share a coin that nudged you into a new series

ebaybuyer2

ive never been a barber quarter collector, ive owned a few but just never really "got bit" until i dug this one out of the ground last year. not the greatest but ive seen worse !

TomB

Holy Cow! Out of the ground and it looks that good? Nice score.

ebaybuyer2

out here the silver looks much like it was dropped. the copper can be cleaned up... but the nickels are usually toast.

lcutler

I like the Barber coins. Those things were real workhorses and circulated for decades.

Barberian

It wasn't a 1901-S? Bummer.

That's a DREAM FIND that would cause me to start collecting Barber quarters.

It's been so long ago now that I've forgotten which was the first coin, but all of these common date coins free of annoying hairlines from cleaning/wiping were purchased raw very early and convinced me to switch from Barber halves to Seated Liberty halves if I wanted to continue collecting raw coins off of eBay.

VF35

XF45

VF35

VF details - scratch - It's been polished a tad as well but lacks hairlines. I don't plan on upgrading this beautiful coin.

pursuitofliberty

I never really got the bug for CBH's until I bought and was studying this coin. I had owned several over the years, but for whatever reason the series never stuck on me. Until THAT day. Between nudging friends, studying images and stuff on line, the couple I still had AND this coin, I got too close to the edge and started slipping!

.

ebaybuyer2

just shy of 200 years ..

Tunis

Here are the two purchases that pushed me to the Dark Side.

ebaybuyer2

a few others that should have nudged me into wanting more ... the 1920 doesnt show well as my camera doesnt capture the luster well. a standing liberty coming out of the ground with luster intact was very unexepected

Copperindian

I’ve collected FE’s for some time. This was the first one (& I still own it):

It’s a PCGS MS64 S-4 variety.

Within the last couple years, I’ve been buying Early Walkers. This is the one that started it all:

Graded MS65.

Zoins

I ended up getting this medal in a variety of metals after getting the most rare, silver original variety in top pop. Less than 10 known and only 5 slabbed at PCGS and NGC.

I was looking for other items in the E. Pluribus Unum collection sale of Washingtonia, and just loved this design.

1832 Philadelphia Civic Procession Medal. Original. Musante GW-130, Baker-160. Silver. Plain edge. PCGS MS64 - Bullowa-E. Pluribus Unum Specimen
PCGS Population: 3/1/0
NGC Population 1/0/0

• Thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1048383/grande-dame-of-numismatics-catherine-elias-bullowa-moore-1919-2017
• Thread: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1046848/e-pluribus-unum-collection-baker-redux

Some others I picked up. There are more but I need to find them.

Brass - PCGS MS64 - Baker Specimen
PCGS Population: 1/0

Bronze - PCGS MS64BN - Baker Specimen
PCGS Population: 5/0

White Metal - PCGS MS63 - Baker Specimen
PCGS Population: 1/0

IkesT

@Zoins said:
I ended up getting this medal in a variety of medals

Freudian slip.

M4Madness

This coin recently got me to start a Carson City type set. Next up is hopefully an XF45 1870-CC dollar.

ebaybuyer2

thats a heck of a wish list !!

DDR

First chopmarked Trade Dollar I ever acquired. At first, I just wanted one example, but now...

lermish

@DDR said:
First chopmarked Trade Dollar I ever acquired. At first, I just wanted one example, but now...

Same...

Zoins

@lermish said:

@DDR said:
First chopmarked Trade Dollar I ever acquired. At first, I just wanted one example, but now...

Same...

Wonderful coins and dates!

Hopefully @tradedollarnut can chime in on these as well!

pocketpiececommems

Boosibri

Coinscratch

@Boosibri said:

That one’s really cool? What is it?

MWallace

I started collecting coins engraved with The Lord's Prayer about 20 years ago. Initially I planned to only get one example. Here's my first. It didn't stop there.

Boosibri

@Coinscratch said:

@Boosibri said:

That one’s really cool? What is it?

Pillar Dollar

asheland

This very coin officially started my 12 piece gold set:

This very note started my fractional set:

This coin has me very interested in pursuing early copper:

asheland

I’ll add one more:
This bar started, my silver bar collection:

ebaybuyer2

great stories !!

PeakRarities

This was the “bridge coin” that caught my eye while I was looking for type 1 $20 libs. I asked a couple peers at that show if the price seemed right and they said it was too high, but I couldn’t put the coin down so I bought it anyway. Market has risen since then and now I’m in the green, but I learned that numerous issues have undervalued guides due to aprs left out from the aggregate. One can learn to exploit this to their advantage, but it’s not for the risk averse and there is tuition to pay along the way.

TheGoonies1985

@Coinscratch said:

@Boosibri said:

That one’s really cool? What is it?

I know Boosibri responded already (hopefully he does not mind me adding info since you are new to this type of coinage) but I will give you a little more info on the coin. It is a 8 Reales from Peru/Lima. You can see the ''L'' with a dot over it and ''M'' with ligature it is an abbreviation for Lima. There are many varieties in Latin American coins some have dots some do not...some have ligature some do not. This is a milled pillar dollar before this started to be made by machine they were made by hand aka Cobs. Peru started milled coinage in 1751. This series is 1751-1772.

Coinscratch

@TheGoonies1985 said:

@Coinscratch said:

@Boosibri said:

That one’s really cool? What is it?

I know Boosibri responded already (hopefully he does not mind me adding info since you are new to this type of coinage) but I will give you a little more info on the coin. It is a 8 Reales from Peru/Lima. You can see the ''L'' with a dot over it and ''M'' with ligature it is an abbreviation for Lima. There are many varieties in Latin American coins some have dots some do not...some have ligature some do not. This is a milled pillar dollar before this started to be made by machine they were made by hand aka Cobs. Peru started milled coinage in 1751. This series is 1751-1771.

