Forum Greenhorn says "hi"--ahhh, the beauty of high eye-appeal, "low" cost coins
SeattleSlammer
Posts: 10,034 ✭✭✭✭✭
I've been following this forum for some time.
I'm mostly a collector, though I do sell the occasional coin if my mood is right and I feel like I can upgrade my collection. In general I collect exceedingly high eye-appeal, relatively low cost PCGS and NGC coins. By high eye-appeal, I mean rainbow toned, DMPL or PL cameos (if it doesn't have a cameo, I don't want it), or intensely lustrous coins. By low cost, I mean usually under $300. Now as you know, finding PQ slabbed rainbow/cameos for under $300 these days is not all that easy....indeed, it has become much more difficult just over the past couple of years as the toned market has rocketed. But I'm patient and meticulous in my search, and in most cases, it pays off. But I remember buying some gorgeous rainbow Morgans from morganluver a few years back on Ebay for what were crazy low prices by today's standards!
My philosophy has always been that I want coins that are striking (I know, we all want that!). How do I measure that? Well think of it this way: you know when you're at a coin show and you're browsing through dealer case upon case of boring white coins and as you're eyes are scanning a coin somehow manages to just jump out at you due to it's intense color or mirrors? Those are the only ones I buy. Mostly Morgans, but I've own everything from early commemoratives with great color (I still cringe when I think of the PCGS electric rainbow rimmed Gettysburg that I sold) to toned modern dimes. I look at my collection as a whole and decide whether a particular coin I'm interested in buying would look nice with all of the other coins I already own (really)...regardless of the year or denomination (though I do love the "relatively" affordable 19th century proofs when I can find them...like 3 cent "common date" silver that you can get in 63 proof for under $350). Heck, I have a PCGS AU58 Barber common date quarter that has killer blue and yellow rim target tone ($120). A old NGC holdered MS64PL 80-S morgan with an average pl reverse, but a drop-dead gorgeous balck and white, ultra deep mirror, exceedingly clean for the grade obverse ($99, and well worth the premium over your typical 64PL price tag). Stuff like that. That's the stuff that turns my crank because it doesn't cost an arm and a leg but the eye-appeal is off the charts--and people always look twice (three or four time actually) when you pull them out of your coin box. "Wow, pretty." "Where'd you get that?" "Can I see that again?" "I'll give you (blank) for it, what do you say?" "How much did you pick that up for?" "Got any more like that one?" Music to my ears!
Wow, I'm really getting long-winded here. To sum up: hello and happy hunting!
I'm mostly a collector, though I do sell the occasional coin if my mood is right and I feel like I can upgrade my collection. In general I collect exceedingly high eye-appeal, relatively low cost PCGS and NGC coins. By high eye-appeal, I mean rainbow toned, DMPL or PL cameos (if it doesn't have a cameo, I don't want it), or intensely lustrous coins. By low cost, I mean usually under $300. Now as you know, finding PQ slabbed rainbow/cameos for under $300 these days is not all that easy....indeed, it has become much more difficult just over the past couple of years as the toned market has rocketed. But I'm patient and meticulous in my search, and in most cases, it pays off. But I remember buying some gorgeous rainbow Morgans from morganluver a few years back on Ebay for what were crazy low prices by today's standards!
My philosophy has always been that I want coins that are striking (I know, we all want that!). How do I measure that? Well think of it this way: you know when you're at a coin show and you're browsing through dealer case upon case of boring white coins and as you're eyes are scanning a coin somehow manages to just jump out at you due to it's intense color or mirrors? Those are the only ones I buy. Mostly Morgans, but I've own everything from early commemoratives with great color (I still cringe when I think of the PCGS electric rainbow rimmed Gettysburg that I sold) to toned modern dimes. I look at my collection as a whole and decide whether a particular coin I'm interested in buying would look nice with all of the other coins I already own (really)...regardless of the year or denomination (though I do love the "relatively" affordable 19th century proofs when I can find them...like 3 cent "common date" silver that you can get in 63 proof for under $350). Heck, I have a PCGS AU58 Barber common date quarter that has killer blue and yellow rim target tone ($120). A old NGC holdered MS64PL 80-S morgan with an average pl reverse, but a drop-dead gorgeous balck and white, ultra deep mirror, exceedingly clean for the grade obverse ($99, and well worth the premium over your typical 64PL price tag). Stuff like that. That's the stuff that turns my crank because it doesn't cost an arm and a leg but the eye-appeal is off the charts--and people always look twice (three or four time actually) when you pull them out of your coin box. "Wow, pretty." "Where'd you get that?" "Can I see that again?" "I'll give you (blank) for it, what do you say?" "How much did you pick that up for?" "Got any more like that one?" Music to my ears!
Wow, I'm really getting long-winded here. To sum up: hello and happy hunting!
0
Comments
<< <i>0. Now as you know, finding PQ slabbed rainbow/cameos for under $300 these days is not all that easy....indeed, it has become much more difficult just over the past couple of years as the toned market has rocketed >>
That must be tough. Morgans only, or more modern coins also?
Cameron Kiefer
>the beauty of high eye-appeal, "low" cost coins
ABSOLUTELY! I'm following some of that logic these days myself. I'm snapping up awesome 30s and 40s and 50s lincolns raw. Some are really cool and all for <$5 each! And I can grade these decently between MS-63 and 66. Maybe after the ANA show I'll be able to do that one better.
--------
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Clankeye
Welcome, and have a lovely ride!
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
That is definitely one of the things I've enjoyed most about this forum....lots of pics to look at of a wide range of coins. Something for everyone it seems, though (to my delight), toned Morgans are getting a lot of air-time.
Russ, NCNE
Actually I'm a Midwest transplant from Michigan. But I do love Seattle (though there sports' teams leave a lot to be desired.....alas, the poor 116 win Mariners....great, but, um, well, you STILL lost at the end when it counted!).
<< <i>you STILL lost at the end when it counted! >>
Get used to that. The Mariners are masters at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Welcome to the area! People whine about the rain, but I've never had to shovel rain.
Russ, NCNE
People here in Portland love to "Slam Seattle".
Ron
<< <i>People whine about the rain, but I've never had to shovel rain. >>
Another great line Russ!