newp: 1877-S Trade Dollar, an everyman coin

On first glance this Trade dollar looked undergraded at VF 20. The nice, subtle, toning covers up what would otherwise by shiny scuffs caused by clanging around in a pocket filled with loose change. On closer inspection the grade is right on. Not many of these lower grade Trade Dollars have been certified by PCGS as this one has.

Anyway I like it. My next attempt at a complete type set will have lots of coins like this one. If you look at PCGS's "Complete Type Set" Registry set it is next to impossible to complete. A set that is near completion will score pretty well against a set 40% filled with super grade coins. You can boost your average with the modern coins. With well over 100 coins required putting a limit of only $200/coin still implies a set cost of well over 20 grand. And there is no way you can get double eagles or 18'th century coins for $200 in any grade.