Starting a short set of Indian cents

I don’t necessarily disagree. But for this little set I do have specific goals.

First, I have a nostalgic feeling for the Capital Plastics holder. I associate it with a time before the TPG’s started encasing everything; when only a few special coins were given the luxury treatment of a special display holder. My 1950 birth year proof set was given to me in one of these, and still is.

Second, I am looking for coins that will make a splash against the glossy black plastic. Try to make the effect look like special coins in a special setting, as it were. I might have a great red coin, red-brown, brown, and toned all together if it helps get the look I want.

 

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Yesterday another coin arrived in the mail. This time, the 1905.

I used to have this 1905.


Now I have acquired this one for the Capital Plastics set.


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This gets me halfway through the set. Two more are in transit. I bought another at a coin show today. That leaves three to go. I am searching, but I don’t see them with the look I want. I must be patient…

 

This is my former 1902 that was sold.


I got this one to replace it and to go in the new set.

Replacement

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Here is the first half of the set.

 

I have build 2 complete sets of IHC. A graded one that was sold via Heritage - I made money but not much. One the graded set when I sold it I kept a few coins. I just sold those 2 coins - the 1869 MS64 brown alone made me 600. The other set I built mainly off EBAY for a dansco album, except for some key dates. I used to buy runs of IHC on common dates off ebay for like 10 to 20 dollars. I would pick out the AU coins and fill the dansco album. Sell the left overs down at local shop for a few bucks. I had like 2000 in the album and most of that was the key dates - with the 1877 being the lowest grade coin. I sold it back about 4/5 years ago and easily doubled my money I was shocked at it.

I like copper period - mainly large cents and IHC. From the coins you posted that should be a really nice short set.

 

I just noticed you posted the 1900 to 1905 coins. I would replace that 1903 (which is a nice coin) with a coin that matched the 1900 to 1902 or 1904 and 1905. I think the run would look a little better with all brown with red showing thru like you have. I keep hoping to find 1892 that looks like your 04 and 05. It is a nice run of coins so far.

 

I got excited about a coin an auction and now I have a 1905 proof arriving imminently. Maybe I will sprinkle in another proof or two and go with a mix of flashy and RB. Or, as you say, keep more of a consistent RD/RB look. We shall see.

Too bad I sold this one …

 

That 1892 is nice.

 

I took the opportunity to get a 1905 proof that I thought might go well with the 1903 proof already in the set.

Upon further consideration, however, I think I will stick with the RB coin (post #22) I already have. I kind of hate to crack out a PCGS / CAC coin since I know there are folks who went to some trouble to get all that certification done.

I might build some animations later, but since it's not part of this short set for now, I'll post them in some other thread.

 

I bought this 1906 in the same auction as the proof in the previous post. Unlike the prior coin, there was no hesitation cracking it out.

I could not figure out why it was graded MS62. When I looked at the photos I saw the rim dent at 11:00. This will not affect my set in the slightest.

(Edit: Nah, I still don’t understand a 62 grade. Looks great to me! It’s raw now, in any case.)

I have actually acquired the full set now. Three are in the mail, and one I am saving so I can show them in order. Everything should arrive next week.



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The remaining cents are starting to arrive. I bought two 1907's. This one was cheap at $20. The other one is in the mail. The better of the two will go into the set.

First 1907


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The alternate 1907 has arrived, and it's a keeper. It will go into the set and the one above will go into a drawer.

Second 1907


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The same mail contained both the 1907 above and this 1908.

I am thrilled with this addition to the set. As it happens, all coins have arrived, and I will soon post the two S mints and the finished set in its holder.

1908 Indian cent


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I usually buy all my coins online. For this 1908-S I drove over to a local coin show. The dealer doesn’t have a store or an online presence, but seemed pretty busy nonetheless.

This key date is admittedly not the same grade as the rest of the set, but I like the hint of blue toning on the princess.



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The key to the small set is the 1909-S. The 1909-S Indian Head Cent has a lower mintage of 309,000, compared to the 1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent which has a mintage of 484,000. One theory is that it is easier to find because of hoarding the last year of the series, combined with broader interest in Lincolns and more demand for the S-VDB.

At any rate, I got this one from eBay for about 2/3 the cost of my S-VDB. I could see in the auction listing that there were some issues on the reverse. It looked like varnish to me. Hmmm, maybe I could fix it up...


Upon receipt, I set to work with acetone, xylene, and some VerdiCare. I don't have my own photo before I started, but this is after a quick rinse, then again after the conservation process.

Before


After


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This completes the set. Here is the holder with the coins in place.