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Congratulations "Just Having Fun" On The New #1 Jefferson Set!
wondercoin
Posts: 16,759 ✭✭✭✭✭
Congratulations goes out to "Just Having Fun" on the new #1 Mint State 1938-1964 Jefferson Nickel collection! What an incredible collection it is. The 1938-1964 collection with varieties will also be registered in the near future, as well as the Mint State 1965-date series.
A significant portion of the coins in this 1938-1964 collection I believe pedigree to the landmark PCGS MS Jefferson Nickel collections of Steve Heller (Registrycoin), Steve Pierce (golfpkg) and Mr. Mint. All three of these individuals were pioneers in the pursuit of the very finest PCGS MS Jefferson Nickels and I believe greatly contributed to the success of the Jefferson Nickel Registry, each in their own unique way. This "Just Having Fun" Jefferson Nickel collection is just another chapter in the great story of how top grade MS Jeffersons were placed "on the map" as great classic coins to collect.
Congratulations again Just Having Fun!
Wondercoin
New #1 1938-1964 Jeff collection
PS - I know Just Having Fun will be preparing a special comment for the collection in the near future as well.
A significant portion of the coins in this 1938-1964 collection I believe pedigree to the landmark PCGS MS Jefferson Nickel collections of Steve Heller (Registrycoin), Steve Pierce (golfpkg) and Mr. Mint. All three of these individuals were pioneers in the pursuit of the very finest PCGS MS Jefferson Nickels and I believe greatly contributed to the success of the Jefferson Nickel Registry, each in their own unique way. This "Just Having Fun" Jefferson Nickel collection is just another chapter in the great story of how top grade MS Jeffersons were placed "on the map" as great classic coins to collect.
Congratulations again Just Having Fun!
Wondercoin
New #1 1938-1964 Jeff collection
PS - I know Just Having Fun will be preparing a special comment for the collection in the near future as well.
Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
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Comments
MS Buffalo
MS 1951
Superb.
Tony
Web: www.tonyharmer.org
Yes, the set is incredible. My personal favorites are the complete run of MS68FS coins, as well as the block of coins from 1952-1956 (they are so tough).
Wondercoin.
wow
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
The Ludlow Brilliant Collection (1938-64)
Nick
William S. Burroughs, Cities of the Red Night
Well after checking the registry for the 1965-date series. IMO It would be impossible to over take Ray Overby's # 1 spot.
Ray currently has 12 pop 1/0 coins in that set and there are only 11 upgrades possible to better his set. Am I seeing
this wrong?.
Onlyroosies
Up until a few years ago, it was my experience that only a few serious 1938-64 Jeff collectors pursued the modern nickels. For example, neither Registrycoin nor Mr Mint cared to collect them seriously. Ray, on the other hand, had the foresight to "get in early" on the modern nickels and has put together a world class modern MS Jeff collection. However, I know for a fact that JHF's modern nickel set is also, overall, a first rate collection, with many pop 1 coins. It should be a lot of fun building upon the modern collection in the years ahead. As I mentioned on another thread involving building sets today, modern MS Jeffs are one of my personal favorite "sleeper" collections. I believe there are several "five figure" coins in the set already in gem FS grade and the series has not even begun to get "hot" yet.
Wondercoin
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
Wondercoin
I would travel anywhere to view "JHF" Quarter or Jeff. set.
Mitch, What an incredible opportunity you have to be working with such an elite collector and having a hand in building such
great collections. My hats off to you....
Nick
The best accomplishment so far. It would be impossible to surpass without some other collectors
giving up their prizes, and for this set to dissolve.
I've only hoped to get in the top ten someday with an FS heavy set.
I love my Jeffersons!
Boston Bob
BOSTON BOB'S
No question, there is great things ahead for the Jeff series.
Nick - Thanks
Wondercoin
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
Thanks for the acknowlegement of my set. I still have a real kicker to come for this set.
Won't say until it is in my hands.
