What's your earliest purchase you'd be just as excited buying now as when you bought it?
Just to clarify since I couldn't fit it all in the title, I mean what is the coin you've owned the longest you'd be just as excited buying today as when you bought it.
The reason I ask is that for me my collection seems to churn a fair amount and I have changed tastes over time, grown, become a better grader and found upgrades along the way. I've collected since 1999 but in a more serious capacity only since 2017. My earliest purchase I'd still buy today is the coin in my profile picture. I would prefer something you bought for your collection rather than something you just bought to flip. I'm not just after normal coins that are cheap, I want to see exceptional coins that are timeless.
I purchased this raw March 5th of 2020 and was very anxious about it, being the most I had spent on a raw coin. I paid $220. Despite all my upgrades and auction wins I've yet to find an example I like better which almost every other coin from that year has since been sold and replaced.
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The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
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Purchased in 1998 and it got me seriously in to Mexican pattern coins. This is the first Peso of Mexico, and it's also struck in Mexico. Finest of two known.
I still get excited seeing this coin and would happily buy it again today (but might not be able to afford it).
Incredible piece! Seems like you got into it at the right time.
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The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
and
oh heck...this too.
now I'm gone.
Latin American Collection
Beautiful as an unslabbed coin. They are so hard to find in that condition.
I got this fairly early on, and I haven't seen another that I liked for under $4000, let alone under $400.
Antoninus Pius As, 154-155
Britain or Rome. Bronze, 8.63g. Laureate head right; ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII. Britannia seated left on rock, resting head on hand; arms in background; BRITANNIA - COS IIII around; SC in exergue (RIC III, 934).
I bought this about 10 years ago and haven't seen one I like more come for sale or auction. While I knew it was a good coin at the time, I didn't appreciate how tough early German Empire proofs would end up being.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
Probably this (NGC MS67★). I don't focus on toning anymore as a collector, but it's just so pretty. Going on nine years of ownership.
Gobrecht's Engraved Mature Head Large Cent Model
https://www.instagram.com/rexrarities/?hl=en
It’s not my earliest . There are too many to choose from.
I bought this over 10 years ago and when I want to get excited I pick it up and look at it .
PCGS Proof 66 Cameo
I give away money. I collect money.
I don’t love money . I do love the Lord God.
@pruebas never disappoints.
For me, this one
When I saw it, and bought it on eBay (!) I could not believe my luck. If I were on eBay tonight and saw it, I would do the same I did back then, buy it no matter what.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
I purchased this example in 2012 and I still very much enjoy it today.
Charles III Album
Charles III Portrait Set
Charles IV Album
Charles IV Portrait Set
Spanish Colonial Pillar Set
Bought this a few years ago, still love it:
Coinsof1984@martinb6830 on twitter
I'm buying from the same series almost exclusively the last 14 years, so I don't have the same perception of each coin as I did when I had far fewer.
Mine would be my avatar coin which marked my transition from US early gold (my username) to ancients. I bought it 13 years ago and it still fits to this day, unlike many other pieces I bought in that era purely out of excitement:
That's a great looking piece! I have to say this feels way too close to home though:
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Here's a coin I bought in 2018. At the time, one of my first world coin forays - probably inspired by @Zohar .
But, mint state, 300 year old, beautiful looking, dollar sized coin for a modest amount of money? I was hooked!
My current "Box of 20"
Probably this 1697y transposed French and Irish shields shilling I picked up on ebay over 20 years ago.
Not a thing of great beauty, but it became the second known of what is an unquestionable rarity. The other is the ex Jackson-Kent and Manville coin which is better, but only VF. It didn't come cheap as the seller put a reserve on it, but rather than act in typical ebay buyer fashion and put in a lowball offer after it has failed to sell in the hope of getting a bargain, I was happy to put in a realistic bid. Not seen another one since.
It is also quite an informative coin, as the person who put the dies in the press clearly used the top of the King's head (obv.) and French arms (rev.) for alignment. Consequently, all the other shields are in the wrong position for the normal inverted die axis, and the date appears at 9 o'clock!
