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A Complete Collection of Washington Carver Commemoratives
Clankeye
Posts: 3,928 ✭
Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
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Affordable and IMO historically and numismatically significant.
Speaking only to PCGS graded coins, the 1951 Carver ranks number 1 overall in lowest population in MS 65. There have been 99 graded to date. That's out of the entire 144 coin commemorative set. The 1953-D ranks fourth with a population of 132.
Beyond the numbers, the mintages, the certified populations-- is the history.
Think of where the US was in 1951 when these coins first appeared. Think of the the turmoil that was to come, and the incredible uphill battle of the civil rights movement.
I find the Carvers to be a fascinating piece of Americana, and I thought I would share my appreciation with you.
Clankeye
It may not be as high a technical grade as some of the others, but it looks like it's from a brand new die.
Morgan Dollar Aficionado & Vammer
Current Set: Morgan Hit List 40 VAM Set
Clankeye
The images are different sizes so they don't line up evenly on the right. Please fix that.
Russ, NCNE
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I have had many opportunities to upgrade those coins individually to MS 65. But, an eye appealing matching toned set of Carvers is a relatively scarce item, and I appreciate it on that level more than if I just found higher graded coins.
Clankeye
ps. consecutive numbers are easy to get, as I am sure you know.
Nice set!
I have a few, myself.
Don
U.S. Nickels Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
U.S. Dimes Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
IMO the 54-D is a no question 65. I just really don't have the desire to resubmit at this time.
Russ--everything has to line up on the right to you, doesn't it?
Clankeye
<< <i>Russ--everything has to line up on the right to you, doesn't it? >>
I did note that they do automatically line up on the left. Clearly, the developer of html was a pinko.
Russ, NCNE
z
<< <i>ps. consecutive numbers are easy to get, as I am sure you know. >>
Yes, I have a 53 set in at PCGS right now. It will come back conseq #'ed but will not be a true matched set, because the coins come from different sources. Also, their surfaces are subtly different.
You will see Carvers and other PDS commemorative series coins offered as matched sets some times when they obviously are not.
How much of a premium is a matched set worth? That depends on the buyer. It's one of those areas of numismatics like pedigrees, die varieties and even original packaging... it's worth what's it's worth to you. But, generally, you will find others are out there with the same appreciation--so not many free lunches will be found.
Clankeye
Everyone, say it with me, together:
"Carver-Washington"
There. That's better...
Oh, I don't think I'll ever quite be done with the Carvers. They seem to be imprinted on my brain.
Someone asked me in a thread on the darkside if I was trying to put together the "perfect" set. This was my answer:
I'm not trying to assemble the perfect set. I could upgrade a couple of the coins today if I was so inclined.
I'm mostly trying to put together a set with character. One that reminds me where I was, what I was doing at the time I purchased a particular coin, one that I recognize as something special I put together for myself.
On that level, so far I am succeeding.
I am not trying to present this as any end-all Carver set. Many could be put together, and probably already exist that are nicer. It's just my set. And I wanted to show it with that simple pride of ownership that people get about their "things" sometimes.
Clankeye
Its been so long that I've even thought about it, I do believe it's good to know.
Hey - great set of coins with a very interesting history behind them. Very nicely matched and nice original looking coins as opposed to the typical washed out white coins with lots of dings that you see in this series. I'm very glad to see that you're still a lightsider and that the darkside hasn't totally corrupted you
Great looking set Clankeye,
Thanks for sharing.
Pushkin
After I told him of my interest in the coins, he looked at me and said "We in the United States commemorative society voted those the ugliest coins." ...Okay. I waited. That's pretty much all he had to say. Rodney Dangerfield and Carver collectors. We don't get no respect.
I can't tell you how many times I have heard "Nobody wants to buy those things" from various dealers. And I don't doubt that's true after seeing your 1000th washed out 52P being offered to you.
One thing that doesn't do the "Carver-Washington" commems any favor is that the mintage of the 52-P is over a million coins. There are tons of them, and yeah, it ain't that pretty at all.
But, the complete series is fun. It's got key dates (the 53-D) low mintages, tough coins to find with eye appeal (the D mints) and some low ceritfied pops in gem.
Okay, I've said my peace about Carvers today. I'd like to thank you all for the nice words, and reading the thread.
Clankeye
Now (and I'm sure you knew this was coming
On a side note, I'll bet if you had a Capital Plastics holder made for them and cracked those babies out it would really be a sight to see.
Edit to add.... and where are the darn fingerprints? This is ridiculous!!!!
Thanks for the compliment.
I know you're kidding, but just for the heck of it--The 1952 PDS coins are all in the older green holders. The rest of them are the newer blue holders. No "rattler" holders in this group. From what I've seen of late PCGS is grading these coins fairly tight. Not "unfairly"--just fairly tight. I like it that way.
It would be a cool looking set to put into a Capitol Plastics holder someday. At the moment though the thing is still fluid--I have a 53P in for grading right now that will probably replace the one pictured.
But, I have to agree with you, a nice set of coins in a CP holder can be a thing of beauty.
Clankeye
Your assessment that these coins get no respect at all is right on the mark. (I am, however, unsure if your self assessment that you get no respect, is accurate...potentially you get all the respect you deserve???
I have been searching for "blast white" MS65's Carvers for a loooooong time and they are so hard to find. I guess no one thinks it worth their time to dip these things. Alternatively, no one thinks it worth their time to show them off. So, given the futile nature of my search, I can TRULY appreciate the work you put into yours to acquire such a pretty matched set of coins. What a nice set of coins.
I think you ought to put together a similar set of BTW's. Having these two large sets so well matched would be truly impressive and it's clear that if anyone can achieve that goal, you can.
Mark
<< <i>I think you ought to put together a similar set of BTW's. >>
Thanks for the compliments, Mark. I have been thinking maybe I will move back into the Bookers now too. At one time, I did have a complete set of them, but the coin never quite got under my skin the way the Carvers did.
I am still kind of kicking myself for not buying a real nice 1947-D Booker at the Portland show. It was PCGS 65--a coin with a total population of 260 in that grade--and it was under $100. Not just the price--but how hard they are to find nice--I'm still kicking myself.
Someday people are going to look back at a time when you could get a classic commemorative, graded MS65, with a population under 300 total pieces for $100 or less and choke.
I do know where that coin is, and I'm going to go find it again. Maybe I'll make that the start of my Booker T set.
Clankeye
Clankeye, an absolutely wonderful set. You have taken what I considered a very common commem and created a very uncommon set. Thanks for sharing. I've seen some of them posted in the past but to see them together is something very special.
Thank you, sir! This thread has been very fun for me. Here's a little secret--I have them all sitting out on my desk right now. I'm just in that play with your coins mood--and when they come together as a set, they really are rather beautiful.
Clankeye
I know what you mean about how much more beautiful a set can be versus individual coins. Every Christmas I remove from the safety deposit box my set of proofs from 1936 to 1942 and assemble this set on the dining room table. I call my family to look at the coins. In truth, they take a glance and more or less immediately disappear but I can look at the coins for hours. Sets like your Carver set are so stunning. Perhaps you might want to see what your family thinks of it? If so, I truly hope you get a better reception that I get.
Mark
09/07/2006