This reminds me of Daryl Vaudt, a San Antonio coin dealer I bought a lot of coins from in the 90's. He would show me a new coin he'd bought, and I'd ask what he thought it graded. He would reply, "it grades $100."
You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
I like that raised dot on Miss Liberty's neck. It was from a compass point used to lay out the stars in a perfect circle.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
So here's a story about a nice circulated coin in my collection. It's nothing lofty, but I love it all the same. When I first started going after a set of Mercury dimes, my goal was simply to fill an album with low grade coins. To that end, one of the first raw coins I picked up was a very worn 1921-D. This was at a stage in my collecting career when I knew very little about the finer points of coins, but I had read somewhere that as a key date, there was a chance it had been counterfeited. So I gave the coin a careful examination with a 10X loupe, and to my surprise I found a little fin of metal running between the rim and the base of Liberty's neck. What was this? Some nefarious artifact of casting?
Of course, though I didn't know it at the time, it was only a die crack. But my questions about that specific coin led me to the first stages of learning a lot more about Mercs and a lot more about coins in general.
So, when I decided to start assembling a graded set of dimes, I wanted to get another 21-D that had that same die crack. It took me a long time to find one I liked, but here it is.
What I really like about this dime (besides the die crack) is that It has the perfect medium gray color for circulated silver. The wear is remarkably even and pleasant, resulting in really attractive surfaces.
The only real drawback is a small green spot on the reverse, above the M in AMERICA. It doesn't appear to be PVC or anything active, and it isn't visible to the naked eye. I'm guessing maybe it's just a bit of residue from a spot of verdigris that was knocked off the surface.
Thanks to all who posted your coins and commentary.
I especially enjoyed the objective-sounding assessments, the background information regarding the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of your coins and the memories they’ve provided.
And I congratulate you for not disclosing the grades or discussing values. Who would have thought that possible? 😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@Bikergeek = those 1811/9 dimes have alot of character. The overdate on the obverse is so cool along but on yours obverse seems to have what appears to be metal movement when struck above the cap. Also, intersecting die cracks on the reverse cross at the Eagle's head is so cool as well. Most have very interest characteristics and each example are all different in consistency. I love that yours is well struck reverse on at the arrows. Very nice coin.
This is one of my favorite coins. Ever since I was a little kid going through rolls of pennies I’ve always wanted a 55 DDO. The County of Los Angeles used to have live auctions with coins from estates a few times a year. Most of the coins were bullion and they would sell for ridiculous prices. Every once in a while they had lots with coin sets in albums. The people who attended these auctions for the most part had no interest in sets especially Lincoln’s. I won an almost complete set of Lincolns which included this coin and a 1909-S VDB in an old Whitman Album for a ridiculously low price. It was impossible for me to lose because I was the only bidder. I submitted this coin and the S VDB to PCGS and both coins were authentic and straight graded.
I like this Vermont Ryder 2, in part because it was once owned by Tony Terranova, a legend in the realm of colonial coins. I also like it because of its pleasing color and the relative lack of planchet flaws, not easy to find in 1785 Vermont Landscapes. Additionally, it was struck with misaligned dies, so it’s kind of cool to see what I believe to be the original planchet texture due to the near total lack of a strike on close to one half of each side.
At the same time I wish it was more fully struck, as I’ve never been able to find a relatively unflawed Ryder 2 with choice color and a full strike. Of course if it was fully struck, it would have been 3-4x what I actually paid for it.
In all, a cool coin for what I paid.
Other passions include golf, Moto Guzzi motorcycles, and Euro motorcycles in general.
Chris
Started some 20 odd years ago collecting IHC's with a woodie finish and did fairly well until funds became unavailable and had to sell most of them. This finish was simply gorgeous to me, while distasteful to others. Loved the strike on this coin and the coloration. The 08, 08S and 09 were always my favorite and the most regrettable selling. JMO
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
Comments
This reminds me of Daryl Vaudt, a San Antonio coin dealer I bought a lot of coins from in the 90's. He would show me a new coin he'd bought, and I'd ask what he thought it graded. He would reply, "it grades $100."
