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I've decided on my path to follow
DayLateDollarShort
Posts: 59
Some of you may remember me from my coming out post a few weeks ago but likely most of you don't. Basically to refresh you I'm completely new to the hobby and was introduced to coins by a family member who collects modern gold, over the Christmas holiday.
My first step was to get a copy of the Redbook and I took a long time with it. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent going over that little book. I knew that I wanted to begin collecting coins and that coins, especially the old and out of use ones, fascinated me. I used the Redbook to gauge which coins really blew my whistle.
Once I had a good idea of what I wanted to pursue I took a trip down to my local coin shop to do some window shopping. The patrons there were, well, let’s just say they were breathing. Regardless of them I actually did get to see in person many coins and hold several of them in my clumsy hands. At first I was pretty drawn to the tiny Three Cent coins from the Redbook but when I actually held one I was ASTONISHED at their size! I had read their diameter and understood they were small but it doesn't really sink in until you spend some time squinting over them. I came to the quick realization that although I liked them it was just not practical after taking into consideration my aged eyes. I then turned my efforts into seeing if any coin large enough for an old timer to appreciate would speak to me. After wearing out the pages in my Redbook even more I came to realize that the coin I kept going back to again and again was the Liberty Seated Dollar (page 207 is definitely the most worn of the book). I had looked at this coin, read what the book said and was always drawn to it. Of course next was looking at the pricing table and that's where my heart sank as it appeared they were mismatched with my allowable budget.
I went back to the coin shop a few days later just to look around and possibly glean a tidbit of wisdom or two. While in the shop I asked the proprietor to see a small set of Seated Dollar coins he had hanging on the wall. They were housed in a rigid plastic holder held together by plastic screws, quite impressive. The coins were all very heavily worn and dirty. The look of the coins was absolutely fantastic! The photos in the Redbook were of very high grade coins and nothing like what I was seeing on this day. After some conversation with the shop owner I was told that most of these coins, in this condition range, can be had for a price that fits well into my budget.
Right then and there the epiphany hit. A giant coin for my old eyes-a coin packed with history-a coin that in worn condition is oh so appealing to me-a coin that in this appealing condition is affordable with my budget. The deal was all but done at that very moment. I resisted, by the grace of God, the urge to buy one of these coins right there on the spot. Instead I took my new found passion and fueled it even more by purchasing a copy of The Liberty Seated Dollar 1840-1873. I had no idea that coin books could be so expensive! I bit the bullet though and brought the book home that day. Everything in the book cemented my fascination with this coin.
I have decided to collect the Seated Liberty Dollar coin. The wear condition range for this collection will be from AG-VF depending on the cost of the particular coin. I want to try to get all of the coins to have a similar look, this appealing look I mentioned earlier. It's a darker color with obvious signs of wear everywhere. The design elements of the coin are lighter than the background, presumably from the wear. This look gets my heart racing! The coin shop owner warned me that there are a handful of "key dates" that are well out of my price range in any condition. I can see the only problem to completing a set like this for me will be the coins dated 1851, 1852, 1858 and two of the Carson City made coins. I'm not overly concerned about this though, there are 38 other coins in the set I will focus my attention on. Who knows, maybe by the time I've got those 38 I'll be in a position to work on the heavy hitters.
So that's about it folks. I just wanted to pop in and share with like minded people the progress of my new hobby. I'm extremely excited about going forward with this (as you can probably tell by my book length posting) and hope to acquire my first within the next month or so. The searching for the right coin has officially begun! When I do make my first purchase I'll surely come and brag about it here for a few pages and I'd love to get everyone’s opinion on the coin.
My first step was to get a copy of the Redbook and I took a long time with it. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent going over that little book. I knew that I wanted to begin collecting coins and that coins, especially the old and out of use ones, fascinated me. I used the Redbook to gauge which coins really blew my whistle.
Once I had a good idea of what I wanted to pursue I took a trip down to my local coin shop to do some window shopping. The patrons there were, well, let’s just say they were breathing. Regardless of them I actually did get to see in person many coins and hold several of them in my clumsy hands. At first I was pretty drawn to the tiny Three Cent coins from the Redbook but when I actually held one I was ASTONISHED at their size! I had read their diameter and understood they were small but it doesn't really sink in until you spend some time squinting over them. I came to the quick realization that although I liked them it was just not practical after taking into consideration my aged eyes. I then turned my efforts into seeing if any coin large enough for an old timer to appreciate would speak to me. After wearing out the pages in my Redbook even more I came to realize that the coin I kept going back to again and again was the Liberty Seated Dollar (page 207 is definitely the most worn of the book). I had looked at this coin, read what the book said and was always drawn to it. Of course next was looking at the pricing table and that's where my heart sank as it appeared they were mismatched with my allowable budget.
