I have been wanting to contribute to this great idea for a thread. Here goes:
Brasher Doubloon (Garrett)
1804 $1 Childs
J 1776
1794 $1 Cardinal Morelan
1792 half disme Cardinal
1822 $5
1838-O half Green Baldenhofer
1913 5C Eliasberg
1933 $20 Farouk
Chain Cent "The Coin"
1860 Clark Gruber $20 (NGC 64*)("I" in 0)
1907 UHR Captain North plain edge
1861 Pacquet Norweb
1854-S 5$ Eliasberg
1808 quarter eagle Pogue
1894-S 10C Stack
1796 25C PC67
1885 Trade dollar Eliasberg
1876-CC 20C Battle Born
1838 10$ Proof Pittman
a few criteria: 1. No more than one per issue (so only one 1804 dollar). 2. Value 3. Rarity 4. Beauty 5 . Diversity across centuries, mints and face value.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
@1northcoin said:
And it continues in operation today for the making of special "coins" such as the one below that was minted for me as I got to watch.
Just located this photo of the actual minting of the above pictured specimen. FWIW this particular one came out with an unusually amazing strike and the pictured mint building itself almost looks three dimensional. The coin press broke after my coin was struck and so no more could be minted after mine which was the last one until repairs were likely made in the following weeks. I have wondered if the force that led to the extra strong strike was somehow connected.
I think I would put the finest 1876cc 20c over the 1927d see that you have a melt rarity in the 1933 sort of taking that spot and most of the 27d's are nice(ish).
I also think the following for consideration for inclusion:
1849-c MS63 PL Open Wreath 1$ Richmond Collection
1856-o SP63 20$
1870cc AU58 20$ NGC Stolen
1861 MS67 Paquet Rev $20
1848 Cal MS68 star $2 1/2
While many of the top coin are among the most expensive, I personally don’t believe being more expensive makes one a top coin. just richer collectors targeting and more recent transactions.
@Crypto said:
While many of the top coin are among the most expensive, I personally don’t believe being more expensive makes one a top coin. just richer collectors targeting and more recent transactions.
There is correlation but much of it is to the holder label.
The word Great connotates to me that it was contributory to society at large. Coins that got us through Civil wars, World Wars, and that kept at least part of what we knew and loved and kept it rolling until we got to better times. Type Quarters and Halves to me represent "Greatness" from the perspective that they enabled commerce as intended during the "pre-electronic" times.
Please do not interpret this as derogatory, it just seems like for all the new collectors on the board I would hate for them to think their collections are not Great. Because they are. What they are not, is rare. Not the same as Great and using that language really bodes the concept that it does.
MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
No, because the rarest are not always the greatest, nor are the greatest always the rarest. In fact, the rarest are usually too esoteric to be the greatest.
Greatest is in the context of the ‘100 greatest us coins’ books. Enduring fame and desire from numismatists…nothing more, nothing less.
J-1776 - Locked up in an well-known Eastern trans-generational trust for the last 40 years
Garrett-Pogue 1795 $10 MS66+
Specimen Chain S-1
1927-D $20 MS67
Norweb Paquet $20 MS-67
Simpson 1804 $10 PR65DC
Spellman-(Miller-Sear)-Tyrant 1838 $10 PR65 (ownership adds 7 or 8 positions for a coin most don't consider).
Hayes-Pogue 1808 $2 1/2
Pogue 1797 50c
Garrett-Hayes-Pogue 1795 FH $1 SP66
I think the strawberry leaf large cent should also be considered. There are some coins that being pictured in earlier redbooks have made them way more relevant. The fine12 example might be a million dollar coin
@tradedollarnut said: My list or rank would not be based upon specific coins in a particular quality.
But that’s the entire point of the thread. Specific coins of specific quality. Shrug
I'd still add the 1861 CSA half dollar and Garrett proof $50 slug. I consider all four CSA halves "greater" than most of the coins noted by anyone here. I know it technically isn't a US coin but then neither is the Brasher doubloon which is in my top five.
The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
@tradedollarnut said: My list or rank would not be based upon specific coins in a particular quality.
But that’s the entire point of the thread. Specific coins of specific quality. Shrug
I'd still add the 1861 CSA half dollar and Garrett proof $50 slug. I consider all four CSA halves "greater" than most of the coins noted by anyone here. I know it technically isn't a US coin but then neither is the Brasher doubloon which is in my top five.
The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.