What a great thread... I suppose now I need to find something to share. Both of these were submitted about 18 years ago... looking for an image of something earlier which likely is not going to produce something I can share that is earlier.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
That's an outstanding coin. I can't imagine any coin matching those parameters is ever a bad purchase.
I have to say given infinite amount of time I don't think I would've discovered how it was significant. Very interesting purchase and a good example of how knowledge pays off while I'm out here just buying shiny coins haha.
Both lowly coins. That W&M is wonderfully wholesome. The perfect circ example. The William is of course outstanding as well!
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
1858 Canada Cent, PCGS MS-65RB, pop 3/0. Also, a scarce die pairing. Bought this one in 2005. Probably should get it re-holdered to eliminate the plastic scratches.
http://www.victoriancent.com
Great looking piece! You can get most of those scratches out with Headlamp polish used on cars.
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
To me maybe this one has some others but this one I bought for less than $70 bucks raw, was marked as F condition, and the images did not do any help, waited too long to be sent it for grading, came up as MS63.
Wow that is an excellent coin to get for that price! Great look to it. I love it!
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
I could not stop thinking about this coin and had to have it, a great addition to my type set.
I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it - Clint Eastwood
1839 Half crown in deep cameo - bought at auction 20+ years ago:
1926 "Peace" Crown Pattern:
1982 West African States 5000 CFA, struck in gold:
Well, just Love coins, period.
Purchased late 2005; one of first talers I owned and still enjoy having it.
My kind of coin and exactly the grade range and eye appeal i look for as I build the collection. Congrats!
8 Reales Madness Collection
An older friend but by no means the oldest.
A “gemmy” little treasure.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
I've posted this Guadalajara 8 Reales from Mexico's War for Independence period before, but this was my first 8 Reales that both introduced me to the series and showed me what original surfaces could look like on a 200 year old coin. Later, thanks to Calbeto's "Compendium", I discovered that it was also a variety (no dot before HISPAN on the reverse) and I've been obsessed with 8 Reales varieties ever since.
If John Kantymir of Niagara Coins & Collectibles only knew what he started when he sold this coin to me back in 2006.
8 Reales Madness Collection
Another coin is a 1923 Mo Peso "Resplandor".
That I got from my Mom back in 1971.
1923 was her birth year.
Do not have it anymore back then you can buy one for $2USD.or less.
Always awesome to me to have the coin that sets you on a life long addiction haha
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
This was my first 'serious' chopmarked coin, an 1811 Capped Bust Half Dollar. Came off of HA's Make Offer to Owner program from a sale seven years prior, and kickstarted the type set I've been working on for nearly a decade at this point. It's still a significant rarity with chopmarks and perhaps the finest chopmarked example of the type.
And in keeping with the dark side theme, this is probably the earliest non-US type I would gladly purchase again, came out of the Colleccion Bohol sold by Aureo in 2017.
Some seriously cool stuff!
Also, I can't believe this was purchased though Heritage's "make an offer to owner" program! I didn't think that EVER worked! I've NEVER heard of anyone that even got a response through that.
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
That is an outstanding 2R! I love it.
https://numismaticmuse.com/ My Web Gallery
The best collecting goals lie right on the border between the possible and the impossible. - Andy Lustig, "MrEureka"
Very nice 2R - have seen one in the same condition, but had a kind of sun on one of the globes on the left one and on reverse two punches, yours have only one, also above the R in the same location as yours, do these mean something?, just curious. Thanks.
Ha, I was certainly surprised as well, especially given how long it had been since the actual auction.
The placement doesn't mean anything to my knowledge, though there may have been some preference for certain placement among those applying the chops.
It looks much better in person. It has wonderful highly frosted devices and heavy die polish lines.
Here is another one I'd be just as happy buying today. It's not my earliest guatemala half real (non cob), but it is the first one I got that was problem free and is currently the only one I own.
A special thanks to the one who offered it to me. He knows who he is. ☺️
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
The oldest certified coin in my collection is from 2007 - this 1948 Canadian fifty cents graded PCGS MS64. To this day I have not seen a better strike on a coin from this date.