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 Replies: 15 / Views: 768 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
I posted a recent acquisition (1864S) over in the grading forum. I wanted to jump over here and start a conversation or get some insight into this series. I am collecting this series by year: one for each year. Currently, I have about 40 pieces. They average VG. I've found this is a challenging series to collect in lower circulated grades. So many seem to have been cleaned, holed, or sandblasted. Plus, there are always the fakes. I try to buy raw but get slabs when there's a nice coin or good deal. I just bought a 67 S, a year that has proven to be elusive to me. Evidently, no coin dealers refer to price guides ;). I always see these over guide price online and at shows. Maybe I should be friendlier. I need most of the mid-tier years: 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 49, 50-52, 65, and 79-90. To be honest, I've drifted in and out of this because it gets frustrating. I'm interested to hear others' experiences with this series. Of course, any suggestions are welcome. I appreciate it.    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
877 Posts |
What prices guides are you referring to? I use Greysheet, along with Numismedia as a point of reference, but when it comes to making decisions about what to pay, I heavily rely on sold listings in ebay and Heritage. Sometimes Greysheet is in line with prices realized, sometimes it is way off. PCGS is also handy for looking at prices realized at auction across all of the auction platforms. When it comes to ebay, BIN prices are rarely close to reality. Sometimes I'll make offers and be rejected or ignored. Sometimes they are open to negotiation. I often will add a BIN coin that does not have a "or Best Offer" option to my watchlist just to see if they make an offer, which they often do. Then that opens up the door to negotiate. To enhance my negotiating position, I'll look at what else a seller has listed and see if I can find other items of interest to move away from a single price for an item. I'm currently waiting for delivery of a few Morgan's and some bullion coins that brought down the overall price nearly 30%. The seller saves on shipping and quickly moves more product. I should add, the seller obviously viewed some random silver as bullion, but the two lots included a few semi key barbers worth 1.5 to 2x more than bullion. For me, the hunt is a large enjoyable component of this hobby. Edited by adam126402
01/09/2026 5:17 pm
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Moderator
 United States
94728 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73628 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10478 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
Looking good so far.  My eye appreciates the circulation cameo look in coins at these grade ranges. Your 1871 PCGS F12 example is just about perfect. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1300 Posts |
Very nice collection, I'm impressed! Thanks for sharing. I have a handful of these. I just looked, lots of low mintage dates, many under 1 million. Surprisingly, not too outrageously expensive.
Edited by thecoinguy1964
01/11/2026 2:26 pm
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Looking good! |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
521 Posts |
Here's a recent pick up.Nothing spectacular, but it fits my G-F range with nice circulated cameo. It's also a 73 without arrows, which is less common. The arrows variety 73 had a mintage of 1.8 million, while the no arrows had 587,000. That's not including the open-3 type, which had 214,200. There's a significant price jump from the closed to the open 3, too. G4 values in the RedBook are $75 and $3,500 respectively. Mine is the closed 3, but I'm always on the lookout.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
@nickelsearcher I agree with you on the 71. Here's a better pic.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73628 Posts |
Nice purchases! Errers and Varietys.
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Look. At. That. Circulation. Cameo!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
823 Posts |
Very nice collection. I have been collecting Seated halves for almost 15 years and some dates will be difficult, good luck! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
I just got another year today. Not the prettiest, but not bad. It's a little dark overall, but I think it will fit nicely. I've found that the 40's are a tough decade to find in lower circulated grades. Lots of dings; I try to find the affordable ones with the fewest distractions. What do you think?   |
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Moderator
United States
187582 Posts |
Another hole filled!  |
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Moderator
United States
15386 Posts |
Quote:
What do you think? I like it. Another year completed. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 768 |
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Posted 01/09/2026 5:42 pm
Uncirculated American Silver Eagles 
