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    • 2023 Article Archive >
      • The Beloved PCGS Old Green Holder (OGH) Passed Away Approximately 25-Years Ago This Month
      • "The Spotsylvania Hoard"-A Quarter Century Later
    • 2022 Article Archive >
      • The Rolling Stones Walk Into a Bar with Five Reeded Edge Half Dollars and Get...SHATTERED!
      • A Multiyear Quest to Find a Specific Coin Achieved Thanks to the Generosity of a Collector
    • 2020 Article Archive >
      • A Tribute to Rhode Island Numismatist, and My Dear Friend, George H. Champlin IV
      • A Raw Roosevelt Dime Silver Set as a Side Project
    • 2018 Article Archive >
      • The Beloved PCGS Old Green Holder (OGH) Passed Away Approximately 20-Years Ago This Month
      • Archive of Cool Coins, Medals & Exonumia Added
      • EEMcD & The Mystery of the 1838 Reeded Edge Half Dollar
      • Book Review "An Inside View of the Coin Hobby in the 1930s: The Walter P. Nichols File"
    • 2017 Article Archive >
      • You Never Know what Events will Transpire to get You Home...
      • April 2017 Baltimore Show Report
      • A Glimpse into a Coin Deal
      • Observations from the Bourse; Hairlines
      • Thomas Bush Wins David Lawrence Literary Award (Again)
      • The Colors of Autumn; A Toning Enthusiasts Friend
    • 2016 Article Archive >
      • Observations from the Bourse; But Coins
      • Will the Efficiency of the TPGs Naturally Lead to all Worthwhile Coins Becoming Overgraded?
      • April 2016 Baltimore Show Report
      • A British Historical Medal Featuring a Canadian Train Trip that also Included Stops in the United States
      • New Barber Half Dollar Article for Barber Coin Collectors' Society
      • Circulated Barber Half Dollars-A Look Back at Two Decades of Specialization
      • Mistaken Misogyny-Andrew Mellon, Laura Fraser & The George Washington Portraiture
      • Thomas Bush Wins David Lawrence Literary Award
      • Standing Lincoln Monument Dedication at Saint Gaudens National Historic Site
      • November 2016 Baltimore Show Report
    • 2015 Article Archive >
      • The Mighty, Toned Washington Quarter
      • Collecting Mid-Grade Barber Half Dollars
      • A Simple Study on the Frequency of the Center Mintmark Position for 1897-S Barber Quarters
      • Thoughts & Strategies for Building a US Type Set
      • Three Fortuitous Auction Victories Illustrate the Importance of Knowing the Quirks of the Venue
      • Canadian Gold Reserve Coinage 1912-1914
      • A Young Numismatist & A Lost Future
      • Observations from the Bourse; CAC
      • August 2015 Chicago ANA Show Report
      • Saturn, Saint Gaudens & the Tom Seaver Era New York Mets
      • Cpl. Michael Eyre Thompson & the Walking Liberty Half Dollar
      • That's a wrap! Canadian Gold Reserve Coinage Melted
      • November 2015 Baltimore Show Report
      • Wonderful Die Polish on Newfoundland Coinage
Thomas Bush Numismatics

Thoughts & Strategies for Building a US Type Set

2/27/2015

 
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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 Quarters 

2/23/2015

 
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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...

Collecting Mid-Grade Barber Half Dollars

2/21/2015

 
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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... 

The Mighty, Toned Washington Quarter

2/12/2015

 
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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...

Website Redesign

2/11/2015

 
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.

    Author

    My take on coin topics is influenced greatly by my experience as a scientist, writer and teacher.  I hope this proves enjoyable to the reader.

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