Some really nice coins being posted - keep them coming!!
Easily this one. Thanks again, Regulated.
"My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko.
I have to give this one my Unexpected Find Award for 2018. (Qualifications: I wasn’t looking for it and it didn’t put a dent in the collecting budget.)
Bought this 1809 O.102 XXX Edge Bust Half on eBay over the summer as a plain, unattributed 1809 PCGS AU53....sent it in to PCGS and had them put XXX Edge on the holder for free as a mechanical error....then sent it back within a week for regrading because there was just too much luster for a 53 IMO and sure enough it upgraded to 55. Then a few months later sent it back in for regrading along with several other nice AU 55 Bust Halves hoping to bump up their grades but the only one that went up was...yup, you guessed it, this one ....now AU55+ and it’s getting a green sticker too!
I sold that coin to it's previous owner about 12 years ago. It's particularly interesting because the rays haven't yet been lapped off of the right side on the die used to strike that. every other New Haven piece is struck from heavily lapped dies.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Probably this one, which is funny in a way. I was looking for a nice Lincoln and John Agre had one on an Early Bird offering.
It looked fantastic and while I was talking to him also noticed this Pilgrim. I wasn't specifically looking for a Pilgrim, but I had always planned to acquire a really nice one someday since I have a strong family connection to the designer. I can't believe I almost didn't notice it! It knocked my socks off when I got it in the mail.
2018 was my best coin year by far. Started off slow and ended slow. But the middle had a lot of bangs. Got my first draped bust dollar. Near cameo WLH proof. PL Central American 8R. Bought my first ancient then bought my first 5 more. Some monster morgan toners and several medieval and South American crowns. But this was the clear winner for me.
My favorite purchase from 2018 is not the prettiest or highest grade but is one of the most historic coins I own. This diobol of Athens was minted from the gold from statues of Nike that resided in the Parthenon and were melted down to help pay for their war with Sparta. It's one of two in private hands (four in museums) and I coin I thought I would probably never own:
Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
Fantastic coins posted I. This thread. Much more desirable than coins in my niche area.
I did pick up a few frosty Franklin's this year that I am fond of, but my favorite 2018 purchase was an original and fantastically toned 1941 proof set.
I can't remember what I purchased this past year because I have no concept of time anymore.
OK, I think I purchased an 1865 & 1866 Two cent piece to upgrade my set (and nobody cares about Two Cent Pieces anyway) along with a 1864 proof 2 Cent Piece.
I really can't remember because one year just seems to bleed into the next.
Don't really collect much anymore outside of the Swiss type set....and that is painfully slow, but I was able to buy some cool coins that I really loved that found their way to very happy owners. I am really enjoying helping folks build some amazing sets, and that is fun. Two of my favs below from this year...
Great to see you back, @RYK and with a nice-looking '38-D HE to boot.
That's an absolutely lovely '05 HE @Proofmorgan, '60 CG @Jonruns and '59-S HE @Ranshdow; and quite an intriguing '03/2 HE @Regulated. @topstuf - that '02/1 QE almost makes me want to branch out to the early HE's little sisters.
All beautiful coins - then again, I've always been partial to early and branch mint gold.
Here's mine - the only collector purchase I made this year:
A few other I'm not ready to show yet, but this one was most often pulled out to ogle over the past year. My young kids even know it as daddy's shipwreck coin.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
If limited to coins and excluding exonumia, then this. I don't worry what others may think of the toning. There are no hairlines and no traces of circulation. So there is nothing for the toning to hide. To me it glows like a hope diamond.
I have been working on my commemorative set since 1996. I have had many upgrades but this is the first one for about 8 years or so. I still have two coins at MS64+ but one of those is an icy white and fully lustrous Lafayette, very difficult to find a better coin.
This Sesqui was so pretty I couldn't pass it up for the price. At one time these MS65 coins were over $5000
Offered three grand for this coin 3 years ago and was laughed at. Picked off GC for 360.00 This has been my best year for Varieties for my Registry set.
Comments
Some really nice coins being posted - keep them coming!!
Easily this one. Thanks again, Regulated.
I have to give this one my Unexpected Find Award for 2018. (Qualifications: I wasn’t looking for it and it didn’t put a dent in the collecting budget.)
Some very nice coins above. This fell into my Christmas Stocking...
CC
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/publishedset/209923
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-major-sets/washington-quarters-date-set-circulation-strikes-1932-present/album/209923
Unique
Sunshine Rare Coins
sunshinecoins.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
No doubt this one is my favorite for 2018!
Bought this 1809 O.102 XXX Edge Bust Half on eBay over the summer as a plain, unattributed 1809 PCGS AU53....sent it in to PCGS and had them put XXX Edge on the holder for free as a mechanical error....then sent it back within a week for regrading because there was just too much luster for a 53 IMO and sure enough it upgraded to 55. Then a few months later sent it back in for regrading along with several other nice AU 55 Bust Halves hoping to bump up their grades but the only one that went up was...yup, you guessed it, this one ....now AU55+ and it’s getting a green sticker too!
Dave
I sold that coin to it's previous owner about 12 years ago. It's particularly interesting because the rays haven't yet been lapped off of the right side on the die used to strike that. every other New Haven piece is struck from heavily lapped dies.
What is now proved was once only imagined. - William Blake
Probably this one, which is funny in a way. I was looking for a nice Lincoln and John Agre had one on an Early Bird offering.
It looked fantastic and while I was talking to him also noticed this Pilgrim. I wasn't specifically looking for a Pilgrim, but I had always planned to acquire a really nice one someday since I have a strong family connection to the designer. I can't believe I almost didn't notice it! It knocked my socks off when I got it in the mail.
