The three 1921 Walking Liberty half dollars, Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco, are the classic key-date issues for this series. While the 1921-S is rarest in high grades, the 1921 and 1921-D issues had the two lowest mintages in the series at 246,000 and 208,000, respectively. While the PCGS population data suggests that some other issues are more elusive in MS65 or finer grades, the 1921 figures are likely inflated due to a higher number of resubmissions. This particular example offers glowing luster, delicate patina and atypically clean surfaces. Only 13 have been graded higher by PCGS, 8 of which are MS65+. Listed at $21,800 in the CDN CPG, $23,500 in the PCGS price guide and $23,000 in Trends.
Offered at $18,560
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■ Why is “The” missing from the inscription “United States of America” on our coins?
Section 10 of the Mint Act of April 2, 1792, says, “…with this inscription, ‘UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,’…” Once this tradition was established, nobody saw any need to change it. Particularly in the early days when dies were hand-made, they economized in every possible way, so perhaps this was another reason for not adding the extra three letters.
■ I have a 1964-D dime that has been examined by several dealers who tell me it is a proof. Can this be true?
It is unlikely that your ’64-D dime is a proof, as the information that proof coins were struck only at Philadelphia that year is correct. What you may have is a first strike from new dies, which often will have an appearance similar to a proof. Send the coin to an authentication service if you are still in doubt.
■ Going through a lot of cents, I notice that a number have weak or missing letters in “STATES OF,” or the “E” and sometimes the dot in “E PLURIBUS.” What causes this?
This is a frequent question, since such defects are readily noticed. That very frequency is an indication of the value – none – because of the high mintages involved. The cause is poor die design, a perennial failing of U.S. coins, which allows too much metal to flow into the obverse design, not leaving enough to come up in the reverse design. If you check the wheat cents, you will find the same weakness on the “O” in “ONE” on a high percentage of the coins.
■ Weren’t there actually three different date sizes for the 1960 cents – a small, medium, and large date?
This is another situation akin to the problems with the different mintmarks on the 1979 and 1981 proof coins. Shortly after the small date 1960 and 1960-D cents were first reported, enthusiastic collectors reported that there were three sizes, and for a time the medium dates were advertised right along with the small. Later it was conclusively proved, based on Mint records, that only two different size dates were used for 1960.
■ I’ve heard that there is a $1,000 reward for a certain variety of the 1964 nickels. I have one, so will you get the reward for me, please?
I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I know of no variety of any kind in the minting of specifically the 1964 or 1964-D nickels that is worth $1,000, or even a significant fraction of that figure. The only one I can think of off hand is the “PLURIDUS” variety, attributed by the Mint to die abrasion, which is worth upwards of $150 to $175, depending on the grade. I don’t know of any legitimate offer of a “reward” for coin varieties, either.
■ What are so-called dollars?
They are privately issued medals or tokens similar in size to the old silver dollars.
Several hundred proof (or pattern) Flying Eagle cents were made in 1856, and delivered to congress for approval on the proposed size reduction of the denomination. When collectors became aware of these pieces, demand grew rapidly, and so the Mint struck more of the 1856-dated cents in the following few years for direct sale to collectors, with a final production total estimated between 1,500 and 2,500 coins. Debate continues on whether or not the entire mintage was of proofs, or if the restrikes were from regular production dies, but whatever the case, any Flying Eagle cent bearing the date 1856 remains highly sought-after. Listed at $20,300 in the CDN CPG, $20,500 in the PCGS price guide and $20,000 in Trends.
Offered at $18,500
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The 1929 half eagle issue is a curious one, struck during the year that the Great Depression began its decade-long stranglehold on the American economy, an unusual denomination to produce at a time when the theme song (written a couple of years later) was “Buddy, can you spare a dime?” Although the Mint struck 662,000 half eagles in 1929, few were ever distributed to the public. Most of the mintage was still in government vaults when the 1933 gold recall order mandated its melting. Since the issue never circulated to a meaningful extent, most pieces known today are in various Mint State grades. Examples such as this are in demand among budget-restricted collectors, and the supply is extremely limited. This is one of just 13 so-graded by PCGS.
Offered at $27,500
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The 1873 Liberty double eagle, with an Open 3 in the date, was produced in greater numbers than its Closed 3 counterpart. Its availability as a Type Two double eagle makes it a popular choice with type collectors. Of course, the coins circulated heavily at the time of issue and high-grade examples are elusive. Of note is the fact that an MS64 example would likely cost well in excess of $20,000. Listed at $5,750 in the PCGS price guide, $6,600 in the NGC price guide and $6,000 in Trends.
We have ten coins available @ $4,600 each
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The twenty cent denomination is one of the great failures in American numismatics. There was never any great need for it. Its use was limited to the West, where consumers would often pay a quarter for items worth a bit (one reale, or 12.5 cents) and receive a dime back in change. Copper did not circulate in the Pacific states, so consumers were often shortchanged by two cents. The twenty cent denomination was suggested by Nevada Senator John P. Jones as a way of solving that problem. It never caught on, and the denomination was abandoned for circulation in 1876, one year after it was first introduced. The 1875-S is the most plentiful issue in the short-lived series, claiming a mintage of 1.1 million coins. The NGC census stands at just 8 with 1 higher. Listed at $24,200 in both the CDN CPG and NGC price guide.
