Talk about rare. Here is a DCAM IHC.

ChrisRx · May 30, 2009 6:39AM

I have only seen maybe one or two so far and one of those is in Brian Wagner's hall of fame.

This one is currently in the Waltz collection in the pcgs registry.

Anyone tell me more about these? I am sure they fetch "moon money" but WOW

Edited to add:

According to the pcgs population report there are only 9 graded DCAM: 1 in 64, 4 in 65, and 4 in 66

Edited again to add Brians:

BECOKA · May 30, 2009 6:49AM

Just hard to imagine a DC surviving for over 100 years.

That 64DCAM looks stellar and being the lowest graded may still be too expensive to think about.

lasvegasteddy · May 31, 2009 5:53AM

those are moon money critters

i'd think those with um have standing offers too

sweet

lordmarcovan · May 31, 2009 6:03AM

Holy

, Batman.

stinkinlincoln · May 31, 2009 6:26AM

Yea, thats a killer coin! Amazing frost.

BBN · May 31, 2009 6:54AM

PCGS has it at $3,000

WoodenJefferson · May 31, 2009 6:59AM

To me, those are solid "Gold Bean" coins.

lordmarcovan · May 31, 2009 7:06AM

Gold bean, hell. Those are gold watermelon coins.

FatMan · May 31, 2009 7:11AM

A right handsome coin.

lasvegasteddy · May 31, 2009 7:16AM

just incase one person hasn't seen where chris got those images from...it's linkified here and worth a peek as there's nothing but class at his "hall of fame" i drool over that 1877 everytime i look at it
hall of fame at bwrc

CarlWohlforth · May 31, 2009 7:55AM

Those are neat DCAM Indians! I like them very much.

ziggy29 · May 31, 2009 8:06AM

<< <i>PCGS has it at $3,000 >>

Good luck with that.

Waltz · June 3, 2009 6:12PM

As a long time observer to the forums, I would like to make my first post a note of gratitude to ChrisRx for posting one of the coins in my collection. I am a recent collector of proof cents (about three years) and have focused primarily on Indian Head Cents. I enjoy the cameo proofs of the series best, and consider them quite striking (pun intended). Copper Nickels contain the most cameo examples, and the highest PCGS pop for any bronze date in cameo is 15. Some years, such as 1885 and 1889 have single examples in cameo. Bronze DCAM examples exist in 1891, 1897 and 1898 - one in each year! An 1864 bronze DCAM was in Kert Phillips' set before he sent it to NGC and returned as a 66 UltraCam. When seeking cameo IHC specimens, let alone DCAMs a collector seeks not a coin grade but rather individual coins given the condition rarity of cameos.

There has been a respectable amount of turnover in IHC collections over the past few years. Tom Bender is amassing what I consider to be the Holy Grail of IHC - a complete cameo collection of IHC proofs from 1859-1909. He's two shy of the goal - the 1890 (three cameo examples no registry set has) and the 1886 (two graded examples. One is a substandard example in proof 62. The other is the proof 65 Rd Cam example from the Palm Beach Collection that resides in my collection). Should a 1890 cameo come up in public auction I'd expect "Alpha Centauri Money" will be paid by the winner. He'll need to kidnap a close relative of mine to get me to part with my 1886 cameo.

This leads to another aspect of collecting the series in cameo. The registry has placed quite a bonus on cameo and DCAMs. This caused the two highest sets (Bender and ESM) to vastly overpay for their many top pop cameos - at least in my opinion. I upgraded my 1859 proof 65 cameo to a proof 66 cameo at Heritage's last auction. I paid $8,050 for it (same coin sold for twice in the last five years for $14k and $17k when fewer examples were certified for the date and grade). There are six 66 cameos for 1859. ESM and Bender already both paid north of $10k for theirs. I see these downward price fluctuations less having to do with the coin market and more with slots being filled by a small number of collectors battling for an even smaller number of top pop cameo examples. BTW the price guide for my 1863 DCAM is indeed a little low

so I probably have little room to talk about paying a premium for top shelf material. But it does make me feel good when a decent price comes along.

Both top collections own an 1909 in 66 cameo (pop 3) so when the remaining example comes up I guess we'll be able to test my hypothesis.

