated? 160 years of collector interest have kept it a top coin on collectors want lists. It is a pattern that was initially struck in quantity to test the new size, metal and design at regular press speeds. These were distributed to Congress to get legislation passed, then restruck and sold to for collectors at a premium. The remaining examples were dumped into circulation during the Civil War.
It literally jump-started coin collecting in this country - the high premium ($2) for a cent in 1858 made people take notice of the coins in their purse. The removal of the old large cents that was caused by the success of the copper-nickel cent also made many collect coins.
Now, is that a better history than say a 1893-S morgan dollar or a rare coin that may not be "overrated" such as a 1885 Three cent nickel? If you look only at rarity by numbers you'll miss the historical importance of the coins.
Strongly disagree about including the 1909-S VDB on this list. I don't think it's "overrated."
Not talking about an investment perspective or how to profit perspective, but I have strong memories as a kid of the hole in the whitman folder where the S-VDB went. I still have that old folder, and my kids have their folders, with the same hole. My kids do have a 1909-VDB in their albums, whereas I did not when I was young.
When I finally had the disposable income to buy a PCGS slabbed S-VDB, it was a great day. It was early on in my adult collecting phase, and so it's not the best that I could have bought for that money, but it was a milestone. I could upgrade it now, but I won't.
The thing about it is that it's a coin everyone knows about, and there is some rarity to it, but there are enough (genuine) coins out there that anyone who really wants one can have one and finish the collection.
Successful BST (me as buyer) with: Collectorcoins, PipestonePete, JasonRiffeRareCoins
Probably the 1909-s VDB. In no way a rare coin, as you can purchase one, or ten, or 100 at any show, venue, or internet dealer in most any grade, color, holder.
Still, it holds a special place in the hearts of numismatists.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
For me, it's the 1909-S VDB cent and the 1907 High Relief $20. Neither are rare... not close. At the FUN show, one dealer had 27, yes 27 1907 Hi-Reliefs in various grades of mint state. I saw another 9-10 at various other tables also. A beautiful design, no doubt, but not rare.
@Justacommeman said:
I would love to own a 1907 High Relief Saint. So many have been monkeyed with that really nice ones don't come to market in droves
I always tought the 41-S Walker was extremely over rated
mark
I completely agree with you on the 1907. Demand is huge for the coin and will ALWAYS be that way. It is in the minds of many the single most beautiful coin ever minted.
If they were truly over rated gem mint all there examples wouldn't command 50K. I only wish they would have minted more so they would be more readily available and cheaper.
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
Perhaps the most overrated coin (for me) is any example that lacks artistic merit, therefore not worthy of serious value.
Would I rather buy a "common, overpriced, overrated" MS63 1907 High Relief $20 gold coin or a similarly priced and truly "rare" CC Liberty Seated half dollar?
As a fairly knowledgable collector who does his homework, I'd still go for the St Gaudens, and I suspect there are many collectors who feel the same way, despite auction records, historical trends, future prognostications and availability at shows. Same would be true for mint state 16d dimes or 16 SLQs.
There are some compelling arguments in here, but the one component that is always left out is the emotional reaction to a particular coin. Remember, no two coins are alike. For example, think common vs uncommonly beautiful.
@cladking said:
I think by spring I might wish I had bought a few of the more recent products; especially the S-mint quarters.
The recent S-mint uncirculated ATB quarters may be the most underrated coins at the moment. Not available in mint sets, sold only by the roll and 100-coin bag (at 35 cents each), and with mintages as low as 1 million each. A low-risk speculation for sure.
@BillJones said: To an extent, the 1907 High Relief $20 gold is overrated. According to the Red Book, 12,367 examples of that coin were minted. According to "Coin Facts," 10,500 of them still exist. (8,000 with the wire edge and 2,500 with the flat edge.) The vast majority of those pieces are in some level of Mint State.
Agree , and I do own one.
yes, popular but not rare.
Included on this list are many modern coins that are hot right after the mint sells them which subsequently cool down to obscurity. Call me a "modern basher" if you like, but if you have noted the pattern over the years, you know I'm right.
>
Yup, any PR/MS 70 coins. The owners will be in for a rude awakening when they decide to sell.
In the numismatic community, the 1909-S VDB cent. In the non-numismatic community, anything bicentennial. I'm amazed at how many of my coworkers say something to this effect: "I have (insert quantity here) half dollars from 1976. How much do you think they're worth?" I always hate to break the news to them that they're face value. Two dollar bills and Ikes also seem to get non collectors all giddy.
I assume this was not intended to be a serious statement, it is certainly not an accurate one.
As for "overrated", the term in the context of numismatics makes little sense to me except as a subjective attention getter. On the other hand, perhaps when PCGS or the other TGS slabs coins with something like 1856 1¢ PR64+ CAM Overrated, or we see a bean with "OVERRATED" I'll take this kind of discussion seriously. Until, thanks for the amusing title. Apologies, my post was not intended to offend anyone,
I also think the 1931 s Lincoln cent is over rated. Many were saved, many exist in UNC red state. They were found in change also as late as the 1970's.. My friend found one although I was not really into coins at the time.
@DIMEMAN said:
The 1804 Dollar.......it wasn't even made in 1804!
Agree with you. Also, you can add the 1913 Liberty nickel which was illegally made by a "midnight minter" and is not even a legitimate coin.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Comments
Mostly if you are talking about the 1882's, 3's and 4's.
Anything "rainbow toned", especially Morgans. Maybe I'm just an oddball, but given the choice of a rainbow toned or blast white coin, I would take blast white every time. I have found a few copper coins with color attractive, but not too often.
