Which one to get for my set?
Russell12
Posts: 287 ✭✭✭✭
I am trying to decide which one of these to buy, they are within $100 of each other, so price does not matter. I am trying to figure out which one is HARDER to get, harder to find. If you had to buy one now and hope to find the other some other time, which would it be?
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Comments
I’ve never looked for the Fugio, but I don’t think the domes are all that hard to find. I like that particular one a lot, obviously depending on price.
You can find a 42/41merc any day you want one, Fugios are also not impossible to find but not as available as the merc. I would choose the Fugio as long as the coin is the right one for you.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I'll bet the colonial is more common and more collectors should appreciate it more than the dime. Nevertheless, as a coin nerd, I'd take the dime.
I would pick the Fugio cent everyday of the week!
Member of Early American Coppers (EAC), American Numismatic Association (ANA), and Missouri Numismatic Society (MNS). Specializing in early American copper by die variety.
You guys are messing around, right?
peacockcoins
See, I was right.
That's a Fugio Cent, not a Chain Cent and yes, finding a decent Fugio or an average 42/41 dime, the Fugio is much tougher to find.
I would not get either. You can find a better-shape Fugue with patience and perseverance.
Same approach on the Merc
But not at these prices
I'd probably pass on both. Both of those coins are relatively common, though it can take some time to find a nice example. For the Fugio, I don't like how much detail is missing on the obverse, although the surfaces look pretty nice. For the merc, that's a coin I spent quite a while looking for myself, and it took a good amount of time to find one with nice details and surfaces (ie, it hadn't been cleaned/wiped), but they do exist, and the payoff is a much nicer coin in the end. I passed on dozens of examples before I bought one. The coin you show has nice color, but it has a few too many hits/scratches for me. Granted the worst two are on the reverse (by the first A in AMERICA and above the M in DIME), but there's also one right by the date, so you'll always see it.
If you're dead set on getting one of those two, I think the merc is overall nicer owing to its surfaces. The Fugio missing as much detail as it is really detracts if it's a type coin and not a specific variety where that's an element of the variety.
Normally I would far prefer the Fugio; however, I don’t like the color. Nor the lack of detail.
No my head was thinking one thing and hands typing another, corrected.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
I'd go with the fugio 👍
I fixed mine. It’s what I get for posting at the in-laws while trying to look like aim not on my phone.
I would go for the dime and look for a better Fugio.
My avatar <--- probably gives it away, but getting a Fugio over a common looking Merc is a no brainer. The dime I guess has an overdate, and looking it up is worth a whole lot. But i don't know why, I just don't care about 1 little slipup with the die vs an epic and historic piece like the mighty Fugio.
I would go for the Fugio without any thought. Nice circ 42/1's are not hard to find.
Also, it's my belief that every US collector should have a Fugio.
I even have a tattoo.
Tough call, but I think I’d like a Fugio to show the sun and at least an outline of the sundial, so I say take the dime for now and look for another fugio
Mr_Spud
So how much more is the next step up?
Fugio for sure. I see the dimes for sale all the time, but rarely see the nicer fugio's.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Both coins are at the upper limit of my budget, I am starting to lean toward the Fugio. I understand what @Mr_Spud is saying, but I'm worried about never finding another in my price range.
Or save this years budget, and next year you then have more $ and might have enough to get a decent Fugio.
Time flies… I’d go with the Fugio.
Tougher coin IMHO.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Fugio by a long shot. Why? I can only repeat what's already been said.
The Fugio has
--- a rich history
--- a pleasing combination of uncommonly problem-free good looks and passage through many hands engaged in colonial
commerce; perhaps Franklin's.
--- scarcity, especially in the category of eye appeal
The dime has
--- a rather off-putting color that I would describe as mild staining.
--- ease of replacement. If you don't get this one, another will come along.
Of course, others may disagree with one point or another. And I respect that. (I add that I am putting together a matched set of Mercs, VF-35-ish. I don't plan on getting any overdates, but if I was, I would wait for a coin displaying original medium silver.)
Whit
No disrespect as I'm not familiar with the values or grades for these coins. What is your budget and what more would the next grades up cost?
I’d take the over date dime. It’s a classic rarity and has an attractive look, especially the reverse. The fugio is too worn for my tastes. Being slabbed is no benefit at all for the fugio.
If I were in your shoes i would guess the argument goes something like this. "I am determined to build a great set of Mercury Dimes but i don't want to have that cost me all opportunities to aquire other interesting coins. On the other hand, the overdate is a key date and those mean you have to fight between when and if you can afford one and will you be able to afford one again in the future? Meanwhile the cent is probably a one shot chance and you are not well versed in them so it is harder to know if you will get other chances with that one." My instinct is to get the job finished so i would go with the dime. Either way i hope however it works out you end up smiling. James
Not sure what is meant here by “set”. Collecting objective has more to do with the choice - are you just accumulating interesting coins? The Fugio is far and away more interesting IMO, but as I wrote earlier, I don’t like that particular Fugio. I don’t collect by date, so the dime isn’t particularly interesting except as a curiosity, unless one is trying to collect the series. I didn’t look closely at the condition of the dime, but neither coin is compelling. A bargain coin is often like most any other bargain, a waste of money.
Well, here is my story . . . I've collected since I was a kid with Whitman albums, they are mostly full. Now that I am retired and have the money and time, I am concentrating on two areas now. I am putting together a mostly AU PCGS slabbed type set and a low grade PCGS key date set (that would finally cover the holes in my Whitman albums). The dime would be for my key date set, the Fugio would be one of the only non-AU coins for my type set. My budget for these coins is completely voluntary, with A LOT of input from my wife
. I agree the Fugio obverse it pretty worn but much tougher to find in this price range. Still not sure which one to buy. Heading to the Baltimore show next week, if I can't find anything else on my Type Set or Key Date want list (A nice twenty cent piece is my number one goal with an MS67 1964 Kennedy half dollar as number two) I will visit the dealer who has both of these coins and decide with them in my hands. He does take credit cards, so BOTH maybe an option! I am also thinking of selling my Whitman albums (I have them all) and only collecting PCGS slabs, especially since none of my kids care about coins 
, but that is another story.
Now that I am retired and have the money and time...My budget for these coins is completely voluntary, with A LOT of input from my wife
...I will visit the dealer who has both of these coins and decide with them in my hands. He does take credit cards, so BOTH maybe an option! I am also thinking of selling my Whitman albums (I have them all) and only collecting PCGS slabs, especially since none of my kids care about coins 
, but that is another story.
Based on what you just said. I vote for finding a nicer Fugio which would be a long term holding.
Buy them both as they both have a lot going for them.
Interesting comparison. I'm in the dime camp.
I plan on scouting the whole show before going to the table that has these two coins, maybe I will be out of money by then!
I was going to respond until I read Jeremy's @airplanenut response. Almost exactly what I was thinking.
“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
Yes.
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Well, the show is almost upon me. I am going to try to get to as many tables as I can before visiting the one with both coins. I thank everyone for their comments. I do have some coins on my want list that rank higher than these two (20 cent piece, capped bust quarter, MS67 1964 Kennedy, and a few more). So I guess I'll try to find those before deciding.
I think you just made a decision. One of the most valuable skills I learned (and it took a long time) was to be able to go to a show and not buy anything. Just because you're at a show doesn't mean you have to spend money. If you're not sure enough now--after considering the coins yourself and with the many comments here--that you want one of those two coins, I'd take that as a pretty strong indication that you won't be disappointed if you don't acquire either one. And if that's the case, wait until you find example(s) where you feel strongly that they're the ones you want.