Would you? Saint question.

[GoldFinger1969]

As the OP, I tend to agree with you with respect to purchasing a high grade Saint for Type Purposes. For set purposes, however, I can see a place for lower grades. For example, an MS64 1912, 1913 or 1920 is a very nice collector grade.

 

As a PT collector and not a FT numismatist, I don't know the difference between 'set purposes' and 'Type purposes.'

[MarkFeld]

As the OP, I tend to agree with you with respect to purchasing a high grade Saint for Type Purposes. For set purposes, however, I can see a place for lower grades. For example, an MS64 1912, 1913 or 1920 is a very nice collector grade.

 

As a PT collector and not an FT numismatist, I don't know the difference between 'set purposes' and 'Type purposes.'

 

Set collecting typically refers to collecting the various dates which comprise a series/a given type. So, for example, "set purposes" with respect to Saints would involve collecting them by date (and mintmark)..

 

Type collecting usually involves collecting just one of a given type. So a type collector might buy just one example of a Saint, or perhaps one no motto and one with motto piece.

[GoldFinger1969]

Set collecting typically refers to collecting the various dates which comprise a series/a given type. So, for example, "set purposes" with respect to Saints would involve collecting them by date (and mintmark)..Type collecting usually involves collecting just one of a given type. So a type collector might buy just one example of a Saint, or perhaps one no motto and one with motto piece.

 

Thanks Mark...I guess I'm in the early stages of what I HOPE will be a set collection.

 

I hope to not run into the coin collecting version of the 'law of large numbers' -- as in prices -- for some time.

 

Seriously, I just added a few commons and have a while to go before I get more of them and some of the easy-to-collect mint marks.

[James_OldeTowne]

I'll just answer the OP without looking at other replies.For the way I collect, I do not like Saints in MS-62, or even MS-64. They are too large and heavy to really look "nice" at anything below MS-65 in my opinion, and the premium is not so huge as to be prohibitive. In fact, for the proportionally small premium, I would only get an MS-66 to serve type purposes.But then again... I don't own any gold and don't plan too !

 

You're aware that even for the common years, there's a HUGE increase in going from MS62-64 to MS65-66 ? I'm talking on the order of 50-100%, or more.

I was referring to a "type" example, i.e. the most common dates. In that regard, a 50% increase from MS-64 to MS-66 is VERY reasonable by comparison to many series. For example, you can get a common MS-64 Morgan for $70, but I'd say the cheapest MS-66 warrants a 300% increase in price.

 

A common MS-64 Mercury dime costs about ten bucks. Try to find an MS-66 for less than a 300% premium,

 

Even a common buffalo nickel in MS-64 goes for $25 and is going to cost at least 100% more in MS-66.

 

When you compare, that makes a common Saint upgrade from 4 to 6 seem cheap.

 

Edited to say: Notice that the same does not hold true for some series, of course. $10 Indians are an excellent example. Even MS-64s are expensive, but an MS-66 goes through the roof.

[GoldFinger1969]

I was referring to a "type" example, i.e. the most common dates. In that regard, a 50% increase from MS-64 to MS-66 is VERY reasonable by comparison to many series. For example, you can get a common MS-64 Morgan for $70, but I'd say the cheapest MS-66 warrants a 300% increase in price.

 

OK, I wasn't aware of the costs in other series. But in ABSOLUTE terms, you are paying alot more for Saints or other gold coins because of their higher costs.

 

If a penny or nickel in MS-64 costs $5, it may be a big increase to pay $50 but it's still only $50. But try that with a medium-hard-to-get Saint where the cost rises from $1,400 in the lower grades to $2000 for MS-65 to $3,500 in MS-66. Big $$$ involved !

 

A common MS-64 Mercury dime costs about ten bucks. Try to find an MS-66 for less than a 300% premium,

 

I believe you, this proves what I was saying.

 

Even a common buffalo nickel in MS-64 goes for $25 and is going to cost at least 100% more in MS-66.

 

Yup...again, the absolute $$$ involved aren't that large.

 

Edited to say: Notice that the same does not hold true for some series, of course. $10 Indians are an excellent example. Even MS-64s are expensive, but an MS-66 goes through the roof.

 

Yup, both in relative (%-terms) and absolute ($$$-terms). (thumbs u