Bob
Hey guys, for what it's worth, some history on this set: I was merrily collecting Jefferson nickels, buying one by one, upgrading by grade and by steps, just having an absolute gas on my own. I was making occasional smart buys and a ton of dumb mistakes. That's my style.
And from nowhere I got an e-mail from this guy asking me if I was a serious collector of Jefferson nickels. I answered something like "yes, and who the h_ll are you, and how in h_ll did you get my name and e-address?"
That was how Mr. Wondercoin and I met one another.
Anyway, I had put together a pretty nice collection by then and Mitch said he had (or was agent to sell, I don't remember which) the #1 set of Jefferson Nickels in the world. A Mr. Mint had built a great collection ... sold it to a Steve Pierce who upgraded it and sold it to a guy named Steve Heller who upgraded it. I was skeptical because I was having so much fun collecting the coins one by one, I hated the idea of buying a collection like that complete. It would sort of stop the fun.
But I loved the historical way Mitch spoke about the set and thought it would be interesting to see it and get a feel for how that set blended with mine. He flew to my home town to show me the set. The two sets blended well and after some heated and at times acrimonious debate on the quality (and hence the price) of some of the coins, I bought the set. And that combination of the Mr. Mint/Steve Pierce/Steve Heller set blended with mine was the basis for the set you see posted.
I was wrong about killing the fun. Since then I've been continuing to upgrade the set one by one and it's been a bear. One of the problems has been some of the upgrades really aren't upgrades and I didn't want to buy plastic; I wanted the coins. When Mitch puts my set up on exhibit, you'll be able to judge for yourself how well I've succeeded. Gosh I've sure tried hard.
Oooops. Some business associates (not numismatists) just popped into my office here in Bangkok, and I have to go. Gotta make the money before I can spend it. So I have to go now. I will be back later and answer everybody's questions and speak to everyone's comments.
Thanks again guys and gals and ...
Enjoy!
Just having fun!
And, it was also fortunate you had been recently referred to me by someone you trusted
Yes, upgrading coins within the same grade, especially Jeffs, where the pursuit is always towards as close to "6 steppers" as possible, is as important an endeavor often times as achieving a numerical upgrade. The pursuit of great "strike" coins is why one might never stop "having fun" with MS Jeffs.
Wondercoin
P.S. Nick - I have also registered about 3/4+ of the modern MS Jeff collection now, however, a number of the coins I have been unable to register because the system is rejecting the cert numbers (and there are several slots where I had to register a coin in a lesser grade than the set truly contains). I'll have to get with Gayle on Tuesday.
Dear Man of Coins: No, the set's mine, not Mitch's. And no, it's beatable and it will be beaten. I'd like to get it up to perfecto at one time or another, but even then it will be beaten.
PCGS keeps on making new top of the line coins and only some of them are grade inflation. Many if not most are genuinely great coins. Lots and lots of great coins hiding out there raw and in NGC slabs. As these get graded, my collection will get pushed aside, hopefully by someone who's having a lot of fun doing it...
Thank you, Tony. Appreciated.
Dear Mitch: When I viewed the Registry Set listing, I was a stunned as Cool Karma, Man of Coins, and Tony Har. To see all those zero's in the "Better" column was a shocker to me, too. We done a good job, eh?
Enjoy!
Just having fun!
JHF couldn't be more correct in his assessment of the Registry situation. We are like in the bottom of the 2nd inning right now of a 9 inning "coin ballgame", when considering which Registry sets can and will be surpassed as "All-Time" finest. From memory, I seem to recall the 1999 written soft cover Registry book (there was no internet Registry just 4 years ago), in which Steve Pierce (golfpkg from ebay and these boards, although he hasn't been around here for a while - anyone know why?), had a fabulous MS Jeff nickel collection which was essentially described in that book as unbeatable. I am sure you can still view it in the All-Time list somewhere off the first page
I have no doubt in my mind that it is possible with MS Jeff nickels, with enough hard work and dedication to the series, that a collector of modest means can assemble over a reasonable period of time a "five to six figure+" impressive collection. And, this is due to the fact that, IMHO, many of the truly great Jeffs are still sitting in rolls, bags, 2x2 flips in dealer stock, etc. to be discovered. This is a series with incredible opportunity. Happy hunting!