Guess I would have to see all four again, as I don't remember how all look. My recollection is one of the four is an XF but can't remember if it's the ANS. That's enough for me to still rank it first in US coinage, broadly defined.
@tradedollarnut said: My list or rank would not be based upon specific coins in a particular quality.
But that’s the entire point of the thread. Specific coins of specific quality. Shrug
I'd still add the 1861 CSA half dollar and Garrett proof $50 slug. I consider all four CSA halves "greater" than most of the coins noted by anyone here. I know it technically isn't a US coin but then neither is the Brasher doubloon which is in my top five.
The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.
Guess I would have to see all four again, as I don't remember how all look. My recollection is one of the four is an XF but can't remember if it's the ANS. That's enough for me to still rank it first in US coinage, broadly defined.
One is lower than XF, but the I believe that is the one traced to Jefferson Davis. The original CSA half’s are great coins
@tradedollarnut said:
No, because the rarest are not always the greatest, nor are the greatest always the rarest. In fact, the rarest are usually too esoteric to be the greatest.
Greatest is in the context of the ‘100 greatest us coins’ books. Enduring fame and desire from numismatists…nothing more, nothing less.
It would be useful to include the criteria used by the books.
I might use something like stack ranked most desired coins. If you could put together a list of coins and you would get them with an arbitrary cutoff you won’t know beforehand, how would you rank them.
As a 9 year old, I enjoyed reading about the story of the once ultra-rare 1903-O silver dollar! As a budding numismatist I was in awe that the once nearly unobtainable Morgan silver dollar was very obtainable.
@tradedollarnut said:
No, because the rarest are not always the greatest, nor are the greatest always the rarest. In fact, the rarest are usually too esoteric to be the greatest.
Greatest is in the context of the ‘100 greatest us coins’ books. Enduring fame and desire from numismatists…nothing more, nothing less.
It would be useful to include the criteria used by the books.
I might use something like stack ranked most desired coins. If you could put together a list of coins and you would get them with an arbitrary cutoff you won’t know beforehand, how would you rank them.
What is the listing in the latest edition of Ron Guth's and Jeff Garrett's "100 Greatest U.S. Coins?"
Here are the top 20 in the 2nd Edition beginning with the 1804 Capped Bust Silver Dollar as number one and ending with TDN's coin being a representative of the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollars at number twenty.
1804 Capped Bust Silver Dollar
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
1933 Double Eagle
1849 Double Eagle
1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle
1894-S Barber Dime
1907 Indian Head Double Eagle Pattern
1943 Bronze Cent
1822 Half Eagle
1885 Trade Dollar
1872 Amazonian Gold Pattern Set
1776 Continental Dollar
1877 Half Union $50 Gold Coins (Type One)
1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent
1793 Chain Cent
1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece
1907 Ultra High Relief Peifort
1792 Half Disme
1838-O Half Dollar
1794 Silver Dollar (Flowing Hair)
For me, it’s not about monetization, it’s about enduring fame and place in history, including outside the coin community.
You should take a survey of non-US collectors and I guarantee the results won't correspond to your sentiments. Outside of US coin collectors, maybe economic historians, physical metal buyers, and "Jeopardy" participants have any motive to know or care. No one else does or will.
It's no different with the vast majority of eight figure art objects. Pick a random one and ask this forum if they have heard of it. The answer will overwhelmingly be "no". The artists are usually a lot more famous than the artwork yet except for the most prominent, awareness of these people is still usually very low.
@tradedollarnut said: My list or rank would not be based upon specific coins in a particular quality.
But that’s the entire point of the thread. Specific coins of specific quality. Shrug
I'd still add the 1861 CSA half dollar and Garrett proof $50 slug. I consider all four CSA halves "greater" than most of the coins noted by anyone here. I know it technically isn't a US coin but then neither is the Brasher doubloon which is in my top five.
The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.
Guess I would have to see all four again, as I don't remember how all look. My recollection is one of the four is an XF but can't remember if it's the ANS. That's enough for me to still rank it first in US coinage, broadly defined.
Here's the ANS coin.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
For me, it’s not about monetization, it’s about enduring fame and place in history, including outside the coin community.
You should take a survey of non-US collectors and I guarantee the results won't correspond to your sentiments. Outside of US coin collectors, maybe economic historians, physical metal buyers, and "Jeopardy" participants have any motive to know or care. No one else does or will.
I have low expectations which is why I like the 1933 DE. I think the the following coins will be better known:
1933 DE
1913 Liberty Nickel
1804 Dollar
Beyond that:
Statehood Quarters
I should probably increase the ranking of the 1913 Liberty nickel and 1804 Dollar on my list
@tradedollarnut said: My list or rank would not be based upon specific coins in a particular quality.
