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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,163 |
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Valued Member
United States
104 Posts |
Hello all, I am looking to begin an Indian Head Quarter Eagle set and would like some advice from you all. Financially, I think I can manage anywhere from an AU-58 to an MS-61. My inclination is to set a goal of at least AU-58 or higher. If you were starting a set, would you focus on keeping all your coins at AU-58 or would you primarily focus on MS61? Any other advice or pointers you could give about collecting Indian Head Quarter Eagles would be welcome. Thanks!  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
First you should consider that the Indian Quarter Eagle is the single MOST forged series reported by both NGC and PCGS.
That said, I hope you intend to stay with either of those two for certification.
A nice AU-58 will often look better than a 61 or even a 62. Keep in mind that the 58 May have been a 65, 66, or even a 67 before it entered circulation for a very brief time. Even with circulation the LOOK may be as nice as a 63, or even better.
The 58 is from slight circulation and does NOT take minor dings and scratches into consideration. On this series both services use a very technical grade, rather than a market grade. Thus a 61 may be pretty ugly. It's next to the bottom of uncirculated.
Finding nice 58s is not an easy task, but if that was my budget range I'd much rather have beautiful slightly circulated, rather than scruffy uncirculated.
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Valued Member
146 Posts |
If you MUST by raw coins (not advisable), make sure you tip and rotate the coin under strong light. Because of the design of these coins their surface gets hairlined easily even when not cleaned. 80 + percent of the coins in MS-60 or MS-62 slabs will have rub (AU) on their high points. You'll need to decide how much loss of original luster you will tolerate. Go for coins blazing luster (that are not cleaned). The more you learn about the series and the more careful you are you'll actually be able to fine beautiful coins priced "right" both raw and slabbed.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Moxking makes some very good points.
As I see the option.
$2.50 Indian Coins from AU to MS62 would not be considered
investment grade coins.
For me ... If I could put a nice set of AU58 coins together, that would
cost much less than a MS61 set.
And the AU set had better eye appeal.
I would go with the AU set.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
711 Posts |
If I were starting a set, I'd set my floor at the AU minimum level and opportunity buy higher pieces when bargains show up which they do on ebay in slabs. Me, I'd only attempt a type set in US gold coins though. No data other than gut feeling, but I think type set collecting is more popular, though if you are dead set on a date set, the $2.50 series is certainly the way to go. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1450 Posts |
All the other American gold sets of higher value coins are almost impossible to complete in a date/mint set. Even half eagle is almost impossible and the eagle and double eagle are impossible unless you have millions of dollars. However, you can cherry pick different sets and get some very nice and rare coins. I might get a complete set of the Indian Head quarter eagles and then just buy nice examples of some of the other sets from 19th and 20th centuries. I think I would buy all slabbed and graded by top two grading outfits.
Gold is gold and you can only buy it so cheap. The gold American Eagle bullion coins are now collectable mint/date since they have been around a while. You can fill one of those sets and keep current with new issues. I am also thinking about gold commemorative coins of the modern era. You could complete a set of those and they are coming out with new ones all the time. The First Spouse coins are gold and might be OK. The mintage is quite low.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
One option is an Indian Head date set, which draws from every denomination, not just the $2.5's.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Valued Member
United States
152 Posts |
The $2 1/2 Indian is the main coin I buy/sell/collect. I have a lot of nice raw and graded ones for sell always. I would stick with at least MS, as the price difference is not much more than AU.
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Valued Member
 United States
104 Posts |
Thank you all so much for the insight. It looks like there are varying opinions on putting together a date set. I'm really interested in US coins from the 1910s-1920s. jwitten: I'd like to get in contact with you privately, but your email link isn't working. Feel free to send me a message via my profile. Edited by logantrky
03/03/2016 11:28 pm
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,163 |
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Posted 03/03/2016 8:14 pm
