US Half Cents: Why You Should be Collecting Me?

Some long time numismatists would argue the collectibility of half cents largely because they are a mere shadow of the more widely sought after large cent denomination coins.  I would tend to disagree as both denominations hold their own unique pedigree in the coin collecting hobby.  Half cents, while sharing most of the same design characteristics in it's 64 year tenure, is a completely approachable type set from a budget standpoint.  Comparable years to the large cents will generally sell for 30-40% less for the mid-grade type pieces.  Which makes buying popular Draped Bust and Classic Head types more affordable and they are the most popular design elements in the entire run.  For instance, try buying a VF graded Classic Head large cent in it's populous year (1810?) compared to say, and an 1828 Classic Head example in the half cent of the same grade.  It's a near night and day cost comparison, and we're talking hundreds of dollars!  So as can any collector see, it's truly a budget conscious type for those wanting the legacy of 200+ year old coinage.  Advantage: Half Cents!

The next great anomaly for half cents, is its low cost availability for its itsy-bitsy mintage figures.  An 1803 half cent is reported to have less than 100,000 pieces produced in it's time.  What you may not know, is that nice graded pieces command no more than $100-150 for VF-ish grades.  The same goes for the short lived braided hair range of half cents, at the most there was more than 100k pieces produced for only a couple years (1851 & 1853).  The prices might seem quite a bit more for the braided hair cents, but look at how much higher grade pieces go for (XF+) and decide that it is a more appealing item to have and collect than comparable large cents.  Most braided hair pieces were at one point hoarded and there are lots of high-end condition pieces available in the secondary market at super affordable prices.  Collectors will clearly see the difference in cost for the grade and overall mintage figures with little online auction research.  Advantage: Half Cents again!

And finally, collectors can have their cake and eat it as well, these half cents are Sheldon/Newcomb attributable too!  Early draped bust coinage for the copper denoms, have many die pairings and varieties that aficionados yearn for.  General armchair cent collectors usually don't pay too much attention to Sheldon or Newcomb attributions, but cherry pickers make their living doing this as these attributions sell for a lot bigger money than perceived Red Book pricing to the right collectors.  Properly attributed half cents sell real well in the secondary market and collectors of such pieces have been paying top dollar for the rarity that eludes them.  Pick up a book like Penny Whimsy if you plan on trying out old copper and you won't go wrong.  It's the ultimate resource and half cent collectors will find plenty of reasons why it's a no-brainer collectible.  Advantage: Tie.

So all in all, at a cost perspective to collectibility standpoint, half cents no doubt takes home the golden trophy. Low mintage, affordable grades, and the same affinity of design as the large cents, are you convinced yet?

Fancy Currency Serial Numbers - Does the note need to be in great condition to be worth the most?

Collectors of fancy serial numbers, star notes, and low print run blocks always strive to most extreme and rare combinations in existence. Generally, collectors of star and low print run block notes would need to be in extraordinary condition to reward any sort of premium return.  Fancy serial number collectors on the other hand, will pretty much scoop up any condition note short of rag status and will pay all the money for it in the end.  So what exactly are the fancy serial number patterns most collectors will pay more for in circulated condition and up?

Low & High Serial Numbers - These are a tough find in circulation anyways and most notes are found straight from a new bank strap to begin with.  The price increase can be tremendous for those first or last 100 serials in any condition.  However, notes like the one pictured to the side of this article, need to be in that crisp higher condition to warrant all the premium.  What's the price difference?  How about $100-150 for grade sensitivity.

Ladders 1-8 or 8-1 - First of all, any straight 1-8 or reverse ladder serial will garner a ton of money in any condition.  They're tough to find, only two exist per block, and they are probably the prettiest fancy serial one will come across.  Brand new 2009 series ladders have sold for upwards of $1k+!

7 or 8 in a row - Just as tough as a ladder, the "in a row" serials are a tough note to find in circulation.  What can collectors do to have a chance at scoring one of these?  Real easy, go to your bank and pick up some BEP fresh bank straps.  The odds are long but if you find one, that's easily a $500-1k note all day long, even ungraded!  Worn and circulated examples don't really exist in this serial pattern, which is why most "in a row" notes are sold in Choice Crisp or higher.

