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Top 10 Reasons I like Colonials
ColonialCoinUnion
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1. They are chock-full o' historical significance.
2. Colonials come in all kinds of interesting types, with lots of cool designs, in all different sizes and metallic compositions.
3. They are often hundreds (and sometimes many thousands) of times rarer than most regular US issues that collectors consider 'rare' but aren't.
4. They are more affordable than they should be.
5. They don't come in PL, DMPL, Cameo, *, FBL, Blast White, FH, et al.
6. You will not find huge piles of the same generic coins on every dealers' table at every single coin show.
7. They were collected avidly by people like Garrett, the Norwebs, and Eliasberg (I'm not sure what this means, other than these people thought they were cool).
8. There is no Gray Sheet.
9. You can probably afford to own some of the rarest most desireable colonials right now for the same prices people are paying for "Gem BU" Morgan Dollars that could be replaced, with a virtually identical coin, at almost every decent coin show in America today, tomorrow, the next day or most any day after that
10. That one with the Elephant on it is pretty neat.
2. Colonials come in all kinds of interesting types, with lots of cool designs, in all different sizes and metallic compositions.
3. They are often hundreds (and sometimes many thousands) of times rarer than most regular US issues that collectors consider 'rare' but aren't.
4. They are more affordable than they should be.
5. They don't come in PL, DMPL, Cameo, *, FBL, Blast White, FH, et al.
6. You will not find huge piles of the same generic coins on every dealers' table at every single coin show.
7. They were collected avidly by people like Garrett, the Norwebs, and Eliasberg (I'm not sure what this means, other than these people thought they were cool).
8. There is no Gray Sheet.
9. You can probably afford to own some of the rarest most desireable colonials right now for the same prices people are paying for "Gem BU" Morgan Dollars that could be replaced, with a virtually identical coin, at almost every decent coin show in America today, tomorrow, the next day or most any day after that
10. That one with the Elephant on it is pretty neat.
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12) There's a whole lot more research that is yet to be done.
13) C4 is a really great organization.
14) The Colonial Newsletter is an awesome publication.
16) You can be like me and dream of forming a collection of coins that have a much better than average chance of having been in the hands or tied to the Founding Fathers.
About 300 pics from the class will be available soon
<< <i>Two reasons to dislike them is that theyre easier to fake, and often have less definite (not as rigid) details. >>
Easier to fake than what? Phony colonial pieces are a whole lot easier to spot than spurious copies of US federal coinage that are made to deceive collectors.
<< <i>TTT...just because.
it does make for an interesting read. i guess i just like my coins
when it starts with the 13 colonies forming a new country and
minting our first coinage.
thanks for sharing all. i really need to start looking at more colonials.
<< <i>17) Chicks dig 'em
May be true. My wife noticed a replica Continental Dollar on my desk. She just love it. She wanted me to buy the real thing, until I told her the price :-(
not so sure about #4. the problem is that they're usually collected by die variety, which means you need alot more for completing a set (like that'll ever happen) of any particular series, & if you wanna get decent to nice coins, your gonna pony up
you show me a new jersey copper set that's meaningfully "complete" & i'll show you someone who's taken alot of green outta their bank account!
K S
K S
I have since started a collection of colonial coins, by type, and agree with the OP's points, on all accounts--though sadly still do not have the coin with an elephant (but do have the one with the Long Worm
Now I need to get back to a meeting with a bunch of tax geeks. Be back later....
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Chris
<< <i>Where can I find a listing of the Colonial coins that would be required for a Type set? >>
First of all, I wouldn't get too caught up in the debate about what coins are actually colonial, pre-colonial, pre-federal, etc. I use the term "colonial era coins" and collect what I like!
To get a list for a type set, you could start out by using the Redbook.
You could also use the PCGS Early American Coins and Tokens Basic Design Set. It's a good list to get you started.
How does anyone know what the price should be???
<< <i>Where can I find a listing of the Colonial coins that would be required for a Type set? >>
My thread on Colonial Type Set For the Masses, of course.
<< <i>
<< <i>Where can I find a listing of the Colonial coins that would be required for a Type set? >>
My thread on Colonial Type Set For the Masses, of course. >>
Another excellent thread worth reading!
I also think, even though they are not coins, a colonial collection should include currency. There are some very interesting pieces of colonial currency out there and they are not as expensive as you might think.
Chris
<< <i>That is a great thread on Colonials. I would add Dutch Colonial coins to the list. The Dutch did control New York colony through about 1660s or so. My philosophy on collecting Colonials is to collect the type of coins that would have circulated in the colonies. Therefore, I have some Spanish cob and milled coins, a Dutch Lion Dollar, a pistareen and so on. There are so many different ways to collect colonials and it is great to be able to hold a little piece of history.
I also think, even though they are not coins, a colonial collection should include currency. There are some very interesting pieces of colonial currency out there and they are not as expensive as you might think.
Chris >>
Chris, I agree with all of your points and also collect foreign coins that circulated in the pre-Federal US (and through the Civil War, in many cases) and colonial currency. It's all good.
One of the great things about collecting colonials is that there are countless ways to design your collection.