EAC2025

The Erik Schneckloth Collection

I bought my first large cent from John Jackson when I sold my full-horn Buffalo nickel collection. It was an S-187 in an NGC VF-20 holder. The die cracks were so cool. I thought it was special. I didn’t know at the time that’s how they all came. I bought the Noyes book and CQR and dreamed of owning a’93 cap. At the time I figured I could get to an S-13. But when I bough: that first cap I was hooked. I missed the Dan Holmes sale. It was on my Mom’s last birthday. She died the following April from complications of ALS. I was determined at the time to own that S-15. Not any S-15 but that one. When the Mervis sale came up in Orlando I was going for it. But my wife Beth said “You can do this, but no new money.” So I sold 2/3 of my collection. That included a PCGS MS-63 complete Buffalo set as well as most of my large cent date set. I raised 70k. Took the whole family to the sale. And came in third. Next time around I had new money (she relented this time) and new determination (as in more money). I couldn’t make it to the sale but John Jackson bought the Holmes coin for me. I did it. I finished my Heads of ‘93 set in 2019 with the purchase of an absolutely gorgeous S-1 la, then upgraded it a year later with the Husak/Boka S-18a. My top three include that coin as well as the Holmes S-15 and the Reynolds S-12. I also managed to acquire about 2/3 of the 94s before the fire went out. Late and terminal die states were my final early copper collecting interest. So now I’m back where I started over 50 years ago. I’m filling holes in blue Whitman folders. I finally finished the Lincoln cent collection I started in my childhood by purchasing the 09-S VDB. I also went back to my original love of Buffalo nickels. AU-63 or MS-58. Not nearly as expensive as early copper but still a challenge.