Best sub $5,000 coin
mercurydimeguy
Posts: 4,625 ✭✭✭✭
Hi, I thought it would be great to have an annual contest for best coin as voted by PCGS Forum members. So I am officially launching this contest and making the rules very simple. There will be 5 categories...
Sub $100, Sub $500, Sub $1,000, Sub $5,000, and Sub $20,000 (each according to PCGS Price Guide or most recent auction records). Post an image of your coin to match the stated categories. Forum members and guests will vote on your posted coin by Liking your post.
Contest will run from now until May 31 (and annually thereafter, in a new annual post). You can post multiple coins but each coins MUST be in a separate post (be careful not to compete with yourself, though). Cut-off for voting will be midnight Pacific Daylight Time, May 31, 2017. Coin post with the most number of Likes will win the respective category.
The prize will be a nice PCGS graded coin of my choosing (sub $25 value according to PCGS Price Guide). I will offer up the prizes myself (if someone wants to pitch in, then Message me). Let's have some fun and let the contest begin...
Comments
Rich men's contest. Wish I can join, but my highest valued slab was $50 in which I cracked open to put it back to OGP.
Latin American Collection
Sunshine Rare Coins
sunshinecoins.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
1861 $20 PCGS AU58 CAC with prooflike fields. PCGS price guide shows $4250. Imaging by Phil.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Wow there are some great looking coins in this thread! Bloodman, that is one hammered business strike coin.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
My Type Set & My Complete Proof Nickel Set!
The 1844 silver dollar pictured above by Sunshine Rare Coins ("Ultra High Relief") certainly grabbed my attention. This is a coin that I would like to see in actuality.
BloodMan:
Apparently, if the posted images are fair, this coin is miraculously devoid of serious contact marks and scratches, which tend to characterize Type One and Type Two Double Eagles. Also, as Breakdown notes, the striking detail is very impressive.
I have been thinking about such twenties over the last few days. There are a great many Type One Double Eagles that may be acquired for less than $5000 each, though most would not appear like the pictures of Bloodman's coin.
Circulated Liberty Head Double Eagle $20 Gold Coins, Type 1
Generally, the number of gold rarities available for less than $5000 each is very large, most of which are rarer than sub-$5000 type one twenties. I find many, rare Liberty Head quarter eagles to be excellent values for less than $5000 each.
Liberty Head Quarter Eagles from the 1840s
Rare Gold Coins under $5000 Each, Pt. 10: Very Rare Liberty Head Quarter Eagles
For half eagles and eagles, too, the number and range of truly rare coins that cost less than $5000 each is very much noteworthy. These are among the many coins that appeared in my mind when I saw the title of this thread. When thinking about a $5000 threshold, it would be interesting to focus upon rarity, rather than aesthetics, as eye appeal is hard to judge without seeing the coins 'in hand'!
1914 Matte Proof Lincoln (PCGS PR66BN). Bought this for $4,312 back in October 2011. It was during my 1st year of getting into toned coins after a 40 year hiatus in coins -- and my 1st Matte Proof Lincoln after falling in love with that mini-series. I named this monster "Crimson Jewel" -- I love the wide range of vibrant colors, the silky smooth color transitions, the stunning hammered and detailed strike, those wide flat razor sharp rims (like a great frame on a masterpiece). This is more sculpture that belongs in an art gallery than a coin.
My Coin Blog
My Toned Lincoln Registry Set
Lafayette Dollar NGC MS64*
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
Love the toning of this 1876 25C PCGS PR65
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
Last one: 1849-D Quarter Eagle PCGS AU53. Acquired this from DWN. Looks even better than the photos.
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
MS63 (rattler)
U.S. Type Set
All nice coins posted but most would have a thin market in my opinion. I liked the 1500 to 5000 per coin market and thought it was a good place to park money until I tried to sell 20 of them. You get pounded on when you offer those for sale.
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
I think it depends on the coin. Of the images shown in this thread, I'd buy a bunch of them and can think of multiple collectors who'd love to have them.
Coin Rarities Online
@BloodMan...That is a beautiful double eagle..... seems so much better than the grade... Cheers, RickO
Pennyannie:
I agree with CRO's post above. Indeed, I find Pennyannie's remarks to be puzzling. At major coin conventions and shows, scarce, classic U.S. coins in the $1500 to $5000 range trade often. Furthermore, these are always a mainstay of Heritage, Stack's-Bowers and Goldbergs auctions. Maybe Pennyannie could please inform us regarding some of the $1500 to $5000 coins that he had difficulty selling for fair market prices?
