1879-1891 SLHD subset journey…

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Leeroybrown
Leeroybrown Posts: 516 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited September 5, 2025 9:33AM in U.S. Coin Forum

What. A. Journey…

Unless you have walked this road yourself, you cannot fully appreciate the challenge associated with putting the subset of 1879-1891 together. And I would say as well that putting it together in VF or below even adds further to the challenge at hand.

It has taken me two years to assemble this amazing Seated liberty half dollar subset all in lower grades, which is a rarity for all of these dates in and of itself.

, With that said, would love to know thoughts on the below picture of my completed subset and also would be interested in hearing stories from you all if you have walked a similar journey as well.

See below:

Comments

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I can't help but wonder where you sourced your coins. I put a 35-45 set together in the early 2000's. At that time Dick Osburn was still an active dealer which made things a lot easier . James
    PS Congrats. I am a circulated boy thru & thru so like something like this better than an uncirculated set.

  • LJenkins11
    LJenkins11 Posts: 868 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Great looking set!

  • Crusty
    Crusty Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congrats! I don’t do halves but I know how tough these can be. Which one is your favorite?

  • jesbroken
    jesbroken Posts: 11,252 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wonderful set, just to think these coins all circulated in day to day business over 100+ years ago. Fantastic, Congrats.
    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
  • RichieURich
    RichieURich Posts: 8,640 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    What a great set this is!!! When I started collecting Seated Liberty half dollars in the 1970's, I started collecting just this set. It took a long time to find the 1882 and the 1887. I don't recall the grades of my coins now, but they were all circulated, just like yours. Congratulations on completing a difficult subset of the Seated Half Dollars!!!

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • Catbert
    Catbert Posts: 8,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Awesome collection along with the sweat expended to build it. Way to go! <3

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
  • Catbert
    Catbert Posts: 8,258 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Your collecting journey would be a nice article for the E-Gobrecht newsletter. Consider a submission?

    Seated Half Society member #38

    "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress,
    running like a water color in the rain...."
  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @RichieURich . My set took 17 years to complete but funds played a big role.
    Funny thing about memory. I got my first piece and my last piece from Dick Osburn but almost all the rest were thru Teletrade. I just don't remember it that way. James

  • Project Numismatics
    Project Numismatics Posts: 1,886 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Wow - fantastic!! Love the look on all of these - excellent work!

  • ElmerFusterpuck
    ElmerFusterpuck Posts: 4,908 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Good job! Still on that journey, need the 1881, 1884 and 1886.

    10-4,
    Erik
    My registry sets

    My Instagram pictures
  • Crusty
    Crusty Posts: 1,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Leeroybrown are you planning to send the non cac coins to the sticker factory? If you have not done so, you should consider it.

  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Congrats!

    That’s a great looking set. Most collectors don’t realize how difficult it is to find these dates that are both circulated and attractive and they’re not cheap.

  • pcgsregistrycollector
    pcgsregistrycollector Posts: 2,325 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Have all of them been to CAC @Leeroybrown

    Proud follower of Christ! I love the USA! Land of the Bright and Beautiful! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

  • JBN
    JBN Posts: 2,007 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That is a great set. Congratulations. Acquiring these low mintage dates in well circulated condition must have been a great challenge. One would think that the key date issues would have been pulled by a collector prior to this level of circulation. What a thrill it must have been for the collector who found these rare half dollars.

  • Leeroybrown
    Leeroybrown Posts: 516 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @pcgsregistrycollector said:
    Have all of them been to CAC @Leeroybrown

    No, they have not all been to cac.

  • Leeroybrown
    Leeroybrown Posts: 516 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ElmerFusterpuck said:
    Good job! Still on that journey, need the 1881, 1884 and 1886.

    What grades is your set?

  • johnnyb
    johnnyb Posts: 90 ✭✭✭
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    That’s an awesome set. These coins really didn’t circulate. I’m impressed that it only took two years to put together - but it’s awesome. That time period was a time of change, as electricity came into circulation (no pun intended) and we moved through reconstruction.

  • seatedlib3991
    seatedlib3991 Posts: 1,629 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ElmerFusterpuck . Thanks for your post. Made my whole morning. That 1887 is off the charts beautiful.
    Kudos on your collection. Was like a stroll down memory lane for me in some ways.
    I would like to mention in particular your 52-O in 40, 55-s in 30 ,57-S in 40 and the 64, 65 and 68 coins. People simple don't understand how HARD it is to find coins like those. Thanks again. James

  • Walkerfan
    Walkerfan Posts: 10,391 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Tough set indeed!

    Congratulations on your achievement!

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • skier07
    skier07 Posts: 4,833 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I love your 1887 too. Stacks recently had one for sale. It was a P/C 45 and it sold for $2700 and I was stunned.

  • Barberian
    Barberian Posts: 4,643 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Leeroybrown, you landed an 1890 in G4! Congrats!

    This is a tough set to complete in choice condition in lower grades. What amazes me is how quickly you put that together and they are all nice coins from what I've seen. I'm sure there are others that would sticker if submitted to CAC.

  • Barberian
    Barberian Posts: 4,643 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 7, 2025 1:10PM
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    @skier07 said:
    I love your 1887 too. Stacks recently had one for sale. It was a P/C 45 and it sold for $2700 and I was stunned.

    I chuckled as I knew it would go for moon money. Others have recently sold for well over $2K. My 1887 went for moon money at a FUN show even after knocking a half-moon off the price. 1887's are hard to find circulated and stickered. When I showed my example on this forum, members sent me PMs asking if it was for sale.

    NGC VG10 CAC

  • Barberian
    Barberian Posts: 4,643 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @ElmerFusterpuck said:

    @Leeroybrown said:

    @ElmerFusterpuck said:
    Good job! Still on that journey, need the 1881, 1884 and 1886.

    What grades is your set?

    1879: AU-55
    1880: XF-40
    1882: XF-45
    1883: MS-62 toned
    1885: XF-40
    1887: MS-64+ PL CAC with cameo, crown jewel
    1888: AU-50 CAC
    1889: XF-40
    1890: AU-55
    1891; AU-53

    Registry page if you want to look at them: https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/130886

    I enjoyed looking at your collection again, comparing your notes on each coin with my experiences collecting SLHs off of eBay. I also found the 1847-1852 dates to be scarce in nice mid-grades, presumably from melting. I still have a few to upgrade in that time period as well as some later- and post-Civil War dates.

  • MEJ7070
    MEJ7070 Posts: 951 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Terrific work. Love the look on these. Congratulations!

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