Just so you won't think that all I'm collecting these days are raw Washingtons, one of the sets I've been trying to put together for the last few years has been a business strike 1858 set. There are 29 potential slots in the set. The set I'm building will never be "complete" as there are a couple of gold coins that are prohibitively priced for me. There are also a fair amount of branch mint coins that get rather pricey once you get above a VF. So, the way I've decided to build the set is to set a top dollar value I'm willing to spend for denominations across the board, and then within that buy a coin that is appealing to me. That means that the coin quality within the set will range quite a bit, from roughly F15 to MS65. Here is the 1858-S SL half dollar for the set. It is graded MS61. The S mint half is BY FAR the rarest of the 1858 halves. Also, once you get into UNC grades even that small population drops way off. PCGS has graded 15 MS60 or higher, and NGC has graded 13 MS60 or higher. This one is graded NGC MS61. The images are by Bob Campbell, and I think he has done an excellent job. In the images there is some haze by Liberty's bust and midsection, that is caused by scratching on the slab.
Yup, love it too. Thats is exactly how I do my Type Set. Set max $350 and buy coins I like. SO I might have say G6 through MS67
Aah, makes sense. . Wonder how 1862 for me would turn out as to price and difficulty. Might have to take a look. .
I'd have some tough coins especially in the gold and the cc mints with 1876 being a bicentennial baby
I realize this if I picked coins made 100 years before I was born would be the centennial 1876 as I was born in 1976 the coins of 1876 are much nicer!!
I have all the Morgans in my birth year -100 but the 3 cent nickel and half dollar would be prohibitive for me. Cool idea though.
Interesting idea Sy. I've done a set for the year I graduated HS, started the college set, but moderns, ugh. I have my birth year, but 100 years prior! Now that's a cool goal. I need to do some homework. I'm glad I won't need to buy any Barber's...lol. His designs, just don't catch my eye at all. Love the seated half you posted! Looks like a very nice 61!
