finished my draped bust type set.
fishteeth
Posts: 2,263 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have been working on this set since 1999. The first coin was the 1807 dime and just today the 1800 half dime arrived. During this time I have looked at and purchashed many draped bust coins. As many of you know the half dime is the hard coin to find. In my 8 yrs of searching I learned a lot about the true rarity of nice bust coins:
The Bust dollars are fairly easy to find. nearly every show you can find a number of nice examples. The cost of these large cartwheels is high but when you hold one of these in your hand you can understand why people are willing to pay for them. In 8 yrs I found 2 for my set, would have bought more but financial constraint got the better of me.
The Bust halves are the easiest group to find. Prices have soared lately, but still can find a nice F-VF for under 400 dollars. In 8 yrs I bought all that I found that were nice F-VF and were reasonalby priced. Managed to find 12 for the set.
The Bust Quarters. These coins are much more difficult to locate. I found 3 decent VG-F examples for my set in 8 yrs. If you find a nice VG-F reasonalby priced buy it, they are not common.
The bust dimes. Try finding a nice in VG-VF without damage or very weak strike without paying way above sheet. I feel these are very underated. I luckily bought mine in the beggining of my search before prices went up.
The bust half dime. I nearly gave up looking for in VG-VF. I was going to wait until I could afford a to start buying EF-MS coins. This coin looks better in hand although was cleaned at some point, no obvious hairlines, no bends, no large scratches and a very good strike).
I went after this coin after I got lucky on a cherrypick and could justify its purchase. I looked at a number of examples in the 8 yrs but almost every VG-VF is bent, scratched or just ugly. I honestly wonder how any survived. The total mintage for the WHOLE series is only a little over 100,000 and these coins are not much bigger than a three cent silver. If you have never held one of these something you definitly need to do to really appreciate.
Here is a pick of a fairly well matched group. Some day I will get around to imaging all my busties.
The Bust dollars are fairly easy to find. nearly every show you can find a number of nice examples. The cost of these large cartwheels is high but when you hold one of these in your hand you can understand why people are willing to pay for them. In 8 yrs I found 2 for my set, would have bought more but financial constraint got the better of me.
The Bust halves are the easiest group to find. Prices have soared lately, but still can find a nice F-VF for under 400 dollars. In 8 yrs I bought all that I found that were nice F-VF and were reasonalby priced. Managed to find 12 for the set.
The Bust Quarters. These coins are much more difficult to locate. I found 3 decent VG-F examples for my set in 8 yrs. If you find a nice VG-F reasonalby priced buy it, they are not common.
The bust dimes. Try finding a nice in VG-VF without damage or very weak strike without paying way above sheet. I feel these are very underated. I luckily bought mine in the beggining of my search before prices went up.
The bust half dime. I nearly gave up looking for in VG-VF. I was going to wait until I could afford a to start buying EF-MS coins. This coin looks better in hand although was cleaned at some point, no obvious hairlines, no bends, no large scratches and a very good strike).
I went after this coin after I got lucky on a cherrypick and could justify its purchase. I looked at a number of examples in the 8 yrs but almost every VG-VF is bent, scratched or just ugly. I honestly wonder how any survived. The total mintage for the WHOLE series is only a little over 100,000 and these coins are not much bigger than a three cent silver. If you have never held one of these something you definitly need to do to really appreciate.
Here is a pick of a fairly well matched group. Some day I will get around to imaging all my busties.
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Comments
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
Now all you need is the Half Cent and Large Cent
<< <i>I have the coppers, Its the gold I really want. >>
Now yer talkin!
Capped Bust Half Series
Capped Bust Half Dime Series
PCGS Registries
Box of 20
SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
AL
Of the group pictured, I like the dimes the best.
I agee, great job!
Steve
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing.
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Beautiful set. Congratulations.
I was expecting you to show a little copper, but silver will do just fine.
U.S. Type Set
The half and dollar have it on the rim and, well, there is no space on the dime or half dime.