What is your favorite U.S. Sleeper?

I could be called crazy here, but I think the Washington Quarter Dollar (32-64) is a sleeper. Most people don't care much for them besides their silver value...but I am talking about the coin itself.

For me, this coin is the coin from my childhood. By that, I mean this was the coin that could take ya places, and get ya things! This was the coin you searched high and low for. Under the couch cushions, on the floorboard of the family car, in the pockets of coats in the closet. If you found a few dimes and nickels, you traded up TO a quarter! Once you had enough, you could play a few rounds of Mortal Kombat at the local arcade, take a couple handfuls of M&Ms from the vending machine, and even buy your self a Pepsi if you were lucky!

Flash forward to when I hit my numismatist days. "Oh man, these things were made of silver!" This used to be REAL money! "Oh wow, it started in 1932"! "Dang! In 32 they made less than a million of the 1932-D and 1932-S! "

Every time I find one of these, or I buy one from a friend that has found one or is looking to trade, etc I jump at the chance. I just get such a feeling of personal nostalgia for the Washington Quarter Dollar. Granted, I am only 25 years old, I still remember when pocket change could get a kid something decent.

I am actually working on collecting the set of 1932 - 1964 silver Washington Quarter Dollars. So far I have quite a few 1964-D that I have either found or bought for cheap. Obviously I only need one of each year/MM to fill my book, so I am keeping the extras for the precious metal, but I am willing to trade them for years/MM I don't have.

So far, in order of earliest to latest:

1941-D, 1942-S, 1942, 1944, 1954-S (BU, possibly MS-63 candidate), 1957-D, 1958-D, 1961-D, and multiple 1964-D x 5.

As you may have guessed, I am actually quite a big Washington fan, especially when it comes to his mark on coins and currency. I have 4 Washington Silver Certificates, all got at FACE from a banker who knew I collected and he was leaving the bank. I even went and bought the non-proof 40% silver Washington bicentennial Quarter Dollar at a premium, but it is in MS, probably about 62 or 63...beautiful and I HAD to have the coin.

In fact, I have even thought about changing my name of the forum to either WashingtonCrazy (a nod to our good pal Merc!) or WashingtonJunkie...but I thought that might come off a bit political and that is not my aim at all. Also, I wanted you all to know it was me, but I have no clue as to how to go about changing my name with out creating a whole new account?

Anyways that is my geeky rant! I love my Washington Quarter Dollar, and that will never change!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Seems to me pre-1933 double eagles in MS-63 for less than 10% premium is interesting.

 

I agree, and think the Barbers are the best 'sleepers'

 

I would say the 1809 Dime. I want that coin so badly, but I've seen less than 30 being sold since I started collecting.

 

Sorry, you're right. They're more "nappers" than sleepers, compared to the examples above. However when they wake up, the premium spreads nicely, and in the meantime, they're a great hedge. Here's one example from a year ago: http://coinmarketreport.blogspot.com/2011/01/premiums-for-generic-gold-coins-like-ms.html

 

10 or more years ago Doug Winter wrote an article in the CDN monthly on how to collect type III $20s, that mint state issues from 1878 to 1880 were true sleepers based on low mintages. They still have not awoken.

The problem with these theories of undervalued coins and the experts who are trying to figure out when the hoards of people are going to come through the doors and spend $$$ that will drive the prices up is that those collectors or "investors" are capricious; they are just as likely to head for the exits if they believe they have been duped and are essentially bag-holders. The only way to make money in this racket is to buy cheap and sell high. Or get a coin upgraded or CAC'd and run it at auction where people start bidding like fools and I doubt most people can do that. Much less risk buying bullion. Hardly any readily available coin has outstripped gold and silver in the last ten years.

 

:hail:

 

GOTTA LOVE that definition GDJ! Very philosophical! I agree!

 

Good point. Any premium that would have been for these coins, and were in the past, was stolen from collectors when the AGE's stole the design.

 

the franklin, walkers, SLQ and barber series of coinage

 

NOTHING FAVORITE....Sleeper Coin never wake up. Like in COMA....4 ever..Just my own Opinion...

 

lol so true.

 

Why?

Because I collect them!

 

Love it Leigh. This is my best nickel. I bought it for my proof set, but couldn't bring myself to crack the slab.

 

Interesting perspective. The 1809 dime was recognized as scarce already 30 years ago (or much longer). Over the last few years, however, it has been the subject of much interest, and this caused many examples to come out on the market. At this very moment Rich Uhrich and Dick Osburn have at least a dozen for sale between the two of them. It also appears now 3-6 times a year in eBay. It is probable that 250-350 examples exist. I like the date myself (have 2 in my collection), but think the 1811/9 is somewhat scarcer, and the 1822 is more interesting.

 

Here is a recent sale raw: Jan 31st

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Scarce...69?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item256c0f8c09