As a new ANA member, new in the sense that I joined December 28, 2019, thus far I've neglected to share with you any of my personal collection through blogs or posts. As this had not been by intent, this weeks blog touches with just that. A Seated Liberty Dime purchased this morning from David Lawrence to further add towards completion of an extremely challenging series. Especially with an eye towards consistency from beginning to end. While the single coin image is that provided by Mr. Lawrence, I need to further my close-up photography skills for future posts. None the less, this is the overall look across the series.

As you will notice from the four album pages of Air-tite holders I am now thirty-three short of a completed series which I began in 2015 following a near completion of the Barber series. Which was completed in 2018 with the final coin, an 1895o. For those unaware from my previous posts, I collect primarily raw coins buying graded examples only when the right one appears at the right price or to guarantee authenticity. Some may indeed label my style of collecting risky at best with all the counterfeits in the market place. To rectify this I have immersed myself in series specific books by some well known authors on each subject. I always match those in question with genuine examples, using NGC or PCGS if unable to do so in hand. Most importantly, I tend to stay with reliable dealers or sellers I've dealt with. While an expert by no means, following these basic rules I feel quite competent in my ability to buy raw.

So, why did I buy a cleaned coin? For starters, for the type of collections I'm assembling details grading becomes irrelevant. The pictured 1840o, for example, has the looks of a very fine. Plenty of detail and an even tone with surfaces resembling normal circulation, no major damage or pitting. To be certain, this is a somewhat easy to find date in it's natural state. For twice the money. For the person who bought an 1885 Red Indian Head Cent, I would say that it was cleaned. To have survived as long it almost positively was coated with lacquer or something similar to preserve the color. Because the third party graders remove it, it becomes "conserved". By definition that is cleaned. So in my view, cleaned on a slab or raw becomes questionable. Harshly cleaned, I steer clear of despite the price or where it falls within a series as to a key or semi-key date.

My goal is to assemble a complete collection of business strike United States  coinage by date and mint mark. Being a realist, this is not going to happen in my life time. My heir, who shares the same passion, has been given instructions to continue where I leave off. As you will see in future blogs I am well over 1/3 there, minus the gold and varieties, of a circulation grade collection. Although I do have several of these. Thoughts and comments are always appreciated. With this blog I expect some negativity. Like coins, sarcasm will be graded.