So much attention in the media is paid to six figure or seven figure coins. I have always felt that rare gold coins that cost less than $5000 and other classic U.S. coins that cost less than $500 are overlooked in terms of media attention. It never occurred to me that someone would argue that many such coins are "thinly" traded. I am under the impression that these are actively traded coins that are not often discussed. Seriously, does anyone here agree with Pennyannie or has anyone had similar experiences?
Rare Gold Coins under $5000 Each, Part 11: ‘With Motto’ Liberty Head ($5 Gold) Half Eagles
while this might not seem like a good sub-$5000 coin or strike anyone as a viable candidate I would suggest that it might even be a little more relevant than the others listed. since it is a Variety of a readily available issue it takes a bit a Numismatic knowledge to find it. But once you do find it, you can sell it to buy any of the other coins in the thread at a much lower price.
I am "into it" for around $90.
1895 $20 Liberty Gold PCGS MS64 or MS64 plus.
1812 Capped Bust Half PCGS MS63 - Gold CAC
Whatever's a "rip."
I don't think it's to puzzling as was my actual money spent on coins, a few came for Mark feld, Brian Wagner and others. I think most agree here Mark Feld bought and sold nice coins at fair prices. There was a 1910 mpl in pc64, 1955 Lincoln double die in PC 63 and 1 NGC au58, and some seated proof halves and quarters in PCGS pr63. At the Houston money show a well known dealer was offering grey sheet 64 money for a red 66 Indian cent and claiming that was the price for 66's. I asked to see his freshest but was told only dealers could look at them. So I pulled mine out and asked him why mine did not include prices for 66 Indians. A few offers of 750 for the 1955 August 58 and offers of about 50 cents or less on most of the others.
Changed tactics and started looking at the same coins in dealer display cases and hearing how great and rare these coins were and great prices, then excuses when I produced a few for sale to same dealers.
I don't work for free and don't expect others to either but I have never seen dealers buying at bid and ask for many coins at all or offers based off auction results. I have had local B &M stores offer 700 for 90 percent silver when ampex was paying 1400 plus.
I sold most of the coins on eBay and sold a few thru heritage and did well, told me all I needed to know about buying and selling from most dealers at shows. It never crosses my mind to even offer to sell a coin to a show dealer anymore. I got my education early and I believe it has helped me on the buying side. I know I am painting with a broad brush and there are solid dealers on this site I have been able to locate the others.
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
@pennyannie a couple of thoughts...
If you are generalizing based on one experience at one second tier show perhaps that is not representative enough of the broader numismatic universe. Perhaps you are actually relating a broader set of interactions which doesn't come through in your post.
Some of the coins that you listed are likely coins which are in demand at those grades to a very small group of customers. Low MS type is not exactly highly in demand even if nice for the assigned grade. A dealer making an offer with the intent of taking it into inventory is likely going to result in an offer that reflects the lack of broader market demand.
Latin American Collection
1823 Capped Bust Half PCGS AU58 CAC - Prooflike
I do not disagree with some of the lower ms/proof except to say that the dealers I bought these from never had these in inventory a week, they posted the new buys from the show and the grabbing was on. It was multiple shows in Dallas, Houston and fort worth and like you say I also consider them below the fun shows, halt and long.
I came out okay but collectors need to have a plan to dispose or sell. Selling to dealers at shows is the easiest way but no necessarily the most profitable way for Most collectors
These coins did not linger as they sold in 7 days on eBay for basically double any offer received from the so called big national show dealers. A few sat a while awaiting auctio at heritage. I have in the past outright sold a few coins to heritage and felt their offers were fair.
I just do not see a lot of 'great offers being thrown out at shows for coins others are trying to sell. They are not working on a 10 percent turn like some want to say. You can go back to any post I have made since 2008 and I have said I would never do it on a 10 percent spread with my money. Up to fall 2008 I could buy a coin and decide to sell shortly after and break even or make a little, after fall 2oo8 that was no longer the case and seems worse to me now.
Everyone's mileage will vary
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
Pennyannie:
Approximately, when were these coins purchased? I am not asking for a list of purchases at specific coin events. By approximately, I mean season and year, like winter 2007 or fall 2011? When did Pennyannie sell them?
Pennyannie:
I do not know much about Brian Wagner. I agree that Mark Feld is a good grader and a cooperative person. He has sold many excellent coins. My guess is that his selling pries were fair.