I feel awkward discussing this topic when so many others in the forums have so much more knowledge on proof IHC. Nevertheless, you asked for more information and I've done my best to share with you my perspective. They are truly remarkable coins and it is a priviledge holding them for future collectors.

RBinTex · June 3, 2009 11:15PM

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

Barndog · June 3, 2009 11:35PM

Waltz, welcome and that was a great first post on the forum! Thanks for the "insider information"

kryptonitecomics · June 3, 2009 11:42PM

I know that Ron Sirna owns some Cameo IHC's and I believe he made several of the Current Dcams.......I don't recall which dates he owns but I would be suprised if his name didn't come up in a serious discussion about Cam IHC's

lcoopie · June 3, 2009 11:47PM

is this the usual color
it looks silver to me??

Wiscane · June 3, 2009 11:53PM

Welcome Waltz.... beautiful IHC

Flatwoods · June 4, 2009 12:38AM

Thanks for the input!

Welcome

dizzyfoxx · June 4, 2009 12:40AM

I would give up my left "anything" to own that coin!

Lakesammman · June 4, 2009 1:00AM

Love the CN proofs - used to collect them before changing to MS - nice coin!

I used to own 4 of the FE/IHC coins in the BW hall of fame - thanks for the link. Nice to see them again.

MFH · June 4, 2009 2:00AM

Welcome, Waltz and thanks for your post it was very informative.
I only have four IHC's - 1889 PR & MS and 1898 PR & MS as part
of my Grandparents' Birth Year Collections.

Thanks to ChrisRx for posting that fantastic CN Cameo !!

ChrisRx · June 4, 2009 3:47AM

Wow. Mr. Waltz it is a pleasure to have you here.

Thanks for your input and short story. I have never seen a DCAM in person but I am afraid if I did I would HAVE to have it

renomedphys · June 4, 2009 4:30AM

I too have become enamoured with CAM IHCs. I am an afficianado of toned brown coins, and also a lover of cameo contrast, so when the opportunity to purchase an NGC graded PR65BN CAMEO, I sat up and took notice. Well, now I own the coin, and it's just incredible! I mean, I have a lot of PR66 copper, and I'd have a hard time finding one that's actually "nicer" than this coin. Take that into account, along with my belief that the entire population of Proof Brown Cameo at NGC is a mere 2 coins, and now you're talking about a condition census. The question is: what should I do with this baby? We all know that PCGS won't designate non-red coins as CAM, so if I want to keep the CAMEO on the label, am I stuck keeping it in NGC plastic? Here's the coin:

Notice that it presents like two coins in one, with an obverse that's exploding with color, and a reverse that turns solid gold when turned to the light.

I have also been working lacadasically on a 1909 proof set, and recently purchased a very nice 1909 IHC in PR66RB. I really wanted to hold out for a nice cameo or colorful version of that date as well, but they're just not available in high grade. Now I know why

Cameo IHCs are really cool coins, and I look forward to the opportunity to purchase more. Here's my 1909, for what it's worth:

Cheers!

BigMoose · June 4, 2009 7:59AM

It is nice to see a little interest in the Proofs of the Indian Cent series. For a while I thought that Tom Bender and ESM were the only collectors chasing these gems. Waltz, welcome to the "club". I have also been chasing these for around 10-12 years now and have been having a blast collecting this series. There are some amazing Proof Indian Cents that become available from time to time as well as a whole boatload of real "uglies" that are always available. Collecing a full cameo set has to be a daunting task, especially since there are several dates in the series that I am convinced don't really come as cameos regardless of what the inserts on the slabs say. For instance, I have a PCGS PR66RD Cameo 1903 and I will be the first to tell you that the coin is not a true cameo but it is as close as you will ever get to a cameo for that date, which is probably why the coin got the cameo designation. There are many ways to collect this series--a set in BN with natural iridescent color, a full RD set, a cameo set, a well matched RB set. I suspect that the theoretically best set anyone could ever assemble would be a collection that includes cameos, deep cams, full Reds, RBs and even BNs. I have come across some superb high grade BNs that I would easily favor over a full RD in the same grade of the same date.

Talk about rare. Here is a DCAM IHC.

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