Culling Collections

maryhm

If you have a fairly large collection, and a lot of repetitive coins (like a bunch of Walking Liberties, etc...), is it common for collector to keep one or two of the nicer specimens of each type and sell the rest? Or is bigger better?

Mercury10c

Keep all the nice stuff and key dates, complete sets (if you're into that) etc. Sell your duplicates and lower grade common stuff. Use the money to buy more nice key dates.

NowhereMan

I have several three ring binders of 2x2's of low grade, low value stuff. Things like circulated Mercuries, Buffalos, Wheaties, Ikes, smooth SLQ's, etc.

Through the years, I've found several young collectors who have a fantastic time going through there and choosing a few "treasures" for their collection. If they have basically been collecting from pocket change, these books contain all things they would not find in circulation, and seem exotic to young eyes. I've gotten far more enjoyment from that than I ever would have from the few dollars I could have sold it all for.

I think every collector should have a stash of stuff like this for swapping with YN's. Priceless!

Rex

Bochiman

Very common, and with a lot of the coins you have shown, some of it looks more like hoarding (not a bad thing if key dates, but they weren't), so it would be a very reasonable thing to do.

CarlWohlforth

<<If you have a fairly large collection, and a lot of repetitive coins (like a bunch of Walking Liberties, etc...), is it common for collector to keep one or two of the nicer specimens of each type and sell the rest? Or is bigger better? >>

If you want to own lots of silver (for example) it is fine to hoard a bunch of repetitive coins. If silver goes up in value you make money.

If you want to build a collection you will most likely keep the very finest example of each coin and sell the duplicates. This is because you would use the proceeds to buy a coin you don't have but need to complete your collecting goal.

BRdude

If your needing an infusion of cash, by allmeans sell the common circulated stuff, but don't sell anything until you check the books and make sure what your selling isn't one of the known varieties.. Like I said in the other post, all the circulated franklin halves, kennedy halves (64 or earlier, and 65 thru 69 i believe are 40% silver so they have a premium over face value) but all the kennedies after that are spenders, only worth face value. The circulated Ike dollars have no premium over face value either so ya might as well spend them. CHECK FOR THE KEY DATES FIRST!! Then put the rest of the common circulated silver together, don't waste any time or money putting them in holders. They don't need it.