Just joined - statements and question

RDaneel

Hi,

After being away from coin collecting for about 12 years, I got hooked again. I was formerly an early copper collector but sold what I had, partially to fund my son's first year in college. As much as I am still interested in early copper, I find that I really don't want to devote that much money to collecting.

So, now I'm interested in Morgans (like that isn't going to cost me!). So far I've picked up some more common ones in MS-64 (1879-S, 1880-S, 1882-S) and have an 1881-S over at ANACS now (I live in the Columbus, OH area and can just drop them off there - so that's why I picked them to grade/slab). I've bought David Bowers new book on this (he is incredible, a prolific and interesting writer and a gentleman to boot - I met him at Pittsburgh years ago). I'm working on trying to figure out MS grading - I really need to see more of them.

In addition to Morgans, I'm also looking at Buffalo Nickels (what is the correct term or PC term for these?). Not sure if I want to collect, but they sure are neat to look at.

My question relates to a cheaper fun part of the hobby I'm pursuing. I decided to put together a Winged Liberty dime set in circulated (really melt value) condition. A local coin store sells these, currently, at 5.5 times face and buys at 4.0 times face. Out of the first roll I got about 15 different dates/mintmarks. I'm thinking this is the best I'll ever do - so for that group of 15 coins, I essentially paid 90 cents apiece (27.50 to buy, less 14 to sell, divided by 15). Here's my question: Do you think it is a good idea to pursue the collection this way?

Thanks,

Dean

coachleonard

If you're putting together just a circulated set of mercuries, i'd say getting them at 90cents apiece is a pretty good route. Maybe you could also put together a mini-set of UNC mercuries, as those are still pretty cheap for a beautiful, obselete design silver US coin.

mgoodm3

welcome. Mr. Olivaw, I presume?

coinguy89

I live pretty close to you, thats really neat, maybe i'll see you at a show sometime. Well, I tried to start Morgans but didn't have too much luck, and im not going to anymore, because of there expensive costs. So if we ever meet at a show, maybe I could sell em to ya(many people don't want me to sell em though). Buffalo nickels are really neat coins also. If I were you and if I had the money I would go with gold coins, but thats probably too expensive. Thats cool that you were into early copper coins, those are quite interesting. But with the merc dimes, you can get them out of buckets at the local shows for about 70 cents a coin, sometimes less, most are dated too. Welcome and Good luck.

RDaneel

mgoodm3, You got it. That's been my alter ego since I entered the www years ago. :-)

coiniguy89, local shows? And yes, you're correct. Gold coins would be too expensive. I want to have fun without losing my wife.

Dean

goose3

GO BUCKS!!!!! college football is almost here.

hey guys I'm up here near Mansfield!


Collect whatever you enjoy. Do a circulated US Type set. They are enjoyable. If you do the dimes, make sure you don't buy a Raw 16d.

coinguy89

<< <i>GO BUCKS!!!!! college football is almost here.

hey guys I'm up here near Mansfield!


Collect whatever you enjoy. Do a circulated US Type set. They are enjoyable. If you do the dimes, make sure you don't buy a Raw 16d. >>



NO!!!!! GO BLUE, You fool.

RDaneel

goose3,

If I get a 16d, it'll be as part of circulated silver or as pocket change (one can dream).

Dean

GoYankees

Welcome.

I have a complete (non error) circ Merc dime set. they are fun to collect. All were bought raw except the 1916-D. When I was a kid, I found two boxes of old coins that contained among others, old circulated Mercs. That kick-started my collection.

BEWARE - In 1988, my dad bought me a 1916-D raw for $270.00. In 2001, it was body-bagged as not genuine (Added "D").
I have recently replaced it with a slabbed PCI/green AG03 that crossed and now resides in a PCGS holder and is now in a safe deposit box. I still have the fake in its body bag that I use as a learning tool. The "D" seemed real enough to me but the only slight difference I noticed was that the fake "D" seemed to be further away from the leaf stem than that of the real "D".

Sometimes, you can find good deals on ANACS slabs on eBay and save yourself the grading fees. Here's a great link for you...

Cheap Slabs

Use the advanced search and choose the denomination.

Enjoy!

