How many "Wow!" coins are in your collection?

RYK · November 9, 2011 11:28PM

When you should coins to collectors and non-collectors, what percentage of the coins elicit the desirable "Wow!" reaction?

How would you define a "Wow!" coin?

Does it depend on the presentation? Would you prefer to have fewer coins if more of them "Wow'ed?"

While we are discussing them, please post a "Wow!" coin.

STONE · November 9, 2011 11:45PM

"Wow" is defined by people who can appreciate a rare coin, scarce variety, or other scarce attribute about a piece.

Some people may just see an 1827 Bust Dime and say, "ok, it's an 1827 Bust Dime", but other's may know more
about the die marriage and say "OH WOW, that's a JR-10!"

I have several WOW coins in my collection, but not everyone will appreciate those coins equally!

mingot · November 9, 2011 11:49PM

I collect Jefferson nickels, so maybe none

Really, though, I would say that I have maybe four that I could show to a non-specialist coin collector and get a "wow" (think 38-42 proofs and early toners) and closer to ten that a specialist would look at and notice (uncommonly good strike for the year, or condition, or both).

AnkurJ · November 9, 2011 11:50PM

I would guess that I have about a dozen. Would define a wow coin as one with stellar eye appeal and desirability.

heavymetal · November 9, 2011 11:53PM

Every coin in my collection is a "Wow" coin. Everytime my wife sees any of them, she says...."Wow, are you out of your mind!!!" HM lol

Lakesammman · November 10, 2011 12:01AM

I get more "Wows" with the first coin than any other, a few for the Oregon and the Gruber $5. People just like bigger coins. I like all 3.

MrHalfDime · November 10, 2011 12:03AM

""Wow" is defined by people who can appreciate a rare coin, scarce variety, or other scarce attribute about a piece.

Some people may just see an 1827 Bust Dime and say, "ok, it's an 1827 Bust Dime", but other's may know more
about the die marriage and say "OH WOW, that's a JR-10!"

I have several WOW coins in my collection, but not everyone will appreciate those coins equally!"

'Wow' is in the eye of the beholder.

DIMEMAN · November 10, 2011 12:06AM

Winston has a way with words.

ctf_error_coins · November 10, 2011 12:08AM

The wow factory is super important to me as I have been an artist my whole life.

The vast majority of my coins have that wow factory as does my artwork.

partagas · November 10, 2011 12:18AM

Wow for the collector as Winston described. I have plethora of those types of coins that would make the advanced Seated Quarter collector smile.

Wow for the unwashed masses who like big shiny or colored coins, less then 10.

Lakesammman · November 10, 2011 12:22AM

I showed David Hall the bottom right coin in the first picture. The look on his face was, why would anyone own a POS like that.

After asking if I had anything "interesting" in my box, I showed him the second coin. First thing he said was, "Wow".

Here is a man who knows alot about coins, but had no interest or appreciation for Pioneer gold die trials. But he clearly understood and appreciated how cool the error coin was.

Experience, interest and perception play a big part of the WOW experience.

oreville · November 10, 2011 12:25AM

wow coins can also be a stopper coin, one that is difficult to locate.

mingot · November 10, 2011 12:31AM

<< The wow factory is super important to me as I have been an artist my whole life.

The vast majority of my coins have that wow factory as does my artwork. >>

The great thing about errors is that they can get a wow from a non-collector. They are really neat to look at. I keep a few off centers around to show folks. Of course, if you're showing a common off center cent to a collector you get a "ho-hum".

AnkurJ · November 10, 2011 12:59AM

I think this fits the bill.

SereneDude · November 10, 2011 1:09AM

I have a 1942 proof set that I bought back in the 70s.
It's mounted in a beautiful Capital plastic holder and the previous owner had used a plush purple velvet custom fit bag to put the holder in.
The coins are absolutely gorgeous, especially the Walker and the Mercury, both of which are very well struck.
I can't say they're 100% original, since I've only been their custodian for about 35 years but I never dipped them or even removed them from their holder.
They have some light rim toning but are otherwise brilliant.
The set never fails to elicit oohs and aahs whenever I show it to other collectors or even none collectors.

Neocoin · November 10, 2011 1:24AM

I have lots of "wow" coins. Like "wow, you actually collect those".

Barndog · November 10, 2011 1:31AM

my reaction when I saw this coin for sale in a dealer's case was "Wow" and I was glad it was affordable

TomB · November 10, 2011 1:42AM

<< "Wow" is defined by people who can appreciate a rare coin, scarce variety, or other scarce attribute about a piece.

Some people may just see an 1827 Bust Dime and say, "ok, it's an 1827 Bust Dime", but other's may know more
about the die marriage and say "OH WOW, that's a JR-10!"

