Set Description
As I got close to completing my initial collecting goal (middle and late date large cent sets), I started building sets of half dimes in 2007: mint state Capped Bust; proof Seated from 1858-1873; and this mint state Liberty Seated set. Completion of this set is my primary goal.
I initially named the set Route 66 because the first few entries were graded MS66. Coins graded AU53 and from MS63 through MS67 currently grace the set. I may stretch for an MS68 of a common date, and certainly will have to settle for lower graded examples of the keys, such as the 1853-O No Arrows already in the set. In a few cases, I have gotten AU place holders that I hope eventually to upgrade. I'm curious to see what the average grade turns out to be when the set is completed!
Although I may be able to complete the registry set someday, there is, of course, one coin I'll probably never add: the 1870-S. Only one is known. It is currently in the Simpson collection and is being offered through Legend Numismatics for $2,250,000. Barring some windfall, I'll never have anything close to that much to spend on coins for the rest of my life! If another exists in the cornerstone of the second San Francisco Mint, no collector will ever own it. But the one known example was supposedly discovered in a dealer's "junk" box. Maybe there's another out there for me!
In any case, I expect to have fun building this set over the next several years. The challenge will be finding well struck pieces. I have passed on many poorly struck coins. Like many new collectors, I initially favored "white" coins, but now prefer nicely toned pieces. By that I mean that toning should be pleasing color(s), should be even or smoothly varying, and should not obscure the luster or make evaluation of surface quality difficult.
Aside from someday completing the set, I have a goal to provide quantitative measures of various characteristics of the coins. So far, only the luster has been rated. Ratings range from 0 (no discernible luster) to 5 (superior luster), and are given separately for obverse and reverse sides. Of course, these 'quantitative' ratings will be my opinions. But I will do my best to be objective. Once I have ratings for other attributes (such as strike, toning, post-strike damage, eye appeal), I will use them to construct my own opinion of grade.
June 25, 2015
