Bikergeek's Coin Album
R2. Saw this on Heritage and fell in love, so I determined to win it. It replaces an MS63 in this marriage that was a fine coin. I can't imagine improving over this coin--for me, it's the total package.
R1. CAC. Bought from Albert Ingram to upgrade my old set piece. Has wonderful luster and stone-original toning with flashes of electric color.
R7. Negotiated with eBay seller, who had correctly attributed it (but I wasn't yet convinced based on the original pics). An important coin for me!
R5. A unique blueberry. Won at Stacks in an OGH and reholdered with attribution.
R4. Won at Stacks Bowers in an NGC MS62 holder. LM book says "examples hard to find in EF or higher grade."
R4. CAC. Ex Reiver, ex Meaney via Perkins. Jules Reiver Collection on label. Includes Reiver's 2x2 envelope circa 1981.
R4. CAC. Ex Reiver, ex Meaney via Perkins. Jules Reiver Collection on label. Includes Reiver's 2x2 envelope circa 1981.
R1. My first Capped Bust Half Dime ever, purchased 4/20/20 from an eBay seller. There is a possibility that LM-13 will be recognized as a single marriage (rather than the two remarriages). If that becomes accepted, I think I'll keep both of my LM-13 "remarriages" because they each have meaning!
R4. Ex Meaney via Perkins. Includes NGC MS62 label. Love these colors! Although it resided in a Gold Shield holder, no True View images existed. PCGS kindly took this (and an 1830 LM-9.2) as a mech error and the pics came back just before Christmas 2022.
R2. Ex Chuck Link, acquired from Dave Perkins. The mirrors are more reflective than the image shows and the devices are pretty frosty, so I sent it in for reconsideration hoping to get a higher grade or a PL add-on, but I guess the little bit of chatter in the fields precluded that. I'm still very happy with it.
R2. Ex Steve Crain, via Dave Perkins. PCGS originally attributed it as a 16.2 but the lack of clashes confirm to JRCS members that it's a 16.1. The 16.2 is exceedingly tough and the lack of a universally accepted attribution guide may muddy the waters. Includes Steve's 2x2 flip and a PCGS OGH label with AU53 grade.
R4. Ex Chuck Link, acquired from Dave Perkins to upgrade a pretty AU58 that was ex Crain.
R4. CAC. Ex Reiver, ex Meaney via Perkins. Reiver on label. Includes NGC MS61 label with Jules Reiver Collection on it.
R4. CAC. Ex Reiver, ex Meaney via Perkins. Reiver on label. Includes NGC MS61 label with Jules Reiver Collection on it.
R3. An eBay find from the earliest days of building this set. Cool colors and nice luster, but it's pretty crunchy and subject to upgrade.
R4. CAC. Ex Meaney via Perkins. Sold July 2006 as lot #540 in Heritage auction in an NGC MS63 slab.
R4. CAC. Ex Meaney via Perkins. Sold July 2006 as lot #540 in Heritage auction in an NGC MS63 slab.
R4. CAC. Plate coin. Ex Bareford, ex Wayte Raymond. Label includes Bareford and Plate Coin.
R4. Ex Meaney via Perkins. Includes NGC MS65 label. Although it resided in a Gold Shield holder, no True View images existed. PCGS kindly fixed this (and an 1829 LM-15.1) as a mech error and the pics came back just before Christmas 2022.
R4. Ex Meaney via Perkins. Includes NGC MS65 label. Although it resided in a Gold Shield holder, no True View images existed. PCGS kindly fixed this (and an 1829 LM-15.1) as a mech error and the pics came back just before Christmas 2022.
R3. CAC. Snapped up from US Coins when it hit eBay, to replace one that didn't cross. Cartwheel luster abounds.
R2. CAC. Crossed from an NGC/CAC 62. Acquired from Northeast Numismatics.
R3. CAC. From Coast to Coast Coins. Cud over the R on the reverse (still rated R3 with cud).
R2. From Mirek Kiec at FUN 2024. I had a hard time finding a good example of this marriage, and my previous set piece was an attractive details coin. Mirek comes thru in a pinch - once again! This coin has some interesting things happening in the dentils and I intend to study that a lot deeper.
R2. AU53 isn't anyone's favorite grade but this one has a solid strike and a really nice look to it. Won at GreatCollections.
R3. I thought this was pretty so I replaced my former AU55 with this AU55. This, like the former, was an eBay find in an unattributed holder.
R1. Found on eBay two days after buying an AU55 in this marriage and bought it anyway. (Good thing because the 55 had issues and I sent it back). Love the originality and colors.
R1. Ex Crain, via Perkins. Includes Crain 2x2 flip. Earlier state before the degradation of the reverse and cud formation. Very pretty!
R5. CAC. Acquired from Liz Coggan, who noted some other interesting die markers (and I owe this coin some more careful study, and promised to get back to Liz with any interesting conclusions!)
R3. CAC. From Dave Perkins. Not late-state with dramatic crack at NITE, but is demonstrably an 8.5 remarriage.
R6. A tough marriage, as this is R6 and the LM-9.2 is R7. During the course of FUN 2024 I owned three 1832 LM-9.1 coins: others include a 50 that was being auctioned by Dave Perkins, and a 58 that factored into the acquisition of this MS62 example. This one's a keeper.
R7. CAC. From Sheridan Downey. A holy grail coin, extremely tough to find - let alone find a sweet example in VF30 such as this, which goes on to get a green bean.
R3. (Hah!) Quite a challenging remarriage for an R3! A coin known to me, hunted down by Mirek Kiec in my hour of need.
R6. From Sheridan Downey, bought sight unseen knowing only the Valentine number (which didn't identify the remarriage number). Very pleased to get a 10.3, which I needed.
