Resisting the Urge

I have been over to the Baltimore Convention Center three days this week, and will go back tomorrow. I made two purchases, and have been sorely tempted by a few others.

On Wednesday morning, I went at 9:00 for auction lot viewing. My eye had been on an 1849/8 (though the exact nature of the overdate is controversial) half dime in a 66 holder. Everything was fine, except that the vertical shield lines were distorted. I could not think how it could be anything other than a problem with the die. But I am no expert on such things. I put in my maximum bid, but wound up as the underbidder. Today (Friday) I had a chance to ask a couple experts about those shield lines, but they were not able to help.

Usually I have other items in case the prime target doesn't work out. In this case, number 2 was an 1872-S, S below the bow half dime slabbed as MS67. In the photos the toning is not very attractive to me, but in-hand the coin is quite appealing. I will be picking it up in the morning. The price feels a tad high, but is below price guide levels. The Heritage archive wasn't very useful - the last such item sold in 2004 for about 15% less. What hurt though, is that the following morning (Thursday), I found a lovely S above the bow (slightly scarcer) graded MS67 with an asking price also 15% less. Such is life.

I made a smaller purchase on Thursday as well. I have an old Whitman large cent album. I had filled most of the late date holes, and a few early and middle date holes in my youth. A few years ago filled most of the remaining middle and late date holes with eBay purchases. Only 1816 and 1823 remained. I got a decent VF 1816 at the show.

I already have the 1823 for the album, but it is currently in a slab, and in my Registry set. It is graded only VG, and rightly so. When I get a nice XF-ish example, I will crack out the one I have and put it in the album.

As it happens, one of my favorite dealers had just purchased an NGC XF45 example Thursday morning, and had it in his case. The price would make it my costliest coin. Such opportunities do not come very often, but in the end I decided that I simply cannot afford that much right now. I will just have to be patient and hope one can be had for less at auction.

Today I went in primarily for the Liberty Seated Collectors Club meeting, and then went to work. The meeting was very well attended, and featured a brief presentation on branch mint proofs. A recent find that prompted the presentation was available for viewing at the club table. Also, a club member brought a nearly century old print of the Ye Olde Mint painting featured in the book about our first mint that I have mentioned before. He recently obtained it from a historical society near where he lives.

Tomorrow I will go again: to get the half dime; scan the bourse again; and attend the Early American Coppers club meeting. I'll let you know if I fail to resist the urge.

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