Beginner Recommendations per major series

Aspie_Rocco

This is intended as a community suggestion thread with reading material for those new to the hobby. Set aside the “buy what you like” concept and assume reading and basic coin research have been done.

I would like to see what GRADED US Coins that long time collectors and dealers would recommend for a novice or newcomer to the hobby, based on a price range +/- 15%

Recommendations should be based on the writers opinion of what is expected to maintain or increase in value. Series that the writers are very familiar with. Coins over valued or undervalued?
Obviously no one can see the future, but I ask for constructive ideas from the more experienced here at Collector’s Universe.

Please reply with One or more recommendations for at least one series or more. If you have different recommendations please share and don’t be confined by this suggested format

Price increments around;
$100 $200 $300

Categories;
1) Cent or penny
2) Nickel
3) Dime
4) Quarter
5) Half dollar
6) Dollar coin
7) commemorative
8) other (bullion, Variety, error, half-cent, two cent, 3 cent, half-dime, token-medal, et cetera)

I feel like this would be an interesting place for someone to get some well rounded and experienced view points for cost bracket recommendations on how someone might spend their money. To build a per piece collection, like a box of 20, as opposed to a date and mint Mark set.

BryceM

Interesting question, but the way you posed it, there isn't much room to maneuver. If it has to be something in that price range, likely to maintain or go up in value, and suitable for beginners...... well, I don't know of such a thing. For the last many years the uber-rarities and key dates have far outperformed the rest of the market.

If you eliminate the need to go up in value and instead focus enjoyment and learning as a criteria.... there, I have some ideas. It takes a few years (decades?) for most people to learn enough about grading and the market to have any hope at actually making money. Even then, a small minority of collectors will see their collection maintain or rise in value, especially when compared to other investment classes (opportunity cost).

Beginners often like larger, visually impressive coins that aren't too hard to locate without significant show-stoppers in terms of rarity. You can easily do a set of Peace dollars or Walkers in that price range, but the key dates will be at a pretty low grade to stay under $300 per coin. Buffalo Nickels (if you avoid overdates and other varieties) and Morgans also come to mind. Commems are OK, but a few issues like the Hawaiian will be difficult.

Aspie_Rocco

Great points BryceM, thank you

ctf_error_coins

7070 in PCGS Plastic.

USMarine6

Although a lot of folks here don't like the series. I would recommend Morgan's. Heck you can get a common date MS66 in the price range your talking about along with some of the key dates and the CC's. Not sure they would go up in value is anyones guess but they seem to follow the market pretty well

1630Boston

Great thread @Aspie_Rocco
I may learn something here

291fifth

The investment outlook for coins and most other collectibles is questionable at best. If you like coins then collect them but don't "invest" in them. When making purchases make sure you are very, very selective as many common or ordinary items are likely to fall far out of favor in the coming years.

Elcontador

I would bag the investment idea. Try a series you find attractive and within your budget. Stay away from grades which involve large price gaps. One extreme example is a Seated Dollar in MS 64 versus one in MS 65.

Smudge

Books are cheaper than mistakes. I like old commems but sold my set just in time. Find attractive coins, eye appeal usually will help values more than the numerical grade. Collect what you like because you will have it for a long time before you will make money on it. Collect with spare money you can afford to lose. If it is not fun do something else.

BillJones

If you want to make money, I’d bag the idea of collecting coins to do it. The only area that might work is speculating in gold with the price of bullion providing the upward push. That would encompass items like St. Gaudens $20 gold pieces.

Before I completed my type sets, I was probably up few hundred thousand on my coin investment. After completing it has probably left me even or a small amount underwater. The losses have been caused by paying retail for the additional coins and lower prices throughout the coin market. Even the early coins I own (1790s to early 1800s) have dropped. This hobby is not attracting new blood..

If you want to make money go for for the conventional stuff, stocks, bonds and real estate. That’s where I have had my greatest gains.