R5. Gold CAC. Ex Green, ex Eric Newman. Ex Meaney via Perkins. Sold at Heritage auction on 11/15/13 in an NGC MS63 "Eric P. Newman Collection" slab with green sticker. Slab had the (inaccurate) attribution of LM-11.1 and provenance of "Col." E. H. R. Green. I noticed the small coin envelope with the $1.75 price on it from the Newman provenance, and corresponded with the 2013 high bidder, Sheridan Downey. Although he'd accidentally missed sending the envelope to Richard Meaney upon selling, he still had it and graciously sent it to me! His quote: "I, as you, covet pedigrees."
R3. CAC. From David Lawrence. Can be found in higher grades but I like the originality and the patina on this one.
R3. CAC. From David Lawrence. Can be found in higher grades but I like the originality and the patina on this one.
R4. From Dave Kahn. Per the LM book, "difficult to obtain in grades above EF."
R2. Heritage coin, acquired when I saw it on a dealer's website. Upgrades my MS63 piece because I really liked the smoky original look of it.
R2. From Mirek Kiec. Super original with a nice strike and good luster under the patina.
R2. CAC. Love at first sight so I snagged it right up. I had a solid example of this marriage already - but it had a good home to go to so it's a win-win.
R2. From Dave Perkins. When Dave offered it, I chose to upgrade a crunchy golden AU53 that I also liked a lot; that coin went on to get a green bean shortly thereafter by the dealer I sold it to and I'm sure it'll find a good home. But no regrets - this is a mighty nice 63 and I really like the unique olive and amber toning.
R3. From Sheridan Downey, Lovely example for the grade, albeit a bit white for my appetite. Still, a good get, considering I'd had trouble finding a nice one.
R1. Gerry Fortin sent to me by mistake when I'd requested a different coin. But it was a happy accident, as I compared it to my prior LM-10 and found a flaw that I'd previously overlooked. I divested that one and kept this piece.
R1. CAC. Haggled with the eBay seller and found common ground. Lovely instance of this very common marriage.
R3. From eBay. Dramatic toning albeit a bit crusty, this one is tuff in MS.
R2. This is one of two marriages known as "3/inv 3" due to the 3 in the date having first been punched flipped on its vertical axis, then corrected (together, the punches would make it look like an 8). As a Redbook variety, it's in demand. When I spotted this on Harlan J. Berk's site, I decided to upgrade my colorful and crunchy AU58. I'm a sucker for color, but I also like "+" coins.
R4. An eBay BIN that I jumped on. I found LM-2 to be a very elusive R4. In fact, a different LM-2 was my last marriage obtained in the series - 3 days before the 2-year-anniversary of my first coin. I kept that coin, which is an interesting railroad-rim broadstruck error coin. But this is the far superior set piece. Advice: if you find a nice LM-2, jump on it.
R1. From David Lawrence. An easy coin to spot; it's the only large-date 1835 that uses Obverse 2 with the interior loops of the 8 taller than they are wide; the wide ones are called "Fancy 8." Many LM-3s are found with a cud or internal die break from the C to the A in America. This one lacks that cud but I really like the red color!
R3. CAC. The LM-5.2 is by far the more common of the two remarriages. Bought this as an NGC 64 and it crossed as a 63. Although it's got a great original look to it, I can accept the 63 due to some scuffs on Liberty.
R2. CAC. Acquired from David Lawrence to upgrade a lower graded coin. These small date/large 5c varieties have been active lately and I was pleased to get this attractive stickered coin.
R2. From eBay in an NGC MS64 holder. Cracked and submitted raw. I was pleased that PCGS saw the Gem quality!
R6 with cud. Won at Scotsman auction as an NGC62 and it crossed in the same grade.
R4 (but in my opinion that may be revised down). From eBay. I like the obverse colors.
R4 (but in my opinion that may be revised down). From eBay. I like the obverse colors.
R4 (but in my opinion that may be revised down). From eBay. I like the obverse colors.
R5. I had this remarriage in 45 already, but this is a better struck and slightly more lustrous coin, although it has more dirt. Not sure which one to keep, but it never hurts to have a tough R5 in XF.
R4. CAC. "Only" an R4, but not easy to find'em like this! Ex Jim Mathews, ex Dave Perkins sale of 2014. Acquired from Coin Rarities Online. This was on the cover of the December 2006 Coin World Coin Values magazine, which featured capped bust half dimes: "Value-packed, Historical, Surprisingly available." Credit to Richard Meaney for informing me of this; he contributed coins and expertise to the article.
R3. Traded a higher-grade LM-6 that I'd recently acquired to Glenn Peterson for this coin and some cash. Didn't really need the cash but it was an opportunity to do my friend a solid. This was in an NGC MS61 holder at the time.
R2. CAC. I'd seen it on the DLRC website and went to their booth at FUN 2024 to get an in-hand look. They hadn't brought it with them, but John Cull knew the coin and attested to its quality and originality so we struck the deal. And John was right.
R1. CAC. So very common (despite the fact that it's in strong demand from major variety set builders), but it's nice to have a 58 with a green bean on it. From eBay.
R4. Ex Crain, via Dave Kahn. Steve Crain (Mr. Half Dime) never found a better example of this tough marriage.
R1. From a David Lawrence auction where I had a little competition. LM-5 is a common marriage but finding a nice one in MS takes a bit of work. This has a smoky tan dusting of tone on it - but in hand I found it to be even more lustrous and attractive than I'd expected.
R1. CAC. Ex Chuck Link. Lovely coin that I had to stretch for a bit, as '37s in Gem are precious. No regrets!
R7. From Dave Perkins. Improves upon my prior LM-12, a VG-8 Details coin. This is the youngest die marriage and as far as I know there's only one straight-graded one. Tough and elusive!