eCollector - April 9, 2002 | Vol. 3 Number 8 
 

Market Report

Market Strength Continues as Central States Show and Major Auctions are on April Agenda
Coin market is excellent despite some supply problems. Gold remains steady around $300 level -- which direction will it head next? Modern issues and PCGS Set Registry coins dominate the action, Farouk/Norweb 1884 Trade dollar to be auctioned in sale of the Morris Silverman collection. Bowers & Merena EXPRESS sale now online. Click here to read more.

Set Registry Spotlight

Jon/Lor - Flying Eagle Set - Circulation Strike - 2nd Finest of All Time
With the number one set not available for viewing, today's spotlight centers on the number two Flying Eagle set, the Jon/Lor set. With a GPA of 64.82, this set contains 1 MS66, 3 MS65s, and 1 MS64. There are only a total 21 coins graded higher by PCGS, which makes this set hard to beat. Congratulations to Jon/Lor. Click here to view this great little set.

Over 150 sets have been added to the registry in the last two weeks. The total stands now at 2,368 sets. As a set registrant you are eligible to participate in the First Annual PCGS Set Registry Awards Program. Winners will be selected this August and their sets will be listed on a web page dedicated to the "Best of the Registry 2002." All winning sets will be identified with an award icon. If you are a future participant and are interested in learning about the various awards categories, click here.

We are in the process of weighting sets (or re-weighting sets as the case may be), removing varieties from Basic Sets, and adding Sets with Varieties. We are posting these sets on the Set Registry News page for at least a week prior to actually making the changes. This is allowing registrants time to review the changes and submit feedback. Recently weighted was the Modern Type Set (1950-Present) - Circulation Strikes.

Get involved with other collectors who are currently participating in the Set Registry program or are just beginning. Click here to chat on the Set Registry Messageboard.

The PCGS Set RegistryTM is a work in progress. If you have any suggestions or comments please email setregistry@collectors.com.

Building a Flying Eagle cents set? Go to the Authorized Dealer link on PCGS and click on Small Cents in Specialties. Looking for dealers with Internet sites? Click on the Internet sites link in services. Search for more than a 1,000 dealers in the PCGS Authorized Dealer listings.

The Expert's Corner

1856-1858 Flying Eagle Cents
In 1856, the Treasury believed that the time had come to replace the long-lived large cent with a smaller coin. Borrowing the earlier designs of Christian Gobrecht and James B. Longacre, this new, 19mm-diameter cent featured a flying eagle obverse and "agricultural" wreath reverse. The Flying Eagle had a short life, beginning with 1856 pattern issues and ending just two years later, but it remains a fascinating coin for collectors nonetheless. Click here to read more.

Collector's Survey

The Flying Eagle cent would undoubtedly win a survey about our most beautifully designed one-cent coin. So, for this issue, it's necessary to get away from the obvious and look for a question with more teeth in it. If you were building a collection of one-cent coins but were restricted to a single decade from 1850 to date, which ten years would you choose?

  1. The 1850s, of course! The collection could then include the last years of the Large Cent, all of the Flying Eagles and the first issue of the Indian Head cent. What decade could be better than that?
  2. The 1860s! A most historic decade, what with the Civil War and related events. It would include all the copper-nickel coins with the shield reverse, the 1864-L, and the first of the bronze issues.
  3. The 1870s! This is the magic decade that is filled with key issues. The classic 1877 is only a start. All of the dates from 1870 through 1877 are toughies, and I'd like to own them all.
  4. The 1900s! There's the 1908-S, the first one-cent coin with a mintmark. There's the key 1909-S Indian, the 1909-S V.D.B. and much more. This would be the best set.
  5. The 1920s! How can you pick any other decade? This is the decade of the 1922 "Plain," the great condition rarities from San Francisco (especially the 1926-S in MS65RD) and many other challenges.

Click here to answer. Results will be posted in the next eCollector.

Results from last survey: 33% would most like to build a Franklin half dollars set focused on coins in white Gem condition, with full bell lines. Click here for a complete breakdown.

What is a Flying Eagle cent? Find out in Lingo, the PCGS dictionary of numismatic definitions. Click here for Lingo.

Subscribe to the online PCGS Population ReportSM for as little as $4.95 a month! Updated weekly, get the latest census data on all coins graded by PCGS. Click here to get a free peek at the population statistics for Flying Eagle cents.

Our Readers Ask

Question: James F. Ruddy, in Protograde Coin Grading Guide, wrote that "Attractive natural toning can sharply increase the value of a coin." Is this the view of PCGS?

Answer: Beautiful, attractive, original toning can indeed enhance the grade of a coin (and thus its value) because eye appeal is one of the main criteria of coin grading. Conversely, ugly or dark toning can hinder the grade of a coin because of negative visual impact.

-- Bruce Amspacher, PCGS

Do you have a question you would like to ask our experts? Click here.
Or, visit the PCGS messageboards, the most active coin forums online.

Join the PCGS Collectors Club ...Enjoy the Benefits!
If you love collecting coins, the PCGS Collectors Club is for you. Members enjoy direct access to all PCGS grading services, complimentary PCGS gradings and a wealth of essential information. All PCGS Collectors Club Members enjoy access to all Collectors Universe auctions, eShops and messageboards and the eZines of their choice. Joining is quick and easy. Just click here or call PCGS Customer Service at 800-447-8848. Do it today

Announcements

Bowers & Merena Express Online Auction Closes April 15th!

The Bowers & Merena Express Auction is online now with over 250 lots of rare U.S. coins, from colonials to double eagles, patterns, and a few mint errors too. All are certified by PCGS and/or NGC and await your bidding consideration. Bidding closes April 15, 2002, at 7 p.m. PST.

Fax: 949-833-7955
Phone: 888-540-COIN
E-mail: auctions@collectors.com
Internet: Click here


HAVE YOUR COINS GRADED ON-SITE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO!

Central States Numismatic Society Convention
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Columbus, Ohio
April 25 - 27, 2002

On-Site Grading: Take advantage of PCGS' Show Service!
- Special Show Service -- $65 per coin valued at $1,500 or less
- Standard Show Service -- $100 per coin
Coins may be submitted to all other PCGS grading levels at the show.

For more information about PCGS grading at the show, call 800-447-8848.

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