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Introduction - gold coin interest
JDelage
Posts: 724 ✭✭
Hi,
My name is Joss Delage, and I am a newbie in this hobby. My Grand Father gave me a number of gold coins, most of them French 20 Francs, but also some US Double Eagles and one $5 Indian Head. I knew that the 20 francs were pretty much bullion, but I had some hope for the US coins, which are all pretty old and included 2 St Gaudens coins. Unfortunately, they've all been circulated, and so they're not really exceptional (I showed them to a dealer over the w-e).
I have sold the 20 Francs and replaced them with bullion coins, Double Eagles and Maples Leafs (Leaves?).
Having looked into the origin of all those coins, I am now interested in starting a gold coin collection. I am not looking at it as an investment but I also don't want to be irrational about it. Some "themes" that I'm attracted to would be:
- No motto gold coins
- Modern proof and uncirculated bullions
I am going to ask a lot of questions in the coming weeks and I hope people will be tolerant of my lack of knowledge. I have a few books to help me already.
If anyone knows of a forum dedicated to US gold coins, I'd love to know about it. I'm also interested in any site that would be rich in content on the subject.
Cheers,
JD
My name is Joss Delage, and I am a newbie in this hobby. My Grand Father gave me a number of gold coins, most of them French 20 Francs, but also some US Double Eagles and one $5 Indian Head. I knew that the 20 francs were pretty much bullion, but I had some hope for the US coins, which are all pretty old and included 2 St Gaudens coins. Unfortunately, they've all been circulated, and so they're not really exceptional (I showed them to a dealer over the w-e).
I have sold the 20 Francs and replaced them with bullion coins, Double Eagles and Maples Leafs (Leaves?).
Having looked into the origin of all those coins, I am now interested in starting a gold coin collection. I am not looking at it as an investment but I also don't want to be irrational about it. Some "themes" that I'm attracted to would be:
- No motto gold coins
- Modern proof and uncirculated bullions
I am going to ask a lot of questions in the coming weeks and I hope people will be tolerant of my lack of knowledge. I have a few books to help me already.
If anyone knows of a forum dedicated to US gold coins, I'd love to know about it. I'm also interested in any site that would be rich in content on the subject.
Cheers,
JD
"The greatest productive force is human selfishness."
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
0
Comments
Welcome, aboard!
Great site about (gold) patterns. A must see
Lot's of articles about gold coins
Hope this get's you started, at those sites there also many links to other informative sites
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New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
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Thank you all for the warm welcome.
<< <i>What books do you have now, and how would you rate them as far as addressing the questions you have? >>
Right now I have the "Standard Catalog Of World Gold Coins". It's been very useful in finding out that my coins were not exceptional...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0873497996/
I just ordered "A Guide Book of United States Coins 2006: The Official Red Book" but haven't received it yet.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0794819486/
My experience is that books only take you so far. Internet sites are often even better, once one can navigate away from the worthless ones. At the end of the day, forums are best, especially if they are relatively independant and if a few knowledgeable contributors don't mind saying their mind in public... At least, that has been my experience in an other area of interest to me, custom made knives.
Robert A. Heinlein
Doug Winter's old website
Doug Winter is a leading expert, dealer, and author of numerous books in his specialty of 19th century gold coins, with an emphasis on branch mint gold collecting. If you read all of his articles, you will be ahead of the vast majority of collectors out there. If you like his style and approach, I would recommend calling Doug directly at Pinnacle Rarities and talking to him about your interests, goals, etc.
Edit: Actually, the internet can also only take you so far. There is a lot of information in books that is not on the internet. See my signature line quote.
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If you want neat collectables and gold, i stick with the old stuff. Modern day bullion is just bullion and will always be bullion. The old stuff has the gold value and the neat historic value as well as mintages significantly less then modern bullion. Get the coins that will tell a story.
By all means, read, read and read some more. Then do some research. Take a look at the populations for the coins you are interested in. There are quite a few very common Saints in MS65. I'd go with a more difficult coin in a slightly lesser grade.
The folks here will help you out quite a bit. Ask tons of questions and I would buy only graded coins by the top three companies. This will protect you from counterfeit (of which there are actually quite a few) and cleaned/repaired coins.
Good luck and most of all, have fun.
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Don't be shy.....feel free to ask away!
The name is LEE!
<< <i>If you want neat collectables and gold, i stick with the old stuff. Modern day bullion is just bullion and will always be bullion. >>
Is that your opinion too for proof coins / sets?
Robert A. Heinlein
I am working on a basic gold type set (7 of 8 right now)($2.5 to $20, Liberty & Indian/Saint) coins, with the (3)$1 & $3 coins to be added in the future.....
Also have the $5 Proof Eagle coins, because these are realtively cheap and are still nice coins.....
I would rather have a collection of foreign bullion coins like the 20 Franc's then a pile of US modern bullion coins.....
Buy what you like and the best you can afford.....
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
<< <i>
Robert A. Heinlein
edit: turn on your PM(private mail) on your profile page
<< <i>turn on your PM(private mail) on your profile page >>
Done, thanks.
Robert A. Heinlein
Written by me, might be interesting for you. Like other people say, these also counts for other gold and non-gold series.
There are also several articles about patterns on these message boards and several sites by me
***SPAM***
Dennis
PS I must admit that I never seen a pattern in reallive, and only a few double eagles (I live in the Netherlands)
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i am the relative newbie around here gold wise. I like half eagles. About it.
In the sense, that is all I ever buy. I look at other coins of course.
i speak my mind and i am always wrong. you will get used to it after a while.
keep an eye out for RYK, fatman, longacre, and others who know quite a bit.
good luck. (i hope you have a fat wallet if you have caviar tastes.)