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Entries in this journal

15 MOST WANTED LIST

UNEXPECTED CAPTURE!! For several years, I have created at the beginning of each year, a list of the 15 coins that I would most like to add to my collection. Actually finding and purchasing these little "gems" has been an effort with mixed success from year to year.   One coin, the 1898-S Barber Quarter, has been an especially elusive target. It has been on my list for 3 years, without me ever seeing one advertised, let alone actually seeing a coin. This Spring, I was the underbidder for

COIN PURCHASE WITH A SURPRISE

COULD THIS BE A NEW DESCOVERY? The mail man delivered my latest purchase today - a 1943-D 50 Cent, NGC MS-66. With my usual excitement, I tore open the package; scanned both sides of this new "gem"; and then focused in with my 5X glass for a closer look. Immediately, upon scrutinizing the reverse, I noticed "something" about the mint mark. It just looked different. So I went to the 15X microscope, and sure enough- there is a clear repunching of the MM to the North. I grabbed my copy of

1895-0 & 1894-0 BARBER DIME DATE POSITIONING

Is this a meaningful issue? I am aware of the 3 positions known for the "5" on the 1895-O Barber Dime relative to the Bust: -Far -Near -Touching. Today, I looked at 5 of these coins and noted 2 had the 5 touching, 3 were near, and 0 in the Far position. I don't know which, if any are rare. The interesting point (at least to me) is that I pulled out 3 1894-O Barber Dimes and looked at the date position. I am totally unaware of any varieties here. SURPRISE! 2 coins had the "4" to

MY LOST OPPORTUNITY SHOWS UP IN ANOTHER'S REGISTRY SET

The Price I Must Pay For Being The Underbidder. Have you ever missed out on a "great" coin at auction? For most collectors, the answer is "Of course I have!". Have you ever had that same coin show up in another registry set? Well, I just did! I was browsing through another collector's Seated Liberty Half Dime Registry. As I brought up the picture of his 1840 WD specimen, I froze in disbelief. Staring back at me was a coin that I had drooled over, and bid for on April 4, 2007! Here is m

"LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE" DIME NOW HAS A HOME!!!

A quick peek at on-line inventory pays dividends. One evening last week, my "Better Half" informed me that it was time to empty all the waste baskets and take out the trash. As I dumped the bin in my office, I took a "Break", (afterall, dumping these wastebaskets is heavy work) and scanned a favorite dealer"s inventory on the PC. Now, I have been drooling over a nice 1844 SL Dime (MS-62) on his site for some time, but knew I wasn't going to bust the budget with a 5 figure purchase. So, a

DELAWARE COMMEMORATIVE- COME FORWARD!

Football and Coins Once More The University of Delaware is once again playing for the 1AA National Football Championship this year! Just as in 2007, I have placed my Delaware 50 Cent in a place of prominence on my desk. On January 7th, I'll be in front of the TV clutching my half dollar. Thank goodness for plastic encasement. Your holders are "sweaty palm proof", aren't they NGC? GO BLUE HENS!!! To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added belo
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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THE JOY OF COMPLETION

"What is it about looking at a complete, matched set of coins that brings such pleasure?" I'm sitting here; glass of wine in hand; looking at an attractive group of coins lined up on the desk; and feeling pretty good about today's numismatic accomplishment. For today, the last coin needed to complete a set, arrived in the mail- an 1875-CC, 20 Cent, NGC-63. My 4 coin uncirculated set is now complete! I've been searching for this coin, in this condition for a couple of years, now. It's anot
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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ZERO-BASED "WANTING"

A Revised Approach to Creating My 2008: 15 Most Wanted List In the past, when creating my "List", I would start with the previous year's list and adjust/ remove existing items; then add any new coins that struck my fancy. While reviewing my coin inventory listings in November, I decided to take a different approach for 2008. A zero-based approach: -I ignored the 2007 list entirely. -I then reviewed each coin series and noted each coin that I would most like from that series. -I then pr
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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THE NUMISMATIC EMBERS ARE STARTING TO GLOW

The Second Purchase Of The Year Is A Rarity That Has Long Been On My Want List. After 18 months of numismatic abstinance, I've now made coin purchases in March and April. I found the right 1912-S Five Cent to fit my collection, after searching for a number of years. Typically, I stumble across either circulated examples or pricey MS65's, or problem coins. This is also my first CAC coin. It is an MS-63 with a great strike, minimal marks, and muted luster under gray/brown toning, which give

ATTENDED A COIN SHOW THIS WEEK....

