My Numismatic
Journey
From my first Lincoln cent to building exceptional collections—one coin, one decision, one discovery at a time.
A 1918 Lincoln cent.
A new direction.
The first coin I ever purchased was a 1918 Lincoln cent graded MS66+. It also became my first successful grading upgrade. I later made that same coin MS68+, and it is now in Jeremy Bolt’s collection.
That first purchase became much more than an introduction to collecting. Following the coin from MS66+ to MS68+ helped shape my interest in grading and upgrading—an approach that would become central to my career.
From my first purchase to a sole-finest achievement. This is the first entry in my archive of coins I’ve made. More of the story—including where I found it, the purchase price, submission dates, and the steps between MS66+ and MS68+—will be added here.
Limited capital.
Deliberate choices.
I entered numismatics at 17 as an investor, with limited capital. I consciously selected dates, grades, and varieties that I believed offered the greatest potential for appreciation.
My interest was in recognizing coins whose quality or potential I felt had been underappreciated. Buying, submitting, upgrading, and selling gave me experience that went beyond any single result. Each decision helped refine my eye and my understanding of the market.
Over time, I became a collector and a dealer as well. I remain an investor at heart, with an approach built around studying the individual coin and understanding the opportunity it presents.
Learning through the coin itself.
Grading and regrading became central to my work. I developed my approach through examining surfaces, luster, strike, color, and eye appeal, then comparing my judgment with the grading outcome.
My work with crackouts and regrades taught me to look closely at the coin beyond its current holder. The stories below will document individual discoveries—the starting point, the decision to submit, and the result.
Specific grading stories, dates, and submission results will be added as I assemble the photographs and records.
Sole Finest Coins I’ve Made
A growing record of my grading achievements, beginning with the very first coin I bought. Each entry connects the coin, its grading history, and the collection it helped build.
| Coin | Purchased in | Grade I made | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 Lincoln cent | MS66+ | MS68+ RD | Jeremy Bolt |
Grading history and sole-finest achievement are Alex’s personal account. Current PCGS population and population-higher figures are awaiting confirmation.
1918 Lincoln cent
- Date / Mintmark
- 1918 / Philadelphia (no mintmark)
- Denomination / Variety
- One cent / Variety not specified
- Purchased → Grade made
- MS66+ → MS68+ RD
- PCGS certification
- 54901079
- PCGS population / Higher
- Current figures to be verified
- Collection
- Jeremy Bolt
- Purchase / Sale / Return
- Not shared
The story behind the coin
I purchased this 1918 Lincoln cent in MS66+. It was the first coin I ever bought and the first coin I successfully upgraded. I later made it MS68+, a sole-finest achievement in my grading journey. The coin is now in Jeremy Bolt’s collection. More of the purchase and submission story will follow.
Photograph and coin record to come
More sole-finest achievements
- Date / Mintmark / Denomination
- To be provided
- Variety / Certification
- To be provided
- Original → Upgraded grade
- To be provided
- Population / Higher / As of date
- To be verified
- Purchase / Sale / Return
- Optional
Future coin story
Additional coins will be added when Alex provides their dates, original and upgraded grades, and supporting records.
From individual discoveries
to a collection with purpose.
The attention I developed through grading and investing became part of my work building collections. An exceptional Registry Set requires more than filling dates: it calls for patience, careful selection, and an understanding of how each coin contributes to the whole.
I assembled the Whispering Pines collection and built the Bolt Lincoln cent Registry Sets featured in my portfolio. Those collections represent a broader application of the same close study that began with my first cent.
An investor’s perspective.
A collector’s commitment.
My experience as an investor, collector, and dealer became the foundation of Mint State Rarities, founded in 2023. Today, my focus is Lincoln cents, Indian Head cents, and exceptional Mint State copper.
This page is an ongoing record of that journey. As I add photographs, grading histories, and personal stories, it will show the individual decisions and discoveries behind the collections.
More about Alex Explore the collection portfolio