Offered at $22,000
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The jewelers safe after the “Camp Fire”, along with remains of the family’s home.
I was a young Cub Scout when I needed a hobby to earn a badge. My dad was a coin collector, and he sparked my interest in collecting United States coins. It started like the rest of my friends, filling in the old Whitman coin folders with change out of my dad’s pocket or picking through the change of just about anyone in my family. After a while, my dad started bringing me home $50.00 bags of dimes to pick through. This was back in the late 50s early 60s. Many mercury dimes were still floating around with walking Liberty’s and buffalo nickels not to mention silver dollars. Then one day I fell hard for buffalo nickels. The design is what got me, and the way it filled the whole planchet all the way up. I remember my dad telling me that the buffalo nickel design is the most American looking coin ever minted. I agree with those words to this day.
As I grew older coins were always with me, they sunk into my bone like no other hobby I’ve had in my entire life. It was part of who I was. Like most hobbies, my collecting tended to go dormant from time to time, but coins were never very far away from the top of my interests.
I married and had two kids, a boy and a girl. My life was in warp speed as my family grew up my folks grew old and finally passed away. A few years after my dad passed on, I stumbled across my very old coin collection. It was a blast from the past as I thumbed through coins that I remembered finding with my dad. That was what rekindled a huge surge in my coin collecting again. That along with the digital macro photography that I’ve taken to like a duck takes to water because I’ve been a shutterbug most of my life.
My world spinning even faster now I have not only a son I got interested in coins but my grandson too. In many ways, coins have enhanced my life with memories made with my dad and the memories already made with my loving son.
Joe Best holds a PCGS holder that had been damaged by the camp fire, at the FUN Convention in Orlando, Florida, January 2019.
This brings me around to probably the worst day of my life when on November 8th I woke up to a red glow. The red glow was a fire way off in the distance that we’ve seen so many times. Not a big red flag, yet. The next thing I knew is this fire was not like any other fire in the state of California where I have lived since I was born in 1951, it was moving extremely fast. I had very little time to grab three armloads of mostly photo albums to my Honda. The next thing I know is I could hear explosions all around me that made the ground sake. Those were propane tanks and getting closer with every boom. The wind was blowing fire from tree to tree as the sky turned black with the power out and no cell phone use to call out to my son. I had to leave the house. My daughter and my granddaughter, along with my son in law, left my house way before I did. So, I knew where they were. It was my son and grandson. I was worried sick over cause the last thing I told him was to “just get in your truck and leave!” then the cell phones went out.
A long story short we escaped with our lives along with our animals so for that right there I thank God in heaven.
Unfortunately, my beloved coin collection was left behind. I was only able to grab a few coin albums as I was forced to abandon my main collection, which was housed in a 1942 Jewelers safe in the burning house. I had no choice as I had to run for my life and get my family out of there.
Contents inside the jewelers safe appear warped but intact.
Now without a home, we were hotel hoping like never before in my life with dogs, cats, birds, lizards and my infant granddaughter. From out of nowhere angels came to my family’s rescue in the shape of my coin family, good folks! My loved PCGS coin forum and a couple of very close friends, Jim Bowling (@jesbroken) teamed up with a sweetheart @Paradisefound to start a GoFundMe to raise funds to help us over this tragedy. It was heaven sent.
Upon returning to my home to see what remained, I was in disbelief to see the Jewelers safe. The coin holder boxes and coins holders were severely warped; however, the coins had remained protected by the holders themselves. Not only that but PCGS reached out to me and offered to restore and reholder my entire lifetime collection as a gift. They even made me a custom label based on a design my family felt most represented me, and a Crazyhounddog pedigree!
We have lost pretty much everything in this world, but these acts of love have restored my faith in humanity 100%. I also need to add that my father took me to almost every coin show he attended, and boy do I remember the coins back then! But what stands out in my mind most are the good folks that surround coins. My dad spent as much time jawboning and belly laughing as he did looking at coins. That my friends hasn’t changed. You will absolutely meet the best people in those coin circles.
With much love, I thank you all, and that’s straight from the heart.
Joe Best AKA crazyhounddog
Special label and pedigree designated to Joe Best’s ’Crazyhoundog Collection’. A PCGS box inside the safe contains warped yet intact PCGS holders. Warped PCGS holder with intact St. Gaudens Double Eagle. Warped PCGS holder with intact Buffalo Nickel.
We have not offered an MS67 at auction since 2008! The population for this date and grade remains unchanged from what it was back then. This particular specimen is sharply detailed and features satiny luster and a pristine appearance. Tied with six others at NGC (and one at PCGS) for the highest graded. Listed at $29,000 in the NGC price guide.
Offered at $24,200 delivered
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This little jewel is obviously one of the finest survivors for this issue. It features satiny, golden surfaces that exhibit no noticeable abrasions or other imperfections. Additionally, it’s fully struck and boasts a great overall appearance. It is particularly well suited for a collector who is looking for a fabulous Liberty quarter eagle to include in a top-notch gold type set, or someone who simply buys great coins. The NGC population is 8 with none higher. Listed at $27,500 in the NGC price guide.
We do business the old fashioned way, we speak with you.
