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A New Coin For My Type Set OR The Slowest Type Set Builder Ever
TomB
Posts: 23,035 ✭✭✭✭✭
One thing that I marvel about on the boards are the folks who build sets with incredible speed. Each person's set will of course be constrained by their budget, knowledge, eye, opportunities, aesthetic preference and patience, but I can't help but grimace somewhat when larger sets are started and significantly built within a scant few months or even weeks. This isn't to say that these sets can't be nice; they in fact might be wonderful. However, I think the odds are heavily stacked against most folks when the desire to fill the slot overtakes all other qualities and ultimately becomes the limitation of the set.
Please do not assume that the converse of this situation, where someone builds a set over a substantial length of time, will necessarily generate a quality collection. There is no assurance of such a happy ending in numismatics. Anecdotally, I can state without reservation that the few sets I have attempted to put together have taken far longer than they might have taken given my budget and the availability of coins essentially sight-unseen. Speed has never been my strategy, though, and it has served to produce far fewer sets or attempted sets.
One set that I have actively worked on for perhaps a dozen years is the complete US type set minus gold issues. My set is only listed on the NGC registry and this is because I believe the weighting or valuation system employed by NGC is far superior to that employed by PCGS. The flip side of this is that nearly every coin in my set has been certified by PCGS, even those that are listed as NGC coins within my collection. The set is here and will never be completed. Currently, I believe there are 46-coins in my set and I think I have images for 45 of them. The vast majority of these images were taken by FinallyHere while the remainder were generally taken by mgoodm3, though there are a few others taken by myself or from whom I purchased the coin.
Today's post is specifically about the Seated quarter with motto, which is more or less the generic Seated quarter for the various subtypes. The coin I ended up incorporating into the set is relatively low grade in that it is an MS64 given the fact that there are a seemingly endless supply of MS66 or so pieces for this subtype at any given larger show and on the net. This coin, though, was a piece I first saw in-hand approximately four years ago when our own michael (banned at PCGS a few years ago) showed me the coin in a poorly lit auxilliary room at the Baltimore show. Michael wrote a thread about the coin when he purchased it here and oddly enough I was the first person to respond to the thread and mentioned how nice the coin appeared. The style of the images suggest it was from Pinnacle Rarities, which means that coinguy1 (also banned at PCGS a few years ago) has seen the coin up close, too. The piece had changed hands subsequent to that encounter and I noticed it listed on ebay about a month ago where I was able to hit the BIN on the coin and purchase it for 15% less than it had sold via Heritage in 2004.
The images that FinallyHere provided for me are included in this thread and I think they are quite accurate aside from the typical shortcomings that digital photography has with respect to viewing a coin in-hand. The coin is below and I hope that others find it as visually attractive and interesting as I do.
here
Please do not assume that the converse of this situation, where someone builds a set over a substantial length of time, will necessarily generate a quality collection. There is no assurance of such a happy ending in numismatics. Anecdotally, I can state without reservation that the few sets I have attempted to put together have taken far longer than they might have taken given my budget and the availability of coins essentially sight-unseen. Speed has never been my strategy, though, and it has served to produce far fewer sets or attempted sets.
One set that I have actively worked on for perhaps a dozen years is the complete US type set minus gold issues. My set is only listed on the NGC registry and this is because I believe the weighting or valuation system employed by NGC is far superior to that employed by PCGS. The flip side of this is that nearly every coin in my set has been certified by PCGS, even those that are listed as NGC coins within my collection. The set is here and will never be completed. Currently, I believe there are 46-coins in my set and I think I have images for 45 of them. The vast majority of these images were taken by FinallyHere while the remainder were generally taken by mgoodm3, though there are a few others taken by myself or from whom I purchased the coin.
Today's post is specifically about the Seated quarter with motto, which is more or less the generic Seated quarter for the various subtypes. The coin I ended up incorporating into the set is relatively low grade in that it is an MS64 given the fact that there are a seemingly endless supply of MS66 or so pieces for this subtype at any given larger show and on the net. This coin, though, was a piece I first saw in-hand approximately four years ago when our own michael (banned at PCGS a few years ago) showed me the coin in a poorly lit auxilliary room at the Baltimore show. Michael wrote a thread about the coin when he purchased it here and oddly enough I was the first person to respond to the thread and mentioned how nice the coin appeared. The style of the images suggest it was from Pinnacle Rarities, which means that coinguy1 (also banned at PCGS a few years ago) has seen the coin up close, too. The piece had changed hands subsequent to that encounter and I noticed it listed on ebay about a month ago where I was able to hit the BIN on the coin and purchase it for 15% less than it had sold via Heritage in 2004.
The images that FinallyHere provided for me are included in this thread and I think they are quite accurate aside from the typical shortcomings that digital photography has with respect to viewing a coin in-hand. The coin is below and I hope that others find it as visually attractive and interesting as I do.
here
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Comments
my set is never done, it's just in various stages of nearly done
TomB,
Very nice coin! Interesting old thread. I miss seeing Michael post here. My building strategy is much the same as yours, slow but steady in a race that will likely never be won.
Thanks for the post and pics
–John Adams, 1826
I have a soft spot for that kind of toning...
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
Stefanie
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC FOR SALE
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Great coin! Thanks for sharing.
K
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
<< <i>Beauty. The lines on the obverse and reverse seem rather dainty for an intended cancellation. Any other theories? >>
I was thinking exactly the same thing (though I do not believe I would have used the word "dainty").
TomB and CoinLt IMO have some of the best taste in coins in the price range they collect. I never pass over their threads - esp on the BST
No, but I'll make two observations. First, the two "cancellation marks" appear to be at very similar angles. That's unlikely to be a coincidence. Second, it's odd that the "cancellation marks" don't extend into the fields. It makes me wonder if the damage was done directly to the die.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>The coin I ended up incorporating into the set is relatively low grade in that it is an MS64 >>
I really think grade is secondary to those two little c's on the reverse and the spectacular toning.
But you are always one for understatement thanks for sharing your great addition to your set.
<< <i>My set is only listed on the NGC registry and this is because I believe the weighting or valuation system employed by NGC is far superior to that employed by PCGS. >>
I agree. I don't participate in the Registry, but I do know how items are weighted and have never liked our PCGS's system works.
Everyone can and should go at their own pace. Your type set is obviously more complete than my 7070 with only the silver and copper nickel and copper issues, so it should take longer.
It will be great if and when you do finish it - I'm hoping you do live long enough to finish it. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying upgrading a piece now and then. My type set would be the last thing to go should I find myself needing to sell off my collection.
Best wishes,
Pete
Louis Armstrong
An excellent coin and great addition to your very awesome set. I love the way you collect coins and this certainly does justice to collection.
I am fascinated by the die scratch. It adds an interesting bit of character to a gemmy coin. Being a CC doesnt hurt either. Great pic up!
John
siliconvalleycoins.com
https://www.smallcopperguy.com
Tom
<< <i>
<< <i>My set is only listed on the NGC registry and this is because I believe the weighting or valuation system employed by NGC is far superior to that employed by PCGS. >>
I agree. I don't participate in the Registry, but I do know how items are weighted and have never liked our PCGS's system works. >>
Me neither! Is it rude/wrong to link you're ngc registry in your sig line? I've wanted to for a while but haven't, even though it's a better reflection of our set.