Migration From Moderns to Bust or Seated Coinage

Dismeguy

What percentage of modern collectors will migrate to Bust or Seated series in their collecting careers? Are early collectors just hatched out of eggs with the desire? Reason I ask is that I start collecting Morgan's at the age of 31 and became bored within 6 months. No offense to serious Morgan collectors. They were just not for me. Then I decide to move on to an earlier series picked out of the Redbook based on pricing in Fine grade. Chose the Seated dimes series and never looked back. Would be interested in hearing other stories about how bust and seated collectors found their passion. Was it the reference books or?

Dimeguy

mgoodm3

I'm not specifically a seated or bust collector, but I really like seated proofs. I like most older series, especially copper. I have never been a fan of moderns. I like my coins to be old and rare. I gravitated towards copper and proofs when I got my first proof indian cent for my type set and I haven't looked back.

JrGMan2004

I started with Mercs one year ago, Mid-December '03... moved into Capped Bust Half-Dimes in late February... collected both until the summer... sold off my Mercs, and am now primarilly a Bust collector

nwcs

Very unlikely for me. I have collected some types in those areas but the prices are too outrageous. Most of my collecting is in the 20th century and I have been starting to spend more time in the 1964-1981 era. I think there is a lot of opportunity there.

I know what you mean, though. When I got back to collecting in 2002, I started with Morgans. Now I'm more into types and cool moderns. The happiest two days this year was finding a 1967 MS68CAM quarter super cheap and a 1964 dcam accented hair in what should grade pr64 cheap. I don't intend, for now, to sell either.

Of course, I've been buying a lot of old types recently. 2 large cents, seated dime, 2 bust coins, and a couple more this year. But I still enjoy finding quality moderns.

Baley

When I was a kid I collected what I could afford: Late 20th century type coins in "nice BU" and early 20th century type coins in "nice circulated (Good to EF usually)

As a teenager, with a bit of income from odd jobs, I ventured into some mid-grade (Fine-AU) seated material and a few capped bust coins (half dime and half dollar)

After college, I filled a few more holes in my type set by buying the rest of the capped bust coins, a few interesting classic commems, and some of the US gold types.

Now, in my middle working years (I'm 37) I find myself fascinated with the draped bust and flowing hair types, and collect the former by die variety (quarters and halves)

I've also started to get interested in early copper, and hope to be able to afford some of the early gold types in the near to middle future. Also would like a colonial or two.

Never had much interest in Morgans as a series, although I do have a few nice mint state pieces and one proof. Never cared for moderns in mega grades, although I do have a few examples of late date coins in my type set, including a very nice 2000 1 oz platinum eagle.

I guess for me, my collecting interest has moved back in time as my finances have allowed.

Sequitur

No matter who is migrating where, hopefully they'll avoid coins like this. I told the seller it was cleaned; I don't see disclosure of that fact.

nwcs

Unfortunately my mom has a bust half dollar like that. And she got taken on it because she is a casual collector and I wasn't around with the knowledge I have now.

Edit: Corrected denom.

tsacch

Love it all, Morgans, Moderns, Busties, Barbers, buffalos, Wheaties, Merc's, Rosies..........all the flavors are nice....but I want them old and toned up or clean original and not blast white.......

all except Sac's, and what was the dollar before her?

Myqqy

I told the seller it was cleaned; I don't see disclosure of that fact.

I'm not sure if that one needs a disclosure, seeing as how it looks like a bright headlight....

When I was little and started collecting coins, there were a few things that really keyed a circuit in my brain- the incredible history and vastly different designs in classic coins, and the unbelievable detail in modern proofs. So, I still collect classics and moderns now. And bust halves struck me with their interesting amount of variation in design details, and the beauty in their artistic designs.....