I have several WOW coins in my collection, but not everyone will appreciate those coins equally! >>

This is a "WOW!" response.

I'd like to think that I have one or two that folks who specialize in various niche areas would certainly enjoy and perhaps a few others that might look cool to the broader collecting community. However, I strongly doubt I own a piece that would be such a coin for everyone.

Barndog · November 10, 2011 1:50AM

<< "Wow" is defined by people who can appreciate a rare coin, scarce variety, or other scarce attribute about a piece.

Some people may just see an 1827 Bust Dime and say, "ok, it's an 1827 Bust Dime", but other's may know more
about the die marriage and say "OH WOW, that's a JR-10!"

I have several WOW coins in my collection, but not everyone will appreciate those coins equally! >>

not many can appreciate this one, but the few who do would say "WOW!"

bidask · November 10, 2011 1:52AM

I gotta a few....

TomB · November 10, 2011 1:52AM

I'm sorry, I forgot to provide examples.

Folks who collect Barber coinage might recognize this 1897-S quarter as being not only a nice mid-grade piece, which makes it incredibly scarce already, but that it has the uber-tough centered S-mintmark. Most other collectors would look at this as just a mid-grade Barber quarter that is not among the Big Three for the series. Heck, many Barber fans might also miss the significance of the coin. This is what I would consider a "niche-wow" coin.

A coin that would likely generate a broader response would be the 1939-D Merc shown below. It has great color and a terrific strike, but also is in an OGH with a very high assigned grade. I have noticed in the past that when I might bring some coins out to show folks that the coins with the highest assigned grades are sometimes the only coins that are picked up and examined whereas some truly lovely, in my opinion, coins with slightly lower assigned grades are quickly passed over without a glance.

Walkerguy21D · November 10, 2011 1:53AM

Wow is in the eye of the beholder.....a casual collector friend of mine is 'wow'd' by nice AU type coins I show him - the kind of which many on here likely take for granted.

dragon · November 10, 2011 1:58AM

Me showing a beautiful toned Morgan to my wife...

Me: Hey check out my new MS65 toned dollar with amazing textile color, do you like it?

Wife: What are all those dots on her cheek? She looks like she has chicken pox, I like my colorized silver eagle better. So how much was this one?

Me: Well untoned it would be about a $175.00 coin, but I paid $1900.00 for this one.

Wife: Wow!! Aren't you the smart one in the family (walks away laughing)

LindeDad · November 10, 2011 2:01AM

<< "Wow" is defined by people who can appreciate a rare coin, scarce variety, or other scarce attribute about a piece. >>

Not really my daughter uses that expression when she sees one she thinks is pretty.

RYK · November 10, 2011 2:21AM

I guess "Wow!" is in the eye of the beholder. When I show a dealer or a fellow collector a box of coins, and they consistently pull the same coins out and say things like:

"Wow! This is really cool."
"How much?"
"If you ever decide to sell this, please call me!"

I do not believe that rare die marriages and other unheralded scarcities are candidates unless they elicit similar reactions.

I will post some that meet my criteria later.

AnkurJ · November 10, 2011 2:25AM

Here is another:

TwoKopeiki · November 10, 2011 2:40AM

As was mentioned previously, the "wow" factor is based on the audience. Personally, I think I have about half of the coins in my collection that can get a "wow" either based on toning, originality, scarcity, pedigree, or history behind the mint and environment in which these coins were struck.

Here's an example. Sorry for the non-US coin, but my collection is primarily Spanish Colonial Mexico going through the War of Independence.

181x(1814) Guadalajara 8 Reales. Guadalajara mint was one of the Provisional mints established during the War of Independence when it became too dangerous to transport silver ore for processing to Mexico City. In fact, most major silver mines in Mexico started local minting operations for the same reason during that period. Most lacked proper minting equipment and had to make do with what was available. Coins often came out crude due to amature die cutting that took place. Conditions were less than pristine resulting in die rust and planchet / strike defects. These were also known for underweight and debased mint versions.Some were even cast instead of being struck, using existing Mexico City coins as templates. Later these were to be used as planchets when machinery finally arrived.

What I find interesting is also the fact that one of the best references on Mexican 8 Reales coins was put together by a melter and refiner at the New Orleans mint in the 1840's - John L Riddell. During that time, there were hundreds of thousands Mexican Dollars melted down to create US coins.Riddell served as melter and refiner at the Mint from 1839 to 1848 and had quite a unique opportunity to document authentic and fake 8 Reales getting melted down. In 1845 he wrote a book entitled Monograph of the Silver Dollar, Good and Bad, illustrated with facsimile figures, and two years later an article by him appeared in DeBow's Review called "The Mint At New Orleans—Processes Pursued of Working the Precious Metals—Statistics of Coinage, etc."

