Options
Best $1k coin Value/Pride
968FireHawk
Posts: 17
I have gotten into coin collecting over the last few months and am now ready to make the plunge to buy a nice coin that can be the center of my collection. One I can take pride in knowing it's a good coin by knowledgable people's standards, and most importantly knowing its a good value/investment.
What should I get for $1k? If I stretched and spent a bit more, are there any sleepers that stand out?
I am most interested in gold, maybe early copper, but am open to all US coin suggestions.
Many thanks for your most valued advice.
Paul
What should I get for $1k? If I stretched and spent a bit more, are there any sleepers that stand out?
I am most interested in gold, maybe early copper, but am open to all US coin suggestions.
Many thanks for your most valued advice.
Paul
0
Comments
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
But CLASSIC coins with great eye appeal are, to me, the way to go.
There is no single definitive answer, there. Be prepared for a lot of suggestions.
By all means, read people's suggestions, but before buying something, make sure it is something YOU like, not just something you "sort of" like and bought because somebody (or several somebodies) suggested it.
I know there is not one "right" answer, but really appreciate any of your suggestions.
Keep em coming!!!
Thanks again,
Paul
Chris
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
So many choices! If part of the enjoyment you will get from the coin is sharing it with family/friends
on occasion, they would more likely appreciate something large ($20 gold, nice CC Morgan dollar) or
something odd (half-cent, large cent, 2-cent).
Regardless, if it's to be the centerpiece of your collection, just make sure that it really sings for you!
Ken
He was talking about spending $1000 on a coin, not a girl.
>>>My Collection
<< <i>I like a few of the suggestions so far. I won't name a particular series, but I'd say opt for a BIGGER coin over a smaller one -- there's nothing wrong with a really nice, rare, high-grade 3c silver, but it's such a tiny coin... >>
Maybe. But my trime is one of the very favorite coins in my collection:
If you want to spend $1K to establish "the center" of your collection, I tend to agree with RYK - St. Gaudens $10 & $20 coins both would make a definitive edition to any new collection. And a $1,000.00 (or less) could either get you a very nice common date MS63 $10 or MS64 $20 - and either would be fine coins to own. However, if it were me, I would try to build a 2-coin St. Gaudens "No Motto" set. Despite the price guides, an MS60-61 certified 1907 $10 can be had for about $500, and despite what people around here tend to say about those grades, attractive, problem-free, sufficiently struck, non-destracting examples do exist. Similarly, a 1907 $20 in MS61-62 will cost just a little more. (I would avoid the 1908s because of the 40,000 that showed up in the Wells Fargo hoard.)
So, for about a $1,000.00, you could own:
- What are almost universally regarded as America's two most beauiful coins in uncirculated condition.
- A first year of issue set that will celebrate its centenial in two years.
- 2-year only "No Motto" varieties, conversation starters even among non-numismatics.
- Two coins that contain almost an ounce and a half of gold combined.
These coins in these grades may never be registry trend-setters, but conversely, for better or worse, they are then apt to remain a little more immune to the ebbs and flows of the market than the superstars. Collectors will always have an interest in these varities for their collections, and so there should always be some demand for them. Besides who knows? If even 10% of the 100,000 who buy a new 1 ounce gold coin from the Mint every year figured out that for the same money they could own a nice, original version of the coin that inspired it, there simply would not be enough to go around.
>>>My Collection
Welcome
Tbig
1868 2 cent piece, PCGS PR64 RD, not designated as a cameo but pretty darn close. I spent about $900, which was strong money at the time, but it was worth it to me. When I decided to become more dealer than collector, I later resold it, since it was tying up a lot of my startup capital (I was and still am a relatively small-potatoes player in the market). I didn't really make much profit on it at all, but it eventually ended up in the hands of someone who's got most of my past favorites.
I even used this coin as my forum icon for a while. Look for this icon out there, and you'll know who the new owner is.
1805 Irish gilt proof penny, NGC PR64 CAM. Ex- Boiler78. This is probably one of my favorites of all the coins I have ever owned. This coin had it all. A two century old cameo proof, large size, cool design with the Irish harp (I'm of Irish descent on my father's side), and because it was gilt, it looked like a big ol' gold coin (in a way, it was). This thing would knock the eyes outta your head from twenty paces away. The small picture I saved of it does it no justice at all. I think I paid $800-and-something for it and sold it for not a whole lot more than that.
This coin is also an icon in the database, somewhere. I rather regret selling it now, but I had to sell my higher-end stuff to set myself up as a part-time dealer. (I have a booth in an antique mall and consider myself "a cut above the flea market").
In terms of pure "investment", I have not really done as well with coins of this caliber as I have with less-expensive coins. I have usually had to fork out strong money to get stuff of this class. Maybe it's just that I have only been able to play in this league a few times.
Stuff like this is nice to hold, though. Maybe if I had held them more for the long haul instead of just a few years, I'd have done better.
Oh- I did buy a coin that became a $1K piece, once. Had a local restauranteur come to me once, wanting to sell me some gold. I couldn't afford to buy all his coins, but I did pick up two gold dollars and a $20 Liberty. The $20, a 1904, was in an old PCI green-label MS62 holder. I got it for $400-and-something. I cracked it out and sent it to PCGS and it came back MS64. Sold it for a little over $1K.
<< <i>(in fact, I can still count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've spent more than $1K on a coin.) >>
You could amputate two fingers and a thumb on both of my hands, and I could *still* say that.
a nice xf-au three dollar gold piece
a cameoed proof 64 pre 1880 seated quarter or dime barber dime quarter
a proof65 cameoed three cent nickel lib nick shield nick
classic head choice unc rb half cent
neat toned gem proof indian head cent
choice proof two cent piece
choice unc gold dollar
Registry 1909-1958 Proof Lincolns
<< <i>Let me be the first to welcome you! I would say a St. G $20, but I will leave it up to the other experts to suggest the exact dates and condition. >>
I agree, your first large purchase should be as high a grade MS St $20 that $1K can buy. I have an MS65 that I simply love to just state at. It is so cool. I also love AU58 Liberty $20 gold, good value I think, especially when you can get a civil war era coin.
<< <i>You really have to look at what is part of your collection. As much as I love the St. Gauden $20 coins, if you don't have any gold and don't plan to buy any other gold, then it doesn't make sense to buy that one coin as part of your collection. It's not a centerpiece of your collection at that point, but more of an add-on. I'd look at the types of coins you're collecting or thinking of collecting, and go for a nice key or semi-key date coin in that series. If you have a collection of circulated buffalo nickels. A nice XF or AU 1937-D 3-legged buffalo would serve as a better centerpiece than a gold coin. >>
One Word: BINGO