LindeDad

Location and it's not in a SDB.

JeffersonFrog

Aspie,

So many people want to "make a profit" on their collections, yet don't consider all of the ancillary costs. It's similar in my opinion to folks who frequent casinos but don't necessarily want to count their losses.

Can you live with, "I want to collect what I like, and take some comfort knowing that my collection will retain some value over the years"?

If so, here are my thoughts. Since I don't collect everything:

• I don't collect proof coins
• With the exception of a few Jefferson nickels, I don't pursue error coins.
• I don't pursue post 1964 coins.
• I don't pursue Full Step, Full Bell or Full Band coins.
• I am a collector, I occasionally sell my duplicates.

A few sets I have some experience with:

• Mercury Dimes. Finding nice, uncleaned XF45-AU58 Mercs before 1930 is challenging. Personally, I think these will maintain or increase value because there seems to be a never ending demand and a limited supply. The post 1930 coins can also be had in MS65 for under your price points. If you can live without the 16-D, and less than XF45 for the 21 and 21-D, this is a popular, fun and challenging series. I do worry about counterfeits for this series.

• Jefferson Nickels. You should be able to get every one of the 71 coins in the set in MS66 or MS67. Value? Who knows. There have been a couple of periods where Registry competition has driven up prices past your price points, but right now does not seem to be one of those periods.

• Washington Quarters. So many nice coins in MS65 can be purchased in the $25 - $50 range, and with the exception of the 32-D, 32-S, 34-D, 35-D, 36-D and 37-S, the rest can be purchased at MS65 within your price points. I don't have a feel for value, other than to say, "look, wait and buy obvious, nice in hand examples".

• Lincoln Cents. I started here, with high grade RD coins. I had a few turn in the holder, and now I only pursue BN coins. I think the value of nicely toned BN (and RB) Lincolns will continue to increase, because they can be gorgeous and there seems to be a growing segment who collect these. Within your price points, you can still get every coin in MS63-MS65 BN except the 09SVDB, 14-D, 14-S, 15-S, 24-D, 24-S and 26-S. At 156 coins (1909-1959), this set can keep one busy for a long time.

• Liberty Nickels. With the exception of the 1885, 1886, 1888, 1894 and 1912-S, the remaining coins in this set can be purchased at MS63-MS64 within your price points. I'm not really bullish on this series, because in my opinion they are just not that attractive a coin/design. Nice toning or booming luster can change that view, but I've always found it odd Liberty nickels don't seem to exhibit the same wild toning we see in Buffs and Jeffs - even though they all have the same 75% copper and 25% nickel composition (war nickels aside).

• SLQs. My holy grail. I have a couple. One day I'll pursue the entire MS set. It will be outside the specified price points.

A saying I use frequently is, "it's not right or wrong, it's different".

The thoughts above are intended to fit the saying.

My five cents.

bobsr

Paragraph 3 says it all. What is expected to hold value or increase in value. You first have to define what tier you are involved with. Common Morgans in better grades tend to hold and or rise in value, not in leaps and bounds but study. They are readily available and fit in your price range. There has always been and I believe always will be a good market and they are liquid. Undervalued in my opinion are the Roosevelt dimes and I think in the next generation of collectors will come into their own. All that being said, Investment coins, ie those in rarity or keys in a series have always maintained a greater demand and therefore greater prices in almost any grade .15 years ago I bought an AG3 1916D mercury dime for $275.00, I sold it about 5 years ago for $425.00. Same scenario with a 1909 SVDB Penny.
Bob Sr CEO Fieldtechs

Aspie_Rocco

Thank you for your input everyone. Some excellent ideas and responses.

In the last 10 years of collecting I have noticed the ups and downs among a few series and while I remain a devout Jefferson collector, I pick up other random coins that appeal to me. I’ve been slowly building a type set of Pcgs cents up to dollars and enjoying the diversity. The 7070 collection is a great idea but is also a somewhat costly endeavor.

