Business Strike Two Cent Pieces~playing With The Scanner

I'm going to guess the 1868 was from the holder.
...the stuff I would buy with unlimited funds. These are nice coins.

Was it the 1867?

Luvv that series. Thanks for sharing. 1871

TonysPics,

I "started" this collection about 40 years ago when my dad bought me an 1866 at a shop somewhere on a business trip. I still have it, in the original 2x2. Grades about VG and I will be buried with it some day.

I always just bought what I felt like actually until about 10 years ago I realized I had NEVER come CLOSE to completing a set. Not like that's a bad thing.
I thought about it and decided business strike Two Cent Pieces in honor of my dad who had since passed away.

The set was going to be a VF set at first. THEN I made the mistake of picking up a nice 1865 (pictured) cheap and all others paled in comparison. I had every coin except the Small Motto and 1872 by this point. Now it was time to upgrade.

I became a junkie. I filled the holes in higher grade little by little and picked up others along the way. Took me a good five years to get it to the point it is now.

Of course the Small Motto and 1872 were tough. I now have 11 (I think) Small Motto and 5 1872. Like I said a junkie.

Those were tough of course but I can tell anyone this. Fully struck examples are tought to find. MOST of mine could be much stronger.
1867 tends to be horrible for strikes. I'm very pleased with mine.

The LAST one I filled in higher grade was the 1866. Don't let book values fool you. These are tough to find in high grade because no one saved them.
I had a friend, with very good income, decide to do the set and I warned him. He didn't believe me until it actually came about.

I'm not an "expert" but anyone that collects any series learns these things.


NOW. As for the PCGS MS81? Nobody has nailed it yet.

1869 is CORRECT! Give the man a Kewpie Doll!

Mottled toning for sure. I bought an MS63RB of that year and decided to leave it in the slab. Had to get another one to fill the hole.

I would have pegged the 1867 as the mint state coin. Your scans show great detail but don't reveal the luster which I guess is the main drawback with scans.

Congratulations on putting together such a beautiful set. I especially like the high grade 1864 Small Motto. Your scans clearly show the differences between the Small and Large Motto types, even better than the Red Book photos IMO. Thanks!