$5 Liberty Gold questions (basic)

copperhunter

Hello all. I am new to posting in the forum, but have been looking, learning, and admiring for a couple of years now. I have a few lincoln registry sets that I am currently well vested in, but I have been thinking lately of branching out into a new area that might make more sense than what I currently am doing with the Lincolns. I am interested in acquiring a classic US gold piece. For the size, affordability and history, the $5 liberty piece is appealing to me. The question that I have is, can anyone recommend good reference material to study up on this classic series, and what some of the key things to keep an eye out for when valuing pieces for potential purchases.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Cheers

pakasmom

Welcome to the forum, copperhunter.

I can't recommend any particular reference material, myself. But I'll give this a bump so that one of the gold guys might see it...

If no one answers, I'd recommend sending a PM to either, Coinguy1, Ambro or RYK. Any of those three can give good advice on this subject.

joebb21

word on the street says that series is a very tough series to completeting-

that said- there are A LOT of amazing coins in the series with LOTS of keys.

adamlaneus

<< <i>thinking lately of branching out into a new area that might make more sense than what I currently am doing with the Lincolns. >>



What is it about your Lincolns that 'don't make sense'? This is not clear to me.

It is simply because Lincolns are not made of gold? Because I can grasp that.

copperhunter

To non collectors, I suppose the idea of collecting cents in this economy is not traditional thinking. I just wonder if besides numismatic interest and pleasure of collecting, if I should not branch out and collect something that has more "value", i.e. gold. And I like the look of the $5 gold liberty. That is all.

adamlaneus

Ever thought of MPLs?

Broadstruck

There is no single publication that I know of that's exclusive to $5 Liberty Gold Half Eagles.

David Akers in 1975 published a series of volumes on United States Gold Coins and Volume IV covers Half Eagles from 1795-1929.
It is an analysis by date and mint, along with pricing info reflecting sales in 192 major auctions from 1921-1975.

Doug Winter has written volumes on all the Southern Gold which will cover each mints Half Eagles.

There are a few specialized past auction catalogs that I would recommend the Bowers and Merena Harry Bass sale and the two Stack's Miles, Milas sales.

Your best bet for a lot of info on a budget would be to pick up a copy of the Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins 1795-1933, Circulating, Proof, Commemorative, and Pattern Issues by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth. I think this is in it's 3rd Edition printing, but you can save some dough and grab a 1st Edition.

copperhunter

Broadstruck - excellent info. I will look out for these books at the PAN show in 10 days.

Broadstruck

<< <i>Broadstruck - excellent info. I will look out for these books at the PAN show in 10 days. >>



Your welcome and good luck on your new collecting venture.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions as I also find this series extremely appealing.

copperhunter

What a coincidence....AU 55-58 is pretty much the grade that I am after. Very nice coin!

Broadstruck

<< <i>What a coincidence....AU 55-58 is pretty much the grade that I am after. Very nice coin! >>



Thanks that 47-P is true AU64 eye candy

My advice would be to buy a book first.

Then hit a major show just to look at examples, as you really need to grasp what's original vs dipped and doctored.

Also do not rule out AU50's and AU53's as you will run into examples that are conservatively graded or exceed the overall eye appeal and originality of higher graded examples of the same date.

Just as an example when I posted this AU50 56-P (below) in a Guess the Grade thread over a year ago I was getting AU58-MS64 guesses.

ambro51

Broadstruck has hit the nail on the head with the advice and reference books. I will just add that Ive found AU gold to be a much more collector friendly grade. A nice PCGS AU58 can be a total knockout...and sometimes the dividing line from MS62 to AU58 visually can be nearly the same, but the prices....not so much the same. MS coins will make you run out of money a lot faster, thats for sure.

The one book Id throw into the mix is Paul Taglione "A Reference to United States Federal Gold Coinage". Im not sure what volume covers $5, Vol 1 though does have a great first part of the book which covers collecting gold in general as well as understanding concepts of the different kinds of rarity.

Yup I know the "abandon ship" feeling with Lincolns. Tough to do that series unless you are a kid or a millionaire, halfway...bits and pieces...just hard to justify doing it full tilt unless you are willing to really spend and spend and spend.....and then you still end up with pennies. And most people got a bunch of them in jars and in the pocket, only the date is different. Difficult to impress your co workers and spouse with pennies...Gold tends to do that though.

But, consider WHY you are wanting to switch to gold anyway. Are you interested in it for the metal price to numismatic value, or are you interested in it from a pure numismatic viewpoint. If just looking for a bullion value, maybe the $20 is a better storehouse. If you are looking at if from a pure numismatic value standpoint...maybe the $1. Take a spin through my collection website...and see if those ladies turn you on.

whichever, enjoy what you collect, and have fun with your coins!!

Broadstruck

<< <i>The one book Id throw into the mix is Paul Taglione "A Reference to United States Federal Gold Coinage". Im not sure what volume covers $5, Vol 1 though does have a great first part of the book which covers collecting gold in general as well as understanding concepts of the different kinds of rarity. >>



ambro51, Taglione's volumes on Federal Gold only cover $1, $2 1/2, and $3 gold.

It's a shame he didn't publish further as his books although dated are still packed with intensely valuable information.