This may sound silly, but when I was 9 years old I spent 25 cents for a well-circulated 1935 Buffalo Nickel. That was a week's allowance at the time. That made it real for me.
Since then, I have crashed through other numismatic glass ceilings along the way, but that was the first one and I remember it well.
this is a great question! it's cool to read everyone's interesting responses
As a kid, it was an 1827 capped bust half dollar, my first type coin over $50 and my oldest coin when I put the collection away at age 14 until I was 30+ (I had completed the 20th century type set, and had some seated and the odd denominations and partial sets of gem and toned roosevelts and washingtons and franklins and peace dollars, but the 1827 and an 1835 half dime were my only bust coins, crusty natural VF/EFs and I still have both of them
When I resumed collecting in the late 1990's, it was an 1805 half that sparked up the type set fever again, as well as starting a redbook set of draped bust halves, and 1806 and 1820 quarters that got me into early quarters by variety and have since accumulated a roll and a half of pre-1828 and before quarters, all distinct die varieties or die states
My first four-figure purchases were these dollars:
I have since purchased more expensive coins, but my first pop top 1918 MS66 No Bands Merc bought in 2002 broke my ceiling. I still miss my No Bands collection and the group of Mercateers who were all chasing the little ladies back then.
Retired United States Mint guy, now working on an Everyman Type Set.
For me it was a few years ago with a 1947ML Canada half dollar in PCGS MS65 (pop 4/1). It cost me nearly 5 times more than I paid for my previous most expensive (non-bullion) coin ever owned.
Mine was an 1852 Seated Dollar PCGS AU-58. It was the first and only time I spent over $20,000 for a coin. I was eating top roman noodles for a long time after that one.
Back in the early 1990's I purchased a 1921 5 cent from Canada (only 400 known) for 1900$ that was my 1st big purchase...It was graded about a Good-04 to a Good-06 but they had said VG-08...I was only a kid maybe 13 to 14 years old so I could not tell the grade I just wanted the coin because it was the first 1921 I had ever seen (This was before all the internet age so finding one was very very hard....it was a coin shop located in a Sears retail store). I had some Canadian saving bonds and decided I wanted that coin instead...about 10 years later I sold it for about 4000$. So I double my money on the coin then I purchased one in AU-55 graded by PCGS using the 4000$ from the sale and of course a lot more to pay for the AU-55. I do not own the AU-55 anymore sold it for 20 000$ and made about 3000$ profit in about 2 years time of ownership.
$5600 and I regret it to this day. Sold it last year. Yes it was an ultramodern. It helps that I bought a PCGS Franklin DCAM 68 for $300 at auction. I guess no one was looking and sold it 4 years later for $3000.
I bought a lot of crap back in the 70's/80's when I didn't really know what I was doing. In the 90's I started buying books and certified coins. In the 00's I educated myself and got rid of all the"junk" and began to put together a meaninful collection. One of my first "major" purchases was a 09SVDB PCGS AU55.
As for graduating from collecting pocket change to an actual purchased coin:
When I was a kid (had been collecting pocket change for some time) my father offered to take me to a coin store one Saturday. My first coin purchase was an EF 1883 no cents V nickel. Still have it.
As for the $100 mark and $1000 mark it was twenty cent pieces that made me do it. Still have those as well.
The 1875S twenty cent that I paid just over $100 for is still one of the most beautiful examples I've ever seen.
Thanks for this thread idea. In reading people's posts and writing my own it becomes clear that often the memories are the real prize.
Comments
<< <i>I jumped into a new level of collecting when I added this one for a whopping $860
>>
I like your Limey!
The name is LEE!
This may sound silly, but when I was 9 years old I spent 25 cents for a well-circulated 1935 Buffalo Nickel. That was a week's allowance at the time. That made it real for me.
Since then, I have crashed through other numismatic glass ceilings along the way, but that was the first one and I remember it well.
Complete Set of Chopmarked Trade Dollars
Carson City Silver Dollars Complete 1870-1893http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase.aspx?sc=2722"
As a kid, it was an 1827 capped bust half dollar, my first type coin over $50 and my oldest coin when I put the collection away at age 14 until I was 30+ (I had completed the 20th century type set, and had some seated and the odd denominations and partial sets of gem and toned roosevelts and washingtons and franklins and peace dollars, but the 1827 and an 1835 half dime were my only bust coins, crusty natural VF/EFs and I still have both of them
When I resumed collecting in the late 1990's, it was an 1805 half that sparked up the type set fever again, as well as starting a redbook set of draped bust halves, and 1806 and 1820 quarters that got me into early quarters by variety and have since accumulated a roll and a half of pre-1828 and before quarters, all distinct die varieties or die states
My first four-figure purchases were these dollars:
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Box of 20
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
Very nice do you have any pics to share?
When I was a kid (had been collecting pocket change for some time) my father offered to take me to a coin store one Saturday. My first coin purchase was an EF 1883 no cents V nickel. Still have it.
As for the $100 mark and $1000 mark it was twenty cent pieces that made me do it. Still have those as well.
The 1875S twenty cent that I paid just over $100 for is still one of the most beautiful examples I've ever seen.
Thanks for this thread idea. In reading people's posts and writing my own it becomes clear that often the memories are the real prize.
I could not believe that I spent a weeks allowance on two pennies!
bob
<< <i>Thanks for this thread idea. In reading people's posts and writing my own it becomes clear that often the memories are the real prize. >>
This is true!