I Just Completed My Classic Silver Commem 50 Coin Type Set
winesteven
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About 1-1/4 years ago I read an interesting article that brought Classic Silver Commems to my attention. It pointed out how the prices of these (mostly) beautiful coins had been dropping like a hot knife through butter over the past few years. It also pointed out that the pricing differential for these coins with CAC's was not tremendously higher than coins in the same grades without CAC's, so I started my venture.
I bought Q. David Bowers book on commems, and learned so much interesting information about each of these coins. Absolutely wonderful stories!
As a collector, I'm not in this hobby to make money. With the current lower prices, i view that as minimizing great downside risk. I recognize that these prices are not like "rubberbands", so if in the future prices rise a bit, great! if they don't, that's perfectly OK.
With patience, I was able to find coins that met my need for eye appeal AND also had CAC's. This set is 100% CAC!
The key to putting this set together was reliance on my "mentors/advisors" at a few auction houses who knew what I like (SEE #5 BELOW)! Other than FUN in Orlando, I don't go to shows. Despite today's high resolution photography, as most of you know, looking at a coin in hand is so much better than looking at photos. When I saw coins I liked from the photos in upcoming auctions, I would inquire with my contacts to look at the coin in hand. Invariably, they had me pass about 75% of the time. That unbiased information is so absolutely invaluable!!!!!!
Unlike most "sophisticated/smart" collectors/numismatists who prefer some toning (originality) on coins, I'm part of the large but silent group (like @ricko ) that prefers their 20th Century silver coins to be blast white and fully lustrous. Yes, I understand that means that these coins in my set were gently dipped by prior owners, but that's OK with me, as I feel having the CAC sticker means the dipping was truly gentle. To me, this released the beautiful super high luster that may have been hidden under the skin/toning that had developed over time. I can't call that "original" skin, as the coins "originally" looked a lot closer when made to what I have now than when they were gently dipped at some point in time. PLEASE lets not debate this point. I mention it only as a defensive reaction to how some others view what I like.
Yes, the Isabella Quarter, the very first coin in the set, does indeed stand out from all of the others due to it's toning. I agree, and recognize many of you will like that coin the best in my set, and if so, that's OK. My photography skills are poor, so my photos of these coins are from a combination of the auction houses and individual dealers from whom they were purchased. In hand, other than the Isabella, the coins all match very nicely.
Here's a hotlink to my Digital Album, compliments of PCGS Registry software.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Comments
Stunning collection! Some of those coins are just gorgeous!
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This is a great set and you have a heck of an achievement to share with all of us. They look great in the virtual album, but no doubt look even better in-hand. Nice work!
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Congratulations, Steve!
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Congrats on finishing a great set! I finished mine (linky) a few years ago, but not in that condition. I understand your taste for untoned coins, but I'm glad the Isabella is the exception in your set. It would look strange to me if not toned.
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Congratulations on that achievement! The feeling of completing a non-trivial set is one of the most fulfilling in the hobby, in my opinion. Based on your OP, I was surprised to see a number of coins that I wouldn't call strictly blast white. The Hawaii stood out as particularly pretty to my eye.
Very well done indeed!
A fun set to assemble. I like that each design is different and makes for a very attractive set when viewed together.
Very nice set, congrats!
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Very nice set!
Collector, occasional seller
Looks really well done and balanced. It's nice to see the superb specimens extend right into the key issues. Good job, thanks for sharing.
Quite the accomplishment!
My current "Box of 20"
Nice set!
Wow... very nice set. Congrats on completion!
Absolutely spectacular! Congratulations!
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
I see nice subtle toning on many of these coins. The New Rochelle is excellent.
Congratulations on this accomplishment.
Those are beautiful commems.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
Really nice. When you said it was all-CAC I was expecting to see lots of coins in the 64/65 range. These are all very nice, especially the keys.
The Isabella, Gettysburg, Hawaiian, Maine, New Rochelle, Sesqui, and Lafayette are all really nice.
What's up with the PanPac? Is it really that blue or that just the photo?
I did a set of my favorite 20 (that has expanded to 22 or 23) and so far I'm resisting the urge to finish it on out. Your set is not helping.
@winesteven ....WOW!!l A very nice set of commemoratives.... Oh yeah...I like them a lot...
Very impressive accomplishment.... Congratulations. Cheers, RickO
Well done and congratulations!
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
That’s what I was thinking....impressive grades all around. Many congrats.
As noted, the Pan Pacific photo I had from the dealer is much darker than the actual coin. I just realized i have TrueView for that coin, so I just swapped that more accurate photo with the one I had shown. I'll edit my comment in my OP above.
By the way, the reason I now have that TrueView of the Pan Pacific coin is I had purchased it as MS66, but thought it was so nice that it might qualify as a 66+. I then sent it back to PCGS for Reconsideration, and it came back as a 66+. Since the cert number remains unchanged with Reconsideration, and CAC does not recognize "+" grades, I then sent it back to CAC for them to automatically resticker for just a $3 fee!
Thanks for your kind words.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Really nice set, congratulations.