But that’s the entire point of the thread. Specific coins of specific quality. Shrug
I'd still add the 1861 CSA half dollar and Garrett proof $50 slug. I consider all four CSA halves "greater" than most of the coins noted by anyone here. I know it technically isn't a US coin but then neither is the Brasher doubloon which is in my top five.
The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.
Guess I would have to see all four again, as I don't remember how all look. My recollection is one of the four is an XF but can't remember if it's the ANS. That's enough for me to still rank it first in US coinage, broadly defined.
Crypto- No hustle intended (I heard Andy was the underbidder when JHF won the 1907 US Peso many years ago, which obviously might explain his drop of 80 or so points 😂). When JHF (who was the only collector ever to own both the finest known 1894-S Dime and the 1907 US Peso) commented on the two coins for a PCGS Article, I seem to recall him saying he was a bigger fan of the 1907 Peso (or something along those lines). That said- it is likely an under graded coin, which appears to knock it out of the running for a top slot! 😉 Carry on! Wondercoin.
Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
@wondercoin said:
Don’t forget the Unique 1907 United States / Philippine (bi-National) Proof Peso. Could be in some collectors’ Top 6 or 8 US Classic rarities.
Wondercoin
To be in the top, you not only need to be rare, but you need to be famous with a great story.
@Crypto said:
I think the strawberry leaf large cent should also be considered. There are some coins that being pictured in earlier redbooks have made them way more relevant. The fine12 example might be a million dollar coin
Is the origins of this still a mystery?
Did any of the founding fathers or their families have an affinity for strawberries?
Here's the TrueView for @DLHansen's PCGS VG10 BN, Ex. Lorin Gilbert Parmelee.
Zoins- The phenomenon rise in the price of silver during the years 1905-1907 was, at the core, responsible for the creation of two Unique US Pesos struck in 80/20 silver and 90/10 silver by the US Mint. I believe you show the Coinfacts picture of the PCGS graded Gem quality 80/20 composition silver coin. The other Unique coin is part of the Manila Money Museum Coin display and a recent picture I received from an avid coin collector visiting the museum shows a very low quality example (one-sided, as the coin is displayed “flat” by the museum) of the 90/10 composition silver example.
The story of silver around this time period is a fascinating story in itself (I believe about 75% produced simply as a by-product of the mining of other metals, just a few companies running much of the silver smelting business of the world, methods of buying and selling silver at that time very unusual, etc). It is a very interesting story behind the creation of the Unique 1907 US Pesos that needs to be told one day in great detail ! Wondercoin.
Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
Actually a fairly common rarity with a hugely expensive monetization certificate
Do we know whether the government has just "stored" the 10 Langbord specimens? Or is it possible they are now melted? The issue may have little effect on the value of the Farouk coin, but it would on its absolute rarity. Of course, Switt may or may not have had far more than ten coins.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Comments
And it continues in operation today for the making of special "coins" such as the one below that was minted for me as I got to watch.
My first five:
I think that we are missing Territorials on the list, and I would nominate:
Both are $50’s in amazing condition. Both have the benefit of Humbert ownership in their provenance.
I have been wanting to contribute to this great idea for a thread. Here goes:
a few criteria: 1. No more than one per issue (so only one 1804 dollar). 2. Value 3. Rarity 4. Beauty 5 . Diversity across centuries, mints and face value.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
I would like to hear what John Albanese considers the 20 Greatest U.S.coins
I’d love to hear your top 20.
Just located this photo of the actual minting of the above pictured specimen. FWIW this particular one came out with an unusually amazing strike and the pictured mint building itself almost looks three dimensional. The coin press broke after my coin was struck and so no more could be minted after mine which was the last one until repairs were likely made in the following weeks. I have wondered if the force that led to the extra strong strike was somehow connected.
Ttt after all the recent sales
I think I would put the finest 1876cc 20c over the 1927d see that you have a melt rarity in the 1933 sort of taking that spot and most of the 27d's are nice(ish).
I also think the following for consideration for inclusion:
1849-c MS63 PL Open Wreath 1$ Richmond Collection
1856-o SP63 20$
1870cc AU58 20$ NGC Stolen
1861 MS67 Paquet Rev $20
1848 Cal MS68 star $2 1/2
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
in terms of beauty its the 1907 Ultra High relief Saint Gardens
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
It's pretty remarkable that Heritage's top four US coins ever sold have sold within 2021:
Stack's is doing well for their top 4 as well. If only they auctioned the Farouk 1933 DE again this year.
