Early US Silver Coinage

Thank you for the shout out, sir, but I'll defer to others - I mostly specialize in world coins, US varieties, & Jefferson Nickels. The only early silver I've gotten my hands on has been lower-grade cull type lots (which still have great stuff in them, but I wouldn't pretend to be an expert.)

Good luck!

 

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My bad, off the top of my head I thought you dealt in them!

 

I had a huge pile of seated halves, quarters, dimes....but all lower grade/cull type stuff. A long time ago I had a really nice AU Bust Half...but that sold almost as soon as I put it on eBay.

Like all really nice stuff sells...lickety split.

 

Capped bust halfdimes you should be able to get a nice xf in your range. Seated half dimes even au to lower ms for the motto obverse. And arrows at date. You can get a decent vf 1820s dime for around $200-250 if you look and the small size an xf. A vf no stars dime isn’t A problem either. Or xf and au for all later types of seated dimes. Maybe try to get a couple better dates or branch mints. And 75-s 20 cent as to quarters draped bust is doable in a nice vg if you save and spend a bit more. Same for a nice fine draped bust half. Maybe $400-500 for those. Look for a good original surface with honest wear. The earlier capped quarter will be more a vg-f for your budget. But a nice original has lots of eye appeal too. I like the circam look in them. Later capped quarters are doable in vf for about $250 and all the seated quarters too. Look for better dates too. Civil war dates are good too. 1862 an underrated date. As are most from 1845-50. 57,8,9 are really common. And maybe try for a tougher date. A 1876 or 77 cc is doable too. Bust halves are available in xf in later dates as are reeded edge in vf. The no drapery seated half is tough. But the stars motto arrows and a&r are all doable. New Orleans mints are more common than philly in the 1840s and the 61-o is always popular as several die varieties can be attributed to being struck by the confederate government. As to dollars. A seated can be found for under $500. Usually 1842 47 or 58-9-o. Watch for problem coins there’s a lot. The motto type from 1870-72 is doable for $350-400. A trade dollar in 1877 or 76-8-s. Don’t buy a raw trade dollar unless from a dealer you absolutely trust. And not off sleaze bay. Many are fake. Then there’s the hard stuff. Flowing hair dollars will go over $1k for a real problem coin. Anything decent in vf will cost you $5k plus. Figure something similar for a small eagle. A decent large eagle can be found for under $1k. With problems. Or vg with honest wear. A vf 1799 can be had for $2kat times. A gobrecht dollar is tough. $10k+. Flowing hair halves can be bought for $1k for a vg or a problem coin. A small eagle is brutal. $30-50k. The dealbreaker for many type sets. A small eagle quarter not much better. $10k and up. Flowing hair dimes and half dimes and small eagle and draped bust are all well over $1k. Except a draped bust heraldic eagle. Especially 1806-7. They can be found. For under $1k problem free. Fine or so. Hope this helps. And don’t be afraid to ask for any more info

 

Lots of good answers in the above posts. Not much I can add.

I tend to look for scarcer dates, specially in the Pre-1850's half dimes, dimes and quarters. I will accept details if the coin has an acceptable overall look, ie not harshly cleaned, severely nicked or otherwise damaged. Not interested in slabs.

As others have pointed out, for the OP's budget you can probably forget Draped bust types (all denominations) in anything better than VG, although with a bit of luck an 1806 or 1807, maybe an 1805 Draped Bust Half in F12 or so may be doable.
Your best bets will be in the Bust and seated series, for example CBD's in F12 to VF, and also CBQ's. I can't speak for the CBH's.

 

LOL can I just stick to my wheat pennies? JK

 

LOL
I love the Draped bust and earlier coins. Though my collection is small due to the high acquisition cost.

Pay attention to ha.com There are good deals from time to time but you may want to save up longer. Instead of $250 .. save up twice as long and try $500 or longer.

 

This is solid advice. The saving time gives you time to save a good chunk of cash to obtain an exclusive example, OP.

 

Is it difficult to discern? Are the TPGs getting lax about them?

 

That's all I've been doing this morning! Very useful

 

You can get CBH's in VF for <$250.

 

Capped bust halves offer the biggest bang for your buck. They can easily be had in EF/AU condition for less than $250, though keep in mind that certified examples go for far more money than raw even if the coins are exactly the same with no problems. I particularly like issues dating from before 1827. 1806 and 1807 halves can be had in VG/F condition within your price range as well.

I bought an example like this on eBay for $120 a while back. This one is currently $175. Keep your eye open.

 

This is where I bookmark a thread that's suddenly got ten pounds of good info in a five-pound sack...

 

I don't get it

 

It's a saying that means it's overstuffed and spilling out. There's so much good info that it will take a couple of readings to get it all.

You'll see different variations: ten pounds of... manure... in a 5 pound sack means the situation is so messed up you don't know what to do with it. Ten pounds of crazy in a 5 pound sack is a woman/relationship/job/situation you don't want to go anywhere near. Etc.

 

Outgrew then when I bought my first large cent. A 1817 15 stars. I had a fair amount of halfway decent early silver by the time I was 12 or so. Capped bust and seated. Half dimes through halves but nothing draped bust other than large cents. Had a couple of those. Had some off and on times of coin collecting through high school. Got a 1837 no stars dime I got in high school I still have. Didn’t buy anything slabbed until far more recent. As those days most coins were raw

 

Capped bust halves are great for the money agreed. So are half dimes and later dimes. You can get a pretty coin in higher grade for a decent price. If you pay attention you can buy a decent draped bust half for a reasonable price too. They made a lot and a lot survived

 

Lol Jason thanks for the erm, clarification. I'd never heard this before myself, I will now adopt it for future use in such situations.

 

This is becoming a very useful thread. Thank you for all the help.