A summary of my summer 2026 collecting efforts. Update 1937 proofs are graded; see photos.
SanctionII
Posts: 13,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have posted multiple threads on new acquisitions I have made this summer. In this thread I summarize same and as grade results and Trueview photos become available I will give updates.
Suffice it to say, my visits to local shows and a local shop have rewarded me with some very nice coins that will expand and improve my 1936-1942 proof Registry Set, and possibly improve my 1950-1964 proof Registry Set.
I have acquired raw proof sets for the years 1937, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1962. All five coins in the 37, 38, 39, 42 and 51 sets are being graded. The halves in these sets have a Cameo appearance and some may even be so designated. The 37, 38 and 39 nickels are multicolored two sided toners, with the 38 being the FS-403 variety. The 37, 38 and 39 cents are fiery orange/red and have frosted devices. The 42 quarter has lightly frosted obverse devices and partially frosted reverse devices.
The 52 and 53 sets have halves with a Cameo appearance that IMO are lock Cameos. The 52 set has a multicolored dime that IMO Is a lock toned Cameo. The 53 cent is fiery orange/red and is the DDO FS-101 variety.
The 55 set and the 57 set have quarters that IMO are lock Cameos. The 56 set has a Type 1 half the is a possible Cameo. The 62 set has a nickel that IMO is a DCAM.
The coins mentioned above have been sent to our host in stages. I expect all coins to be graded and returned by the end of October or early November.
The 1942 half is back with me. It graded PF65, no CAM. The Trueview does not show the coin as it looks in hand.
Your thoughts.
As more coins are graded and returned I will update this thread.
Have fun with your coins!!!!!
Comments
Very nice purchases so far, and there's still four months left in the year!
You and I seem to collect and build registry sets the same way, with a preference to finding raw examples and having them graded. It's a very fun challenge.
Collector, occasional seller
I believe my assessment was PR66 non-cameo. Can you offer some in-hand insight as to what held it back, maybe marks or strike??
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Maywood.
Your PF66 non-cameo guess was very close. There are some hairlines in the obverse field above In God We Trust which probably caused the grader to opine a 65 grade. I would not disagree with a 66 grade however as I have seen many PF66 half dollars with similar hairlines.
As for a Cameo designation, I thought the coin had a chance at receiving same. The devices on both sides have heavy, even frost, including the sun, the sun's rays and the rocky crag on which the eagle sits. IMO what denied the designation is the fields. They are mirrored, but not of sufficient depth (i.e. like the fields on Skyman's 1938 PF66CAM). My cell phone photos of the coin (both in and out of the slab) do show the coin fairly well as it appears in hand. Depending on how the coin is tilted into the light and depending on what type of light is present the appearance of the fields shifts from deep mirrors to impaired.
Unfortunately this Trueview photo of the coin does not show the fields very well.
I am sitting at my desk, under fluorescent lighting looking at the coin in the slab as I type this reply. Under my office lighting the fields look much better than they do in the Trueview photo.
In any event, this proof half dollar is one of the best looking, Ricko Approved BW, 1942 half dollars I have ever seen (due to the heavy frost on all of the devices). When viewed under halogen lighting the coin really pops as the fields appear to be deeply mirrored and black,
Does the cameo designation require a specific reflectivity depth of the mirrored fields?
PCGS’ guide to the designation only mentions the level of frost on the devices:
https://www.pcgs.com/news/what-are-the-differences-between-designations
CACG’s standards also only mention device frost and say nothing regarding the fields.
Superb collections are built more by omission than by addition.
I have seen in hand a variety of Sanction's pickups, and they are quite nice looking coins. Congratulations, K!!!
U.S. Type Set
Kevin, fluorescent light might be the worst source for assessing coins, and especially bad when it comes to hairline detection. A “harder” light source would be better. 😇
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
Maywood. Agreed. However my landlord and his property manager would deny a request to change the lights in my office.
Here are better photos of the 1942 half that show how it looks in hand under good lighting.
Seems that the assigned grade is appropriate.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
TTT.
The Proof coins I now have in at our host for grading are:
Received 7-17-2026
1942 1C
1942 5C
1942 10C
1942 25C
1952 10C
1952 25C - Superbird Variety
1955 25C
1951 50C
1956 50C - Type 1
1957 50C
Received 8-5-2026
1937 1C
1937 5C
1937 10C
1937 25C
1937 50C
Received 8-31-2026
1939 1C
1939 5C
1939 10C
1939 25C
1951 1C
1951 5C
1951 10C
1951 25C
1952 1C
1953 1C - DDO, FS-101
1957 25C
1962 5C
Received 8-31-2026
1938 5C - DDO, FS-403
1938 10C
I
1938 25C
1938 50C
1939 50C
1951 50C
1952 50C
1953 50C
I will also be sending a 1938 Proof cent in for grading soon.
Results should post between early October and December.
Regardless of grades and designations that may or may not be received, these coins are a smorgasboard of really nice raw coins I have found at local shows and a local shop since early June.
The coins include four varieties (53 cent, 38 nickel, 52 quarter and 56 half); rainbow toners (the 37, 38 and 39 nickel); blazing red/orange coins (37, 38, 39, 42, 51, 52 and 53 cents) and silver coins that are a frosty black and white (37, 38, 39, 51, 52, 53 and 57 halves); a frosted 56 Type 1 half; 55 and 57 quarters; a unicorn (a 42 quarter with lightly frosted obverse devices and moderately frosted reverse devices); and a possible DCAM 1962 nickel.
Looking forward to receiving the grade results.
TTT.
One coin that I did not mention above is a 1952 PF68CAM Roosevelt Dime that I submitted to our host in July for Restoration.
The prior TrueView photo of that coin is this one:
As you can see the coin exhibits a spot on it above FDR's head (the story about this spot is a long one).
Today I was notified that the coin is finished with the restoration process and will be heading back to me. A new TrueView photo of the coin showed up today. It is this one:
Hopefully Restoration will have has resulted in the spot being at least minimized. Looking forward to having this coin back in my possession.
I look forward to seeing your results.
The five 1937 Proof Set coins received by our host on 8-5-2026 have finally moved from Order Entry into Grading as of today.
The five 1937 Proof Set coins have moved from Grading to Encapsulation as of today.
There are no requirements for the depth of the mirrors, but there must be significant/sufficient field to device contrast. It is incredibly subjective. A light frost is usually not sufficient although there are outliers just as there is variation with other designations and grading, etc.
The ten coins received on 7-17-2026 today went from Order Entry into Grading.
Exciting! Getting closer!
Collector, occasional seller
Today the five 1937 proof coins went from Encapsulation to QA.
wow
The 1937 nickel graded PF66. The other four coins graded PF64.
Photos will post later.
Looking forward to the pics.
Here are the Trueview photos of the 5 coins in the 1937 Proof Set.
The cent, nickel and half dollar are very eye appealing. The frosted devices and mirrored fields of the cent and the half dollar look better in hand under good lighting than the appear in the photos. The nickel has multicolored toning that does not show in the photo as well as they appear in hand under good lighting.
The ten coins received on 7-17-2026 will likely see grades and photos post later this month.
Thats a nice group. I thought they would grade much higher but what can you do!
Student of numismatics and collector of Morgan dollars
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Nice set but tough grades.