While many of the top coin are among the most expensive, I personally don’t believe being more expensive makes one a top coin. just richer collectors targeting and more recent transactions.
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
But you can vicariously own several of them through TDN
There is correlation but much of it is to the holder label.
A couple aren't egregiously over-graded. That's a consoling thought
Are you using rare and great synonymous?
The word Great connotates to me that it was contributory to society at large. Coins that got us through Civil wars, World Wars, and that kept at least part of what we knew and loved and kept it rolling until we got to better times. Type Quarters and Halves to me represent "Greatness" from the perspective that they enabled commerce as intended during the "pre-electronic" times.
Please do not interpret this as derogatory, it just seems like for all the new collectors on the board I would hate for them to think their collections are not Great. Because they are. What they are not, is rare. Not the same as Great and using that language really bodes the concept that it does.
No, because the rarest are not always the greatest, nor are the greatest always the rarest. In fact, the rarest are usually too esoteric to be the greatest.
Greatest is in the context of the ‘100 greatest us coins’ books. Enduring fame and desire from numismatists…nothing more, nothing less.
Sort of a type set- 21 count but some with perhaps more potent "whatevers" that didn't matter so much to me.
Garrett Brasher 65 (unique stamp worth more)
1849 $20
KOS presentation set with box
1794 $ SP66
Childs 1804 $1 PR68
J-1776 - Locked up in an well-known Eastern trans-generational trust for the last 40 years
Garrett-Pogue 1795 $10 MS66+
Specimen Chain S-1
1927-D $20 MS67
Norweb Paquet $20 MS-67
Simpson 1804 $10 PR65DC
Spellman-(Miller-Sear)-Tyrant 1838 $10 PR65 (ownership adds 7 or 8 positions for a coin most don't consider).
Hayes-Pogue 1808 $2 1/2
Pogue 1797 50c
Garrett-Hayes-Pogue 1795 FH $1 SP66
Eliasberg 93 Liberty Cap
Cardinal 1792 MS68 half disme
Norweb 38-O 50c BMPR64
1866 NM $1 Pr65CAM
1894-S JAS-Smokerise 10c BMPR66
Eliasberg 1821 or 1822 25c PR67 - both are 2pts better on eye appeal and 1.25 better technically than the '27 Original
1913 5c, 1885 T$1 novodels not for me.
I think the strawberry leaf large cent should also be considered. There are some coins that being pictured in earlier redbooks have made them way more relevant. The fine12 example might be a million dollar coin
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
1) 1870-S $3.00 gold
2) 1822 $5.00 gold
3) Garrett Brasher doubloon
4) J-1776
5) 1825/4 $5.00 gold Haseltine/Clapp/Eliasberg
6) 1854-S $5.00 gold
7) 1913 Liberty .05 (Hawaii 5-0 coin)
8) Specimen chain cent PR67
9) Childs 1804$1 PR68
10) 1841 $2.50 gold proof 'The Little Princess' Smithsonian specimen
Your hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need it.
The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Guess I would have to see all four again, as I don't remember how all look. My recollection is one of the four is an XF but can't remember if it's the ANS. That's enough for me to still rank it first in US coinage, broadly defined.
One is lower than XF, but the I believe that is the one traced to Jefferson Davis. The original CSA half’s are great coins
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
It would be useful to include the criteria used by the books.
I might use something like stack ranked most desired coins. If you could put together a list of coins and you would get them with an arbitrary cutoff you won’t know beforehand, how would you rank them.
Thanks for the update. Just checked my list. Farouk-Weitzman 1933 DE is still number 1
Actually a fairly common rarity with a hugely expensive monetization certificate
Someone had a great quote above
For me, it’s not about monetization, it’s about enduring fame and place in history, including outside the coin community.
Of course, there are going to be differences in ranking as everyone is providing their lists and has differing criteria for their selection.
As a 9 year old, I enjoyed reading about the story of the once ultra-rare 1903-O silver dollar! As a budding numismatist I was in awe that the once nearly unobtainable Morgan silver dollar was very obtainable.
@TDN said:
Greatest is in the context of the ‘100 greatest us coins’ books. Enduring fame and desire from numismatists…nothing more, nothing less.
What is the listing in the latest edition of Ron Guth's and Jeff Garrett's "100 Greatest U.S. Coins?"
