Overton Bust Half Set ?
shorecoll
Posts: 5,447 ✭✭✭✭✭
Does anyone have a guesstimate for how many people are chasing the full Overton set?
Is that number lower now than it has been in the past?
I ask because I've seen several scarce varieties trading at lower prices (and some not) and I'm wondering if there's an overall reason, or if it's just happenstance.
ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
1
Comments
I do, three?
Just out of curiosity, what are you calling a scare Variety? R4? R5? Also, are the coins that you see trading at lower prices die state rarities? Or rare die marriages?
"Chasing the full Overton set" is not the same as "collecting by die marriage".
A great many of us collect by die marriage but we have no illusions about completing a set of 450 lettered-edge bust halves. More than a handful of die marriages are so scarce it is impossible for more than a few collectors to own complete sets at the same time anyway. Not to mention the cost of such an endeavor (many six-figure die marriages).
As for how many collect by die marriage today versus, say, thirty year ago I would say there are more today. The BHNC keeps that information confidential (i.e., to members only).
I haven't noticed scarce bust halves trading for less, generally. But it is true that a number of R7's from yesteryear are known to be R6's or lower today and that affects values. It has happened with other rarity levels as well.
Lance.
Believe it or not but I was actually wondering the same thing recently.
And a great response from @ikeigwin .
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
By scarce, I was referring to R5s, not 6's or 7's. I also noticed that "slabability" has a bigger effect than it used to. This is my 3rd time collecting busties and I'm at 119 marriages. I am wrestling with what dates to collect, I planned to stop at 1826, but now have 11 of the 1827's...arrggghhh! The fever's got a hold on me.
a good thing to work on and theres nothing wrong with it
To build on what Lance said, many of us are "chasing the full Overton set" as defined by the 450 die marriages of the lettered edge Capped Bust halves. However, available funds and available coins are the limiting factor. Of the 450 die marriages, around 420 are 'easy' to find and reasonably priced (for collector grades), with some costing a bit more. And by easy, I mean it will take time and energy, but the coins are out there ... attributed and unattributed
There are 6 die marriages that are R7 or rarer. An R7 rating means approximately 4-12 specimens are known (according to the BHNC). This means that although many of us are chasing the full set of die marriages, only a handful of collectors will achieve this milestone.
@shorecoll welcome back to the fever! Since you have over 100 die marriages, have you thought about joining the BHNC?
I agree with Lance that there are more people collecting Overton varieties than when I started a couple of decades ago. Whether it's building an Overton set, Red Book set, or year set, there is more interest now than previously. I attribute (no pun intended) this to more information available online and more dealers offering Overton varieties.
And ... scarce die marriages are not selling for 'cheap' prices, or at least they are not being offered to me at cheap prices!
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
A full Overton set will also include 1794 - 1807 DM's . The R-6 rarities of those dates have dropped in price - I have bought three in recent months at much lower prices than 10 years ago, probably because more coins have been found rather than a lower number of collectors. The 1794-1807's R-5 rarities generally sell for little or no premium unless they are a Redbook variety. For 1794's, the T. Brand hoard sales have reduced prices about 50% in circulated grades except for the R-7 and R-8 coins.