What Makes A Great Coin?
gschwernk
Posts: 371 ✭✭✭✭✭
I believe a coin should be issued for circulation.(ie no special issues or errors - no $1 1804 $1885 Trade $ etc). The coin should have history. The coin should also have exceptional eye appeal. Using these metrics I come up with the following for my box of 3.
1) Morelan 1794 $1.
2) Pogue 1792 Half Dime
3) 1933 $20
What do you think?
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Comments
What makes a great coin??
Any coin you like
I think great coins exist among all types and at all price points. I also think "great" is subjective and cannot have one single definition for everyone.
A "great coin" is in the eye of the beholder.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@gschwernk .... Welcome aboard. My coins are great coins.... To me....and that is what counts. That being said, there are 'great coin' books... Check them out. Cheers, RickO
I actually collect the 100 greatest coins from the popular book. I currently own 21 of the 100.
Different strokes for different folks. That will always dominate the coin market. JMO
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
I think most collectors (not stackers) think their collection is "great". Why else own a coin?
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
And I'm sure there are collectors who look at my collection and say "meh"!
Imagine what @tradedollarnut would say? "Pfttt"!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
A related question would be
What makes a great coin collector
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
The 1933 $20 was not issued for circulation. That’s why the government seized the Langbord’s examples.
I was not sure about that. In that case I am unsure about #3. Maybe $10 1795 nine leaf?
I like where you are going with the original premise. It could also be said which coins exhibit greatness. Either way my list will contain things I will never own or hold. It’s a combination of history and aesthetics and importance.
In no particular order my top 5:
A great coin is one that captures your interest. The answer for the 12 year old looking through rolls of coins with grandpa is probably different than the answer you'd get from Simpson or Pogue. 1804 dollars, 1955 DDO cents, 1916-D mercs, and 3-legged buffs do absolutely nothing for me, but in the eyes of a huge number of people, they're great coins. If I grew up roll-hunting for those (well, maybe not the 1804), I'd probably feel differently about it.
For me a clean, sharply-struck Peace dollar with brilliant luster is a great coin! Try finding one.
For you, the answer will undoubtedly be different. To the market, stated very simply, the greatest coins are the ones that trade for the most money. Collectively, we hold them in such esteem that demand greatly exceeds supply.
I love TurtleCat’s list. I will consider his #2 to complete my box of 3.
Rarity, quality (condition) and eye appeal.....The three legs of the stool.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
History and rarity for me. Does not need to be expensive. I collect world coins. No corrosion or verdigris either.
My definition is a lot stricter than for most. Quality or eye appeal alone will never cut it for me. If a coin is common, quality doesn't make it rare. There are a few exceptions, but I have little interest in the coins which anyone can buy at any time.
See below for "Great"
Great strike, original look and most importantly, a coin that you’re looking for!
BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.
The perfect coin for me is the one with a great history, that has great eye appeal, which I can afford. The 1848 CAL. quarter eagle in my collection is a perfect example of that. It's in an AU-55 holder. These days I see coins (Not 1848 CAL. coins, but the same era.) that are not as nice in Mint State holders.
My dream set would be the King of Siam set with the case. It's exciting and wonderful, but it's out of reach.
If we all had the same tastes and interests coin collecting would be pretty boring. I still love looking at my 1955 DDO and it’s one of my favorite coins. Finding it in the wild and paying 5 cents on the dollar for it certainly helps.
A dealer owns it.
A coin that appears on the cover of a major auction catalog is more often than not a "great" coin.
A great coin should speak for itself but could have many pages written about it.
This is a coin which immediately takes your breath away. Like a 1930s 50c Oregon
From a design stand point and representation, the Indian Head Nickel. Both of which make this the only truly American coin.
History and rarity
11.5$ Southern Dollars, The little “Big Easy” set
A great coin is one which 'talks' to me. It has personality. I look at it and think, "da**, that's nice." It could be an iridescent toned No Motto Seated Half (thank you Mark Feld for selling it to me). It could be a subtly toned Liberty Nickel or Standing Liberty Quarter which has every color in the rainbow if you look at it just so. Or it could be an Unc. RB Classic Half Cent where the toning on the obverse complements the toning on the reverse. It could also be a Bust Dollar with original skin and no problems in any grade, or a Barber Half which isn't painful to look at (imo, the ugliest series of coin out there).
It could be a no problem attractive 38 D Buff. They don't have to be expensive (though they often are); they just have to grab your attention.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."