I like that raised dot on Miss Liberty's neck. It was from a compass point used to lay out the stars in a perfect circle.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
What a great idea for a thread!
So here's a story about a nice circulated coin in my collection. It's nothing lofty, but I love it all the same. When I first started going after a set of Mercury dimes, my goal was simply to fill an album with low grade coins. To that end, one of the first raw coins I picked up was a very worn 1921-D. This was at a stage in my collecting career when I knew very little about the finer points of coins, but I had read somewhere that as a key date, there was a chance it had been counterfeited. So I gave the coin a careful examination with a 10X loupe, and to my surprise I found a little fin of metal running between the rim and the base of Liberty's neck. What was this? Some nefarious artifact of casting?
Of course, though I didn't know it at the time, it was only a die crack. But my questions about that specific coin led me to the first stages of learning a lot more about Mercs and a lot more about coins in general.
So, when I decided to start assembling a graded set of dimes, I wanted to get another 21-D that had that same die crack. It took me a long time to find one I liked, but here it is.
What I really like about this dime (besides the die crack) is that It has the perfect medium gray color for circulated silver. The wear is remarkably even and pleasant, resulting in really attractive surfaces.
The only real drawback is a small green spot on the reverse, above the M in AMERICA. It doesn't appear to be PVC or anything active, and it isn't visible to the naked eye. I'm guessing maybe it's just a bit of residue from a spot of verdigris that was knocked off the surface.
Thanks to all who posted your coins and commentary.
I especially enjoyed the objective-sounding assessments, the background information regarding the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of your coins and the memories they’ve provided.
And I congratulate you for not disclosing the grades or discussing values. Who would have thought that possible? 😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
@Bikergeek = those 1811/9 dimes have alot of character. The overdate on the obverse is so cool along but on yours obverse seems to have what appears to be metal movement when struck above the cap. Also, intersecting die cracks on the reverse cross at the Eagle's head is so cool as well. Most have very interest characteristics and each example are all different in consistency. I love that yours is well struck reverse on at the arrows. Very nice coin.
This is one of my favorite coins. Ever since I was a little kid going through rolls of pennies I’ve always wanted a 55 DDO. The County of Los Angeles used to have live auctions with coins from estates a few times a year. Most of the coins were bullion and they would sell for ridiculous prices. Every once in a while they had lots with coin sets in albums. The people who attended these auctions for the most part had no interest in sets especially Lincoln’s. I won an almost complete set of Lincolns which included this coin and a 1909-S VDB in an old Whitman Album for a ridiculously low price. It was impossible for me to lose because I was the only bidder. I submitted this coin and the S VDB to PCGS and both coins were authentic and straight graded.
I like this Vermont Ryder 2, in part because it was once owned by Tony Terranova, a legend in the realm of colonial coins. I also like it because of its pleasing color and the relative lack of planchet flaws, not easy to find in 1785 Vermont Landscapes. Additionally, it was struck with misaligned dies, so it’s kind of cool to see what I believe to be the original planchet texture due to the near total lack of a strike on close to one half of each side.
At the same time I wish it was more fully struck, as I’ve never been able to find a relatively unflawed Ryder 2 with choice color and a full strike. Of course if it was fully struck, it would have been 3-4x what I actually paid for it.
In all, a cool coin for what I paid.
Other passions include golf, Moto Guzzi motorcycles, and Euro motorcycles in general.
Chris
Started some 20 odd years ago collecting IHC's with a woodie finish and did fairly well until funds became unavailable and had to sell most of them. This finish was simply gorgeous to me, while distasteful to others. Loved the strike on this coin and the coloration. The 08, 08S and 09 were always my favorite and the most regrettable selling. JMO
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