@7Jaguars said:
I too wanted a 1909 S VDB as my Great Grandmother collected coins in the 1930s and 1940s in California. She supposedly had complete collections of Barbers and Walkers and knew to collect by condition - I don't know what happened to any of the other coins besides her set of Lincoln wheaties which my dad got. He had them in an old push-in board but pulled all they keys out besides the 1931S and sold them in the early 60s. I remember he bought an SLR Minolta camera in 1967 which cost about 110 dollars with the proceeds from the 1909 S VDB sale (she got her coins from circulation only). I think the 1910 S fell out because it was gone also, but of course the 1909 S, 1914D, 1922 no D, 1924D were not there, but it was the 1909 S coins that I wanted.
SO I had a set with holes on nearly all the keys, but the one that I wanted most was the S VDB. I got the 09S in a local auction 30 years ago (looks to be AU55) but could not get the S VDB as the outlay seemed a stretch for what it was as I too had figured out that it was not all that rare.
Finally, since I collect Brit coins, saw one come up in the "Foreign Coins" section of a Brit auction about 5 years ago, so bid on it and won a nice looking coin at a not insubstantial 1200 USD. It graded with our hosts at MS64RB and totally original surfaces and a very nice coin. So I had my coin and do like it a lot - finally.
Great story. Thank You.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
@lkenefic said:
Like others... 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent and I've owned two since I was a kid. The first one completed the Wheat Cent Series for me after many many years... and it was sort of anti-climactic. The second one, I chose the best of the three I was presented at a show... then it dawned on me that these really aren't all that "rare"...
One of the other coins I drooled over in my early collecting years was a 1796 Quarter... yeah.. right!!
Many key date 20th century coins are anything but rare. These would include the 1955/55 cent; the 1918-D 8/7 5c (except conditionally); the 1937-D 3 legged 5c, the 1916-D 10c; and the 1916 Standing Liberty 25c.
None of the most widely collected US 20th century key dates are even close. The only 20th century US coins that are actually hard to buy as a date/MM are the 1913 LHN, patterns, and a low number of Indian Head eagles and Saints. Any other can be bought today, outside of the TPG label or specialization.
1877 Indian Head Cent, 1909-S Indian Cent, Three Dollar Gold Piece.
I got them all, and still have two of them, but they are different, higher grade examples. The one I don’t have is the 1877 Indian.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
@lkenefic said:
Like others... 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent and I've owned two since I was a kid. The first one completed the Wheat Cent Series for me after many many years... and it was sort of anti-climactic. The second one, I chose the best of the three I was presented at a show... then it dawned on me that these really aren't all that "rare"...
One of the other coins I drooled over in my early collecting years was a 1796 Quarter... yeah.. right!!
Many key date 20th century coins are anything but rare. These would include the 1955/55 cent; the 1918-D 8/7 5c (except conditionally); the 1937-D 3 legged 5c, the 1916-D 10c; and the 1916 Standing Liberty 25c.
None of the most widely collected US 20th century key dates are even close. The only 20th century US coins that are actually hard to buy as a date/MM are the 1913 LHN, patterns, and a low number of Indian Head eagles and Saints. Any other can be bought today, outside of the TPG label or specialization.
A few that I can think of from the 20th century that are rare are the 1958 DDO-001 1c; 1969-S DDO-001 1c; 1975-S Proof without Mint mark 10c; 1943 DDO-011 25c; 1968-D DDR-001 25c; 1970-D DDO-002 25c; 1971 DDR-001 25c; 1936 DDO-003 50c; and 1971-S PR DDR-005. I'm sure I missed a few but these are off the top of my head. None of these, however, are mainstream coins. I didn't include any off-metal coins or coins that were not officially issued.
A 1996-W dime. Quite modest to everything else listed in this thread. Younger me was really intrigued by the W mintmark on such an ordinary coin, and the local coin shop did sell me one. I put it into a small picture frame.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you. https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
An 1804 Dollar. I have held five of the 15, two of them raw, but never owned one.
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
When I was a kid, my main focus was my Morgan/Peace collection in a set of Whitman folders. For that reason, I imagine the 93-S dollar was the holy grail for me. Ironically, since I've returned to coins 20+ years ago, neither Morgan nor Peace dollars have really recaptured my interest, so I never did acquire that 93-S.
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flowing hair dollar was the first coin I was like Whoa! I have had many halfs but just added a dollar last year.
That said there was many others
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
I always wanted a nice red 1909S VDB
Never got it…still don’t have it.
I can afford it…but I just can’t justify the expense.
The runner up is the 1955 DDO Lincoln.
I should just suck it up and buy both for a significant birthday!
Mine was the 1909-S VDB and a chain cent. Have 2 '09-S VDB's, still no chain cent.
10-4,
My Instagram picturesErik
My registry sets
Great story. Thank You.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
1916-D Merc
If we were all the same, the world would be an incredibly boring place.
Tommy
None of the most widely collected US 20th century key dates are even close. The only 20th century US coins that are actually hard to buy as a date/MM are the 1913 LHN, patterns, and a low number of Indian Head eagles and Saints. Any other can be bought today, outside of the TPG label or specialization.
1877 Indian Head Cent, 1909-S Indian Cent, Three Dollar Gold Piece.
I got them all, and still have two of them, but they are different, higher grade examples. The one I don’t have is the 1877 Indian.
A 2 cent piece and yes, I got one a couple years ago
Collector
91 Positive BST transactions buying and selling with 56 members and counting!
instagram.com/klnumismatics
A few that I can think of from the 20th century that are rare are the 1958 DDO-001 1c; 1969-S DDO-001 1c; 1975-S Proof without Mint mark 10c; 1943 DDO-011 25c; 1968-D DDR-001 25c; 1970-D DDO-002 25c; 1971 DDR-001 25c; 1936 DDO-003 50c; and 1971-S PR DDR-005. I'm sure I missed a few but these are off the top of my head. None of these, however, are mainstream coins. I didn't include any off-metal coins or coins that were not officially issued.
I hated those cardboard plugs that said "rare" in my blue whitman albums...it was like it was telling me I couldn't have one.
So now I have all of those coins that the Whitman folders taunted me about. Thank god I didn't have a barber dime book with the 94-S plugged....
A coin I remember vividly in the Photograde grade book I checked out from the library was a Barber Half Dollar. I used to have a really nice one.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
A 1996-W dime. Quite modest to everything else listed in this thread. Younger me was really intrigued by the W mintmark on such an ordinary coin, and the local coin shop did sell me one. I put it into a small picture frame.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.
Something good out of change so I could gloat to my friends and say something like you poor chumps look what I found. No
An 1804 Dollar. I have held five of the 15, two of them raw, but never owned one.
When I was a kid, my main focus was my Morgan/Peace collection in a set of Whitman folders. For that reason, I imagine the 93-S dollar was the holy grail for me. Ironically, since I've returned to coins 20+ years ago, neither Morgan nor Peace dollars have really recaptured my interest, so I never did acquire that 93-S.
Look what a friend provided. I own a gold coin 😎
🎶 shout shout, let it all out 🎶