It has been over a year since the last update, so let's see where ddddd's box of 20 journey stands. In the last installment (November 2023) we saw two changes; it is just one this time around. A "Gold Morgan" (Whipple Dollar) went to a new home and opened the door to a Dan Carr piece that was on the outside looking in. As always, a big inspiration has been the wonderful threads from our very own @lordmarcovan (he gets credit on every update and he certainly deserves it ). The order here is US (by denomination), followed by tokens, and finally world (Territorials fall into the world grouping).
(1) 1961-D NGC MS 62 BN Lincoln Cent Error coins have always piqued my interest. My goal was to find something that stands out and this one does a great job. I've dubbed it "Headbutting Lincoln." Video: none (2) 1961-D PCGS MS 66+ Roosevelt Dime While I’m not big on dimes (I tend to appreciate the larger coins more), this one bucked the trend. The fantastic color won me over and it’s earned a spot in my set. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd9t1OnOLcw/ (3) 1961 PCGS MS 65 Washington Quarter This quarter caught my attention in an auction where I was an underbidder. Fortunately I saw it again several months later and decided to bid stronger-I won for less than my original bid! This is also a date that is not common for color (by 1961 the US Mint was no longer using the the cardboard known to tone mint sets from most of the 1950s). Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXMRZNCrUlW/ (4) 1834 NGC AU 55 Capped Bust Half Dollar I've owned several Capped Bust Halfs over the years and have always enjoyed them regardless of grade (I think these look nice from the low circulated grades all the way up to mint state). When I saw the combination of color and luster on this example, I knew it was the perfect one for my set. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb-ngJpOB0z/ (5) 1958-D NGC MS 64* FBL Franklin Half Dollar Lovely rainbows adorn both sides of this Franklin. While a common date-even with color-it hasn’t been easy for me to find a better one. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt7ACyvF8tS/ (6) 1892 NGC AU 58 Star Columbian Expo Commemorative Half Dollar This marked the beginning of the Classic Commemorative series (along with the 1892 dated coin plus the Isabella Quarter). The Columbian Expo was an iconic event that helped showcase Chicago and multiple innovations. The toning highlights the coin. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUvvvkYL5sl/ (7) 1893 PCGS AU 58 Isabella Quarter A nice pair for the Columbian, the Isabella Quarter has long been on my want list. I was fortunate to buy this one in an UNC details holder (QC, which I disagreed with) and then have it straight grade as AU 58. The color is solid and the pl surfaces add to the eye appeal. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTgREleL1_B/ (8) 1881-S NGC MS 65* Morgan Dollar (now PCGS MS 65) An awesome toned Morgan-this one has it all (color, luster, and clean surfaces for the grade). Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYLA0QHUrH/ (9) 1837 (circa 1900-1906) NGC AU 58 CD Peacock Token This is a token with a cool design and one I first learned about from a LordM thread. The color is a bonus. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxLvBffFaWb/ (10) 2011-D Anacs MS 69 Dan Carr Capped Bust Copper Amero Dan Carr has caused controversy over the years on the forums but I have enjoyed some of his work. This is a cool design with some nice color. I saw a similar example at a coin show where the dealer wanted moon money. Fortunately, I was able to find this one on eBay and get it graded for a small fraction of the price that dealer wanted. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFvVOhunEEV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
(11) 1780 Austria Thaler Restrike PCGS MS 67 This Maria Theresa Thaler is a modern restrike and a common coin, but the eye appeal is well above average. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3qa1ulgYVF/ (12) 1768 Mexico 8 Reales PCGS VF 35 Besides having the distinction of being the oldest coin in this set, this "Pillar Dollar" is one of the most famous world coins. I've been on the hunt for a while and finally found a beautiful example. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFctgFJn4uK/ (13) 1877 Trade Dollar PCGS AU 55 Yes this is a US Coin, but I'm placing it in the world section as the type was used in commerce abroad (plus it replaced a world coin formerly in this spot). For too long I did not have a Trade Dollar in my set and it wasn't for a lack of searching-I just hadn't seen the right one. When @Mkman123 decided to disperse some of his collection, I pounced on this coin. Recalling when he first posted it years ago, I realized this was the look I had desired (and couldn't find elsewhere). You just don't see many borderline deep mirror prooflike AU Trade Dollars! Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZavyTuLrIj/ (14) 1883 Hawaii Half Dollar PCGS AU 55 Struck at the US Mint in San Francisco (dies prepared in Philadelphia), the Hawaii Half displays King Kalakaua. It is another semi-pl with great detail for an AU coin. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/B3543NtAmiM/ (15) 1887 Mexico 8 Reales PCGS AU 58 A lovely blast white Mexico 8 Reales used to hold this spot. I upgraded to an even nicer toned example. The new coin also has PL surfaces and the colors pop in hand. I avoided this design for too long but a conversation with @Mkman123 convinced me to get the blast white and then upgrade to the current toner (and I'm glad he did). Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CXwSWP2rRbZ/ (16) 1894 Guatemala Peso PCGS MS 65 Another want list item found! This 1894 Guatemala Peso is a beautiful silver crown with prooflike surfaces and great luster. It replaced a solid MS 62 example (that I thought was as good as it would be until this one came along). Video: None (17) 1904 Japan Yen NGC MS 63 A great design that keeps gaining popularity. The luster is strong on this example. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLfyoADrUNr/ (18) 1932 Poland 10z Queen Jadwiga NGC AU 58 After much searching, I finally acquired a Queen Jadwiga Polish 10z; a beautiful design and surprisingly challenging to find lately. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CT569OYLseF/ (19) 2004 Portugal 8 Euro Stylized Goal Keeper PCGS MS 65 Somewhat of a unicorn, nothing about this coin is standard. You have an oddball denomination of 8 Euro, a modern commemorative coin that was technically considered circulating (with a mintage of 1,500,000), and an abstract design of a goalkeeper making a save. It's also the only example graded at PCGS and on top of that, features amazing colors! The coin was issued by Portugal as they were hosting the 2004 European Football (soccer) Championship-an event as unusual as the coin given the unexpected triumph of Greece over Portugal in the final. Video: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVN8oOdLvwj/ (20) 2017 Kazakhstan 100 Tenge NGC PF 70 UCAM Moderns can be beautiful and this one drew me in. A bimetallic coin, it effectively uses tantalum for the turtle’s shell while the rest of the design is well executed in silver. Another bonus was that I received the 70 grade (not something that I often chase, but still fun to see it when sending in your own raw coins). Video: none
Here is the item that left the box: No Date (~1885 to 1900) PCGS MS 63 HK-832 Token (Whipple Dollar) Thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-gold-morgan-not-quite-but-close-whipple-dollar.393296/
That’s a nice looking set! I especially like the bust half, and the pillar dollar and trade dollar are also quite a sight!
Fantastic as always, that Dan Carr piece is just spectacular and strangely enough twice I have almost bought that 100 Tenge Turtle coin simply because I really like it but it just has no place in my collection and I already have more then enough weird sidelines Maybe I just need to do my own box of 20 to have a place to put some of those oddballs I got
Thank you! The bust half took me a while to find a nicely toned example. It came at a premium but was well worth it!
The Turtle I waited a little after release to buy and had to pay about $50 over the initial rates. Luckily a seller in Poland was auctioning off several so I was able to get one at a reasonable premium. Afterwards the prices kept climbing; nowadays it is hard to find one under $300. And definitely go for a box of 20-it is the perfect spot for the "oddball" coins.
Thank you! The Guatemala Peso is a good pick; the prooflike appearance really makes it "pop" in hand.