...And I Liked It!!! Last month, I wrote a journal entry about not liking coin shows- I get overwhelmed by the volume of coins. This week, I ventured to the Whitman Philadelphia Show, and was pleasantly surprised that I had a great time! I carried a list of 6 or 7 dealer locations to give me some focus vs. just wandering aimlessly around the hall. This was a wise move. So, this is what I did : -Stopped by the CRO table and told them how much I appreciate their road reports: even if I h
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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VISION - II

"MY EVOLVING VISION IS A DIRECT RESULT OF MY COLLECTING EXPERIENCES." As stated previously, I began collecting coins in 1974. For me, this was a satisfying, but solitary adventure. I persued this hobby alone for the first 6 years. It is my firm belief that this was a severely "Vision-limiting condition". The following factors were strong influencers of the direction and scope of my Numismatic "Vision". -Collecting friends and partners: After 6 years, I finally "roped" 4 co-workers into
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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YOU NEVER KNOW.....

WHAT MIGHT POP UP!!! A recent purchase was an 1861 Half Dime, MS-62 NGC. It's initial appeal was primarily nice luster and very pretty, light gold toning. Once I had the coin in hand, it had a rather unusual look; so out comes the loupe, and here's what I found: -Very strong die clashing on both sides of the coin. -The obverse strike was especially sharp on central devices (head, torso, and foot details). I'm now thinking, "this little beauty is really undergraded!" -Obverse perip

COINCIDENCE OR THE COIN GODS AT WORK?

GOOD THINGS COME IN PAIRS!! While looking through some of my collection, I was struck by the fact that several of my key coins were acquired in pairs.   On May 15, 2002, I found a 1901-S and 1913-S Barber Quarter in a favorite dealer's inventory. I swallowed hard several times, and purchased both. Thank God! - as I haven't seen their equals since.   On March 13, 2003, the same dealer offered me a "deal" on an uncirculated 1884-S and 1889-CC Morgan dollar. On this occasion,I swallowed

SPENDING THE DAY WITH HERMAN'S COIN

Happy Fathers Day, Dad!!! I've been struggling with a waning passion and enthusiasm for coin collecting for 2 years, now. I've only purchased 3 coins in the last 2 years. I still check dealer web sites, review auction listings, and bring coins home from the safe deposit box, occasionally. However, some of the excitement is missing. Today, in honor of the 10th Fathers Day that I don't have Dad with me, I brought out Dad's beat up old Morgan Dollar- "Herman's Coin". We watched the US Open

VISION - I

The blindness of a beginner. For the past few months, I have been thinking about the need for "Vision" in one's collecting pursuits. Then, about a month ago, Oldtrader 3 posted a journal entry that provided the catalyst that organized my thoughts. To start at the beginning, I began collecting coins in 1974. It was an impromptu beginning rather than a planned entry into the hobby. Not much thought went into my collecting, just, "This looks pretty. I'll buy it". My "vision" extended no fu
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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A TALE OF TWO COINS

"It was the BEST of coins; it was the WORST of coins." Recently, I consigned two coins from my collection to auction. In reflecting on the experience, I realized how emotional this hobby can be. For the act of selling these two coins elicited very different feelings on my part. The first coin is an 1872 Two Cent, AU-55 PCGS. This is a beautiful coin, one of my first 2 Cent purchases (Feb. 1997). I loved this coin and pulled it out for viewing, frequently. However, it was the only coin
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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MEMORIAL DAY MUSINGS

What price freedom and liberty as symbolized on our coinage... As I was viewing a group of coins this weekend, it suddenly struck me - the strong, unwavering, and continuous focus on United States coinage of this country's citizens' right to "Freedom and Liberty". And on THIS weekend , I couldn't overlook the significant price paid by so many to repeatedly assure that we all continue to enjoy these "gifts". This sacrifice has been made from the Revolutionary War; to the Civil War; to th

