I have to decide between these two St Gaudens for my 20th Century type set, and could use another opinion. Somewhat common 1914-S MS65 PCGS or a very rare 1909-P MS63 PCGS price is within $1000 Is it better to have a rare coin at a lesser grade or a more common coin at a higher grade. 1909-P mintage 161,282 PCGS Pop 544 # higher 246 total 1917 NGC Pop 116 # higher 92 total 1194 1914-S 1,498,000 PCGS pop 1768 # higher 94 total 16191 NGC pop 1293 # higher 127 total 18,621 I should mention that I have no interest in selling this type set as the completed one will be left to my children ages 2 & 5 Thanks in advance
For a Type Set I would go with condition over rarity. Isn't the purpose of a Type Set to have one example of each type so who cares about date and mintmark?
If it is a type set, it should be a no braner. Go for the common coin at a higher grade. You are collecting by type, plain and simple.
I agree- purchase the higher graded coin (as long as it is good for the grade) as lower mintage (unless it's a real rarity) does not always translate into higher value down the road. This is also where I believe a CAC sticker would be helpful-- J.A. is very good at weeding out doctored gold coins and properly grading the healthy ones.
BG1856, If you have to ask this question, I would suggest that you shouldn't be buying either coin. That said, for most type sets, it is condition over rarity. However, you are the only person who can answer the question for your set. Respectfully...Mike
If you're collecting type set, as others are saying, you typically aren't focused on the date but merely the best grade you can find. If you are putting together a set of St. Gaudens, then the rarer date is likely to appreciate higher in value over time in comparison to the interchangeable common date.
thanks everyone for your advice and opinions. So I take it most are of the opinion that it is not appropriate to put together a 20th Century Collection of non common date coins at say MS60 or higher and call this a type set. But the term Type set should be used as a means of collecting each coin at the highest possible grade regardless of date and/or demand. If this is the case than what would one call a collection of 20th Century Coins (no proofs) that includes both a combination of non common date and highest affordable grade coins.
I vote for the MS63 coin. Why? If a person is asking, they likely don't know how to grade the series very well. There are a load of marginal coins in MS65 holders. If a person can't grade to that level of fineness, it can be a mistake to buy that high up. The exception would be buying from a trusted dealer, but again, if that was the case, this kind of question would likely be answered by that trusted dealer, not addressed to a public forum. Given all that, I see a common date in MS63 as an even better choice. At some venues, it can be tough to get the money out for slightly better dates. One of the most dangerous cliches in the hobby is: "buy the best grade you can afford." That is fine veteran collectors that that grade well, it can be financially dangerous for those that are novices to a series, and considering the purchase of expensive high grade coins.
A type set is what ever you want call a type set. And no you do not have to buy at the highest possible grade. If you want buy the lower grade - do a semi-key type set or even a key date type set. What ever floats your boat. I think most collectors when they think in common terms "type set" they think buy the highest grade common date coin they can afford - just a stereotype. You can do whatever you want. Have you seen both coins - which do you like best? That is the one you need to get. Just my opinion.
Remember, that mintage figure on the 1909 isn't entirely accurate as that is that total mintage for the year which includes both the 1909 and the 1909/8 overdate. So actually the mintage on each coin is substantially lower. I'd love to have the MS63 1909 in my date set, but for a type set I'd probably go for a common date example in a higher grade for the same money. Then again, a type set with semi-key and key date coins is pretty cool too