Pennyannie:
These are fairly widely trade items, which are characterized by a tremendous amount of collector-demand. My guess is that there are many dealers at major shows who would pay competitive prices for them. A dealer or other agent who has connections at auction firms should be able to arrange a reasonable deal, without taking time to negotiate, for a consignment of 20 items of similar quality and popularity. Out of curiosity, did any of Pennyannie's 20 sub-$5000 coins have CAC stickers?
Pennyannie:
63 is a little low of a grade for relatively less scarce Proof Liberty Seated coins. Did these have CAC stickers or particular eye appeal? It is easy to find Proofs of 'With Motto' Liberty Seated quarters and halves in 64 or 65 grades.
Pennyannie:
Although I do not spend much time tracking prices of Indian cents, this remark surprises me. On the HA site, Pennyannie can compare values in price guides and auction results. There must be some dealers who are willing to pay 80% to 100 % of the median auction outcome, over the last few months, for such coins. After all, there are many dealers who stock their inventories with auction purchases. One dealer who I know would regularly buy coins at auction and then sell them for more at shows within 96 hours of the respective auction. Is a fairly graded, PCGS certified 66RD Indian cent a relatively liquid coin.?
Copper-Nickel Indian Cents
ClassicU.S. Coins for Less than $500 Each, Part 24: Barber Dimes
I echo this sentiment...In addition, I must be one of the biggest fools in the world for (apparently) paying exorbitant money for coins, because I get offered like 50% of what I paid when I try to sell them (and for context most of my coins are PQ PCGS CAC coins). I then see comparable coins sold on Stacks and Heritage and even GC for what I paid and sometimes more (much more)... so someone has to be buying them??
The issue as I see it (that's my caveat, there is bias in that statement) is that there is no "coin market" for non-widget coins...every situation is unique, and illiquidity is only getting worse (e.g. the ability to sell what you have for a small loss is basically eroding over time). From where I sit, either the market has to pick up or volatility (as a result of illiquidity) will get even worse. You'll see coins selling for 50% +/- of where they should have sold..
This is an unbelievable stunner!
Analyst, as I said I got out okay. All I am really saying is if you don't watch your money someone else will. Ask for advice, deal with quality dealers but you need to be in charge and if you think you have to rely 100 percent on what dealers say or recommend you are going to be on the short side of the rope. This was at about the very start of CAC very few were around at the time.
These were all easy saleable coins, not highest grade but easy to sale. You see the exact same coin in a dealers case for 3500 and he offers you 1600 to 1800 bucks. Same thing happens with guns,cars etc. Convenience cost money. It always seems the coins I am interested in "they always say they had to really step up when they bought the coin I am interested in."
THE most disappointed I have ever been was the first national show I ever went to I was looking to seeing and possibly dealing with the big standing liberty quarter dealer {I believe he has since passed away} His run of the mill coins were multiplies of the going rate. He had many high end coins out of my price range but the widgets he felt his name tripled the price.
Maybe I will load up 20 CAC coins and try it again just to see if it has changed.
NGC registry V-Nickel proof #6!!!!
working on proof shield nickels # 8 with a bullet!!!!
RIP "BEAR"
PCGS PR63
VF Clash with $20 gold piece die.
Bump, 48 hours of posting and voting left
Here's my 1844 $5. A hard to find MS62 No Motto and also with several die cracks.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
Wow!
This is so hard to choose. I haven't seen a coin posted that I don't like.
PCGS MS67+
This was BY FAR the most contested category, with several coins vying for the top spot. Congrats to all for owning such nice coins in this price range.
But even among the best, you have to have the best of the best, and that honor goes to @BloodMan, with 14 likes, of the 1861 $20 Gold Piece PCGS AU58 CAC .
This weekend I'll be posting the prize in this thread and will Message you separately to get your mailing address.
Mercurydimeguy,
Thank you for taking the time to organize this context. There were so many great coins in this category that it was hard to believe that my 1861 $20 had the most likes. I also want to thank Phil Arnold at PCGS for the great photos of the coin.
Not surprisingly, this is one of my favorite twenty dollar libs. As others have mentioned, the strike is very strong with great detail on the hair, cheek and stars on the obverse, and eagle and shield on the reverse. The surfaces are devoid of any significant marks and only tiny ticks are noted around star 6 and a nick above the second 1 in the date.
In honor of the contest, I changed my avatar from the 1849 $20 to the obverse image of this 1861 $20.