START OVER

The Eye Appeal said "You Can Do Better"! Sometime around 2000, I completed a 24 coin Peace Dollar collection, but just didn't like the "look". So, a couple of years later, I sold the set, keeping 5 coins. 2 of those five were purchased in 1976/77. The other 3 were added from 1996-98. The Peace Dollars were/are not an overwhelmingly popular set, and I was clearly not enthused about my collection of these large silver discs. However, I found myself constantly being drawn to these coins. By

NOW THIS IS JUST TAUNTING!!!

Again, I'm Underbidder: Again, the Coin Pops Up... This time in a dealer's on-line inventory. On June 2, 2011, I bid on an 1844-O Half Dime, AU58 PCGS/CAC. I engaged a trusted dealer who viewed the coin in-hand. After his "thumbs up", we set our bidding limit. I placed my max bid and waited. I was outbid by one increment. I accepted my fate, since in this instance, I'd bid the max determined by my advisor and me. That's the way it goes. So today, I was flipping through the website of a

DOES THE REGISTRY DRIVE YOUR COLLECTION, OR TRACK IT?

Just Curious Those who had reasonably developed collections prior to joining the registry had some pre-determined direction to their collecting endeavors. We enter our coins into various regisry categories, then admire or view sorrowfully the results. Those who are starting their collections as they join the registry have a greater challenge to select the "right" or most meaningful collecting categories for themselves: -What do I like? -What registry category can I complete quickly/ eas

2007: COLLECTING YEAR IN REVIEW

A Review of the Year: purchases, sales, and goals. *Top 15 Most Wanted List: As in 2006, I was able to acquire only 3 coins on the list; however, in 2007, they were higher ranking coins (#1-2-4). The other difference is that I purchased #1 twice! I found the final coin needed to complete my Barber Quarter set (1900-S, MS-62) in January, and was lucky enough to spot a nice upgrade (MS-64) in October. I noticed a continuation of quality issues throughout the year. I rejected over 60% of
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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THIS COLLECTOR'S REGISTRY FANTASY!

Show Me The Truth. (Journal Entry Now Completed.)As I have stated in previous Journals, the Registry has provided me with tremendous fun and entertainment:-opening and closing sets; playing "what if".-comparing my sets to those of others.- stimulating ideas for new collecting areas to explore.-great entertainment value when not making new purchases or running down a new "acquisition target".From the competitive point of view,, looking to improve one's own rankings vs. others is always fun, espe
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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A CALL TO LIBERTY!

A Formerly Rejected Series Calls Me Back. I lost interest in Liberty Head Nickels, years ago. In fact, I even wrote about it in a journal article in 2005 (No Accounting For Taste). I sold the few examples that I owned, including a couple of rolls of well-worn coins. However, I've begun experiencing an all too familiar itch of late. NO, not athlete's foot! But that itch of growing interest in another coin series. In recent months, I've re-read Peters and Mohon's, Shield and Liberty Head Nic

CONFESSIONS OF A MASSOCHISTIC COLLECTOR

Self-inflicted Punishment Multiple Times Per Year. I have an extensive numismatic library, including auction catalogs and fixed price lists. This comes in quite handy when researching a particular coin or series, as well as just casual reading. Four or five times a year, I grab a stack of catalogs and lists from 9 or 10 years ago, and look through them for coins that interest me today. This activity invariably leads to woeful moans and outright cries of agony, as I stare at some great coin
Wissahickon Collection

Wissahickon Collection

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HERMAN'S COIN

1900-P Morgan Dollar: Obverse polished; scratch accross cheek; average wear. -Eye Appeal: virtually none -Value: $10.00 -Memories: Priceless!!!!!Herman was my Dad. He passed on 6 years ago. Dad was never a coin collector, but he was a great encourager of his son to try anything that he really wanted to do. I have great memories of him teaching me to ride a bike; catch a baseball (that one got me a black eye); to fish.Through all these years, I can remember that Morgan Dollar on Dad's belt
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