The joys of collecting inexpensive coins

shirohniichan

Aren't inexpensive coins cool? You can keep them in your house with little fear of them getting stolen. Going to the safe deposit box to look at one's coins is a major PITA. Having to install a secure safe in your home can be expensive, and you're still left feeling less than secure unless you've got a really great alarm system, dogs, etc.

This is where inexpensive coins come in. It's nice to be able to have coins you can look at every day in the comfort of your own home. The expensive ones stay locked up, but the inexpensive ones are right there. Mind you, I'm not talking about "junk." They may not have any investment potential, but they're not supposed to-- they're reminders of the fact that coin collecting is a HOBBY.

I'm working on a few sets in bookshelf albums for myself and Whitman folders for my daughter. I also have some esoteric foreign stuff that would be hard to resell and easy to trace if stolen (how many Inner Mongolian 1938 5 chiao coins are out there, for example).

How many of you have secondary sets of inexpensive coins you keep with you just for the fun of it?

Clankeye

<< <i>How many of you have secondary sets of inexpensive coins you keep with you just for the fun of it? >>




Secondary set?

jbsteven

I just insure all my coins and don't worry about it. I also live a safe part of town. Our area had 0 breakins last year and this year so far.

nucklehead

Yes inexpensive coins are great, I've just recently started a Franklin half set in a Dansco and also in the works is a Peace dollar set also in a Dansco. I don't have to own the super duper high grade slabbed clad anything.

hookooekoo

May entire collection is inexpensive coins! And I love them.

I have so far only purchased 2 coins that cost 3 digits (1916-D Merc and a 1798 Cent), with my average coin costing me about $20.

Inexpensive coins are what keeps this hobby open to just about anyone who is interested. Spendable income (or lack there of) doesn't have to be a reason to avoid coin collecting.

FrattLaw

I think album sets are great, sometimes even better then the slab registry sets. I like looking at an album with the coins, holes to be filled and all. There's something to be said to feeling the weight and texture of an album full of coins. How each coin tones over time and changes.

Ah, coin collecting of my youth. Actually, I'm also puting together several album collections. It's great, I can sit at the bargain box and look through all the 2x2s, cherry picking what I need and plugging those holes.

Michael

MW Fattorosi Collection

BNE

I do! I am working on all the circ strike nickels to put in Dansco albums. But the registry thing is infectious, and when I start out doing a lower-grade set, I begin to suffer "grade creep" and end up upgrading the more modest coins. But I also collect with my kids, and my "seconds" (Mercs and Buffs) go to them.

I think that when I get to older material (bust coinage, etc.) I will keep those sets in really low grades, and just try to fill the holes.

greghansen

I absolutely agree. MS slabbed coins in a box or Eagle album are nice and certainly give you satisfaction on one level. For pure collecting joy, however, nothing substitutes for the ability to feel and touch your collectible. I love the fact that I can take out a raw F/VF Bust Half or similar coin from the album and feel it in my hands, without worrying about whether I'll get fingerprints on it or worrying about whether I am going to breath on it while looking at it under magnification.

OnlyBuffalos

Good observation on which there is no argument here. I am trying to acquire a set of uncleaned, no problem Barber halfs in fine condition. 90% of the dates cost less than $50 but are very challenging to find in true fine condition. The most expensive in fine condition (1897-O) sells for around $300. It is easier to find AU and MS Barber halfs than it is to find fine condition ones.

IndianHeadMan

Yeah, and some people cann't aford buying slabs every time they go out.

UncleJoe

Inexpensive is relative.

Clankeye, I couldn't have said it better "Secondary set?".

Inexpensive coins are my MAIN set. Very rarely will I buy a coin over $50. In fact, at the Orlando show last month I purchased about 100 coins for a little more than $300.

How's that for inexpensive?

Joe.

stujoe

Inexpesive...almost all of them. Junk...some of them could be called that by some. I also have actually touched most of them.

shirohniichan

90% of the dates cost less than $50 but are very challenging to find in true fine condition.

Yea, verily. Grades just below big price jumps are usually sold as the next higher grade, so a fine coin will sell as a VF.

Raw coins are sure cool to have so you can see the edges and get an idea what metal feels like instead of plastic. In fact, cleaned album fillers are even better for taking out and examining. Since the surfaces are already altered, you don't have to worry much about adding fingerprints.

crito

think I'll put a circ bugs in the franklin album hole

Libertad

The Joy is in the journey! I love the hunt, and as I upgrade the series currently on my mind, I found I often ended up with duplicates, and triplicates but in ever so slightly different grades (all raw, usually bargain).

I learned (here) to get the keys first, and that helped determine the general grade of the 'edition' of the series, based on what I was comfortable paying for them.

So, I end up with a Dansco for the primo ones, and a secondary and often a tertiary collection for the truly low ends; the ones I put in an empty pocket and handle freely, leave around the house for further gazing and 'decorating'. Thinking of it as 'chi'.


I've never sold a coin, just a black hole for circulated (at best AU) stuff. The multiple low and medium grade folders aren't worth much cash, but the satisfaction level remains high.

I like to consider other needs to compare costs and value when I find one I like. Is it's worth comparable to 'lunch', 'dinner and a movie', a tank of gas for the van, or a car payment? That help me budget the cash flow of the moment.

No Twelve Step program yet?

g097103

I mostly collect inexpensive coins. Some day when the kids are out of school (2 and 3 years) I'll be able to afford
to start upgrading. But only the keys and semis will be in slabs. I love my albums and being able to touch my
coins. Hmmm, bigger boat...more expensive coins...tough call. Wonder which they would rather get.

Scott M

Trime

Shiro,
I like this thread since it reminds me of the excitement of finding interesting coins. This is how it began for most of us. For example , I could have a wonderful time with a large bucket of circulated 19th century coins looking for varieties. I often get the joys of discovery mixed ( confused) with the thrill of high grade expensive and beautiful specimens. Something to think about.

barney

I just received $1800 worth of coins, and the ones that thrilled me the most were a raw AU 1917 dime with nice toning and sharp full-split
bands-and a suprisingly nicely toned '26-S ANACS VF-30 SLQ. Less than $80 for the pair! "Baseball" suggested that I buy inexpensive
coins while I was "taking a breather." I think it's a great idea! I also added an ANACS 62 $10 '91-CC and two toned 'cc $1's. The "cheap"
coins gave as much pleasure as the big-ticket items. I think there's a lesson here.

cladking

A lot of my best coins come from the bank. You never know what you'll get.