Booker Washington half dollar purchase.

Red Book.....

 

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That's odd...everywhere I look online, I am seeing mintage numbers of 100,000+...

 

Look on the forehead of booker T, then look below his ear in the field and then look across his whole neck scratch marks appear to b a result of an older cleaning in that area !!

 

The mint melted 90,000. 2008 Red Book lists the number at 6000. Red Book Professional (2nd edition) lists the distribution at 6000 pieces.....

 

Ain't seein' it. Looks more like rough handling by the mint to me....

 

Anthony Swiatek in his commem book lists the distribution at 10,000 pieces but with an asterisk (estimated).

 

So given the revised population, what would be the fair price on a problem-free low MS example? Surely not in the thousands?

 

Of course not, but given today's collecting climate a raw example in '63, '64 condition should command $30 easily.....

 

Ridiculous.

The thing is that these are painfully common as a type and have never been that popular; if I remember correctly, they were released for six years and have 18 different date/mint combos, and represent a fine example of how mintage or estimated survival can have little effect on value. Over the years, most collectors that I've dealt with that were interested in such coins have shown little desire to own more than a solitary example, and is not a unique experience. This is not to say they are not fine coins, but the demand for average MS examples does not come close to the supply, which means values are kept comparatively low. Green's value estimate in post #28 is reasonable, but even then they are not always the easiest of sales.

Fair enough...

 

couple of hairline scratches on the forehead... not cleaned..

 

Quite agree, the series has never generated much interest, but lately I find myself drawn to it. I never intended to collect every year and mint mark but am now considering doing so. Besides, if we could get more African American collectors into the hobby I know the series would catch fire.........

 

For $10 you can't go wrong

 

notice the date: 1947. http://earlycommemorativecoins.com/1946-1951-booker-t-washington-half-dollar/.
The reason that everyone erroneously thinks that this is "worthless" is that the 1946 (P) coins were common and the majority were put into circulation. They kept on minting them in sets that sold almost nothing until 1951 (for some reason they minted a bunch in 1950 and '51).

To conclude: If kforbes862 had gotten a 1946 BTW in the exact same condition, most here would have 100% right. But this is not a 1946, it's a '47. The date makes all the difference, as we all should know.

 

The date has most certainly not been overlooked by most of us, but even if it had, this would not change as much as you seem to think. No matter our individual opinions on the coin's condition, we all have basically agreed on value of this and/or less questionable examples for a very good reason.

I do not know what/if the OP collects or his experience, but your earlier statement that this coin is "worth more than a thousand bucks" is of no help to anyone unfamiliar with this type that may read this thread. If you honestly believe this or other low mintage dates are that valuable, even in this condition, they are easily obtainable for a small fraction of your estimate. If true, a great and highly profitable opportunity awaits you, but please be sure to let us know the results.

With that said, perhaps the OP can tell us why in the first post he states that the coin was purchased from an antique store for $10, but it is claimed to be part of some great "hoard" in the listing description. Considering that the coin was for sale with the same photos well before this thread was started, I believe this a fair question.

 

Forgive me Books, but I don't see that stated in the OP.

 

The antique store and price claim are in the first post, but I doubt this is what you're talking about. As for the other... 190967168177

 

Oh dear.


You're good old fellow.

 

It would appear that I've been snookered by Cindy........

 

We've been duped!

 

Would you mind if I seek your opinion?
The coin looks to me perhaps improperly dipped. Outside of the legends on the obverse the rest of the coin appears to have subdued luster. Might this be the case?