This one is a close second though:
2018 was my best coin year by far. Started off slow and ended slow. But the middle had a lot of bangs. Got my first draped bust dollar. Near cameo WLH proof. PL Central American 8R. Bought my first ancient then bought my first 5 more. Some monster morgan toners and several medieval and South American crowns. But this was the clear winner for me.
Love the PL fields
This was a very good year for my collection as I added a number of key coins and some beautiful toners, but this one stands out.
PC45:
Toss up
I feel like a bit of a slouch as a numismatist, but I wanted these since 2016 and got three of them in the early summer of 2018:
So I am a slouch.
My favorite purchase from 2018 is not the prettiest or highest grade but is one of the most historic coins I own. This diobol of Athens was minted from the gold from statues of Nike that resided in the Parthenon and were melted down to help pay for their war with Sparta. It's one of two in private hands (four in museums) and I coin I thought I would probably never own:
Fantastic coins posted I. This thread. Much more desirable than coins in my niche area.
I did pick up a few frosty Franklin's this year that I am fond of, but my favorite 2018 purchase was an original and fantastically toned 1941 proof set.
I have two.
Common coin, but hard to find with good eye appeal.
MY COINS FOR SALE AT https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/collectors-showcase/other/bajjerfans-coins-sale/3876
It’s a tie. The 43 was $11 the 38 was a lot more...
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=142753
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
All I have to say is...WOW!
There has been some major stuff posted, and I looked at it ALL (including the Morgans).
And these are just the "favorites"!
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
I can't remember what I purchased this past year because I have no concept of time anymore.
OK, I think I purchased an 1865 & 1866 Two cent piece to upgrade my set (and nobody cares about Two Cent Pieces anyway) along with a 1864 proof 2 Cent Piece.
I really can't remember because one year just seems to bleed into the next.
Tough call, but probably this one...
My ugly tone beauty...
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Proof Buffalo Registry Set
Capped Bust Quarters Registry Set
Proof Walking Liberty Halves Registry Set
Hard to pick, but probably this. Not even a real coin either! lol
Gotta be this one from the darkside.
Here are photos of my 1941 proof set I purchased this year.
The photos do not show the colors on the coins very well. The half and dime have very eye appealing multiple colors.
XF45
Don't really collect much anymore outside of the Swiss type set....and that is painfully slow, but I was able to buy some cool coins that I really loved that found their way to very happy owners. I am really enjoying helping folks build some amazing sets, and that is fun. Two of my favs below from this year...
siliconvalleycoins.com
Found this somewhat randomly in an ebay group lot with 2 other 1858 half dimes in March - 1858 B-10 RPD. A pretty good cherrypick. (seller's photos)
Great to see you back, @RYK and with a nice-looking '38-D HE to boot.
That's an absolutely lovely '05 HE @Proofmorgan, '60 CG @Jonruns and '59-S HE @Ranshdow; and quite an intriguing '03/2 HE @Regulated. @topstuf - that '02/1 QE almost makes me want to branch out to the early HE's little sisters.
All beautiful coins - then again, I've always been partial to early and branch mint gold.
Here's mine - the only collector purchase I made this year:
A few other I'm not ready to show yet, but this one was most often pulled out to ogle over the past year. My young kids even know it as daddy's shipwreck coin.
Just fantastic coins posted. Wow! Regulated's Fugio hub trial.... man, oh man. Amazing.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
As others have stated, I'm not sure I can choose just one, but here a few that I really like
After seeing all the Wow coins posted above I hesitate to post anything. Those posted before make for a hard act to follow.
Mine would probably be a tie between these two.
- Bob -
MPL's - Lincolns of Color"Central Valley" Roosevelts
Seems like everyone had a great year! Almost exclusively purchased darkside material this year.
My current "Box of 20"
Hell ya! Oozes gorgeousness.
While from the dark side, this may be my favorite.
This is one of my favorites. Bought it raw and now PCGS/CAC 55.
Amazing coins in this thread !
If limited to coins and excluding exonumia, then this. I don't worry what others may think of the toning. There are no hairlines and no traces of circulation. So there is nothing for the toning to hide. To me it glows like a hope diamond.
Lots of great stuff posted! Well done!
Always wanted one of the 1859 shield reverse Indian Head Cents and finally had an opportunity to pick one up in 2018.
Michael Kittle Rare Coins --- 1908-S Indian Head Cent Grading Set --- No. 1 1909 Mint Set --- Kittlecoins on Facebook --- Long Beach Table 448
I have been working on my commemorative set since 1996. I have had many upgrades but this is the first one for about 8 years or so. I still have two coins at MS64+ but one of those is an icy white and fully lustrous Lafayette, very difficult to find a better coin.
This Sesqui was so pretty I couldn't pass it up for the price. At one time these MS65 coins were over $5000
Overland Trail Collection Showcase
Dahlonega Type Set-2008 PCGS Best Exhibited Set
Very nice 55/55. A knowledgeable buyer of a raw example
Offered three grand for this coin 3 years ago and was laughed at. Picked off GC for 360.00 This has been my best year for Varieties for my Registry set.
A lot of nice coins posted. Enjoy Tom
I used to be famous now I just collect coins.
Link to My Registry Set.
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/quarters/washington-quarters-specialty-sets/washington-quarters-complete-variety-set-circulation-strikes-1932-1964/publishedset/78469
Varieties Are The Spice Of LIFE and Thanks to Those who teach us what to search For.
Was looking for this tough date for quite a while.