His first reference is being used to this day to identify now-contemporary counterfeit 8 Reales.

renomedphys · November 10, 2011 2:42AM

Wow! to everyone: about three.

Wow! to some: another ten or so.

Wow! to me: all of 'em!

Here is "The One"

johnny9434 · November 10, 2011 3:32AM

i got a few and not exactly sure how many wow's i do have

RYK · November 10, 2011 3:38AM

I count 7 "Wows!" so far. Some of you are reaching.

ambro51 · November 10, 2011 4:09AM

this one can wow some folks 1909 SVDB PCGSMS66RD OGH

and if theyre not wowed by that this one will do it.

keyman64 · November 10, 2011 4:15AM

None that I am aware of unfortunately. Maybe one day...

swhuck · November 10, 2011 4:56AM

Most of my Wow coins are along the lines of, "Wow! That thing is really worn flat!"

steveben · November 10, 2011 5:43AM

<<

>>

on this one, first i said "WTF?" then i said "WOW." :-)

Walkerguy21D · November 10, 2011 5:45AM

I got a "WHAT!?" from my wife when I told her I spent $1000 for this:

BaronVonBaugh · November 10, 2011 5:46AM

<< 

<<

>>

on this one, first i said "WTF?" then i said "WOW." :-) >>

I like that one!

The only thing I have would be a UHR in the original box.

GoldClause · November 10, 2011 5:53AM

I said wow on the 1799 $10 and the 1864 cent.

yellowkid · November 10, 2011 6:20AM

Maybe a small "w" in "wow." I think four or five of mine are like that.

And I think this ms65 example makes the cut, probably my favorite piece.

Edscoin · November 10, 2011 10:05AM

<< Maybe a small "w" in "wow." I think four or five of mine are like that.

And I think this ms65 example makes the cut, probably my favorite piece.

>>

That 1870 25 cent piece is definitely WOW!

ThePennyLady · November 10, 2011 10:27AM

To me, the WOW factor is the first impression I get when I see the coin even before I loupe it - eye appeal is extremely important to me. Yes, I agree that rarity and scarcity are also important, but for me, I need to "fall in love" with a coin at first site. I have many coins in my personal collection that made me say "WOW" when I first saw them, this is just one of them....

RichieURich · November 10, 2011 10:34AM

A few coins that I have sold that might meet someone's definition of a "wow" coin:

These first two halves have a happy home with the same collector:

This 1887 Morgan was sold at a recent FUN show:

This coin resides in a Pennsylvania collection:

This dime's auction history has been traced back to the 1890's:

And here's one for Stone to enjoy:

AnkurJ · November 10, 2011 10:39AM

These as well, for me at least.

OnlyGoldIsMoney · November 10, 2011 10:41AM

Lots of "Wow" coins. Thanks for posting them.

SeattleSlammer · November 10, 2011 11:08AM

Ohhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhh !

Batman23 · November 10, 2011 11:12AM

<< I think this fits the bill.

>>

Wow! I really like this one!

Batman23 · November 10, 2011 11:14AM

<< my reaction when I saw this coin for sale in a dealer's case was "Wow" and I was glad it was affordable

>>

Barndog, That has some very impressive color, I like it

MrHalfDime · November 10, 2011 11:18AM

"not many can appreciate this one, but the few who do would say "WOW!"

"I do not believe that rare die marriages and other unheralded scarcities are candidates unless they elicit similar reactions."

Well, the Capped Bust half dime that Barndog posted (1835 LM-12) certainly deserves a WOW. It is one of just three examples reported, and is still listed as an R8. Incidentally, his example is also the second finest known. That deserves yet another WOW! Find that in your alphabet soup.

Broadstruck · November 10, 2011 11:48AM

I own the first, the last, and all the ones in between!

FilamCoins · November 10, 2011 11:52AM

Wow, the United States made Pesos?!?

RYK · November 10, 2011 11:55AM

Ankur, are you using the "if you throw enough crap against the wall, some of it will stick" approach?

Find that in your alphabet soup.

Pondering the coin while having soup for lunch, these were the first letters I found: B O R I N G

(I wonder if someone can make a word out of those letters?)

In all seriousness, I do appreciate the rarity and importance of Barndog's coin, but if you show the coin to most seasoned collectors and all but a few dealers, you are more likely to get a "Yawnnnnn" then a "Wow!".

jmski52 · November 10, 2011 11:56AM

Nice coins, all.

You've got a killer coin there, Slammer.

Edited - whoops, my apologies renomedphys. I didn't read the whole thread and I thought it was Slammer's coin. mea culpa.

How many "Wow!" coins are in your collection?

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How many &quot;Wow!&quot; coins are in your collection?

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How many "Wow!" coins are in your collection?