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 Replies: 26 / Views: 2,950 |
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
When I started collecting coins I began collecting Silver eagles, because they were affordable and available.Since then, I took an interest in Morgan dollars, and 2.5$ dollar gold indians and have bought about 4-5 of each. I was thinking about doing a MS 2.5$ gold indian collection, and I'd still like to, but I just dont want to spend that much money just yet. I look back at my Silver eagles, all ms69+ish, and the bullion just bores me.. I want to start piecing together a new collection.I have recently been looking at picture after picture of Seated Liberty halves.. These coins are extremely beautiful and I can really appreciate a beautifully toned XF-AU coin, more than looking at shiny MS coins all day. This is where you guys come in : ).I know very little about these coins. I've looked at numismedia and it look likes a set I could get maybe 90% complete or so. I'm ordering the ANA book for grading coins, and my Red Book is about 6 years out of date (I took a 3 year break) and so I've got one on order. Is there any tips, tricks, or information you guys could tell me about the seated libety halves as a coin or as a set? I'm just trying to acquire a set without spending hundreds on books. Thanks for reading my life story, and I'd like to thank you guys in advance for whatever you come back to me with : ) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
Won't you be spending tens of thousands on the collection? A few books then seem like a worthwhile expense. Anyway, I wish I could consider the same. Coinguybrian will probably be along soon as I sense he has Seated Liberty expertise and coins for sale, as will others, most likely with some cautionary advice. I love the series almost as much as the 32.5mm Bust dates.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1432 Posts |
 Amputating . . I can't offer any advice as I only have 6 examples but can't wait to see your acquisitions. As a new member, if you haven't seen Moe's "39 Days of Seated Liberty coins" thread yet, here is a link. Enjoy. https://goccf.com/t/74642#74642And don't forget when you start your collection  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7191 Posts |
Moe is your man for this subject as he seems to have the "set" well in hand. Personally I am just trying to acquire all the "types" of the set and a few additional ones that strike my fancy. There are many low mintage coins that are sleepers in price when comparing other higher mintage coins in the price guides. These coins in AU to proof are exceptionally beautiful, good luck on your endeavour.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
As to your outdated Red Book, it is probably more up to date with prices than any new one. Usually that book is so far above what coins should be that a 6 year old one is more likely accurate. Unfortunately you do need the latest info though. You said you just ordered one. I hope you khow the latest, 2013 edition is due to relesase in April. If you just ordered one you may be getting the 2012 version. From your story it sounds like your going to try to acquire a multi million dollar collection.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I had already posted a link to the online version of the book posted above before I read the whole post, but that book is a great reference for anyone interested in Seated Liberty halves. There is some other GREAT books on his site from Barber coinage all the way to Hobo Nickels |
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Valued Member
 United States
69 Posts |
Last night as I was browsing through ebay pages, I got to like page 20 or 25 of liberty half dollars and found one that I liked.. It's a 1856-0 VF35 seated half, graded by PCGS, but personally I grade it XF40-45 with wear and contact marks etc., and I got it for a good price according to numismedia, even for the grade pcgs says it is. I'm concerned that it may be extremely hard to put together a collection without acquiring some cleaned coins.. but the only thing is that I hate the artifical luster and hairline scratches that come along with cleaning. What is your opinion on owning cleaned coins? Here is the ebay listing for my first Liberty half (Not cleaned : )) http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...p=true&rt=nc (scroll down) I'll look into the books tonight, as I'm in work right now Edited by Amputating
03/06/2012 5:08 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
759 Posts |
What's your time frame and how patient are you? You can certainly compile a problem free collection, but it will be neither quick nor inexpensive. You could be looking at years and years if you're a very discerning buyer, unless you want to throw a boatload of money at this endeavor in short order. Nice 1856-O.
Is your forum name related to how much you think things will cost? :)
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
I definitely will be spending an arm and a leg haha, I am well aware that I will be spending tens of thousands of dollars in coins. I wont be able to buy every single coin in the series, but I would like to compile as complete of a set as I can, even if I need to buy some AG or G coins for some of the CC mints(Why does carson city suck so much at striking coins) my time frame is quite a long time, I hope to slowly build things up show by show, maybe over the next few decades.. I just dont know why, but I cant stand the look of a cleaned coin.. Does anyone think the half dollar I bought off of ebay is indeed XF40 or so instead of vf35?It also seems like on the reverse, the rim of the right side is slightly misaligned, or maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me Edited by Amputating
03/06/2012 9:29 pm
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
It sounds like you have a higher price range, if I were you I would look to collect Seated dollars. Identical obverse and reverse to the seated half and more valuable and rare. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
5375 Posts |
Its better than VF-35 in my opinion.
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
I went with halves because there are other sets I still want to collect,dollars would probably break the bank, so I thought i'd just do halves and pick up nicely toned xf's and au+'s. I still want to do a quarter gold eagle set, and hit up the early copper cents, busts,trade dollars, all that good stuff : P I'd like to still get a good example of a Seated dollar, Half Dime etc. thanks for all the good info everyone, I appreciate everyone taking the time to help me out Edited by Amputating
03/06/2012 9:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
I personally find the Seated Liberty half dollar to be a fascinating coin type. There are quite a few really nice examples of most of the years/mint marks that were minted. But, as you already pointed out, there are a few years/mint marks that are quite rare, with actual numbers well below the numbers published as minted since the US Government melted vast amounts of some years and mint marks mintage. Due to this fact, if you are attempting to fully complete a set of Seated Liberty half dollars you may find the hunt pretty frustrating. However, if you can be happy with a more limited collection of higher end coins, you're going to be very happy with this coin type. You're doing the right thing, educating yourself about the type and shopping for under-graded coins that are a bargain. The '56 O Half Dollar you bought looks like a great find! I agree the grading seems low and I would have (from the pictures) have graded this coin as an EF-40. I wish you great luck in your pursuit of this amazing coin type. After the Capped Bust half dollar (my personal, all-time favorite), the Seated Liberty half dollar comes in as a VERY close second and I can see me pursuing coins of this type I don't have, or upgrades to present ones, for a VERY long time. I think I have to dance now!    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6384 Posts |
Very nice 1856-O with very conservative grading and a nice price. You're off to a good start!
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Valued Member
United States
69 Posts |
Hey, thanks for all the great stuff guys, my ANA grading book came today and so I'm just perusing the intro and have looked into a few coins and where they wear down. This is random, but I found this on ebay and wanted to share.. I however will not be buying it , cant afford it haha, but I like the way this coin is toned. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1857-S-AU-S...em35b9921d88I cant wait to see the half dollar in hand and see how I did, but I really made an effort to surf ebay for a first half dollar in my collection to be slabbed and undergraded. So, I'm looking at the various prices and mintages on numismedia and in the Red Book for the halves, and there are several that will be unattainable, for instance the 1870cc which is 1,200$ in G-4, and the 1878s which is 21,000 in G-4. I need a goal to work towards, as I begin to acquire different coins, and since some of them are unattainable, what should my mindset be moving foward? should I seek to fill every year and not necessarily pay any attention to the mintmarks? Edited by Amputating
03/07/2012 02:30 am
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Replies: 26 / Views: 2,950 |
Posted 03/06/2012 01:39 am