Thanks! I did a quick search earlier found that a lot of the raw ones sell for four to $500 on eBay And then I found a couple of uncirculated ones NGC and they were asking like $4800 so some research needed here. I do find that coin attractive and with a very interesting history.

Barndog

back in maybe 2004 this started me on capped bust half dimes:

Barndog

more recently, a medal like this one (Valentine medal from NY Numismatic Club) got me into collecting info and medals from that club

ebaybuyer2

here is an impulse buy, i like it, for a mint state coin nearly 200 years old

alefzero

Picked up this one years back. I do varieties, so not so much a series, but I started doing Lafayette varieties. This one was DuVall-1A, the second toughest one.

lordmarcovan

@ebaybuyer2 said:
ive never been a barber quarter collector, ive owned a few but just never really "got bit" until i dug this one out of the ground last year. not the greatest but ive seen worse !

Great find! I once dug an 1894-O that looks like yours. Perhaps a bit weaker on the reverse. I nearly had a happy heart attack when that sucker popped out of the plug of sod!

ChangeInHistory

1st of the Mrs.' Ancient set

1st Obsolete

1st Franklin

1st seated dimes (2 of 3 antway)

OAKSTAR

As a subset of my collection, another member got my interested in counterfeits. Mostly to pull them out of circulation/commerce and get them into slabbed.

jfriedm56

My first modern proof Walker. Four down and three to go.
And proof Buffaloes.

And the start of the Mercury series.

TheGoonies1985

@Coinscratch said:

@TheGoonies1985 said:

@Coinscratch said:

@Boosibri said:

That one’s really cool? What is it?

I know Boosibri responded already (hopefully he does not mind me adding info since you are new to this type of coinage) but I will give you a little more info on the coin. It is a 8 Reales from Peru/Lima. You can see the ''L'' with a dot over it and ''M'' with ligature it is an abbreviation for Lima. There are many varieties in Latin American coins some have dots some do not...some have ligature some do not. This is a milled pillar dollar before this started to be made by machine they were made by hand aka Cobs. Peru started milled coinage in 1751. This series is 1751-1771.

Thanks! I did a quick search earlier found that a lot of the raw ones sell for four to $500 on eBay And then I found a couple of uncirculated ones NGC and they were asking like $4800 so some research needed here. I do find that coin attractive and with a very interesting history.

I would suggest if these coins interest you to buy Brad Yonaka's book (on early milled coinage from Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Chile and Colombia). It is about 100$ but well worth every penny. He also has a PDF version for about 25$ just PM me if you want his contact info (e-mail). There are rumours he may come out with a 2nd edition but when I do not know.

The book to the right (he also has other books on Mexico 1732-1771 and the one to the left only 200-300 were printed):

Morgan13

I started out with WLH's and still have a few but quickly became a Morgan fan.
Here's a couple of my keepers.

SmEagle1795

Buying my avatar coin 13 years ago was the catalyst which prompted me to move from my namesake collection of early US coinage (SmEagle1795) to very, very early coinage: Colosseo Collection Gallery

ebaybuyer2

lordmarcovan, i dug five barber quarters (and one half) that day, had no idea how valuable the 96-s was until i got home and looked them up. the other quarters were common dates but the half was an 1893-o i should do a group photo of all of them

jesbroken

When I purchased this 1829 CBHDime and several on the forum helped me attribute it as an LM-17 R-4(especially bikergeek and Cladiator along with others) I became hooked on attributing these little beauties and after buying a dozen and spending most awake hours attributing every one I could see photos of, just reassured my conviction for the series. Then, when at the point of aggravation due to the LM bible not being available, a very generous forum member, Cladiator, gave me his copy. Wow, I was floored. After nearly 70 years collecting coins, I was once again on a mission, to become as proficient as I could attributing the series, studying the creation of the coins and this book was like a key to open a most wondrous new door. I owe it all to several forum members who have been nothing other than major generous with their time and knowledge. I truly thank you for this late in life positive episode with little silver and humanity's positive side.
Jim

Catbert

I don't collect gold coins, but this coin made me decide to do the little Indians series. Just 3 more dates to go.

retirednow

This J-1680 5C pattern (PCGS PR64CAM) help kick start me into patterns. I picked this up from the late John Harmick back in 2006 when he was aiding me with several proof Liberty Head Nickels for my Liberty head proof set. He had just picked this up from an auction and thought this might be a fun addition to add to my proof liberty nickel set as I was assembling as it was similar to the regular strikes but dated a year earlier - 1882.

dsessom

@ChangeInHistory said:

1st Obsolete

Just this year, I have gotten hooked on Obsolete currency, and these two were among the first to get me hooked! I absolutely LOVE obsolete currency! The designs and varieties are almost endless!

CommemDude

I was laser-focused on color commems until my favorite dealer, Chip Gambino, offered me this at a Westchester show sometime in the early 1990s, and it reawakened my interest in type coins.

calgolddiver

My Dad's coins from his typeset which began my quest for my typeset. Both PCGS 64.

ebaybuyer2

lots of nice stuff in here !!

Leeroybrown

These are the first 2 purchases that got it all started for me…

ebaybuyer2

not a civil war seated dollar !!!

OnlyGoldIsMoney

My first pre-1840 gold coin purchased in 2018 - as a teenager I wanted to own a gold ancient coin.

Now I am working on collecting electrum/gold coins from the 7th Century BC through the present - one per century - in addition to my $2.50 set.