I feel like Jefferson Nickels are an under appreciated series. I am uncertain if values will rise or fall long term, but I collect them for the enjoyment. The fact that they are affordable as a basic set to complete is appealing in its own way.

I have seen the prices of Morgan dollars climb year after year and think they are generally safe bet for at least maintaining value. Even after silver plummeted, Morgan dollars seemed to hold a higher “cull” value, ms64 and higher grades along with DMPL and PL.

I have been inspired to try and extract some wisdom from the more seasoned members. We Read posts and articles about carefully selected coins based on rarity and demand which soar in value, or posts about people collecting BN cents long before it was as popular as it is now. There are “sleepers” as coins and as series’ that have potential. Dealers with a feel for the pulse of the trade who can choose coins for long term success.

Stories about of numismatists and dealers trained and groomed by widely recognized names of the industry sometimes make me regret not getting involved earlier in life, or having the social connections to have an actual mentor.

I hope this thread can help collectors of all levels.

3stars

Towards the top of your price range, but with a great melt value, I'd recommend $2.5 Indian gold. Except for the 1911-D, most can be had for a bit over melt in AU grades. Even if you beat up the coin, you still have the gold value.

jmlanzaf

Forget series. TYPE SET - pick your favorite. The only way you are going to get a cost effective collection is to avoid the keys.

asheland

@ErrorsOnCoins said:
7070 in PCGS Plastic.

I'm doing that now (the gold page)
although there are a few ATS slabs in there.

ChangeInHistory

Maybe try a few collections to further their grading skills. Maybe do a MS collection of Roosevelts or Franklins to learn about luster, strike, etc. and maybe a set of circulated Barber halves, WLH, Mercurys or Buffalos to learn about grades G-VF or so.

BlindedByEgo

Collecting coins is a wonderful hobby with the added benefit of the fact that many coins (precious metal) carry considerable intrinsic value. Extrinsic, or collector value based on rarity, grade and demand, is highly variable, and often capricious.

Intrinsic value is based upon the matter of market forces which are unpredictable but generally relatively slow-moving. Moreover, at least in my lifetime, intrinsic value has never gone to zero. Many coins of high intrinsic value can be purchased for modest extrinsic premiums.

The learning curve on buying quality coins of high-extrinsic value can be a rugged climb. To do it well takes much time and dedication. I recommend to those few "beginners" who have asked similar advise as in the OP that they start by finding coins that they enjoy, which carry a reasonable balance of intrinsic to extrinsic value - like collectible bullion coins. If they want to spend big money, I refer them to generalist experts like Legend or specialists like Rick Snow, or one of the several other highly legitimate dealers I've met here.

Zoins

I think it's good to get a feel for different coins before setting sights on a series where the coins are very similar.

I would recommend Box of 20 type collecting with a focus on eye appeal.

Under / around $1000 each, I think a TPG slabbed liberty head eagle and DMPL Morgan are nice. I also like the Saint Gaudens double eagle but think it's nicer to have an older date. I have a gold rush dated gold eagle which I like.

Colonialcoin

Start slow in order to get your feet wet. Take your time. Read plenty of books and view lots of coins. Try not to get into the high end grading game. That’s a high risk proposition for a novice....and even a pro. Stay away from the MS 69-70 graded stuff too. Seriously! Once you settle into a series, stick with nice problem free coins if at all possible. I have seen way too many people buying junk and trying to flip it for a quick buck. In addition, find yourself a dealer or two that has your back and can supply you with not only the coins that you desire but also their expertise and guidance.

Good luck!

MrEureka

For the profit-oriented long term collector, a prediction and a suggestion. At some point, computers will grade coins. When that day comes, we will see the strike of a coin graded separately, on a scale, probably 1-100. The days of binary strike designations (e.g. FH or not) will be over. So if you buy a just-miss FH today, or if you buy a FH coin that’s struck much better than the average FH for the date, you will have a big edge in the long term.