$400 Allowance- Spending spree

yznx3e

So school ended last week and as a teacher I have used my spare time cleaning out the garage and selling my junk on ebay. I have a little over $400 in paypal now and am ready to go on a shopping spree. Any one care to share how they would blow $400 on ebay? I know $400 isn't much to some of you but maybe some of the small fish would care to share.

jobiwan115

I would look at some Capped Bust Halves, it's what I'm into right now, and it delights me no end to find some nice ones in the VF-XF range. However you blow it, I hope you have some well-earned fun doing it!

twodrhrdtp

I have been collecting Franklins for awhile so I would check those out first. I recently started a BU Peace dollar set, so I would probably buy a better date Peace.. Have fun

fishteeth

how about a draped bust half dollar

GoldenEyeNumismatics

Buy some low grade key date coins. I've recently gotten into them a lot. You get all the enjoyment of a key date for a fraction of the normal cost. Ex. I recently bought a raw FR2 1889-CC Morgan for $250 on ebay.

holeinone1972

Buy a single reverse proof ngc or pcgs 69 and in a year you can sell it for $800 plus and buy a real coin.

droopyd

I'd buy 1 or 2 nice pieces that I want rather than a whole mess of lower value items. Go for quality over quantity every time!

RedTiger

I might buy a certified common $10 Liberty gold eagle. If I had a series I was working on, I would look at that. For kicks I might look at 1930s proofs.

100proof1957

Set of pipes for the Harley ?

dtkk49a

Buy the best $400.00 coin you can find. Ask one of the trusted dealers on this board for assistance.

NumisOxide

Buy 1 coin with all the funds- possibly Bust, Seated, early copper.

Cladiator

You could land yourself one seriously bitchen Capped Bust half dime for 400 bones.

coinlieutenant

I would find one date that I like in the late 1890's...and then get perfect VG's in each of the barber coins w/ mm's. You would spend your 400$ very slowly....

TwoSides2aCoin

Snipe the highest graded PCGS coins you can get on ebay. It is a buyer's market and almost a guarantee that you can buy great coins for under the price guide's list....and that is a good thing for collectors. Let me suggest with $400 that you start with a First Strike Reverse Proof Silver 2006 20th Anniversary $1 in MS69. I believe this coin, in particular, is a good buy. I've been known to be wrong before. (after all , I didn't purchase this set or this coin from the mint, and have watched them do quite well.)

There's my two cents worth.

Bochiman

Depends on what you collect and like.
Everyone is going to be different.

Do you like classics or moderns? Large or small coins?

Is your collection high grade or low grade, or in between?

Personally, if I were to go back and start again, I would likely use the $400 to buy a Dansco 7070 (or Intercept Shield) Type Set album and some of the coins for it.
I would NOT buy low grade key dates if I were just starting out as I would have been turned off to coins by the low grades and lack of eye appeal...I believe low grade coins are a learned enjoyment.

Now, if you had asked this last October, I would have said "buy 4 20th Annv ASE sets"

LincolnCentMan

As nice as you can find (under $400) of one of the following?

1872 Indian
1909-S Indian
1914-D Lincoln
1885 Liberty Nickle <- great option if you want to finish a set on a budget... this is the only really tough one. And there are only two others that will cost more than a steak dinner.
1912-S Liberty Nickle
1913-S T2 Buffalo
1914-D Buffalo
1921 Merc
1921-D Merc
Any Twenty Cent Piece
1932-D Washington Quarter
1932-S Washington Quarter
1921 Walker Half
1921-D Walker Half
1921-S Walker Half
1921 Peace Dollar
1928 Peace Dollar

-David

LincolnCentMan

...I believe low grade coins are a learned enjoyment.

I guess I've learned to enjoy no problem lower grade key dates....

Also, they are EXTREAMLY easy to liquidate if you need the funds.

-David

fengk

You could get a nice AG flowing hair half dollar. It really does all depend on what you like, though.

raguse8706

Get a couple 1882-1884 CC Morgans, PCGS MS-63/64

speety

I second the bust half option. You could get 4 nice lower grade busties for $400

Swampboy

If $400.00 fell in my lap I'd find $2 1/2 Gold Indian.


Have a blast with your Spree!!

Morganmanic

I would think I nice sexy peice of yellow gold. If you want it could be in the form of a coin but sometimes its fun to look at a ugly blob of it also

yznx3e

Nice list LincolnCent Man. I went through ebay looking at that list and as a newby had no idea how tough it is to find those coins in decent shape.

fc

AUXX no motto half eagle. be patient, they do occasionally go for
that price range.

jabba

Buy a book on the coin you like then spend you $400.

Bochiman

<< <i>...I believe low grade coins are a learned enjoyment.

I guess I've learned to enjoy no problem lower grade key dates....

Also, they are EXTREAMLY easy to liquidate if you need the funds.