Amazing Georgia Quarter Planchet Strike Error - A $1k Investment Turned to $5k!!

One of our good friends on Cointalk (CharlesNC) recently sold his amazing 1999 Georgia Planchet Strike Error.  What chronicles to be an amazing find in the error world, publications such as CONECA thrive on such finds.  What this error is, is simply a Georgia Statehood Quarter struck on a nickel planchet.  It's conceivable that a nickel had been originally struck with it's devices and upon exiting the machine, was lodged in the mobile hopper device that accepts the coins as they are struck and sent out to packaging.  And when the hopper is transferred to the quarter producing dies, the lodged struck nickel planchet falls into the die and is subsequently struck with the design you see here.

From the get go, this coin was originally acquired through a sale with a fellow coin collector who had decided to quit the hobby.  CharlesNC (Cointalk Handle) obtained a number of errors and varieties, but the Georgia quarter was the most interesting.  Charles then submitted the piece to PCGS, came back with the error designation and decided it to be a great idea to auction it on EBay to test the waters.  What some believed the coin would conservatively price out around $1500-$2000 actually sold for $5000.  A 500% return in what would be a notable error coin for the marketplace.  Photos of the quarter are headlined on the side of the article page.  Enjoy the breathtaking photos of such a nice find!

Revisiting the Advent of the Next-Gen $100 Bill - Why the New Bill Could be an Error Collector's Dream

The design and engineering characteristics are nothing short of amazing on the next generation $100 bill.  As the following article from July 2010 will illustrate, newer and more revolutionary printing will accompany more and more flaws in the printing processes.  Therefore, all those road blocks have since postponed the release of the new bill.  What collectors and strap searchers will find in these new bills will be nothing short of plentiful.  Offset printing, mismatched serials, ink bleeds, and a wide variety of errors are just a scratch of the surface.  Here's the c/net article that first broke ground on the printing process at the BEP:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20009315-52.html

It could be another 12-18 months before we see the new bills in circulation, but it will be a fascinating release as the new design will forever initiate a new structure for future Federal Reserve Notes to come.  The old "green back" will soon be just an afterthought...and ultimately a more collectible piece for those that want to revisit the olden days.

The Flip & Profit Coin of the Month - 2011 D US Army Commemorative

A quickie update for the second week of the year.  If you haven't jumped on board the 2011 25th ASE train, then here's the next big buy and flip opportunity.

2011 D US Army Commemorative Clad Half MS69 PCGS or NGC (New Release or First Strike)
With an initial mint release price of about $20, nobody could have predicted the runaway success of the US Army commem.  With a mintage of just 39,461 pieces for the Uncirculated example and 68,349 proofs, it's a low mintage run profiling one of the most storied branches of the US armed forces. Realised eBay auction prices have ended conservatively this week in the $85-100 range for the slabbed examples.  Some have toppled $125-150 for the auctions that have ended on an evening timeline!! 

Despite big prices, the good news is that there are deals still to be found.  Collectors will have to scour third party sites like Paradise Mint and Littleton, but believe it or not you can still double your money by taking advantage of these prices.  How long the trend will last is anybody's question, but I can see some stabilizing  here in the next month or so (through February 2012).  I predict a range of $50-60 on average a fair estimate.  And what's even more enticing to buy the raw pieces, is that there are no MS70 examples as of yet!  I would venture to guess a first graded of such will command astronomical money. Still not too bad for a "clad" coin that lots of people bought for $20.

Update 1/9/2012 2:56pm:  In addition to the mint, nearly all 3rd party vendors has reported selling out the uncirculated clad version of this coin.  A couple sources carry the lesser expensive proofs, but for the same money that the uncirculated pieces were going for.  As of this time, local dealers and auction sites will generate the best chances of finding this commemorative.  Buyer beware of the prices, they are extremely volatile at this point. 

