What is the most underrated US series?

bushmaster8 · August 18, 2007 9:16AM

?

SilverEagles92 · August 18, 2007 9:18AM

Hmm... Roosevelt dimes.

Manorcourtman · August 18, 2007 9:19AM

First Spouse $10 gold series.......

Baley · August 18, 2007 9:20AM

ask someone here to show you their collection of draped bust half dimes, or classic head cents. that's underrated.

ask for morgans or bullion and the thread goes 100 posts long

ILikeMercs · August 18, 2007 9:20AM

well if I had money
I tell you what I'd do
I'd go downtown
and buy a Mercury or two

I'm crazy bout a Mercury.

STONE · August 18, 2007 9:30AM

3c Nickels from 1879-1889
Draped Bust Half Dimes
Draped Bust Quarters
$10 Indians

curly · August 18, 2007 9:37AM

MPLs, of course.

tjkillian · August 18, 2007 10:09AM

<< ask someone here to show you their collection of draped bust half dimes, or classic head cents. that's underrated. ask for morgans or bullion and the thread goes 100 posts long >>

Here's my collection, but it is not underrated:

Konahead · August 18, 2007 10:40AM

Peace dollars

roadrunner · August 18, 2007 10:41AM

Besides better date draped bust silver, I also like scarcer and semi-rare dated seated coinage - circ and unc. Circ mint-marked Barbers Fine-XF as a rule are a good thing to sock away - mainly O and S
mints.

I'd probably agree with most underrated series being draped bust half dimes. They are hard to find even as type coins let alone by date and varieties. If they weren't so physically small they would be far higher in price.

roadrunner

GoldenEyeNumismatics · August 18, 2007 1:45PM

$2.5 liberty

librtyhead · August 18, 2007 1:54PM

<< Hmm... Roosevelt dimes. >>

I need a new bionic eye to even look at them! Ya know I look @ quarters,nickels,dollars, in pocket change. But those damn dimes go right in the change jar, so I kinda agree ...............they get no love.

Zoins · August 18, 2007 2:01PM

<< What is the most underrated US series? >>

Just about any modern medal series.

Athena · August 18, 2007 2:49PM

"Sportsnight" was very underrated.

Edscoin · August 18, 2007 2:49PM

Hmm... Jefferson Nickels

Coxe · August 18, 2007 3:45PM

<< Hmm... Jefferson Nickels >>

I agree; they are somewhat singular in their overall neglect.

Going to classic series, the odd denominations (to us today) don't get the date following: like 3c, 20c, 1/2c. Liberty seated, especially half dimes, were underrated for a long time. I see a lot more activity and follwoing in them now though. Not sure about the gold dollar coins. I know they used to be ignored by the herd.

crito · August 18, 2007 4:39PM

<< Hmm... Roosevelt dimes. >>

I thought underrated implied undeservingly... that's one butt ugly coin.

JK!

I'd say Peace dollars too. I find them more aesthetically pleasing than Morgans yet they're not nearly as popular.

Zoins · August 18, 2007 4:45PM

<< 

<< Hmm... Jefferson Nickels >>

I agree; they are somewhat singular in their overall neglect. >>

What are the reasons for Jeff neglect? Is the nickel composition one reason? Silver and copper seem to be more interesting as a metal for coinage than nickel, due to longer history of usage and reactivity (i.e. toning).

Inditonka · August 18, 2007 4:47PM

Peace bucks!

Myqqy · August 18, 2007 6:00PM

I think half cents, peace dollars, and jefferson nickels....

Coxe · August 18, 2007 8:37PM

<< 

<< 

<< Hmm... Jefferson Nickels >>

I agree; they are somewhat singular in their overall neglect. >>

What are the reasons for Jeff neglect? Is the nickel composition one reason? Silver and copper seem to be more interesting as a metal for coinage than nickel, due to longer history of usage and reactivity (i.e. toning). >>

The higher denominations have that magical silver past. The Lincoln cent is the series most of us boomers grew up with as our starter. The Jefferson nickel, except for the war years, used an uninteresting (to most) alloy, didn't change design through the clad transition, were notoriously poorly struck for long stretches of years, and just couldn't match up to the interest of its predecessor, the Indian Head/Buffalo design. You know, the Liberty Head nickel also suffers. It is amazing the date set that can be assembled with reasonable money in really decent grades.

coinkat · August 18, 2007 9:32PM

I think no motto $10 Libs get my vote... its just that few folks attempt to put a set together.

I think Seated Dollars are under-appreciated as a series as well. Again few folks are trying to put a full set together.

