What a Little Fish I Am!

itsnotjustme · January 13, 2002 1:14PM

You know, sometimes I realize what a little fish I am in the sea of coin collectors... I read about coins selling for 5,6, or even 7 digit prices... one of those 5 digit coins could buy every coin I own and still get 5 digits of change.

It's amazing to me I can compete on some of these sets with my piddly 2 and 3 digit coins! I guess I'm glad I found a small enough cove to swim in and leave some trace of my passing!

dbldie55 · January 13, 2002 1:33PM

It is the beauty of this hobby. There is a place for everyone. I love what I collect, I only wish I could collect these coins in the price ranges you talk of.

MoneyLA · January 13, 2002 1:43PM

The really sad thing is that I remember (about 40+ years ago) going into Stacks in New York with my dad and looking at "rare coins" and what their prices were then... pre-1800 UNC silver dollars selling for what we today would consider to be lunch money, but back then was big money... you know what I mean.

I only hope the collection I have today will be "big money" when I go to sell it maybe 20 years from now (another 40 years might be pushing it).

cheers, alan mendelson

wondercoin · January 13, 2002 1:58PM

Brian: I have to agree with dbldie55 on this one! There is a place for everyone. It wasn't too long ago (less than 10 years) that you could buy high grade silver Wash Quarters "for a song". They have skyrocketed from there.

The trick I believe for the collector on a limited budget is to target a particular segment of the market that is not "on fire". For example, your funds wouldn't take you very far right now if you were buying up early date Lincolns in gem red. But, for example, you could assemble a very high grade set of Mint State Kennedy half dollars or Clad quarters for a relatively small amount of money. Now, no one has a crystal ball on whether clad quarter prices will rise ever, but if they did you would be positioned well in the future.

We had discussed on another thread a few days ago about the 1952(p) Jefferson nickel in PCGS-MS66FS that sold on Teletrade on 12/24/97 for $90. To this day, the coin remains pop -1- and is likely worth many, many thousands of dollars. At that time, spending $90 on a Jefferson would have been viewed the same way you perceive your purchases today. Yet, that $90 coin probably outperformed nearly 99% of all coins and anyone that spent but a couple thousand dollars on Mint State Jeffersons such as that nickel is now looking at tens of thousands of dollars of the most sought-after coins in the hobby today!! Brian: carry on!!

Wondercoin.

dbldie55 · January 13, 2002 2:12PM

Wondercoin, we agree on something! Things are looking up. Of course, my name is Brian too, so I get confused. Is there anything left to make money on? It does not matter to me, as I never seem to sell, just buy. If I had that nickel in '97, I am sure I still would still have it. These FS Jeffersons are quite the series though. For some of them, it seems that no matter how much time goes on, there is no more of them.

(I do like Jeffersons, they are still made of the same composition as the Shield and the same size and composition as the Liberty.)

I saw your thread where you said you had it in your hand (the Jefferson) in an older holder. Is it an upgrade candidate? Just curious.

robbnsc · January 13, 2002 2:19PM

I know! I just axed 2 registry sets tonight. I was loosing places in the Registry faster than I could upgrade or finish the set. Oh well, I can go play in a smaller pond at the NGC Registry.

wondercoin · January 13, 2002 2:22PM

Brian: The 1952 nickel imho is very high end with fabulous steps and is much brighter white than the golden color description TT gave the coin. I assisted the collector who purchased the coin on that Christmas eve night 1997 with the sale of the coin today. Seller did great and buyer did just as great because the coin is truly elusive, as you could imagine. That is why I needed to ask B. Stockford about the piece in his set on another thread, as I really did believe I was still holding a pop -1-coin in my hands.

The (p) mint Jeffersons from 1944-1954 are among the toughest coins in the series to obtain in high grade FS. The 1944, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 54 especially. It's really amazing to believe a coin from this list in MS66FS grade was still obtainable for less than $100 just 4 years ago! Another greatly underestimated/less appreciated segment of the market is high end Liberty Nickels. Boy, are those tough in MS66 or better!!

Wondercoin.

dbldie55 · January 13, 2002 2:35PM

Well, lets leave those Liberty Nickels right where they are until I can have a few in my safe.

I should start working on the Jeffersons before there are so many of them that there is no way to finish.
I don't see a separation point in the series!

cosmicdebris · January 13, 2002 7:01PM

Brian I am swimming along right next to you. My current coin budget is very small right now and I can not afford any coins I need for my set. So to appease my coin collecting jones I have ventured a little to the dark side. I just picked up 8 coins for $9.99 plus shipping. Actually the Italian Euro starter set is what it was. I can't wait to see them in person the pictures of their designs looked awesome.

What a Little Fish I Am!

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