I have admired the Draped Bust design for almost as long as I have been a collector. One of my first big coin buys after I got my first job out of college was the 1805 dime you see here. It got me hooked on early U.S. type coins, and over the years I built a set. It took a lot of disipline. I would buy only a couple big coins a year when I could find them. Prices were lower in the 1970s, but so were salaries and wages. Since then I have upgraded some of the coins. Here the coins and some observations that I hope will aid other collectors in their search. The early half dimes are the most difficult coins to find in this group. The mintages were quite low, and these coins saw a lot of circulation. Many of them are damaged. It's rare to see one in less than EF that does not have some problem. They are frequently found bent. It is rare to say that you own the best example of a coin that you have seen, but this is an example for me. This 1800 half dime is graded MS-64. The 1800 is the most common date among the the Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle half dimes. It is also one of the few dates that can be found fully struck. Most pieces are weak on the reverse because the planchets were so thin. I purchased this piece within the last decade. This 1805 Dime was my first high grade early U.S. coin. The dealer graded it "EF" when I bought it, but I knew from the start that it is an AU. Today it is in an AU-58 holder. This is my avatar coin. The 1805 coin in the "4 berry" and "5 berry" varieties. This is the "4 berry" (number of berries on the olive sprig on the reverse), which is more common, both in numbers and in high grade. The 1807 dime is more common than the 1805, but it was often struck on defective dies, and harder to find nice. This 1807 Quarter is another of my 1970s purchases. It is believed that this coin was in the Brand Collection. It is a Browning die variety #2. A die variety specialist told me that this is only piece that he has seen which did not have a die break on the reverse. Today it is in an AU-55 holder. The relief is low on this piece and photographing it well is a challenge. I bought this 1806 half dollar at a Paramount Auction that was held in connection with a Grand Central coin in New York City. The Grand Central shows were held in fall in New York City though out the 1970s before the rent became too high for the sponsors to hold them there. The coin is an Overton variety 115A which is a common variety. This 1802 Bust Dollar is a fairly recent (last decade) purchase. These coins are hard to find with an original skin. This one has not been dipped. Some might find it to be too dark, but at least I know that it would be changing to something ugly in the furure. The die variety is 1802 Bolender 6 or BB-241. It is said to the the most common Bust Dollar variety, but as a date, the 1799 and 1800 dollars are more common. I have been working on this collection since the 1970s. Sometimes it takes a long time to find and afford the coins you really like.
Patience is golden and you have a really nice set going for you congratulations and best of luck going forward. Be safe
I think what’s really remarkable on these besides the outstanding eye appeal is the strike quality. As you mentioned these are all over the place with strike and were clearly painstakingly selected looking at the set. My favorite is the 1805, just an exquisite coin all around and I love the old time toning.
Those coins are incredible! You must have had a good job out of college to have bought that dime as your first purchase! I recently acquired the 1805 4 Berries in F12 and it is the highlight of my collection. I also have the half and quarter, and it will probably be a while until I have the half dime and dollar.
Exquisite coins! It is my goal to complete the dollars 1795-1803 (though not in this high a grade as these, lol) in as choice and unaltered condition as possible. Right now, im about 80% of the way there. Just needing 1795, 1798 sm eagles!
Prices were different in those days. It cost less than $500. When I was a dealer, I had one in an MS-62 holder that was slightly nicer than that one. I decided to keep this one for old times sake.