Album collectors- info needed on old Wayte Raymond

cmerlo1

I noticed this cool old album on the counter at McBride's yesterday and inquired if it was for sale. I offered $10 for it, and the dealer told me I could have it for $3. When all was said and done, she ended up giving it to me for free, since she didn't have any wiggle room on the coins I bought (McBride's in Austin ROCKS!). Apparently, they had just finished removing the coins from it (it had some decent half cents in it and a few other coins) and were going to throw it away.

It's a very tall album (about 16"), and has several pages, for Indian Cents, Half Cents, 2-Cent pieces, and large cents. Between 2 of the pages was an old coin wrapper, with a copyright date of 1919.

My questions are:

1. How old is this album? There are no dates anywhere on it.
2. Is it collectible?

Here are some pics:

STONE

I don't know about value and colectibility, but I probably would have paid $10 for it

It's pretty neat!!!

guitarwes

Pretty cool lookin' old album.

SO WHAT DID YOU BUY!!!!!!!!!! PICS PICS!

firstmint

David Lange recently wrote a book about the early coin holders and boards.

I believe that you can check with Whitman to obtain a copy.

Shamika

These albums were made by Meghrig and Wayte Raymond in the 30's up through the 50's. They're fairly common and $10 is a resonable price to pay although I've seen them sell for more.

As with most everything, condition is key. The boards inside appear to be in great shape, but as is usually the case, the album cover and outer hinge are worn. Keep an eye on eBay and you'll likely find an auction or two (or three) for these albums.

Shamika

<< <i>David Lange recently wrote a book about the early coin holders and boards.

I believe that you can check with Whitman to obtain a copy. >>

Lange's book does not cover albums as this item is. His book focuses exclusively on coin boards. He is, however, a collector of coin albums.

seanq

Something to remember also is that the cardboard used in those albums is very sulphur rich and will tone coins like crazy. The secondary market for those is based in large part on people using them to "naturally tone" their coins.


Sean Reynolds

cmerlo1

<< <i>Pretty cool lookin' old album.

SO WHAT DID YOU BUY!!!!!!!!!! PICS PICS! >>



I went to go through their Buffalo nickels, but ended up looking at and buying Morgans- they've been buying and selling like crazy since before Christmas, so every time I go, they have a TON of new ones.

I paid $25 for this nice toned 1883-O. Not sure if it's a VAM (anyone who thinks it is, let me know!) yet, but it's gorgeous in-hand; the obverse is gold with blue highlights, and the reverse is steel blue:




Next, I found this 1921 VAM-1 (So-called Zerbe Dies 17 Berries) for $20:




Last of all, this 1878 8TF Morgan for $20. I thought it might be a VAM-9, but Wolf and Coxe ID'd it as a VAM-14.2 in another thread yesterday:

MrSpud

You can still buy these albums and pages new from Meghrig. The album cover is $10 and the pages are another $10. http://www.meghrigsupplies.com/WAYTERAYMONDSTYLEBOARDS.html?

cmerlo1

Just finished with the 1883-O...looks like it is a VAM-52...

291fifth

The National Coin Albums, which were quite expensive for their day, remained available until the 1970's. I believe the real period of their popularity was from the 1930's until the late 1950's, when the Library of Coins and Whitman Bookshelf albums caused them to go out of favor. At least two dealers in the Detroit area still had significant stocks of the pages until the early 1980's.

PQMorgans

This coin came out of a Wayte Raymond coin board



link_to_grade_info

intocoins

No doubt , There are some fabulous coins from these type of albums. I think some should know that quite a few beautiful coins were ruined from these same albums as well. I think I remember (Please correct me if I'm wrong) The Bass Collection of Buffalo Nickels was stored in albums and those coins were ruined. At the Baltimore show last year there was a dealer with many of the Wayte Raymond albums and pages reasonably priced. I think you did well for the price and some series do seem harder to acquire then others.

Shamika

<< <i>No doubt , There are some fabulous coins from these type of albums. I think some should know that quite a few beautiful coins were ruined from these same albums as well. >>

Excellent point. You can't leave coins in these albums forever. A little toning might be a good thing, but anything more and you're asking for trouble.

jdillane

I paid a fairly hefty price for Wayte Raymond album for some of my CBH's. After 2 years, no toning. Makes me wonder if the sulfer content has diminished too much to make a difference.

Bruceswar

<< <i>These albums were made by Meghrig and Wayte Raymond in the 30's up through the 50's. They're fairly common and $10 is a resonable price to pay although I've seen them sell for more.

As with most everything, condition is key. The boards inside appear to be in great shape, but as is usually the case, the album cover and outer hinge are worn. Keep an eye on eBay and you'll likely find an auction or two (or three) for these albums. >>



I am guilty for paying more. I just bought a QTR album for $40.99 on ebay. I had been looking around for along time for one and it finally came up. I sucked it up and bought it.

jdillane

I paid nearly $100 for 8 pages of Wayte Raymond boards for bust halves. No effects after over 2 yrs but one needs to be patient.

keets

you might also consider that these pages are from 40-60 years old and the likelihood of any remaining sulfer not leached out is relatively low. coupled with the chances of getting a nicely toned coin vs. ruining one makes this type of endeavor a poor choiice to my way of thinking.

jdillane

<< <i>you might also consider that these pages are from 40-60 years old and the likelihood of any remaining sulfer not leached out is relatively low. coupled with the chances of getting a nicely toned coin vs. ruining one makes this type of endeavor a poor choiice to my way of thinking. >>



With no changes after two plus years, I suspect it is a combo of good storage conditions and leached sulfur. Then again, if coins toned right away, I suspect the collectors would have been disinclined to use the albums when they were originally sold. Must admit, I am generally fond of WR toned coins.