What would be your first coin??
FilamCoins
Posts: 1,899 ✭✭✭
As this is my first post here, a warm greeting to all members of this fine forum. I would like some advice please. If one was to put together a type set of high quality U.S. coins, which date and denomination would you recommend to kick off the collection? Just testing the waters, so would like to limit my first purchase to under $5k. Warm regards from 10,000 miles away.
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I would avoid starting with any really early coins, but even if PCGS or NGC have certified the piece, there are still many ways to overpay and be unhappy with your purchase. I'd look for something in the 20th century. Perhaps a really nice Walking Liberty half dollar or a Barber coin would do.
It needs to be something that is attractive and unusual (obsolete, no longer in circulation) and yet inexpensive enough so that if you did make a mistake, it would not be a bad one.
Before gold went through the roof, I would have recommended a St. Gaudens $20 gold piece if you have a fair amount of money. It's a beautiful coin with a wonderful story, and it's commercial enough to be easily sold if you lost interest. Now that gold prices are so volitile, there is a risk might not want to take.
A good book to purchased is the Type Coin "Red Book" that was published by Whitman. It has a lot of great history for each type coin and provides a wonderful introduction to the collection in one handy source.
vf-xf good++++++
choice xf to au even better
choice au that looks like an unc with lustre and flash BEST!!!!
seated dollar cc
trade dollar cc
morgan dollar cc
twenty cent piece cc
seated dime quarter half cc
two centers
three cent nicks
lib nicks
indian head cents
matte proof lincolns
three cent silvers
half dimes
seated dimes
seated quarters
these will cost you under 1000 each some way under 1000
half cent
cent
half dollar flowing hair
I would start with just about anything from the late 1700's, early 1800's. You can get a low grade $5 or $10 gold piece, copper, or even silver. There is a lot to choose from but I would start with the tougher to find series as those will be even more expensive if you wait to the end to purchase. You can fill in the common stuff last as those will always be available.
Capped Bust Half Dollars, they exist in higher grades, share an extensive history in early numismatics, are well researched and documented, are widely collected, and have extensive die varieties for almost endless possibilities. And most of all, are truly attractive coins.
Thanks so much for your kind advice. I can see its really TEHO (to each his own). I like the idea of value for money so that maybe my collection will appreciate over time. Are there any diamonds in the rough that are currently undervalued??? Maybe that would be a good start.