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 Replies: 11 / Views: 988 |
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Valued Member
United States
456 Posts |
I have my eye on two coins and must pick one. My foci are two sets, a complete date/mm set of pre-legend Seated dimes (1837-1860-s), and a complete type set going back to the draped bust coins. Here's my dilemma: the beauty is a 1915-d PCGS MS65 Barber half with incredible toning that I can't take my eyes off. The beast is an 1859-s PCGS VF35 SL dime. The beast is not ugly, it is just average looking and unremarkable. It is a key to both the set and the entire SL dime run. It is very hard to find, and the VF35 is probably the highest grade I would want as there is a $1000 price jump to XF40. It could be years before I find another VF35, although a lower graded circulation cameo would probably look nicer. The 1915-d Barber half is about the most common date in the series, and finding another appealing MS65 in any common date will be easy, although there is something special about the toning on the one I am looking at that I don't think I will be as impressed by again. There's is strong support for the "buy the keys first" philosophy, and I will probably follow it and get the dime, although I will regret missing out on the half dollar more than missing out on the dime. So I am looking for advice. Should I get the Barber half and have it be a star of my type set? Or should I go with the very scarce dime because of its rarity and importance to building my dime set and find another stunning half dollar later? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3468 Posts |
Sounds like your heart is set on the Barber half and your head is set on the SL dime. You're going to need to figure out which you'll most regret not purchasing.
Edited by nfine
07/28/2023 8:59 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
How about some pics for us to evaluate?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
Sounds like a choice between what you want to do and what you feel like you have to do. I know which one I would pick.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3342 Posts |
Go for the dime. Straight grades on early SF's are like hen's teeth.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
07/28/2023 10:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2280 Posts |
How dare you not post pictures!
You realize when you know how to think, it empowers you far beyond those who know only what to think.
-Neil deGrasse Tyson
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Valued Member
United States
90 Posts |
This post really resonated with me. If I may be so bold, here are some pics of what might be the coins in question:    I checked PCGS.com/auctionprices for both. Screengrabs of the seven sold dimes in VF35 or XF40, and (a small part of) the 105 Barber halves in MS65. I'd get the dime. Expeditiously.   |
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Valued Member
United States
90 Posts |
And to pile on to my prior post a wee bit - IF that coin I imaged is indeed the one you are interested in: I agree, it's gorgeous. But it's got a weak strike, especially on the reverse. Look at the upper right of the shield and the (viewer's) right wing. Compare that to the two recent auction sales (both with CAC stickers, both having sold for less than $1900 between March and April of this year. And finally: the photos of that Barber half, if that's the right one of course, are of the style that this particular seller uses (and I have dealt with them - they're good people). But the style tends to be a bit warm, so the golden red tints you see might not be as apparent in hand. That's not to say anyone is engaged in trickery - it's just to say that it's beneficial to be aware of the photo setup that different dealers use! Best of luck either way - it's an interesting conundrum! https://coins.ha.com/itm/barber-hal...ption-071515https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/l...-65-PCGS-cac |
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Valued Member
 United States
456 Posts |
I just bought the dime. Bikergeek's research and THQ's comment got me to use my head and get this near rarity while I can rather than what my heart liked with the half dollar. I had done my own auction research and concluded, like Bikergeek,I would be lucky to find one coin a year in my target price range. I would be kicking myself eventually for passing it up.
Bikergeek found the TrueView picture of the dime and the listing photo for the half, which looks just like the listing. The TrueView, as usual, exaggerated the toning on the dime, with the listing photos showing a typical untoned coin gray. I respect the lister for using his own photos and not showing the inaccurate TrueView. I have found that TrueView pictures are not accurate on toning and sometimes blemishes, and I won't buy a coin off just a TrueView photo.
Guys, I apologize for the lack of photos. I need to learn how to insert pictures into my posts. Hopefully I can find a good tutorial.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4468 Posts |
Congratulations on your purchase as the selling price was at fair market value. Below are the seller's photos that look like they were taken before being put into a PCGS holder:   You may want to consider sending it to CAC for a sticker. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
2781 Posts |
EDIT, wrote this without reading the whole thread
grade rarity vs common? no contest... grade rarity, as you've said you probably won't come across another one.
Edited by Wade
07/29/2023 6:11 pm
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Valued Member
United States
90 Posts |
Hey Sharkman, congrats! Nice choice on a tough coin! Please do let us know if you send it in and it comes home with a green bean on it!
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Replies: 11 / Views: 988 |
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Posted 07/28/2023 9:01 pm
