OK - $50,000 budget - box of twenty???

drfish

What coins would you pick? I am planning on selling the 40 or so coins in my collection and patiently building an as much wow for the bucks as possible box of twenty. I definitely want a classic Lincoln and Connecticut half dollar, Pan Pac $2.5, $5 and $10 Indians, a Bust and Walking Liberty half, a flying eagle cent, buffalo nickel, and a Peace dollar. I already have a Morgan, Seated, and Trade dollar along with a $3 Indian that are going in the box. So that would give you about a $50k budget for 16 coins. Which coins would you add to complete the box? Which dealers would you reccomend help in the hunt? I definitely want to assemble a mint state box , other than that no limits.

messydesk

Pillar dollar, Fugio cent, half cent, and a nice Saint. The first two might not be mint state unless you go with a New Haven restrike Fugio.

TomB

It reads as though you are looking to populate it with mint state type coins and want to keep the 16-pieces at $50k acquisition cost or less. Ten other pieces are defined by type, which leaves six coins as wiggle room. Obviously, you could not go after key dates given these parameters. Do you like toning? Do you prefer blasty white instead? Is a mix of toned and blast white coins workable for you? How important is overall strike to you? What is your "patient" time frame? These and other questions are important.

As to who might be able to help, well, there are a few of us who specialize in quality type (myself included) so you might want to go to websites and contact folks directly. Good luck.

derryb

As an investor or as a collector?

16DMERC

stick with key dates, or condition keys...best way to protect your investment because those are always in demand by collectors and investors...don't pick things that you will have to find the groups of people that like them

BryceM

A Saint for sure, SLQ, Walker, Barber Half, Bust Half, Merc dime, Lib nickel. But that's just me.

golden

How about a really nice Large Cent maybe with some red?

kiyote

A nice no-motto Indian $10, some key commems while the price is down, a killer-toned PL Morgan, a MS66 1921 Peace dollar and a nice '36 proof set.

mariner67

<< <i>A Saint for sure, SLQ, Walker, Barber Half, Bust Half, Merc dime, Lib nickel. But that's just me. >>



Newbie question...what is a SLQ?
Thanks in advance!

TomB

SLQ=Standing Liberty Quarter

mariner67

Thank you TomB!

RYK

I love projects like this.

I am going to assume an average coin price of $3000, and here is what I would add:

The VF 30 Pine Tree Shilling from the CRO website (either one)
An XF-45 dirty Dahlonega $5
An MS-64 With Motto Liberty $10 (not 1901-S)
An MS-64+ $20 Lib (probably 1904)

Total price--About $12,500

GoldClause

For the Lincoln, get a matte proof, either an 09 vdb or a 16

Same for the buffalo, 1913 t-1 matte proof

Looks like you already want most of the other clasic 1907-1933 designs, so why not get the following in addition to the two above:

1916 FSB Merc

1917 FH SLQ

1916 or 1917 WLH

1921 Peace

Indian 2.5, 5, and 10, and a St Gaudens. I'd go for the no motto issues, maybe all the same date like 1908.


That gives you a 10 coin denomination set of classic coins, which would be a really nice display.


That leaves 10 coins, why not pick 10 classic commems. Pan Pac 50c, 1d and 2.5d, oregon, illinois, stone mtn. That leaves 4 more to choose from.

TomB

Unless it was a low end proof, A 1909 VDB matte proof Lincoln cent would blow up the $50k budget.

drei3ree

<< <i>As an investor or as a collector? >>



That was my question too. If it is a Collector box, make sure you like the design and the coin you buy looks good to you. As an Investor, make sure a lot of others like the design and that the coin you buy looks good to them--Do not use personal preference or scarcity as the sole factors when investing in coins.

renomedphys

<< <i>For the Lincoln, get a matte proof, either an 09 vdb or a 16 >>


You buy an 09VDB and you budget goes all to heck. Even a decent '16 will set you back at least 6 grand.

PM me if you're serious about MPLs.

Personally, I would also try to find a stunning Indian Cent and Flying Eagle as well. But then, I'm a small cent guy.

Don't buy an SVDB unless you don't really care about rarity, or perhaps unless it's just visually stunning.

drfish

I like the looks of Indian cents especially proofs ,so might add that to the list as well as a WLH in proof(instead of MS)Most of the coins would be mint state examples. I prefer coins with peripheral toning/ white centers or those with a toned side and the other untoned but would be open to a flashy white example. I also like the look of toned gold. As far as price per coin I would likely go with most bang for the buck method. So for example with the Connecticut half, I 'd look for a super high end 66 for under a grand rather than spend $2500 plus for a 67. This would give me more cash for another coin in the box. Time frame would be the next 2-3 years . This would be primarily for my enjoyment so it's a collection. Following Eric's advice for moderns has been my source of coin investments and has funded alot of the collector coins that I will sell to fund the box. An Oregon half will also fill another spot. May not get a Saint as I have a UHR (modern) already.
Thanks for the advice please keep it coming. 4 coins left so far have Indian and flying eagle cents,Buffalo nickel,Oregon,Lincoln,Connecticut,Bust and WL halves,Seated,Trade, Morgan and Peace dollars, Pan Pac $2.5, Indian $3,5 and $10.....maybe a Rays/Arrows quarter or half

johnny9434

a nice fugio, an awesome bust half, and maybe some cc, c or d gold. jmo

SeattleSlammer

Why not throw in a nice 16-D Merc?

BryceM

..... forgot one. I'd have a 2009 UHR in the box too. That would be the only post 1930s piece, but there is much to be said for it.

yellowkid

I don't have plans for my "box of twenty" and expect it to be changing as new things appeal to me. I plan on starting out with a few tokens but I imagine they will go as nicer type pieces become available. My advice, don't set any goals for it, however the key date advice is sound and stay away from the esoteric (like tokens)

Cam40

Not sure I`d want a `21 Peace dollar as my just one and best in the series coins.
Other dates in there have far more eye-appeal and would be equally upward looking price guide wise.

MidLifeCrisis

I would use the $50K to buy 5 coins or less. I don't imagine you plan to stop collecting after this so you'll have time later to get other coins you want. But 5 or fewer seriously WOW coins will form a nice core collection you can build on with pride.

rmpsrpms

More important to me than low mintage, popularity, etc is to have a coin that meets my specific "keeper" criteria:

1) Full Strike
2) Early Die State
3) Full and unimpaired Luster
4) Original surfaces (if toned, attractive)
5) No significant distracting marks (probably means a good MS66 or above)

My favorite series are the US Renaissance coins, so I'd likely look for nice type examples of:

Brenner Cent (probably a 09VDB and a mid-late teen)
Fraser Nickel (a 1913 and a mid-late teen)
Weinmann Dime (a 1916)
MacNeil Quarter (1916 or 1917 and a late teen)
Weinmann Liberty Half (1916 and a late teen)
De Francisci Dollar (1921 and an early twenty)
Pratt Quarter Eagle
Pratt Head Half Eagle
St Gaudens Eagle
St Gaudens Double Eagle

I am wondering how difficult this set would be to put together. My criteria are tough to get all in one place. Even a lot of MS67 and MS68 coins I've seen don't meet the criteria because of die state.

baseballjeff

Heck with 16 coins, get one 1895 Morgan!!! That'd be my vote! I am anxious to hear, and see what you decide on!

Jeff

oakcoin

A nice Seated Half