Cladiator

I started with modern stuff, type sets and what not. Never really got that "feeling" from any of it. Started looking around at older series that I could get with more history and still on a budget. That's when I stumbled across cappers and haven't looked back since

Dismeguy

Cladiator

You and I appear to have the same roots. I just could not build a passion for 20th century coins. The origins of the seated series were during a fairly turbulent time in United States history. Each year in the series has its historical significant, the civil wars being the most significant, then the western gold and silver rushes. I'm sure the bust collectors feel the same about their collections.

Dismeguy

KlectorKid

I started with ASE's about 3 years ago only had a 1/4 of the set and then sold them to venture into other coins series. I poked around in bust coinage with the lower denoms like half dimes and dimes and then bouced around some more. I went into type sets for about a while and the last 3/4 of a year I have been buying gold and will soon (hopefully) be purchasing a Pr64-66 original seated half. I have my eyes on one now thats just out of my reach. I say a small percent maybe 2-5% will actually become true collectors.

michael

a great thread
'
todays newbees will eventually gravatite to pre 1916 coinage

michael

CoinOnTheCob

Sequitur,
I am a newbee. I’m curious, what about that picture tells you that the coin has been cleaned. Is it the crap around the stars or that it seems to shine without any luster? Sequitur, or anybody, how do you look at a picture and glean this information? Thanks,
Dennis

Sequitur

I’m curious, what about that picture tells you that the coin has been cleaned. Is it the crap around the stars or that it seems to shine without any luster?



I don't collect this series, so others will provide a more informed response. But I am certain from those pictures the coin was cleaned. And the first tell is, as you say, the "shine." This is the typical look of a coin that has been harshly dipped and wiped or polished -- that washed out, reflective grey that lacks true luster. Another tell may be the color change between the devices and certain portions of the fields; it could be the pictures, but I think it was a quick, poorly-done polishing. Coin is totally ruined.

You'll see the same general characteristics on polished gold coins -- they have a sickly yellow-orange or yellow-green glow that jumps right out. Stick around and you'll see lots more examples. I've got a couple 1921 Morgans that have a similar look; I'll try and put up some photos.

If you're new, best bet is to look at lots of examples of your series in all conditions and grades. When a harshly cleaned coin crosses your path, you'll know it. Soon, spotting these will be easy. It's the more subtle toolers, thumbers, alchemists and artificial tone fraudsters -- the artisan scammers who are masters at their craft -- that you'll need to watch out for when you take your collecting to the next level.

magikbilly

<<I guess for me, my collecting interest has moved back in time as my finances have allowed.>>

I agree. I never really liked anything after 1942. When I collected years ago I collected Proofs 1936-1942. Then recently I started collecting again. I bought the Barber and Seated as I always wanted Proof examples of such noble designs. I do love the Winged Libertry 10c design - I think it is more atractive than the Walking Liberty 50c. Dimes give a lot of bang for the buck I think.

Billy

nwcs

>I am a newbee. I’m curious, what about that picture tells you that the coin has been cleaned.

That 1826 half has been polished. You can tell by the way the fields look and the devices and how the reflection changes as you reach the junctions between them (where the cloth didn't completely pass over). Has this smoothed over glossy look that's totally unnatural. It's reflective without a hint of luster, always a BAD sign.

Varlis

<< <i>Sequitur,
I am a newbee. I’m curious, what about that picture tells you that the coin has been cleaned. Is it the crap around the stars or that it seems to shine without any luster? Sequitur, or anybody, how do you look at a picture and glean this information? Thanks,
Dennis >>



what everyone else said, and
click here

jdimmick

I had been a key-date collector for some time now mostly from coins dated late 1900's and up, but ever since going to the Pittsburg ANA show, I have had an urge to gravitate back into an earlier era. Like to seated, and bust and even 1700' pieces. Knowledge and the funds have kept me away so far, for fear that I couldnt compete to get the issues I would like to own. But I am leaning more and more of going that route. I havent commited to any major purchase's in this era yet, but will see what happens at FUN, and if I decide to switch collecting venues.
I could get a good jumpstart as many of the Key-date coins I own or recently sold, have done well in recent years?

jim