I went back to the coin shop a few days later just to look around and possibly glean a tidbit of wisdom or two. While in the shop I asked the proprietor to see a small set of Seated Dollar coins he had hanging on the wall. They were housed in a rigid plastic holder held together by plastic screws, quite impressive. The coins were all very heavily worn and dirty. The look of the coins was absolutely fantastic! The photos in the Redbook were of very high grade coins and nothing like what I was seeing on this day. After some conversation with the shop owner I was told that most of these coins, in this condition range, can be had for a price that fits well into my budget.
Right then and there the epiphany hit. A giant coin for my old eyes-a coin packed with history-a coin that in worn condition is oh so appealing to me-a coin that in this appealing condition is affordable with my budget. The deal was all but done at that very moment. I resisted, by the grace of God, the urge to buy one of these coins right there on the spot. Instead I took my new found passion and fueled it even more by purchasing a copy of The Liberty Seated Dollar 1840-1873. I had no idea that coin books could be so expensive! I bit the bullet though and brought the book home that day. Everything in the book cemented my fascination with this coin.
I have decided to collect the Seated Liberty Dollar coin. The wear condition range for this collection will be from AG-VF depending on the cost of the particular coin. I want to try to get all of the coins to have a similar look, this appealing look I mentioned earlier. It's a darker color with obvious signs of wear everywhere. The design elements of the coin are lighter than the background, presumably from the wear. This look gets my heart racing! The coin shop owner warned me that there are a handful of "key dates" that are well out of my price range in any condition. I can see the only problem to completing a set like this for me will be the coins dated 1851, 1852, 1858 and two of the Carson City made coins. I'm not overly concerned about this though, there are 38 other coins in the set I will focus my attention on. Who knows, maybe by the time I've got those 38 I'll be in a position to work on the heavy hitters.
So that's about it folks. I just wanted to pop in and share with like minded people the progress of my new hobby. I'm extremely excited about going forward with this (as you can probably tell by my book length posting) and hope to acquire my first within the next month or so. The searching for the right coin has officially begun! When I do make my first purchase I'll surely come and brag about it here for a few pages and I'd love to get everyone’s opinion on the coin.
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Comments
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
Russ, NCNE
Good luck with your set,
Mark
Your story is not that different than any of ours. The bug has bitten you! There's no going backwards from here.
Just remember the purpose of all of this is enjoyment. Soon your choice of coins will be a tad more expensive (funny how that happens). Stay with what you like and like what you stay with.
You might make a little money when it's all said and done but don't let that distract you. Good luck.
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)
Wish I could be that focused. I seem to like just about everything.
would be.....Nooooooooo, You went all the way! Good decision! Never been my choice but
I think I too will look at them for my next direction and maybe you will inspire an old hoarder
like me to get off my butt and go for something different. I've been hooked on Morgans for
40 years....time to change don't you think?
Good thread, keep us posted.
bob
I knew it would happen.
Nice post..Sometimes when one looks back at the years that those coins were minted the history just comes into your mind.The times of the wild west or the early city life.There are many possibilities when we collect these true memories.....Great choice....
Best of luck as you start your journey!
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.
I applaud your choice. It seems very practical, challenging, educational and you will end up with coins collectors will always desire.
2000 Gallery PPI Registry Set
Just stay away from any low end 1853's
Good luck and keep us posted.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
Before you buy anything from eBay, please listen to the many posts that will surely follow. There are good sellers and bad sellers.
This forum and others are important to you; I would hate to see your enthusiasm dampened by a bad purchase.
An appropriate purchase from a good B&M store (hopefully with a buy-back guarantee) will start you off on the right track.
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
Hey, I've been there before, great place
welcome and enjoy.
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<< <i> Who knows, maybe by the time I've got those 38 I'll be in a position to work on the heavy hitters.
<< <i>
I have heard that it is better to get the key dates first. The downside is that you don't know the series well enough and could get sub par coins before you learn.
Good luck on your set and have fun building it!
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.