New Collector Here!
bigindie
Posts: 553
Hey Everybody,
I'm new to this coin collecting game, and based on the reccomendation of a friend I found myself here. So, have any of you experienced collectors got any sage advice for the new kid in town?
I'm new to this coin collecting game, and based on the reccomendation of a friend I found myself here. So, have any of you experienced collectors got any sage advice for the new kid in town?
Just My 2 Cents,
Big Mike <><
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all that he has done. --Colossians 2:7
Big Mike <><
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all that he has done. --Colossians 2:7
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Comments
Welcome to coin collecting. My main advice is to learn as much as you can by reading this forum, books and magazines before huridly going out and buying alot of coins. It will save you money, and you will enjoy the coins you do buy more once you know more about them.
Cameron Kiefer
<< <i>any sage advice for the new kid in town? >>
Collect what you like, but avoid Accented Hairs - they're junk.
Welcome aboard!
Russ, NCNE
"Senorita HepKitty"
"I want a real cool Kitty from Hepcat City, to stay in step with me" - Bill Carter
Learn to grade coins. There is a standards book (complete with pictures) put out by the ANA that you should be able to find in most book stores.
Buy a loop so that you can look at coins close up (a decent and cheap one starts for less than $10, and you can usually find that in the book store next to the coin books).
Get some practical purchasing/grading experience, but start small. Go to a coin show and spend about $30-$50 on some coins that look interesting to you. Use your loop and books to see what you thing the true grade of a coin is (compared to what the dealer told you it was).
Walt
Bob
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
Stay away from anything that looks like this:
And should you stumble upon one, SEND IT TO ME!
These other links are also worth checking into. The first is written by Q David Bowers who is a legendary writer, historian, and grader of coins.
http://www.pcgs.com/coinguidetext/display_chapter.chtml?chapter=tableofcontents
http://www.coinfacts.com/Administrative/home.html
What coins do you like?
I LOVE COMMEMORTIVES!
Check out my coins:
My Coins
Glenn
Toned Coins are for losers.
It would be best to stay away from those.
Lori
(loser)
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"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
"If it don't make $"
"It don't make cents""
As for what to collect - buy some books, do some research and find a coin/series that you can't live without and go for it!
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads/oldattachments/Nova Rev 1.jpg[/IMG]
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"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
"If it don't make $"
"It don't make cents""
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
1) Attend a coin show.
2) Subscribe to coin magazine.
3) Buy a few inexpensive coins to learn how to grade especially how to detect cleaning. It takes time.
4) If you like to build sets, then pick a set to build like silver roosevelts or a war nickel set or an IKE set. Something cheap where you can't get burned too much. Or, if you like type sets, put together a 20th century set.
5) Find an honest dealer
6) If you buy from Ebay, buy slabbed coins if the coin is greater than $20 or so.
7) Assume alll raw coins pre-1960 have problems unless you know how to detect problems or you are buying from a trusted source
8) Finally, if it is too good to be true, it probably is.
Good Luck in your new hobby.
Endo
Ken
Most happy welcome to the boards! I hope you will have the learning fun and fellowship here that I have!
(The pod grows!)
Enjoy your stay!
Advise?.........remember that you collect for fun.
do research before you lay out your cash!
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
I think you guys and gals got it all wrong.You should WANT to have people interested in.......
ok.Nevermind...the ol reverse pychology deal huh...ok.Forget what I just said.
Stay away from others favorite series around here and you,ll be ok.Ok?
Wait.Every series is taken....hmmmm.
Better collect Kennedy Halfs and Frankilin Halfs then...
again at the bridge,you,ll fit right in.
Stay away from anything that looks like this: >
And should you stumble upon one, SEND IT TO ME!
Also, stay away from anything that looks like this:
or, this:
or, this:
or, this:
or, this:
or, this:
or, this:
or, this:
or, this:
or...... well, you get the idea.
So... As said in previous posts, collect what you really enjoy!
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"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
"If it don't make $"
"It don't make cents""
There's only one important thing missing from the wonderful advice so far - check into the darkside.
Tons and tons of beautiful and varied, affordable, coins.
Welcome. I am the biggest jerk on the forum and I usually flame everyone, especially new members, but I like you, so don't worry.
Here's my first lesson to you: "Bee Bop A Lula" is forum lingo for "NumisEd is one Hot dude and I am in love with him"
Advise?
Do not buy raw toned coins until you get some experience in identifying artifically toned coins.
Learn to grade the coins that you like to collect.
Never crack Morgan dollars out of the GSA cases
Experiment on junk silver if you feel the need to start dipping coins (but try not to dip if not necessary)
Don't buy bags of Sacagawea dollars from the US Mint
There's more but I need another cup of coffee
Now get out there and find some coins!
To answer a few questions. I only have a few coins in my collection now, a 1921S Morgan and a couple of Steelies my wife picked up from a coin shop, an offset Georgia Quarter I pulled out of circulation, 2003 Silver Eagle Proof from the Mint, and an uncirculated Wheatie, Uncirculated 2001 Silver Eagle, and a Buffalo Nickel (Graded Fine) all of which I got from a Littleton Approval Selection. I'm also voraciously reading lots of magazines (including chiefbob's back issues of Coin World) and the 2003 Red Book.
Speaking of Littleton, can I get some opinions from people who may have dealt with them in the past?
Big Mike <><
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all that he has done. --Colossians 2:7
My advice is:
Well.....read all the posts here......submit many to memory, disregard some, follow what aquillarose said about buying bags of Sacs from the mint (only because it really seems to make sense....I have not actually done anything like that....but makes sense), and above all...enjoy yourself.
Mike Printz
My Site
Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
https://hjbltd.com/#!/department/us-coins