Dwayne F. Sessom
Ebay ID: V-Nickel-Coins
I think an overrated coin is a coin which in one's eyes commands too much of a monetary premium relative to the ease or difficulty of getting said coin in a specific grade.
You can toss the 1912 S Liberty Nickel into the mix.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
Overrated? 160 years of collector interest have kept it a top coin on collectors want lists. It is a pattern that was initially struck in quantity to test the new size, metal and design at regular press speeds. These were distributed to Congress to get legislation passed, then restruck and sold to for collectors at a premium. The remaining examples were dumped into circulation during the Civil War.
It literally jump-started coin collecting in this country - the high premium ($2) for a cent in 1858 made people take notice of the coins in their purse. The removal of the old large cents that was caused by the success of the copper-nickel cent also made many collect coins.
Now, is that a better history than say a 1893-S morgan dollar or a rare coin that may not be "overrated" such as a 1885 Three cent nickel? If you look only at rarity by numbers you'll miss the historical importance of the coins.
Strongly disagree about including the 1909-S VDB on this list. I don't think it's "overrated."
Not talking about an investment perspective or how to profit perspective, but I have strong memories as a kid of the hole in the whitman folder where the S-VDB went. I still have that old folder, and my kids have their folders, with the same hole. My kids do have a 1909-VDB in their albums, whereas I did not when I was young.
When I finally had the disposable income to buy a PCGS slabbed S-VDB, it was a great day. It was early on in my adult collecting phase, and so it's not the best that I could have bought for that money, but it was a milestone. I could upgrade it now, but I won't.
The thing about it is that it's a coin everyone knows about, and there is some rarity to it, but there are enough (genuine) coins out there that anyone who really wants one can have one and finish the collection.
Successful BST (me as buyer) with: Collectorcoins, PipestonePete, JasonRiffeRareCoins
3,598 of the 3,623 varieties of the 2009 Lincolns.
Nicely said.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
38-D walker.
Probably the 1909-s VDB. In no way a rare coin, as you can purchase one, or ten, or 100 at any show, venue, or internet dealer in most any grade, color, holder.
Still, it holds a special place in the hearts of numismatists.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
For me, it's the 1909-S VDB cent and the 1907 High Relief $20. Neither are rare... not close. At the FUN show, one dealer had 27, yes 27 1907 Hi-Reliefs in various grades of mint state. I saw another 9-10 at various other tables also. A beautiful design, no doubt, but not rare.
'dude
If they were truly over rated gem mint all there examples wouldn't command 50K. I only wish they would have minted more so they would be more readily available and cheaper.
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
...
I agree wholeheartedly!
Perhaps the most overrated coin (for me) is any example that lacks artistic merit, therefore not worthy of serious value.
Would I rather buy a "common, overpriced, overrated" MS63 1907 High Relief $20 gold coin or a similarly priced and truly "rare" CC Liberty Seated half dollar?
As a fairly knowledgable collector who does his homework, I'd still go for the St Gaudens, and I suspect there are many collectors who feel the same way, despite auction records, historical trends, future prognostications and availability at shows. Same would be true for mint state 16d dimes or 16 SLQs.
There are some compelling arguments in here, but the one component that is always left out is the emotional reaction to a particular coin. Remember, no two coins are alike. For example, think common vs uncommonly beautiful.
The recent S-mint uncirculated ATB quarters may be the most underrated coins at the moment. Not available in mint sets, sold only by the roll and 100-coin bag (at 35 cents each), and with mintages as low as 1 million each. A low-risk speculation for sure.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature

Agree , and I do own one.

yes, popular but not rare.
>
Yup, any PR/MS 70 coins. The owners will be in for a rude awakening when they decide to sell.
Merc 42/41 over dates both mints. I see a bazillion of these everywhere.
rainbowroosie April 1, 2003
I really agree with you on this one, Mark.
Every major auction I see droves of them is 65 and 66.
The 38-D Walker is overrated as a key, too, imho. It's highly available in MS but nicer, technically sound examples are a little tougher.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
In the numismatic community, the 1909-S VDB cent. In the non-numismatic community, anything bicentennial. I'm amazed at how many of my coworkers say something to this effect: "I have (insert quantity here) half dollars from 1976. How much do you think they're worth?" I always hate to break the news to them that they're face value. Two dollar bills and Ikes also seem to get non collectors all giddy.
Positive BST Transactions (buyers and sellers): wondercoin, blu62vette, BAJJERFAN, privatecoin, blu62vette, AlanLastufka, privatecoin
#1 1951 Bowman Los Angeles Rams Team Set
#2 1980 Topps Los Angeles Rams Team Set
#8 (and climbing) 1972 Topps Los Angeles Rams Team Set
The value has flat-lined for decades
I assume this was not intended to be a serious statement, it is certainly not an accurate one.
As for "overrated", the term in the context of numismatics makes little sense to me except as a subjective attention getter. On the other hand, perhaps when PCGS or the other TGS slabs coins with something like 1856 1¢ PR64+ CAM Overrated, or we see a bean with "OVERRATED" I'll take this kind of discussion seriously. Until, thanks for the amusing title. Apologies, my post was not intended to offend anyone,
I also think the 1931 s Lincoln cent is over rated. Many were saved, many exist in UNC red state. They were found in change also as late as the 1970's.. My friend found one although I was not really into coins at the time.
The 1804 Dollar.......it wasn't even made in 1804!
Agree with you. Also, you can add the 1913 Liberty nickel which was illegally made by a "midnight minter" and is not even a legitimate coin.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
that made sense to me as well.