GoYankees!

razorface1027

Yo AYEEEEE...Welcome!

goose3

<< <i>

<< <i>GO BUCKS!!!!! college football is almost here.

hey guys I'm up here near Mansfield!


Collect whatever you enjoy. Do a circulated US Type set. They are enjoyable. If you do the dimes, make sure you don't buy a Raw 16d. >>



NO!!!!! GO BLUE, You fool. >>




oh no, another transplant!

Coinerww

fountainheadgold

I would like build a set of winged liberty dimes sometime.

Steve27

Dean,

I started out in a similar fashion with my Mercs. I had about 20-30 from a collection I started when I was about 10. Most were AG-3 (teens) to F-12 (40s), so I decided to complete it with similarly worn coins. I bought a mixed circulated roll from a member here, and traded for others. The main problem with mixed circulated rolls is that they have mostly P mint-mark coins from the 40s, so I think you'll have to change your strategy soon. I also found dealer "junk" boxes to be a good source as well as the BST board here. Good luck and have fun!

BowTieCoins

Katrina

Baley

Welcome aboard!

Mr. Olivaw, I presume?

You got it.

So, my old friend, we meet again!

cladking

Welcome aboard.

Anything you enjoy collecting should be good. Mercs make a great set in any grade
and the entire set except the '16-D does appear in rolls of mercs. Most of the bet-
ter dates will be low grade and the '21's will be terrible. For some reason the '24-D
also seems to be always one of the last in a set.

One of the more enjoyable aspects of any set is trying to upgrade so this can keep
you entertained for a long while at very low cost.

mgoodm3

<< <i>Welcome aboard!

Mr. Olivaw, I presume?

You got it.

So, my old friend, we meet again!

>>



How's it going Elijah?

dorkkarl

sounds lke $$$ is an issue for you, so in that case, DON'T collect bu morgans, you have no chance of ever completing the set.

instead, why not give morgans in ORIGINAL vf/xf a chance? you'll be extremely surprised how nice such a set looks, AND you actually have a chance at completing 95% of it.

K S

RDaneel

Wow! Thanks for all the welcomes... It is good to be back in the hobby.

Friend Elijah, good to see you are still with the living :-)

dorkkarl, money is part of it, but if I am going to collect Morgans, it will be a long term project as money becomes available. They are soooo beautiful.

Dean

jhar

Hey Ya gotta love those Morgans. I agree with you about some of the series being out of our range, but there are a lot of "common" but beautiful examples to be had without breaking the bank. I have geared my specialization in Morgans towards collecting examples that although they are common year/mint, have a certain "look" to them that make them stand out. I like PL & DMPL coins in a grade I can afford, without as much concern to whether or not I have that Date already. I look for Strike, luster, some toning, and overall eye appeal. That means more to me than how "rare" the coin may be.

BTW

Welcome!!

beartracks42

Welcome!

I am another Buckeye and live near Marietta. Good to have you aboard.

It sounds like you might be visiting Allens in Westerville for your mercs.

Enjoy your time here and ask lots of questions.



GO BUCKS----NO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AuldFartte

to the forums, Dean. "Tis a fun place.

ccr

Welcome to the boards! It`s cool to see another Ohioan on the boards. Below are a couple of links that maybe of help to you.

http://www.rg.cointalk.org/guide/

Morgan Dollars Coin Grader

anablep

Welcome to the boards!!!

I too collect Morgans. Started up again about a year ago. It takes time & I've made some mistakes, but my collection, like yours, is going to be long term...


Good luck to you!

Shamika

Welcome to the Forum.

wam98

I collect Morgan dollars also. I've selected MS-64 and 65 as my grade range. I know that I'll never complete the set in those grades because of prices. I was thinking of also collecting morgans in selective EF-40 to AU. I see a lot of beautiful morgans in that grade range and a heck of a lot cheaper. For the fun of collecting. Good Luck.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>Wow! Thanks for all the welcomes... It is good to be back in the hobby. >>



I could tell you were Old School when you called Merc dimes by their correct "Winged Liberty" designation.

Allow me to add my welcomes to the rest.

Putting together a set of Merc dimes by cherrypicking bulk silver sounds like fun.

RDaneel

ccr,

thanks, great links.

Dean

Bobk

Welcome. Whats a buck?