Constellatio Collector sevenoften@hotmail.com --------------------------------- "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!" "If it don't make $" "It don't make cents""
I would say condition. I was looking at some early large cents last night, and 95% of the ones I saw were worn smooth or nearly smooth so they were barely recognizable. I'd rather spend thousands (even if I have to stop eating for a while) for a coin that can be readily identified, than hundreds for a slick with a ghost of a date and nothing more.
Rarity Commoner coins in better condition will always be available but often for a truly rare piece you take it if it happens to show up.
<< <i>I'd rather spend thousands (even if I have to stop eating for a while) for a coin that can be readily identified, than hundreds for a slick with a ghost of a date and nothing more. >>
The problem is the last few pieces I need are already thousands with just that ghost of a date, the readily identifiable ones are in the tens of thousands. I can't stop eating that long.
Who doesn't. But given a choice between a truly rare coin that I need which doesn't have eye appeal but which I may not have another chance at again, and a common high grade coin with eye appeal that I don't need, I'll take the rare one every time. If I want a nice common coin I can always get one of those.
Since you included tokens, in your question, I would have to say that rarity is my major concern in that area of my collecting.
On the other hand, when it comes to coins, my main criteria is condition.
Interesting thread. Thanks for starting it.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! ~PATRICK HENRY~
I'll always buy a fairly priced and reasonably attractive coin I need unless I am confident that I can find a better one in the next ten years. For some things, I'll buy a VG. For others, a 63 isn't good enough.
Andy Lustig
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>When deciding on buying older coins (nothing modern) or tokens, what are you in more favor of, >>
It doesn't matter to me in the least if a coin or token is ten years old or a thousand years old, I'm still looking for rarity and attractiveness. It has to be a coin which excites me on some level and then I de- sire a nice specimen. Frequently it's a series or theme that I already collect and simply seek the best example I cn find and afford.
Rarity will get you a better return on your dollar and if you are going to specialize in one area as opposed to putting together a type set of say colonials, you should stick with rarity.
If you are going to put together a type set, for aesthetic reasons, I'd go with common high grade examples just to please myself.
Comments
---------------------------------
"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!"
"If it don't make $"
"It don't make cents""
09/07/2006
I look for originality so the factors others mention will look their best.
Best,
Billy
1 Eye appeal
2 Eye appeal
3 Eye appeal
4 rarity
5 Eye appeal
as long as the coins have amazing eye appeal
michael
<< <i>I'd rather spend thousands (even if I have to stop eating for a while) for a coin that can be readily identified, than hundreds for a slick with a ghost of a date and nothing more. >>
The problem is the last few pieces I need are already thousands with just that ghost of a date, the readily identifiable ones are in the tens of thousands. I can't stop eating that long.
David
<< <i>Rarity, eye appeal!
I agree with you.
My website
<< <i>I like coins with eye appeal, regardless of rarity or condition. >>
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
Since you included tokens, in your question, I would have to say that rarity is my major concern in that area of my collecting.
On the other hand, when it comes to coins, my main criteria is condition.
Interesting thread. Thanks for starting it.
Forbid it, Almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
~PATRICK HENRY~
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
<< <i>When deciding on buying older coins (nothing modern) or tokens, what are you in more favor of,
>>
It doesn't matter to me in the least if a coin or token is ten years old or a thousand years old, I'm still
looking for rarity and attractiveness. It has to be a coin which excites me on some level and then I de-
sire a nice specimen. Frequently it's a series or theme that I already collect and simply seek the best
example I cn find and afford.
<< <i>I want rarity in the best condition I can afford.
David >>
I like that theory too.
<< <i>I want rarity in the best condition I can afford. >>
Me too, the problem is that condition is really ugly.
That's a great question.
Rarity will get you a better return on your dollar and if you are going to specialize in one area as opposed to putting together a type set of say colonials, you should stick with rarity.
If you are going to put together a type set, for aesthetic reasons, I'd go with common high grade examples just to please myself.