Here are the top 20 in the 2nd Edition beginning with the 1804 Capped Bust Silver Dollar as number one and ending with TDN's coin being a representative of the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollars at number twenty.
1804 Capped Bust Silver Dollar
1913 Liberty Head Nickel
1933 Double Eagle
1849 Double Eagle
1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle
1894-S Barber Dime
1907 Indian Head Double Eagle Pattern
1943 Bronze Cent
1822 Half Eagle
1885 Trade Dollar
1872 Amazonian Gold Pattern Set
1776 Continental Dollar
1877 Half Union $50 Gold Coins (Type One)
1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent
1793 Chain Cent
1876-CC Twenty-Cent Piece
1907 Ultra High Relief Peifort
1792 Half Disme
1838-O Half Dollar
1794 Silver Dollar (Flowing Hair)
You should take a survey of non-US collectors and I guarantee the results won't correspond to your sentiments. Outside of US coin collectors, maybe economic historians, physical metal buyers, and "Jeopardy" participants have any motive to know or care. No one else does or will.
It's no different with the vast majority of eight figure art objects. Pick a random one and ask this forum if they have heard of it. The answer will overwhelmingly be "no". The artists are usually a lot more famous than the artwork yet except for the most prominent, awareness of these people is still usually very low.
Here's the ANS coin.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
“The ANS Confederate Half makes my top 10. The other three don’t come close.”
Andy. Don’t forget the Unique 1907 United States / Philippine (bi-National) Proof Peso. Could be in some collectors’ Top 6 or 8 US Classic rarities.
Wondercoin
Fabulous coin, but not Top 20 in my book. Maybe not even top 100. But I might reconsider if I ever get to buy it. 😎
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I have low expectations which is why I like the 1933 DE. I think the the following coins will be better known:
Beyond that:
I should probably increase the ranking of the 1913 Liberty nickel and 1804 Dollar on my list
I don’t agree but I am not knocking the hustle
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
Ownership adds 80 points?
Nice coin.
It has the following provenance:
Here are some links:
Restrike? Pfffft
If you're referring to the Bonhams restrike link, that's just to provide the lot description which has a lot of history.
The ANS link above it is to the Saltus-ANS original specimen attributed to CSA coiner Dr. Benjamin Franklin Taylor.
Any unique regular issue coins would occupy the top spots on my list.
Can any unique coin be considered a regular issue?
“I don’t agree but I am not knocking the hustle”
Crypto- No hustle intended (I heard Andy was the underbidder when JHF won the 1907 US Peso many years ago, which obviously might explain his drop of 80 or so points 😂). When JHF (who was the only collector ever to own both the finest known 1894-S Dime and the 1907 US Peso) commented on the two coins for a PCGS Article, I seem to recall him saying he was a bigger fan of the 1907 Peso (or something along those lines). That said- it is likely an under graded coin, which appears to knock it out of the running for a top slot! 😉 Carry on! Wondercoin.
Mmmmm. 94-S dimes….
To be in the top, you not only need to be rare, but you need to be famous with a great story.
What's the story behind this coin?
Is the origins of this still a mystery?
Did any of the founding fathers or their families have an affinity for strawberries?
Here's the TrueView for @DLHansen's PCGS VG10 BN, Ex. Lorin Gilbert Parmelee.
To clarify, a coin of a regular design, like the 1870-S half dime and $3 gold.
Zoins- The phenomenon rise in the price of silver during the years 1905-1907 was, at the core, responsible for the creation of two Unique US Pesos struck in 80/20 silver and 90/10 silver by the US Mint. I believe you show the Coinfacts picture of the PCGS graded Gem quality 80/20 composition silver coin. The other Unique coin is part of the Manila Money Museum Coin display and a recent picture I received from an avid coin collector visiting the museum shows a very low quality example (one-sided, as the coin is displayed “flat” by the museum) of the 90/10 composition silver example.
The story of silver around this time period is a fascinating story in itself (I believe about 75% produced simply as a by-product of the mining of other metals, just a few companies running much of the silver smelting business of the world, methods of buying and selling silver at that time very unusual, etc). It is a very interesting story behind the creation of the Unique 1907 US Pesos that needs to be told one day in great detail ! Wondercoin.
Do we know whether the government has just "stored" the 10 Langbord specimens? Or is it possible they are now melted? The issue may have little effect on the value of the Farouk coin, but it would on its absolute rarity. Of course, Switt may or may not have had far more than ten coins.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Yeap since 19 of the 20 are in my collection!