Does anyone like colonial coins?

dan1ecu

I’ve purchased a couple of colonials to go into my type set. Compared to regular issue U.S. coins from around the same time period (1700's), colonial coins seem inexpensive. I’ve seen many PCGS-certified VF, XF, and AU examples that could be had for just a few hundred dollars. I realize that some are restrikes that were minted much later than the date on the coin, but the prices still seem quite low for coins that are so rare and historical. I’m thinking that maybe this is an underappreciated area in numismatics. Does anyone want to comment on the pros and cons of collecting colonial coins?

Dan

abuell

I have been collecting and studying American colonial coinage for over 15 years. I sold much of my collection about 8 years ago to concentrate on one series - Fugio coppers - and have been expanding my collection of that series ever since. If you (or any one else) has an interest in this the most fascinating area of American coinage please consider joining the Colonial Coin Collectors' Club (C4) - the national organization of colonial coin fanatics.

lordmarcovan

I like colonials, but don't have much experience with 'em beyond a Nova Constellatio and a Connecticut. I hope to dig some with my detector one day. In fact, I already have found a number of Spanish colonial silver coins, King George coppers, a French coin or two, and a 1782 Irish Hibernia halfpenny. None of these that I've dug would get much respect from collectors, as 2 centuries in the ground is not always kind to them. But the silver and that Hibernia are pretty decent lookin'.

Gemini

Wow Dan you have indeed discovered something worth while to collect. I have 6 New Jersey 3 Connecticuts a Fugio and about 15 pieces of Colonial Currency.
Talk about pros for a seies and here are some of my favorites.
One of the signers on one of my notes was on the committee to purchase the Liberty Bell.

The devices on my York Waterworks note were designed by Elisha Gaulladet who also is credited for designing the Continental dollar. I also have two Pennsylvania notes printed by Ben Franklin himself.
Dan hold these items and you are really holding history in your hands. It is quite a thrill to own and study these artifacts. They are real remnants of their time and if only they could speak. They are mute but the wonderment lies in the unkowning of the ancients who held these and what these notes and coins may have witnessed is much fun to ponder.

Some notes I have were printed a couple of years before the American Revolution. I often wonder what the climate was like in the colonies at the time when these notes circulated and how did these notes also come to survive some in really great shape. No two Colonial notes are quite the same and are unique in some way.

Colonials coins and notes are not very expensive and I ask you where could you get this much bang for your buck?

The cons of course with all series there are fakes and buying from trusted dealers and buying certified coins is the way to go on these.

It is very interesting that some contemporary counterfeit notes have great collector value in this series as they may be the only known surviving representations of a certain issue. True!

Don- Gemini

kranky

I got my first colonial (a Fugio) just a couple weeks ago and I love it! I have two pieces of currency from that time that use the same design as on the Fugio and it makes a beautiful little set.

I agree that they seem undervalued, even if just from a historical perspective.

And this gives me a chance to publicly thank abuell and FoundingFather for helping me understand a bit more about Fugios before I took the plunge. I waited a long time to get the one I wanted, and I'm glad I did.

rich

Got this Hibernia Half Penny in a coin dealers junk box for $3. I suspect that it is a colonial (counterfeit)Thin copper.LINKI think that they are undervalued right now.Let me finish my collection B/4 you spread the word OK?

TomB

I absolutely love colonial coinage.

BillJones

I really like the so-called colonial coins. (Technically the pieces that were minted after 1782, the year the Treaty of Paris was signed which granted us our independence, should be called “confederates” because we were then under the Articles of Confederation from that time and not a colony.) The problem is I don’t like ugly corroded, damaged and badly worn coins. Therefore there are a lot of colonial copper coins that are totally unacceptable to me. The pieces that I do have range in grade from choice VF to Mint State. (Don’t get excited. My Mint State colonial coin is a Virginia halfpenny, which came from a very large hoard.)

I have a type set, but not big heavy hitters. My most expensive pieces are a small sized Pine Tree Shilling in Choice EF with no clips and complete legends, and an AU Oak Tree two pence that is struck off-center, which is fairly common for that coin. I’ve got a fairly decent Vermont landscape, but it’s a bit off-center.

Generally I would advice all collectors to be very weary of all PCGS graded colonial coins. The vast majority of the pieces I have seen were grossly overgraded, and many pieces were damaged to point where I could not understand why they didn’t go back to their owners in body bags. I’ve seen some nice colonial coins in PCGS holders – I know where this a really nice MS-61 Pine Tree 3 pence – but don’t let brand loyalty lead you to the shaft.

dorkkarl

<< <i>colonial coins seem inexpensive >>

HA! where are you picking up inexpensive colonials??? i own a very few, but have very strictly kept w/ choice examples. believe me, they ain't cheap, and they'v only gone higher in the last couple of years. just try to pick up any kind of choice mass. silver!!!

K S