By Laura Sperber – Legend Numismatics Hot Topics

BACKGROUND: Legend Numismatics recently purchased the Boyd 1870-S Seated Dollar Graded PCGS Genuine for this dynamic father/son duo from the Bowers and Merena Sale in Baltimore. Thay had just about finished with their AU/MS Seated Dollar Collection and dreamed about owning a 70-S. Here is a portion of Laura’s Hot Topics Post:

In all my years of dealing I have seen all types of collectors. Since the registry craze started I have seen more ego maniacs then true collectors. Seeing this father/son team work is not only refreshing, but its a heart warming story of interaction as well.

Today, I only know of one other true “team” building a collection (I am not talking about daddy just forking over money-I am talking about a true working pair). They travel to some shows, they look at their coins when ever they can, they both love coins.

One thing that impresses me the most, they are all about the coins. They couldn’t give a hoot about the registry. Their whole take on coins and collecting them is fabulous! I hope this Hot Topics can inspire more familys to collect as a unit.

Here is the story (as written by the teenage son) about their collecting endevors of Seated Dollars:

The MNS Joint Venture Seated dollar set is being put together by my father and I. We started collecting in 2002 or 2003 with liberty nickels and within 3 years we had a whole set, and up to 4-5 of some dates with a nearly complete second set. Time to look for a new series.

The Seated dollar set was our second set we set out to tackle. It presented a challenge at a reasonable cost in the XF grade range that we started to look at. A few XF’s in and a tough decision had to be made. Take the plunge or not. I was able to locate a choice XF 1873-cc in a dealers website and it was an easy decision. The coin was in our possession and quickly followed by an 1871-cc in XF. Some of the keys were down and there was no turning back from here.

The next big step of the collection was the upgrading. Within a year or so our tastes changed from XF to AU-MS. Of course, for the seated dollars there is a BIG difference in price for MS over AU so it was convenient that my dad’s company had taken some large chances that were starting to pay off.

The next milestone came in May of 2007. We walked by Tony Terranova’s (a good freind of Legend) table at the St. Louis CSNS show and saw an AU-58 1852 that was gorgeous (and double the price of any other coin we had ever bought for the set!). We left the show with me dreaming and my dad scheming. Unbeknownst to me, my dad had gathered Tony’s number and struck up a deal for the coin when we got back home.

In May of 2008 another milestone was reached. An AU-55 1872-cc was purchased and was the last of the CC’s needed. Two months later at the Baltimore show we upgraded our 1871-cc and with that we are pleased with these four coins!

In October of 2008 a complete set was sold by Alpine Numismatics. From the sale we were able to pick up the 1851, 1870, and 1873 in MS-63 and the 1871 in MS-64. Thus completing the key dates (minus the 1870-s).

Since then, we have upgraded various dates and added a few more and currently are just missing the 1845, 1856, 1863, and 1872. We’ve seen and passed on many coins for these dates, patiently waiting for the right coins to come along. There are another 5-6 coins i’d like to upgrade before I consider the set “complete” and a few more that I would upgrade if the right coin came along. And who knows, at some point that elusive 1870-s might get added.

That was obviously written BEFORE we bought the 70-S. Here is what he had to say after:
“Also, the 1870-s was always a “dream” coin for us. A coin we joked about someday obtaining but really never thought we would ever own one. Just because a coin may be out of the budget currently, don’t give up on it. And don’t be afraid to stretch for the right coin, we have never regretted overpaying a little for the right coin! The Boyd specimen might be one of the worst 70-s condition-wise, but to us any specimen of this date is special! ”

A FEW QUESTIONS ASKED TO THE SON

Who was the coin collector first?
My dad and I were both started by my Uncle in about mid 2003. My dad is originally from out West and over the years had grown apart from his family as us kids were groing up.. Collecting was originally a way to stay in touch with my uncle and it has become a way for all three of us to stay in touch as well as a great hobby.

Do you and your dad do a lot of things together?
My dad and I try to do as much as possible together but with me being in school and him starting his company, we don’t spend as much time together as we’d like. Basically besides coins we golf and vacation together, not to mention him being my boss during the summers…

How often do you guys look at your coins-together? YES! Nearly every time I go home for a break we make a trip to the safety deposit box. Usually between the two of us we catch most defects on the coin and compare what we see to learn from one another.

Do you both attend shows actively?
Before I came to college we’d attend every Central States and Baltimore show. Also, there is a monthly local show that we regularly attend and an annual local show that we have begun to help run with the local coin club. Since I’ve entered college we’ve mainly cut back to just the Central States show and one Baltimore show a year when it comes to the national shows.

Is there anything you would like to say in gneral?
Coin collecting has been a great thing for us. It has brought us closer together and has gotten us back in regular communication with my uncle who is still back west. Also, attending shows together has been a great bonding experience and we’ve seen many places we otherwise would not have visited. We’ve been to St. Louis, Chicago, Baltimore, Colorado Springs, and a couple Northwest destinations just to go to shows and every trip is enjoyable.

Now, this father and son team will forever be a part of true numismatic history. Their dreams have come true. It is my understanding that whenever they finish this set, it will not be sold. The reason, they may never finish it-they may just keep upgrading it! Its truely a collection built from the heart. And as you can see, it bonded them even closer.

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