Barber Halfs in VF-EF were mentioned and I agree. I would add WLH 1916-29 in EF-AU... I rarely see these.

halfhunter · August 18, 2007 9:53PM

Original bank rolls of pre SHQ clads. Some of the early date clad OBW rolls are nearly impossible to find. Then of course there are the '82/'83s.

Best Regards,

John

jhdfla · August 18, 2007 10:01PM

Lots of interesting answers in this thread, but I think many of them are wrong, simply because the series may have been underrated in the past, but now is more or less recognised. I love the seated series in all denominations they were produced in, and there are many really tough and underrated DATES (such as the quarters of 1871 and all the 40's dates), but I think the series' themselves have finally been recognised for their rarity. Perhaps to a lesser degree the half dimes, as they are diminutive coins and most people go for the larger size coins. Barbers, tough too, but think today the series is recognised as tough. Just an opinion mind you. Have to agree with the guy that mentioned the 2 1/2 Libs, try to even put an uncirculated DATE set together of that series ( I am trying, but years away), let alone varities, branch mints and you have one tough series that still has many issues with low pops and mintages going for fairly reasonable prices. But like their half dime counterparts, I think they may suffer from some degree to the size of the coin.

John

Angelo · August 18, 2007 10:06PM

Angelo · August 18, 2007 10:07PM

Angelo · August 18, 2007 10:08PM

Type 1 Gold dollars, particularly from branch mints.

Boom · August 18, 2007 10:11PM

Washington Quarters. Imagine 50-60-70 yr old PCGS certified Gems going for so little money. It's Ludicrous.

Hell, even the keys are dropping cause of the OBH. Never would I have imagined that so many high MS grade were stashed away.

As for the OBH it spans the entire spectrum of 20 the century US coins from the 30s on & put the hurt on a lot of people.

PawPaul · August 18, 2007 10:14PM

.........UNDERRATED .....? What specifically do that mean ?

collectibility ? undervaluedness ? scarcity in the marketplace ??

.......the series with the least amount of collectors are the 20 centers

darktone · August 18, 2007 10:24PM

Nobody here seems to collect the $50 gold coins or the $4 Stella by variety?

jhdfla · August 18, 2007 10:51PM

<< .........UNDERRATED .....? What specifically do that mean ?

collectibility ? undervaluedness ? scarcity in the marketplace ??

.......the series with the least amount of collectors are the 20 centers >>

I LOVE the 20 centers... Undervalued? Hmmm... maybe, but they aren't exactly cheap right now.

John

roadrunner · August 19, 2007 12:57AM

While there are deals in the 20th century, I was keenly aware decades ago that tons of this stuff was saved in roll quantity. The OBH is no real surprise to me. Where's the next OBH coming from?

This is precisely why I gravitated into the mid-19th century silver series. Very little chance of hoards of rare date gems showing up.
We know now that hoards of gems rare date gold coins can reappear and make it to market.

roadrunner

fastrudy · August 19, 2007 1:16AM

Three cent anythings

MrEureka · August 19, 2007 1:31AM

Although I wouldn't recommend the series across the board, there are some incredible values in patterns. For example, you can get a choice proof 1873 Trade Dollar pattern in silver for less than 5K, or a gem for less than 10K. One of the six different reasonably available pieces is imaged below. Its mintage is probably about 50 pieces.

braddick · August 19, 2007 1:33AM

Does underrated mean unpopular? Is so, I agree with at least half of the above. If it means something else, and I suspect it does... then I don't.

PerryHall · August 19, 2007 1:52AM

California fractional gold. Tons of history from the gold rush era.

yellowjacket · August 19, 2007 1:58AM

If metalic composition is the reason for Jefferson Nickels being underrated, then how do you explain the popularity of Buffalos?

Garrow

ultimatecameo · August 19, 2007 1:59AM

I'd break it down into two categories - proof and mint state coins.

In proof -

Exceptional pre-1968 CAM/DCAM proof/SMS of most issues, as far back as you want to go.....

In mint state -
Fabulous mint state Franklins!

BTW Bushmaster - A fellow came by my table at ANA you may know as he lives in Wisconsin or Illinois - he had about a dozen 1962-P's in MS 65 FBL.

He had the most amazing white 1949-P I'd ever seen. The obverse was like a presentation medal. Virtually perfect. Fully struck. No pitting. Could have been a 68! The reverse was almost as nice - 66+. I wouldn't have complained if the coin was in a 67 FBL holder.

DRUNNER · August 19, 2007 2:48AM

Jeffersons. I just don't get it. Workhorse denomination for much of its early life . . . mintages of several under 5 million . . . accessible for anyone to collect in some form . . .

Add to that early and late proofs . . . off-metal WarNicks . . . the 50-D craze . . . new designs . . .

It just doesn't get any respect.