Great set! I enjoyed looking thru the digital album.
I might just be inspired to finish a commem set. I have only selected a few issues of meaning for me and not expanded beyond those 4 or 5.
“In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!
Congrats. A job well done
Congrats Steve! I couldn’t be happier for you!!! Well done!!
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......
That PanPac TrueView is really nice. The coin has the typical bit of near-rim toning that many of them have. Gorgeous coin, and congrats on the upgrade.
Mark - Thanks for your kind words. I just ordered a 3-pack of the 2016 Dana Hershey Vineyard Cab. When you’re in South Florida (once travel is safe), we’ll share a bottle over dinner at one of our local fine dining establishments.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
You betcha!
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......
Awesome! Very impressive!
Beautiful Set, Congratulations on completing it
The Pan-Pac and the Hawaiian are great! I think you have done well. Some of those are hard to come by nice.
What a beautiful collection
While I am not always a personal fan of super bright white blazers, I can appreciate them for what they are. I looked when shortly after you first posted, and then again now. I think you picked coins with excellent surface quality. The mark free shields on the reverse of the Gettysburg are an example.
Also, that’s a heck of a feat to accomplish in the time you took, but the price drop in Commem’s does appear to have brought a lot of coins out. What is it we used to say? Oh yeah ... When preparation and perspiration meet opportunity, great things can happen.
A few of my favorites, from what I can see, and not necessarily in order …
the New Rochelle (OMG!!)
the Hawaiian (Beating Heart!)
the PanPac (with a glass of that Cab’ please!)
and an Honorable mention for the Sesqi’ because, a design I have never been entirely fond of ... but Wow, nice pastel color and close to superb, which are pretty tough things to find on that issue as I remember.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
That is just an awe inspiring, incredible and unmatchable set, Steve!
That gives me hope that I can find a few of my own.
Very nice!
Todd, thanks so very much for your kind words. Good thing I’m self-employed, as the time I spent was like a very busy part-time job, looking at not only every major auction, but also every weekly auction of three companies. Then once a potential coin was found, spending countless hours searching for prior sales of that actual coin, along with doing extensive pricing research. As noted, my advisors then had me pass on about 75% of the coins that actually looked good in the photos. On top of that, I took the time to regularly checking collectorscorner.com, along with the websites of a few dealers who regularly obtain Commems with CAC’s with the eye appeal that I like.
Was it worth putting in all that time? Absolutely! As you know, “the hunt” is so very exciting and thrilling!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
That is impressive! I like the New Rochelle the best.
That is a beautiful set and congratulations!! Don’t you feel a pang of something that it’s now complete? I’ve assembled many sets (football cards) and after the last card, without the thrill of the hunt I’m always torn. Do you have your next project ready?
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I’m in the middle of working on three sets: Lincoln Wheat Cent Date Set (all red), a Two Cent Set (MS, not Proof, no varieties other than 1864 Small and Large Date), and a Proof Franklin Set.
Thanks for asking.
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
That's a great set; I especially like the New Rochelle, Huguenot, Sesqui and Lafayette. I prefer a little tone on my commems, but if you are going for bright white, go big (booming luster) or go home! Thanks for sharing your collecting philosphy as well.
Beautiful collection! PCGS did a good job setting up these album options. I enjoy the format.
I have always liked the Bay Bridge issue - yours is very nice. I also never tire of looking at the deco eagle on the Bridgeport - yours is epic-nice and smooth. Your Pan Pac is original IMHO. Congratulations on your set!
Great set, I had a lot of fun paging through it.
BTW, I love threads like this. This is the essence of collecting. No politics, no great grading or sticker controversies... just a collector having fun. Refreshing!
I absolutely love the look of the Old School album! Congrats on finishing!
I really like how you decided to begin (and finish) this collection. Educating yourself by reading about it, taking a contrarian view while prices were low, focusing on quality, etc. Your OP really serves as a blueprint on how to start collecting a new series.
You'll have to replace the California and Lafayette. They both have a bit of toning! Seriously, that is a wonderful set. Classic commemoratives were my first love in the hobby. I started collecting dipped out white coins but after I met Larry Shepherd I began to focus on toned specimens. So I ultimately went from a set of 50 white examples to 50 toned ones. I still love the series but the coins are long gone.
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Congratulations on something to truly be proud of. That is a beautiful topnotch collection of some gorgeous artwork. Thank you for sharing.
Jim
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How many of your coins have been dipped and now have secondary toning?
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A very impressive, stunning beautiful set. Classic Commems among my favorite US Coins. Congrats on a fantastic accomplishment.
Very lovely set and it's always great to see the entire set together in one place.
I am having a hard time finding even one coin that I would call "dipped" as even your white coins appear to have original skin.
Nice accomplishment !!
Commems and Early Type
I see the wink, but of those with some toning, I don't know which of those had previously been dipped and now have "secondary" toning, or if they've never been dipped and the toning seen is what happened at some point after the coin was minted. Regardless, the bottom line is that I liked it so well as it is now that I purchased it.
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
great looking coins and set.
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