Wondercoin
Thank you, Mr. Colorful for the pat on the back and for that great little motto: "People without vices tend to have annoying virtues" Alot of truth there.
Mitch: You have a scan of my 43-D in MS68 Full Steps. Do you think you could post that on my Registry Set? I think Mr. Colorful would love that coin with its incredible rainbows front and back.
Dear RGL: <<Magnificent taste, coins, and pocketbook>> Thank you! Yesm the coins make a magnificent set! And yes, they did cost a pretty penny, but not nearly as much as you'd think I'd have to shell out to piece together a world-class collection. Heck, one of the two reasons I started collected the Jefferson nickels was that they were inexpensive.
I was at a point where I was stuck on my Three Cent Nickel collection -- that had gotten up to a nice level and the new coins and upgrades were becoming few and far between. So I was getting bored with them. I started casting about for an interesting challenge to that wouldn't be expensive. I did my homework, and soon afterwards started digging into the Jefferson full steppers. It was exactly what I hoped for: An interesting challenge and one that didn't break the bank.
But let me be precise here about what I meant when I said "inexpensive." By that, I mean "undervalued." WAY undervalued.
Heck, consider my 54-S in MS67 Full Steps, the rarest and most expensive coin in my Jefferson nickel collection. By way of comparison, I was offered a single Buffalo nickel -- a key coin and a rarity, but not nearly as rare as the 54-S in MS67. And the asking price on the Buffalo nickel? From memory, I think it was 8 times what I paid for the 54-S. Eight times as much!
Now that's why I collected the Jeffersons, not the Buffalo nickels. The Buffalos -- which I loved as a kid and still do love -- are fully valued. The Jeffersons are way, way under the price levels that they'll command in 2 to 5 years.
That's all for now, guys. It's morning where you are; it's past midnight where I am.
Have fun and I'll see ya in the morning.
Just having fun!
Seems like a very good reason not to pay too much to acquire top pop modern coins!
heh, heh, heh! Couldn't resist!
NICKEL TRIUMPH.....NO STEPS
TDN: Agreed.
But, I will tell you this. When I put the deal together to buy S. Pierce's 1938-64 Jeff nickel collection several years ago, my buyer at that time (not JHF) passed on his 1965-date collection (if I am not mistaken, R. Overby likely bought it to form the core of his current spectacular collection). That modern nickel set, as well as the classic 1938-64 collection has, to date, increased in value on an annual basis as nicely most classic coins have, to be sure
I think we might agree that there are great opportunities in MS moderns, as there are great opportunities in MS classics and that there are, undoubtedly, also terrible modern buys and terrible classic buys.
Wondercoin
What a magnificent collection!! You are being very modest by saying this set may one-day be surpassed. I know how difficult it is finding full steppers to upgrade my collection. Upgrading your set will be far more challenging.
Congratulations on a truly fabulous set of full step Jeffersons.
Frank
My Jefferson Full Step Variety Set (1938 - Current)
My Jefferson Proof Variety Set (1938 - Current)
It's the bottom of the second but this is a six run lead.
Cladking - I'll give you that
A good portion of the modern collection is up by the way CK.
Wondercoin
Looks like there are only 9 possible upgrade coins at this point in time. Seven
or these are pop 1 coins! Wow!
Ken
<< <i>
A good portion of the modern collection is up by the way CK.
>>
There are lots more great coins in this set. link
link added
Wondercoin
Dear Mr. Only Roosies: Yes, it's been a lot of fun and I agree with you: I doubt I'll be able to overtake Ray Overby's #1 spot in the '65-to-the-present Jefferson's. I got into the second half of the series pretty late in the game and by the time I did, many of the top coins were nailed down by others. But I'm going to enjoy the hunt for the top coins in the series nonetheless. To me, it's not competitive. I get enough competition in business to last me two lifetimes. I like to relax and enjoy myself with coins.