Bank Note Fancy Serial Numbers - Premium Configurations Collectors Look For

Here's a quick listing of some sample currency serial number configurations.  Be sure to check your paper notes from change, the bank, and everywhere else you receive these at.  Additionally, be sure to check sites like eBay, Heritage, and reputable dealers with online albums to get a general idea of how much these uncommon and rare bank notes go for.  Without further adieu, here is your list of fancy number combos:

*Low numbers - I 00000025 G   generally anything under 500 is considered a low number and will get you a premium
*High numbers - I 99999975 G   again the same applies here, the more nines up to the first 6 is key
*Trinary           - I 62232626 G   not a huge premium for these, but they are neat and uncommon
*Binary            - I 27777272 G  
*Radar             - I 21155112 G   Tough to find and neat, dollar varieties sell for good money, lots of collectors for these notes
*Super Radar   - I 94444449 G   Super difficult to find and very collectible
*Solid 8           - I 88888888 G   Every digit is the same for all 8 numbers
*Solid 7           - I 44444544 G   7 of the digits are the same, not necessarily in a row
*7 in a row       - I 77777771 G   More of a premium and scarce, huge money to be made here
*Ladder           - I 12345678 G   Every digit is one higher or lower than the previous digit
*Repeater        - I 12371237 G   Second half of the serial number is the same as the first half
*Radar Repeat - I 60066006 G   Both are a radar and a repeater
*Binary Repeat - I 51515151 G   Extremely tough, the first two numbers repeat over
*Double Quad  - I 11114444 G   The first four digits are the same and the second four are the same

Aside from the fancy number notes, be sure to keep your eye out on star notes, red, blue and lime seals, and other older notes.  Have fun searching those cash straps and enjoy!

November 19th Santa Clara Coin Expo - Recap & Purchases

November's bay area coin & stamp show, Santa Clara Coin Expo, provided some grim moods with it's last showing in the bay area.  I knew this was going to be the organization's last show, so my general perception was geared more towards, what are going to be the questions going forward?  Most of what was asked, generally by the customer to the dealer was, "Where are you headed to next?"  Unfortunately, this questioned brought out some pretty stark choices for the San Francisco bay area.  The Fremont Coin Club, San Jose Coin Show, Livermore, Cupertino?  It was a veritable list of small venues and clubs that were the only choices outside of a show like Long Beach or Las Vegas, it was small, if not unexciting crop of choices for this area in California.  So where would I go from here?  It's anybody's guess, but at the least I have my great selection of local dealers who would be able to provide me the service and selection I'm opting for.  Ultimately, I'll miss the show scene in Santa Clara. 

And so, what were my latest pick-ups at the show this past weekend?  Well, I'm in the midst of putting together a Dansco 7070 type set, it's roughly 60% complete.  My goal for the show was to find a VF grade Classic Head Half Cent.  I've probably searched through 25-30 and liked maybe two of the bunch.  The Classic Head design is so difficult to find in great shape, which results from some expensive choices, even in the VF+ grades.  For the collectors that didn't know, these coins didn't have the sharp strikes, this can be attributed to the antiquated screw presses that were used at the time.  So to find one with sharp details and no problems was going to be a daunting task, and I knew it coming in.  Ultimately, I went with the 1828 13 stars variety.  The coin exhibited a clean strike, great details in the hair, no porosity or corrosion, and it had an even chocolate patina.  Relative to the grade, I got a great deal on this half cent for only $70, about $25 less than market value! 

Other acquired pieces included a pair of beautiful Seated Liberty dimes and a seated quarter.  The first dime is an 1850, VF in grade and exhibits an attractive "circulated cameo" appearance/color.  This is the look and grade I'm aiming for in all of the 19th century coins for the type set.  And again, the second dime is a beaut as well, final year 1891 w/legend, VF in condition with the same circulated cameo look.  Third, the seated quarter was a CircCam 1854 w/arrows, VF in grade with a nice reverse, very strong coin and grade!  Finally, other impulse buys included: 1837 Hard Times Token "Executive Experiment" (VF), 1966 Italy silver 500 Lire (MS63), 1964 Canadian Mint Set, 1861 Nova Scotia Large Cent (VF), Alaska Bird House Token, Rexhall Good Luck Wheat Cent Token, a couple pre-1964 quarters and an upgrade 1915 Barber dime for the type set (VF).  I was surprised I didn't spend as much as I thought, I was ultra selective in the coins I was looking to acquire.  All in all, it was a fun weekend, and the family had a great time as well.