A coin to kick off a new collection

I am getting interested in starting some new sets to add to my collection. I currently collect Morgans, Silver Eagles, Oregon Trail Memorial Half Dollars, and Washington Quarters (all graded). I think I am going to branch out to Standing Liberty Quarters, Franklin Halves, Walking Liberty Halves, Peace Dollars, and pre 1964 Roosevelt Dimes, again all graded.

I like buying graded coins, from PCGS and NGC, because I know I am getting a fairly accurate grade, a coin that has not been cleaned, and a genuine coin. I don't trust myself in buying loose coins yet, or at least old loose coins.

Anyway I have started a Mercury Dime set. I am trying to buy the highest grade I can, the 1916-D will have to be lower of course, but I want to try and stay within the MS. I will try to buy them FB as well. To start my set, I purchased this 1944-D. It is graded MS 66 FB by NGC.


LouieLot

 

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Dimes are small, so are your pics!

Can you post a bigger pic? Try linking to images uploaded on Photobucket, Picasaweb, Flickr or other hosted sites. And good luck with your new set!

 

Test Photos

 

Better, now need to get the coin to fill the frame for a detail shot.

 

Yup, she's a beaut alright :kewl:

-LTB

 

Very nice coin. I would suggest, however, that if you intend to complete any of these sets that you choose one or two at a time to focus on. Unless you are incredibly wealthy, you will never be able to finish any of these sets in any reasonable amount of time, you will get discouraged, and you will not complete any of them. A certain amount of focus will produce an incredible set of amazing coins, after which you can move on to the next set. Of course, your goal might just be to buy a whole lot of nice coins, in which case, carry on - you've got a very nice one there.

 

I agree with Jason. It sounds like you like all of the coin designs. You may be better off assembling a type set if that is the case. Many of the series you have listed are very expensive to complete. The SLQ and WLH are very challenging and the Mercury Dime series is no joke due to the key dates and the total number of coins.

I like the start to your Mercury Dime set and if I were collecting this series, I would start the exact same way. Treat the 1934-1945 coins as a short set and buy MS66FB+ for every issue except the overdates and the 1945-P. However, I always found the 1934-45 short set a little tedious and tried to spice it up by looking for toned examples or other interesting varieties. Want a cool coin, look for a 1941-S or 1942-S with a "trumpet tail S" and a broken nose. I do have one word of warning which it looks like you may have already learned. Due to the size and relief of these coins, they are incredibly difficult to photograph. A fact that has always left me feeling a little blue.





Good luck with your new adventure and a belated welcome to the forum.

Paul

 

Thanks for all the replies.
I think I would like having a whole lot of nice coins. I am only 18, so I have quite a while. But I agree with the logic of sticking to two sets, I just like branching out a little more. I still need to work on better pics, but my photography skills regarding coins has improved since I joined this site.

Thanks again,

LouieLot

 

This coin is amazing by the way, where did you get it. I would love a coin like that.

 

That's some sweet color Paul! Wow!

 

I bought it on E-Bay a few years ago if I recall correctly. It is very nice and certainly worth a premium (1.5-2X Wholesale) but I don't know that I would use the word amazing. Amazing might describe this MS66FB Mercury Dime though.



PM Sent!

Paul

 

Thanks for sharing! I love seeing coins like those. Feel free to post more if you like, your pictures are great and your coins are stunning. Thanks,


LouieLot

 

Ahhh... my friend, if you want a truly amazing Mercury dime, look no further. NGC MS-67, in an old fatty.

 

I like the reverse. This is going to be a fun set, I can already tell.

Question. How does NGC and PCGS know if a coin has naturally toned rather than artificially toned?

 

Great coin!

 

That is a simple question with an incredibly complicated answer. There are important differences between artificial and natural toning, based upon how they formed. Different color patterns, different toning patterns, different ways that different series or years tone based on their typical storage methods.... the list goes on and on. Much reading and much experience are the key.... In the next day or two, I will try and post a thread I wrote a year or so ago on the NGC forums, about toning.

 

I think there are quite a few people here (myself included) who would appreciate such a post very much.

And, as someone who has just started collecting Mercury dimes myself, I must say that I am rather jealous of all these lovely coins being posted. At this point, with my limited budget, I can only dream of having such nicely toned examples.

 

Of course, I don't know exactly how limited your budget is, but you'd be surprised at how affordable these can be. I got this one, with a Lee Gast pedigree, PCGS MS-66FB, for a little over a hundred bucks.

 

Another Test Photo

 

Better - a little fuzzy around the edges. But you can definetly see the luster on the coin. Nice coin!