2016-07-19 Tue

Tom McGrady is a noted numismatist who specialises in Mexican Libertad coins and started collecting coins at the age of 10. He started off collecting American Eagle silver bullion coins and then decided to start collecting 1-ounce Libertads in 2014 because of their low premiums and its beauty. The 1999 Libertad mule coin kept him hooked. He believes that Libertad coins are a great investment. He began assembling a 1-ounce silver Libertad Uncirculated registry set with the Numismatic Guaranty Corp.’s Registry Set program in early 2015. Since these coins were rare, it was really difficult for him to build this set.

Another collector has already assembled the top-ranked registry set and held that position for five years. But over the years he kept collecting and he not only went on to take the number 1 spot but also assembled the current No. 2- and No. 5-ranked sets as well. Today his sets are the only 100 percent complete ones at NGC. Last year he acquired the 1988 doubled die coin variety and the 1982 doubled die reverse as well. Only nine known examples of the 1988 doubled die version have been graded by NGC or Professional Coin Grading Service, out of which he owns all three NGC examples, and his Mint State 67 example is the highest known grade.

The 1999 mule was struck using a 1999-dated reverse die showing Winged Liberty matched with an obverse die that was intended for use on the 2000 Libertad silver 1-ounce coin, or ‘onza.’ In 2000, a new obverse with multiple emblems encircling the eagle-with-snake-on-cactus design was adopted instead of just the central coat of arms.

In McGrady’s 1982 doubled die reverse Libertad was undiscovered for 34 years. Only three examples have been discovered, and McGrady owns all of them including the highest graded example of MS-67.

The 2015 Reverse Proof coin was released in two special sets with a mintage of 1,500. The difference is that the 1990 coin was not intentionally struck with a special finish, while the 2015 coin was.

His Proof 1998 tripled die is one of the only three known with a grade of Proof 67 by NGC.