-David >>



I won't disagree with you, but did you start out liking low grade coins? Key date or not?
If someone is in this for the money, you are 100% right...get key dates. But not everyone is....I have guys I love that aren't keydates.
I also have some key dates...and most aren't "high grade"
Took me awhile to accept getting them that way though....not problem coins just lower grades.

mojoman

I have some nice BU FBL Franklins and the 1955 "BUGS BUNNY " ERROR
ace@airadv.net MoJo

fc

I won't disagree with you, but did you start out liking low grade coins? Key date or not?

depends on your background and experiences before you discovered coins.

take me for example. i was overjoyed many years ago to own coverless
copies of super key comic books. what a blast i had reading old copies that
were never reprinted at that time for little to no money.

i enjoyed other people's leftovers.

now my mom owned and dealed in antiques for many years. i learned from
her what it meant to be "original" long before i ever owned a gold coin.

so, when i came to coin collecting, coins like this appealed to me,
as well as the lusterful higher end examples.


so yes, quite a few collector types probably enjoyed the lower grade
stuff as much as the high grade from the beginning.

i hope i made sense.

Bochiman

<< <i>I won't disagree with you, but did you start out liking low grade coins? Key date or not?

depends on your background and experiences before you discovered coins.

take me for example. i was overjoyed many years ago to own coverless
copies of super key comic books. what a blast i had reading old copies that
were never reprinted at that time for little to no money.

i enjoyed other people's leftovers.

now my mom owned and dealed in antiques for many years. i learned from
her what it meant to be "original" long before i ever owned a gold coin.

so, when i came to coin collecting, coins like this appealed to me,
as well as the lusterful higher end examples.


so yes, quite a few collector types probably enjoyed the lower grade
stuff as much as the high grade from the beginning.

i hope i made sense. >>




Like I said..."LEARNED" appreciation. I stand behind my point

PerryHall

You should be able to get a nice $10 Liberty gold coin in an MS62 top tier slab for a little over $400.

kwmorgan

<< <i>I might buy a certified common $10 Liberty gold eagle. If I had a series I was working on, I would look at that. For kicks I might look at 1930s proofs. >>



I second the $10 Liberty gold, you can get a slabbed MS-62 common date for right around $400. If you buy gold, buy it slabbed. Too many counterfeits around to take chance, esp off from fleabay.

jmcu12

Personally,

Given that you consider it found money I would split the difference between what everyone has been saying; but then again I am big on trying to have my cake and eat it too.


$200 goes to a single coin, the best quality and rarity that you can find.

$200 goes to whatever you want. If you like, go after low-grade key stuff that way you can say I have an (insert coin here).

jmcu12

<< <i>not problem coins just lower grades. >>



But there is also nothing wrong with a problem coin as long as you dont spend non-problem money on it.

And just because a coin may have a problem does not mean that it ceases being a coin...you may not like it but it still has numismatic AND real value.

Shamika

Invest in a small library of numismatic books. It will provide more enjoyment and should pay for itself in time.

Patches

Take your time, maybe all summer hunting for the perfect coin. You'll know when you see it...buy it right, buy it once. The hunt is half the fun!

guitarwes

go for a nice Bust 1/2 Dollar...Drapped or Bust

LostSisler

<< <i>Invest in a small library of numismatic books. It will provide more enjoyment and should pay for itself in time. >>



I completely agree! Knowledge is PRICELESS!

The $400 you spend will make you more money in the end than any single coin you could purchase rite now.

Stroll through someones Numismatic library and you may be surprised at how many facets there are to this wonderful hobby. You may discover that what you have been collecting is not what you really want to collect!

Big rule here; Don't listen to me or anyone else here, always BUY WHAT YOU LIKE.

See you at the ANA someday...

FullStrike

Go to some Banks - get 16 rolls of Adams Dollars.

Cross your fingers !

BAJJERFAN

A nice PQ 1891-O Morgan in ms63.

LincolnCentMan

Like I said..."LEARNED" appreciation. I stand behind my point

I think all numismatics is a learned appreciation. I dont think anyone was born looking to get that next addition to their numismatic holdings.

I have a list of key dates that I will be working on... as soon as I finish upgrading my buffalo nickel set to the way I want it.... and then finish that darn 7070 type set. Key dates have a lot of attraction for me. However, I can certainly see the attraction of owning higher end mint state coins. I really like the US platinum coins. One thing about modern mint products, you dont have to question their originality. I'm not trying to say I'm right, or your right. Everyone should collect from the area(s) they enjoy.

I do know that the dates I listed are very low down-side coins if they are bought with no problems. There's definatly an attraction to the liquidity.

-David

LincolnCentMan

Nice list LincolnCent Man. I went through ebay looking at that list and as a newby had no idea how tough it is to find those coins in decent shape.

Yeah, those are a little more difficult to find when you're looking for specific qualities. They are availible with a little patience, though.

Since your a newby here's a little added advice:

1) On all non-bullion coins over $100, buy only PCGS or NGC examples (For now. ...and lean toward PCGS over NGC)
2) Use this board as a resource. It wouldnt hurt to get an experienced collector to "look" at any coins you might be interested before bidding on them. An experienced collector can save you from a LOT of tuition at the school of numismatics.


-David

lordmarcovan

(Since you're a newb here, I should point out by way of explanations that "Dark Side" is CU forum speak for world and ancient coins. LOTS more bang for the buck there, if you collect because of a love of history.)