And my hat is off to Ray; he's a thoughtful and intelligent collector; it's nice that someone like him has the #1 slot in '65-to-present.
Dear Clad King: I have a pretty-good collection in the Jefferson nickels 65-to-present, but I think I'm much better in the clad quarters.
Nice to meet you, too, BNE and thank you for your nice comment. To tell the truth, when I first visited the Registry Set that Mitch (Mr. Wondercoin) posted for me on the Jeffersons, I was as stunned as you to see how few coins away from "perfection" I was. Perfection in quotes because the schtickt of the Registry Sets is that none of the NGC (or ANACS) coins will top the ones in PCGS slabs, and I know that ain't true. At least one of my best nickels came from an ANACS slab and it not only crossed but upgraded. I've had the same experience with NGC slabs, but not in the nickels.
Thank you, Datentype. CAn I take it you like hockey?
Best from Bangkok,
Just having fun
Dear Colorful Coins:
You don't see all of my collections because some of my best coins are in NGC holders. PCGS hasn't crossed them and I haven't seen their equal (or better) in an PCGS slab. I don't see the point in spending thousands or even upwards of ten thousand to get an inferior coin just to qualify for PCGS's registry set.
I don't want to get into an NGC/PCGS type of thing. I do prefer the PCGS slabs -- they're usually far more reliable. Indeed, when I buy an NGC slab sight unseen, I mentally subtract off somewhere between a quarter and a half of a point from their grade and bid accordingly. But that doesn't mean that NGC doesn't get some coins that are both dazzlers and accurately graded. I'm happy to buy those coins for my collection, regardless of the brand of plastic.
My best collection is of the US-Philippine coins, minted from 1903 to 1945, inclusive. They were the perfect US coins for me; incredibly scarce in any form of unc condition; so they were (and are) the funnest challenge I ever had in coin collecting.
And they were AMAZINGLY undervalued. I got a 1918-S Large S cent in MS 63 off E-Bay (Population 12 in UNC of any grade) for under $300. To put that in perspective, the 1918-S large S is the key coin in the US-PHilippine cent series, and is comparable in difficulty to the 1914/13 Buffalo nickel. But it isn't even 1/100th the price.
So I figure, as with the Jefferson nickels, the US-PHilippines have nowhere to go pricewise but up. It may not happen in my lifetime, but it surely will happen. Something nice to leave my kids.
Best wishes,
Just having fun!
Dear Trade Dollar Nut:
<<Seems like a very good reason not to pay too much to acquire top pop modern coins!>>
Isn't that the truth! Those pop's are born to rise; the prices of the 1/0 moderns, born to fall. You have to be nuts (like I occasionally am) to shell out the bucks asked for some of those coins when you know the population is going to rise. Not to say I haven't done it; but then I never denied I wasn't nuts.
Dear GQ. Thanks and your question <<what does the FS mean behind the grade?>> is a killer.
It means one thing to an ANACS collector, another to an NGC collector, and a third to PCGS collectors. And if you ask the Jefferson Nickel Full Steps (FSNC) people, you'll get still a fourth answer. Won't don't you start a thread with that question and watch the fur fly? And if you don't want to, let me know and I'll start one.
Enjoy!
Just having fun!
Thank you so much. The thoughtful way you put your collection together was a genuine inspiration to me.
Warm regards,
Just Having Fun!
Dear Mitch:
Ugh. That sounds like a project and a half. What would need to be done on my end to enable you to post the pictures on your end?
Best,
Just Having Fun!
Wondercoin
at no charge. I live near Mitch and could coordinate with him. It would be my pleasure.
Nick
Congrats on the dream set of nickels. Do you know the pedigree of the 54-S? Bernard Nagengst has a beautiful fully struck 54-S pictured in his book (The Jefferson Nickel Analyst). I have wondered if that is the MS-67FS nickel that you now own.
Mark