Sleeper dates- A coin that is thought of as common by the general market compared to the well known key dates. Undervalued, overlooked, underrated, tough to find PQ in a particular grade. These are a few things that come to mind when I here the word sleeper date in a series. It can take years to become an expert of a particular series and be able to look back on which dates proved to be hardest to acquire with the right look.
In the series I collect (Liberty Seated Dollars) there are many key and semi key dates. But there are a few that are considered common that are far from it. One date that I’ve found particularly challenging is the business strike 1873 in circulated grades. The 1873 seems to get lumped in with the other Philadelphia issues from the 1870s but I assure you finding a nice one can take years.
I would love to hear about coins from different series that you specialize in. What dates have found to be surprisingly tough to find nice?
Comments
i think one is challenging to find nice, but i may not have seen enough yet to know for sure
Last year I bought a real nice 1894 IHC in MS66RB. The PCGS Pop is only 7, and the CAC Pop is only 2. NONE finer in RB at PCGS or CAC (NO 66+ or 67 in RB at PCGS or CAC).
I bought the below coin below the CAC Market Price of $1,330. Rick Snow says it’s 95% Red.
By the way, I didn’t buy it from Rick, but from GC.
I recognize the critical concept of supply and demand. While the supply of this grade for 1894 is minuscule, obviously the demand is low (fortunately for me when I bid on this coin).
Steve