Cool. For my part, since last year I have resolved to stay within a self-imposed $500 limit even on those very rare occasions when I have more than that to spend, or stuff to trade in. I just decided that that particular budgetary ceiling still offered me plenty of room for fun stuff, while keeping me more sensibly within my means. Unfortunately this means Flowing Hair coins and Bust dollars and now even any US gold bigger than a quarter-eagle (let alone the Roman gold aureus I've always wanted) are out of reach, but I savor the challenge of finding fun stuff within my set range. Honestly, these days I more often stay under $250 and even under $100 quite often. Stuff like that 1806 half I just posted above represents what is now the upper end of my newer, more austere limits. That will sound like peanuts to some here. To others, it will sound like a lot. I reckon I've always been kind of intermediate.
Love the way they look together. Hoping to build a set, Half Dime thru Dollar that all match in appearance and grade. Doubt I can make that happen with a series this rare, but you never know.
That dime is a toughie. I know the half dime will be too. Heck, no Draped silver in that grade level is easy. The two you have there are remarkably well matched!
The Half Dollar won't be too hard, but the quarter will be pretty tough. The half dime, however, will be a painfully long wait.
I remember how tough the DB half dimes are, from when I completed the five-piece set of DB/HE coins around 17-18 years ago. My half dime was G6 and the dollar VG8, and those are the only examples I've had of either type in 44 years of collecting. I've only had one DB dime as well (it was F12). I've had the quarters and halves multiple times. Yep, that DB half dime is gonna be a real challenge for you, especially with that look, in that grade range. Good luck!
There's a VF35 half dime at auction right now at Heritage but it's had an old cleaning. Wouldn't match. Would never CAC.
Since we are on the draped bust topic, here is one of my recent acquisitions I haven’t posted here yet. In addition to this dime I have an 1805 quarter in G4 and an 1806 half in F12, same grade and same die crack as the one Lord Marcovan just posted. The dollar is on my bucket list, and the half dime may have to wait until the kids are grown. It’s interesting that the smallest coins in the series are the rarest.
Well 99.999999% of us are never going to have an opportunity to own one of the originals of this medal, so the recent Paris Mint restrikes are a good way to gain an appreciation for this medal commemorating Washington's victory over the British at Boston.
I was on ebay to click on the RETURN button on this one within seconds after I opened its envelope...and Vette1986 has such a great set of feedbacks. I mentioned in the original post that I won this one cheaper than I would have expected, BUT the coin I received is not the coin in this photo. Suffice it to say that despite my several successful purchases from this Wahoo Nebraska seller—I actually have a friend from Wahoo—I'll be reluctant to give him 100% of my trust in the future.
Melt? LOL! Nice pickups. Would love to have those for my birth year, but don't think I'll be able to acquire them.
I have finally won an auction at Heritage. When they open a new session I put in a number of low bids, both in hopes that the item will be overlooked, and to flag it in my bids list so I can see what it really sells for. I am usually outbid by a ten to one ratio. In the midst of their flurry of Morgan offerings was this 1896 MS65. I saw a batch of 65’s recently at my LCS. They were all ugly with splotches, dark uneven toning, and other unsightly issues. And so many of the nice 65’s have marks all over the cheek. I liked this one because it showed no issues and the cheek was delightfully clean of distractions. Maybe this time I really did sneak away with one. My bid was still under $100 for the win. Edited: There is an annular die crack that ties together all the letters on the reverse. Edited 2: This appears to be a VAM 6B, which was just attributed June 5, 2019. The reverse die cracks match the photos exactly. VAM-ophiles, what do you think? Edited 3: There is also a dent at the inside of the wing to the left of the eagle’s neck. In fact, it looks like there is a planchet flaw there which left a depression after striking, but it also looks like there is an additional straight-line dent that straddles both the edge of the wing and the left part of the field. Does this look like a struck-through?
I don't see a strike-through, but there are multiple die cracks besides those mentioned which indicates a shattered reverse die. It is close to, if not at, the end of it's life. It is a gem.