Drunner

Nysoto · August 19, 2007 3:58AM

The most understudied US series is 1834-1839 classic head gold, it is the only pre-1840 series without a reference book (John McCloskey has been working on one for some time). Very few people collect by date, and I know of only two who collect by variety. Classic head gold is the last frontier of early US coins.

cladking · August 19, 2007 4:18AM

Underrated has to be something people don't value much, especially in proportion to its availability.

This has to be the gas station tokens we use for pocket change. This crap just circulates with no one
giving it much more than a passing glance. Before the states quarters came along it didn't even get
that much.

It's hard to believe nmost of the people around here could possibly value anything less than circulating
coinage. Yet much of it is virtually impossible to locate at ANY price. Try finding a 1970-P quarter in nice
AU. Try finding a '73-D in well struck and undamaged XF.

None of the older coins have a chance at displacing the moderns at underrated since they all are consid-
ered to rate.

veryfine · August 19, 2007 4:23AM

When collectors refer to "underrated" series, they often mean, "unfairly overlooked and represent great value."
Underrated to me means unpopular for a variety of reasons. Consider the artistic beauty being at the top of the list. Subjective? Sure, but your own personal interpretation of beauty is often outweighed by a large majority of opinions.
No promotional hype, awareness of mintage figures and population reports can make the Jefferson Nickel as popular as the Buffalo Nickel.
Maybe that's a good thing. As it stands now, a complete MS/Proof set of Jefferson Nickels is still within the means of many of us. When this series becomes obsolete and thousands of additional collectors scurry to complete their sets, things could change.
Of course, if you are a specialist, full steps and ultra high MS grades represent some truly rare examples, and, the prices reflect this.

Baley · August 19, 2007 5:17AM

Try finding a 1970-P quarter in nice AU. Try finding a '73-D in well struck and undamaged XF.

I've always found these arguments silly; such coins are available in uncirculated on a moment's notice.

Might as well say, "Try finding an IKE dollar with the initials "KW" scratched in it. Try finding a 1969 cent counterstamped "Pud Patrol "

where does this condition rarity business end?

veryfine · August 19, 2007 5:21AM

<< Try finding a 1970-P quarter in nice AU. Try finding a '73-D in well struck and undamaged XF.

I've always found these arguments silly; such coins are available in uncirculated on a moment's notice.

Might as well say, "Try finding an IKE dollar with the initials "KW" scratched in it. Try finding a 1969 cent counterstamped "Pud Patrol "

where does this condition rarity business end? >>

Hilarious reply Baley and so true!

Nic · August 19, 2007 5:44AM

The "little" coins are underrated. Because they are little. Add 3c. silvers to the list.
K

ziggy29 · August 19, 2007 5:49AM

<< where does this condition rarity business end? >>

In fairness, this applies to some classics as well. 1884-S Morgan, anyone? This is available for little more than type coin money in VF, but a BU will set you back many thousands...

ebaytrader · August 19, 2007 5:54AM

Underrated as defined by price vs. rarity? BU type 2 $20, gem Barbers and many dated choice BU Trade $.

kalch23 · August 19, 2007 5:58AM

classic head gold and liberty head quarter eagles.

yellowjacket · August 19, 2007 6:18AM

Back to Jefferson Nickels...The whole series began after the roll collecting craze came into being in the 1930's. I have several rolls of OBW Jeffersons. Unless you are talking about rare varieties or Full Steps, Jeffersons are plentiful regardless of the mintage reports. Supply has outstripped demand for the current market.

Garrow

veryfine · August 19, 2007 6:24AM

<< Back to Jefferson Nickels...The whole series began after the roll collecting craze came into being in the 1930's. I have several rolls of OBW Jeffersons. Unless you are talking about rare varieties or Full Steps, Jeffersons are plentiful regardless of the mintage reports. Supply has outstripped demand for the current market.

Garrow >>

I agree.
Do you think this also applies to washington quarters, post 1929 walking liberty halves, franklin halves and roosevelt dimes?

coinkat · August 19, 2007 6:35AM

Jefferson Nickels will get there day... however, there still seems to be a Full Step mentality that keeps alot of well struck dates that rarely show up well struck that no one seems to care about unless there are 5 steps.

I have made the suggestion that full steps does little to clearly define and measure the most meaningful component of the design... lets have a Full Monticello and just get over the steps. I know that among serious collectors of this series that this type of talk is not appreciated but the facts remain that there are many dates that rarely surface in Full Steps to justify that standard across the board to the entire series. I really love the 1952-s, 53-s and 54-s I have and they are not close to Full Steps but they are very well struck for the dates. I can live with that

What is the most underrated US series?

Comments

Leave a Comment