Widgets that are surprisingly hard to find

panexpoguy · May 17, 2021 5:54PM

Plenty of proofs Roosies in rattlers around, but circulation strikes...not so much.

DelawareDoons · May 17, 2021 7:13PM

Indeed there are some remarkably tough widgets once you start adding little wrinkles like certain holders.

Meltdown · May 18, 2021 8:14AM

Interesting perspective. Not a coin I would pick up simply because they're common enough dimes in that grade and I don't collect them... but, seeing them as scarce in those holders makes me think twice.

panexpoguy · May 18, 2021 8:20AM

@Meltdown said:
Interesting perspective. Not a coin I would pick up simply because they're common enough dimes in that grade and I don't collect them... but, seeing them as scarce in those holders makes me think twice.

I wouldn't have realized it either except that in several years of searches for Merc dimes on ebay while I was working on a set brought lots of rattlers with Mercs and lots with proof Roosies, but maybe 1 non proof Roosie every three months. There was just not enough value in them at that time to justify grading. Just kind of neat and I have empty slots in one of my cardboard rattlers boxes so what the heck.

𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 · May 18, 2021 12:16PM

What is a widget?

Like computer widgets for coins?

I love Roosies!

neildrobertson · May 18, 2021 12:19PM

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:
What is a widget?

It usually refers to run-of-the-mill coins around here.

𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 · May 18, 2021 12:21PM

@neildrobertson said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:
What is a widget?

It usually refers to run-of-the-mill coins around here.

Oh cool.

I have never heard of that term for coins until now.

Does that count for any high mintage coin, even if they are very old?

Will have to look for widgets.

DelawareDoons · May 18, 2021 1:57PM

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:

@neildrobertson said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:
What is a widget?

It usually refers to run-of-the-mill coins around here.

Oh cool.

I have never heard of that term for coins until now.

Does that count for any high mintage coin, even if they are very old?

Will have to look for widgets.

It was intended a derogatory term, usually. A lot of members use it in jest about their own coins, just for what it's worth. Don't run around calling other peoples coins widgets, you'll ruffle a lot of feathers.

𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 · May 18, 2021 2:04PM

@DelawareDoons said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:

@neildrobertson said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:
What is a widget?

It usually refers to run-of-the-mill coins around here.

Oh cool.

I have never heard of that term for coins until now.

Does that count for any high mintage coin, even if they are very old?

Will have to look for widgets.

It was intended a derogatory term, usually. A lot of members use it in jest about their own coins, just for what it's worth. Don't run around calling other peoples coins widgets, you'll ruffle a lot of feathers.

Noted.

Thank you.

BAJJERFAN · May 18, 2021 2:19PM

@DelawareDoons said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:

@neildrobertson said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:
What is a widget?

It usually refers to run-of-the-mill coins around here.

Oh cool.

I have never heard of that term for coins until now.

Does that count for any high mintage coin, even if they are very old?

Will have to look for widgets.

It was intended a derogatory term, usually. A lot of members use it in jest about their own coins, just for what it's worth. Don't run around calling other peoples coins widgets, you'll ruffle a lot of feathers.

You sure that you're not confusing it with dreck? FWIW IIRC the terms dreck and widget were both coined for use here by the same person.

lkenefic · May 18, 2021 2:37PM

I thought I was the only one that collected widgets and dreck...

panexpoguy · May 18, 2021 3:00PM

@DelawareDoons said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:

@neildrobertson said:

@𝖆𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖒𝖚𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗 said:
What is a widget?

It usually refers to run-of-the-mill coins around here.

Oh cool.

I have never heard of that term for coins until now.

Does that count for any high mintage coin, even if they are very old?

Will have to look for widgets.

It was intended a derogatory term, usually. A lot of members use it in jest about their own coins, just for what it's worth. Don't run around calling other peoples coins widgets, you'll ruffle a lot of feathers.

You got me, the 51 is a widget, the 49 is actually dreck....I thought I could skate by.....but no

BStrauss3 · May 18, 2021 3:58PM

In the early days of slabbing it was reserved for the valuable and exceptional pieces. Only an idiot would pay up to slab an ordinary junk coin.

Smudge · May 18, 2021 4:34PM

@BStrauss3 said:
In the early days of slabbing it was reserved for the valuable and exceptional pieces. Only an idiot would pay up to slab an ordinary junk coin.

I think that still applies.

element159 · May 18, 2021 5:58PM

I don't see 'widget' as derogatory. Rather, it means something that is easily available/replaceable. It might be cool and expensive, but if you can afford one, plenty are available. 1909-S VDB cents are widgets, even though expensive and prized.

And so far as the thread title, if it is hard to find, it is actually not a widget!

ricko · May 19, 2021 7:04AM

Yes... Those terms were introduced here by an influential member/dealer.... They have become numismatic slang over the years. @element159 said it well... Cheers, RickO

panexpoguy · May 19, 2021 8:46AM

@element159 said:
I don't see 'widget' as derogatory. Rather, it means something that is easily available/replaceable. It might be cool and expensive, but if you can afford one, plenty are available. 1909-S VDB cents are widgets, even though expensive and prized.

And so far as the thread title, if it is hard to find, it is actually not a widget!

While I see collecting any coin as fun, I consider a widget a relatively inexpensive item that is acquired for more of a 'one off' reason, than as part of a dedicated effort to accomplish a set completion or improvement. I saw an ASE in a rattler on ebay a couple of months back and considered picking it up because I had never seen one before.

Maybe 'seldom seen' is better than 'hard to find' in my mind because they are usually things I am not actually looking for but seem uncommon. Perhaps if I religiously searched for some of these things I would realize they are more common? Maybe my ignorance is bliss.

Hydrant · May 19, 2021 9:07AM

It can be frustrating.

BryceM · May 19, 2021 9:11AM

Try assembling a grading set of Peace dollars. I have all the 1922 Philly grades except for good-vf. I guess I'm missing MS67 still too. I can't quite bring myself to send in a bunch of circulated coins just to complete the set, even though it would be pretty cool. It would probably take a couple tries to nail them all perfectly too.

panexpoguy · May 19, 2021 10:45AM

@BryceM said:
Try assembling a grading set of Peace dollars. I have all the 1922 Philly grades except for good-vf. I guess I'm missing MS67 still too. I can't quite bring myself to send in a bunch of circulated coins just to complete the set, even though it would be pretty cool. It would probably take a couple tries to nail them all perfectly too.

Agreed, those would be right in the Peace dollar sweet spot of not worn enough for a lowball collector, not MS enough for a Registry, not rare enough to have value based on population, and yet grades for which there is targeted demand buy grading set builders.

I am fortunate that I enjoy the hunt as much as any eventual success. Not sure why I don't get frustrated over time, but it may be that once I complete a goal in collecting, the subject is suddenly less interesting to me for some reason.

Kccoin · May 19, 2021 12:47PM

Cool coins. "Key dates", possibly from mint sets.

fathom · May 20, 2021 6:21PM

As defined the word widget does not apply to numismatics.

Therefore you can utilize it to mean anything you want.

Widgets that are surprisingly hard to find

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