R & I Coins Everest Archive of the Finest Known

While some dealers like to "talk the talk" about the coins they offer, R & I clients get to "walk the walk". Whether it's the #1 ranked proof Franklin set, or the #1 ranked proof Morgan set, R & I clients have been accumulating many of the most stunning non-gold proof and mint state coins known. While the above may seem like a boastful statement to some, I am trying to make a point, as directly, and honestly, as possible.

Since DAY 1 as a dealer in U.S. numismatics, beginning in 1981, my eye has always been trained on acquiring the very best for my clients. My original interests as a dealer actually were not in Franklin half dollars. They were in proof-like Morgan dollars. That passion began around 1980 when I wandered into a coin shop in La Jolla - Perlin's, looked at some silver dollars in their case, and asked for a book on the subject they could recommend. Joel steered me to a book on his shelf by Jim Osbon, "The Silver Dollar Encyclopedia".

The coins that interested me most were the Deep Mirror Proof-likes, and that became my first coin passion. I relished the opportunity to acquire beautiful and extremely scarce coins that were yet so reasonably priced. For the next year I would visit coin shops throughout California and attend local coin shows, buying what I thought were exceptional proof-like Morgan dollars.

At some point I needed to test my eye, so I decided to take my acquisitions to a coin show in Long Beach and see if any dealers were willing to offer me a profit. I only had about 15 coins, but I thought they were all pretty nice, given what I had read, and seen in my limited experience.

I sold them all in about 30 minutes. And I made more in that brief time than I would make in a month in my regular job! And so for the next several months, I became a coin wholesaler, selling only to dealers.

The problem with this enterprise is that, while I was making some extra income, it was very un-satisfying. You see, I bought those proof-like Morgan dollars because I loved owning them. They were beautiful. They offered extraordinary eye-appeal for their issue. And they were extremely difficult to replace. I was a collector at heart, and unfortunately, most of the dealers I would sell these treasures to did not appreciate them for the same reasons I did. Too often, to these dealers, the coins were mere $ signs.

And so I began transforming my past-time into a collector-oriented enterprise. And I have enjoyed it ever since. To this day, I most treasure being able to offer the superb rarities I acquire to other individuals who see them, and value them as I do.

By the early 1980's, however, truly superb proof-like Morgan dollars were no longer available as they once were. Astute collectors were tucking these little gems away, and the available material on the market, while selling for significant premiums, in my mind did not offer the quality of the proof-like Morgans I was originally able to offer.

I was not about to offer my clients the second best, while trying to convince myself, and them, that it was "The Best". And so I began my search for other numismatic opportunities, looking for coins that offered my clients the same qualities my finest proof-like Morgans did: fabulous, ultimate eye-appeal and rarity, for an affordable price = exceptional long term investment potential.

And that is when I stumbled upon a 1967 SMS set at a coin. This was not an ordinary 1967 SMS set. The typical 1967 set at that time was selling for less than $5. This dealer wanted $75 for his. But it was unlike any 1967 SMS set I had ever seen, for instead of the usual mono-colored, hazy coins, this set had a half dollar, quarter, dime, and nickel with stunning, deep-mirrored cameo contrast! They almost looked like proofs!

I knew the coins were at the very least extremely scarce. I had never seen SMS coins this cameo, and this deep. And they were truly breathtaking in appearance. And so I bought the set for $75.

Of course, if you would have polled the dealers on the floor that day, almost to a man (or woman), they would have said that was a ridiculous price to pay for an SMS set. What these people failed to understand, or seemed to grasp, is that, just as with 1880-O Morgan dollars, exceptional quality and eye-appeal in an SMS coin can be every bit as elusive as in an 1880-O Morgan.

I thought the set was a steal. And I sold it for $100 to a client.

I know that if that set were graded today, at least 2 of the 4 cameo coins in the set would grade DCAM/ULTRA. The other two would grade cameo. The set is probably worth upwards of $2,000.

The Everest Archive of The Finest Known is exactly that. Every coin in our Everest Archive stands at the very pinnacle of eye-appeal and quality for their respective issues, and most importantly, whose desirability (the "GOTTA HAVE IT" factor) will only grow with the passage of time.

EVERY EVEREST ARCHIVE COIN is either:

1. UNIQUE AND FINEST KNOWN, or

2. TIED FOR FINEST KNOWN

As you will see, most of the coins in this archive are proof coins. We are most "bullish" in this area of U.S. numismatics. At the time this introduction was written (February, 2008), the great majority of the finest pre-1968 U.S. proof coins have been certified by one of the major services. The same cannot be said for many areas of mint state coinage. 

So welcome to this museum of U.S. Ultra-Rarities that does not discriminate based on year of mintage, or value at the time of their acquisition.

They are owned, or have at one time been owned, by R & I Clients. These clients fall into one of three categories: collectors - numismatist who simply love their coins and will not sell at any price, collector-investors - numismatists who love their coins but may sell based on the offer, and investor collectors - numismatist who enjoy making money and enjoy their coins, but are more motivated by profit-taking. 

While we do not yet have photos of every example, we will continue to post them online for your edification and viewing pleasure.

Enter the Everest Archive of the Finest Known - Click Here