Legionary1

On 6/13/2022 at 7:15 PM, The Neophyte Numismatist said:

I have really enjoyed reading the friendly, competitive banter in this thread.  Thanks to both of you guys for bing such cool dudes! 

You're quite welcome, sir.

On 6/22/2022 at 9:54 AM, Just Bob said:

There was a three-coin silver mint set issued, as well as a silver proof set.

As those coins were business strikes (though never intended for general circulation), shouldn't they have been included in the 1976 mint set?

Why does the 1976 mint set only include those clad issues?

There are business-strike silver issues of the quarter, half dollar and dollar...

On 6/12/2022 at 8:35 AM, Coinbuf said:

No just that it will take some searching and time to find one, I spent over a year looking for the 40-S Lincoln in 67+.   I was willing to buy a PCGS graded one due to the low population of coins in that grade in NGC plastic, but my patience was rewarded as a few new coins were graded and I was able to acquire one of those new to the census coins.   And of course you could always buy a PCGS/CAC coin and cross it to NGC, extra expenses that way but another possibility.

I have considered that, but if I dropped $1,500 on a .40-S Lincoln in PCGS MS67+ CAC, send it to NGC for a crossover and have it come back as a lower grade, I'd be wrathfully annoyed.

On 6/11/2022 at 4:06 PM, Coinbuf said:

Finding one in NGC plastic will be tough as the census shows only 5 in 67+, so this crackouts there may really only be three or four.

So, it sounds like my specimen is as high as I can expect to get  

On 6/10/2022 at 1:45 PM, Coinbuf said:

I would like to replace the 40-S dime, the one in my set is ok but doesn't have the best eye appeal.   So while a + coin would be nice to take its place, it is more about finding a nicer looking coin even if the grade stays the same.   Not a must do but rather one of those back burner coins that I'll be on the look out for but not aggressively searching for.   I actually have a PCGS MS65 with a CAC gold bean that is far more eye appealing than the current NGC 67, if I am not able to find one that has the eye appeal I want perhaps one day I'll crack that MS65 and have it regraded.   I think it would go 67 in a heartbeat and has the eye appeal I want, just hate to crack a rattler holder.

I see what you mean about your '40-S Merc.

I've never been a fan of toned coins; I've always considered toning to be a form of environmental damage.

My own specimen of the '40-S issue has the green bean; the stone-white brilliance on the obverse and reverse is why...

I've been looking for a specimen of the issue with both the CAC sticker and a '+' grade, but have had no luck. 

On 6/9/2022 at 8:21 AM, Coinbuf said:

Thank you, it was quite expensive but considering that it has almost the same point value as a 40-S walker in 67 at less than 1/4 of the price I decided to reach for it.    And to be honest the coin it replaces was never my favorite as the tone was rather heavy for my taste, a nice side benefit is having an NGC top pop coin inthe set.   Only one coin in the set that I really want to upgrade now, the hunt continues.

You're quite welcome.

What coin did you want to upgrade?

On 5/29/2022 at 7:00 PM, Coinbuf said:

Just wondering if you saw the final hammer on that PCGS MS67 1940-S half  I can say for sure that I did not buy it!   Just over 20K without the juice and shipping, wow.

Ouch.

Remember what I said about stupid money?

My congratulations on snagging that '40 Washington in NGC MS68; the way things are shaping up, I'll not be able to beat you even if I did get a '40-S Walker in NGC MS67... 

On 5/22/2022 at 8:11 PM, Coinbuf said:

That is a very fine example and a real nice upgrade to your set, congrats.   It did indeed cost a hefty price, but quality always does, and upgrades at these levels does require some commitment and resolve.   I have seen a few nice PCGS graded coins that would have been nice upgrades to my set, but most were pushed to the stratosphere in pricing, so I too continue to look and wait for the next upgrade piece to revile itself.

Again, your kind words are much-appreciated.

Shouldn't that be 'reveal' (unless you're talking about the hit to your wallet)?

Coinbuf:

My pursuit continues, as I just won the GC auction for a 1940 Mercury dime in the grade of NGC MS67+ FB CAC, thus matching your own specimen of that issue.

The previous specimen in that slot was a '40 Merc graded NGC MS67 CAC.

I paid a significant premium over the coin's fair market value. To me, the expense was worth it as it was the only such specimen available.

Whence the next upgrade to my set comes, I know not; I'll keep looking.

On 5/9/2022 at 4:10 PM, Coinbuf said:

That is a very nice looking coin, congrats on a nice addition with that 40 - S half in 67+ CAC

Actually the closing price for that 40 - D Lincoln was very cheap, most that I have seen offered for sale on dealer websites have been closer to $1,200-$1,400.   That is why I have said that getting a 40 - D in 67+ is currently not worth the cost, too much money for the low points it receives in the registry.   If you check the possible scores even a top pop MS68 (only 1 at NGC and 4 at PCGS) receives only 100 more points than one graded as MS67, it's crazy really.   I suppose if I found one that was a real screamer I might someday consider upgrading if the price was right, but I can think of lots of other coins I would prefer to spend a grand+ on than this coin.

But rest assured I am not sitting on my laurels.  

 

Your kind words are gratefully received, sir.

I am in complete agreement with you about the '40-D Linc not being worth the cost; now, if the point value were in line with the '40 and the '40-S, that would be a different case

On 5/6/2022 at 10:34 AM, Coinbuf said:

That will be interesting to watch, I expect that you are correct between the provenance and the CAC approval it will fetch a strong price.   I put it on my watchlist just to see where it ends up, this MS66+ PCGS CAC is one that I am also watching; already over what I paid with 9 days left.   And at the same time there is another PCGS 66+ but without the bean also on GC and under $300, this coin could be quite a bargain. 

