
This article may help very much if you are building, or are thinking about building, a US type set and many of the points work equally well for raw or certified sets...
![]() Writing a blog was something that folks had suggested to me for years, but that I had little interest in doing. After all, how much could I write and, perhaps more importantly, would anyone care to read any of it? Thus far, it appears that I have a bit of material to share for those interested. The question remains, however, is anyone out there? Regardless of if it is just me and my cat, Spooky (dang lazy cat doesn't help with any writing), or if there is a larger audience, here is another bit of collecting insight based upon experience. This article may help very much if you are building, or are thinking about building, a US type set and many of the points work equally well for raw or certified sets... A Simple Study on the Frequency of the Center Mintmark Position for 1897-S Barber Quarters2/23/2015
![]() I'm a coin geek and if you're on this site reading this blog and/or the associated articles then there is a good chance that you're one, too. There's nothing wrong with knowing who you are, and part of the fun of being a coin geek and a scientist is looking a little deeper into those curious things that pique are interests. Although I don't collect Barber quarters as a series, I appreciate how tough the original, mid-grade pieces are and I have a favorite issue...the 1897-S. Here is an examination of the two mintmark positions found on this coin. Continue... ![]() It seems like forever since I was a dedicated set builder for circulated Barber half dollars. I must have studied this series for near a half-decade before taking the plunge to build the entire set. Not only is this set challenging in that finding the tougher coins is really tough, but aside from a few relatively easy pieces there is not much of a chance to take a breather. My five or so years of labor in building an original skin, VF/EF set resulted in a complete set for all but one coin...the 1893-S. That bear was only an F15 broken out of an old, small white ANACS holder. Fittingly, shortly after I broke the set up and sold the coins to clients, I found a raw EF 1893-S with exquisitely original surfaces. That coin is used for the image here and in the article on this series. The article is one that has appeared on my various sites since around 2005 and will continue to appear on sites of mine as long as it is relevant. The full-length article continues here... ![]() Back in the 1990s, a period that doesn't seem like it should be that long ago, but which is rapidly receding from the rear view mirror, it was possible to snag wonderfully toned Washington quarters on the bourse floor. Not only was it possible, but the coins didn't cost an arm-and-a-leg and they were reasonably plentiful enough that selling an especially nice piece didn't always hurt that badly. That all changed for me when I tripled my money on a fabulously toned 1949-D WQ (paid $15 and sold for a whopping $45) and the buyer took the time to send me through the USPS a handwritten letter to tell me it was the most spectacular coin he had ever purchased and to please let him know if I ever had another coin like this that I was interested in moving. I had been hesitant to sell that 1949-D because it was so much nicer than the-then market valued it; the very nice letter hammered the point home. I was playing with fire when I sold these coins and there was no guarantee that another would take its place. Continued... Howdy All.
I don't anticipate using the blog feature extensively, but it appears to be a handy area to make announcements or share experiences. For now, I will simply note that my website has had a major redesign and I hope that with the new format there will be greater functionality and ease of use. Please enjoy and feel free to stop by again. Thank you. |
AuthorMy take on coin topics is influenced greatly by my experience as a scientist, writer and teacher. I hope this proves enjoyable to the reader. Archives
November 2023
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