40-S in 66+ with CAC

40-S 66+ without CAC

Though your 1940 set has overtaken mine in the NGC Registry standings, your position there and in the combined NGC/PCGS Registry is not secure as I'm continuing to snap at your heels.

Earlier today, I had the winning bid at Great Collections for a '40 Walker in the grade of NGC MS67+ CAC (thus matching your own specimen).

Elsewhere on GC, I had put in what i thought was a safe bid of $250.00 for a PCGS-certified  '40-D Linc in the grade of MS67+ CAC; oh, how wrong I was.

I thought my bid was safe because of the relatively-low point value of that issue (when compared to the '40 and '40-S in the same grade).

By the time the hammer fell, there had been a total of 27 bids, and the winning price was $1,006.00... 

On 5/5/2022 at 8:05 PM, Coinbuf said:

And as I said paying 8 or 9K for an MS67 is just not something that I feel comfortable doing, that is a lot of money tied up in a single coin given the rate of gradeflation that has been happening over the past five years.   

As I write this, there's this little gem for sale over at Great Collections:

https://www.greatcollections.com/Coin/1156294/1940-S-Walking-Liberty-Half-Dollar-PCGS-MS-67-CAC-Rollo-Fox-Collection

It's a '40-S Walker from the Rollo White Collection; the piece has the grade of PCGS MS67, and it's got the Green Bean from CAC; this piece is certain to go for stupid money when it sells.

On 5/4/2022 at 3:27 PM, Coinbuf said:

@Legionary1 we have discussed the 1940-S half and the difficulty/cost to purchase one in the MS67 grade.  I am happy to say that I found the next best thing, in last months Stack auction I bid and won an MS66+ CAC example of this date.   This will be as close as I will ever get to that MS67.

Before I had to downgrade my 1943 Mint Set for financial reasons, I had all three of my steel cents in NGC MS67+ CAC for the very reason you mention

On 5/4/2022 at 3:27 PM, Coinbuf said:

@Legionary1 we have discussed the 1940-S half and the difficulty/cost to purchase one in the MS67 grade.  I am happy to say that I found the next best thing, in last months Stack auction I bid and won an MS66+ CAC example of this date.   This will be as close as I will ever get to that MS67.

Congratulations. This acquisition means your 1940 set has dethroned my 1940 set from the #1 position that I have held in the NGC registry for seven out of the last eight years...  

Might I enquire as to what that one set you back?

The only realistic chance I have to reclaim the #1 position is to get that '40-s Walker in MS67...

On 4/30/2022 at 9:00 AM, Coinbuf said:

I had it on my watchlist for a few weeks and received an offer at about that same price, if one of us wins the lotto he may have a buyer  otherwise just too much money.

Agreed

On 4/28/2022 at 9:19 AM, Coinbuf said:

Some very nice upgrades, congrats on those new coins.   The toughest part for me now is that an upgrade to any coin in my set is going to be exceedingly pricey and those upgrades can be difficult to find as few come to market.

Your kind words are gratefully received.

Speaking of upgrades, I received an offer to purchase that '40-S Walker in NGC MS67. The guy dropped the price by $900.00; still way out of my range.

If I had the $8,500.00+ to spare, I'd do it in a hot second.

I'm beginning to creep up on the #1 slot, as I've upgraded my 1940-D Merc from NGC MS67 FB CAC to NGC MS67* FB. My 1940 nickel has been upgraded from NGC MS67 5FS to NGC MS67 6FS 

On 4/22/2022 at 8:28 PM, Coinbuf said:

 There are several PCGS graded 40-D Lincolns off ebay but I have not seen an NGC one recently.

What keeps me from buying a PCGS coin in the grade I want is that there's no guarantee that it would cross over to NGC with the same grade.

I'd be mightily annoyed if I dropped several hundred bucks on a '40-D Linc in PCGS MS67+, only to have it become a -67... 

On 4/22/2022 at 8:28 PM, Coinbuf said:

I was talking about that 40-D quarter, sorry if that was not clear.   There are several PCGS graded 40-D Lincolns off ebay but I have not seen an NGC one recently.

Understood.

You're right about that fingerprint; this (and the unattractive toning) is what keeps me from pulling the trigger and buying it.

On 4/22/2022 at 2:45 PM, Coinbuf said:

From the photos the 40-D on ebay is not one that I find very attractive, looks to have a fingerprint on the obverse and just does not scream top of the grade to me.   And looking at the auction history for a 40-D in 67+ that ebay seller is really asking for all the money for a non CAC approved coin.   But the 40-D is much tougher to find above 67, only 28 total between both NGC and PCGS with one lone 68 at NGC.   Both the 40 and 40-S are much easier on the wallet, and might be doable if nice example comes to market.

I'm looking on Ebay right now, and I don't see a '40-D cent in MS67+ by either NGC or PCGS....

You're quite welcome.

It's a pleasure to compete with someone of your quality.

As regards the census for the 1940 cent, the census is 24, with none graded higher than NGC MS67+; for the 1940-D cent, there are just 5 examples graded higher than NGC MS67. Lastly, for the 1940-S cent in NGC MS67+, the census is just 7, with one graded higher. If anything, the point value for the 1940-D issue in NGC MS67+ should be equal to the others.  

As far as upgrades are concerned, there's a 1940-S walker in NGC MS67 for sale on E-bay right now; at $9,795, that's outside of my price range.

Ditto, for the 1940-D quarter in NGC MS67+, at $2,904.

deleted

If profit is the reason why NGC made the change, my respect for them just dropped significantly.

My 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1944 mint sets are all #1 for their respective years, and are 100% NGC-certified.

I'm working on completing the 1939 and 1943 sets, at which time they'll both be #1 in the registry.