My first post: my collection and question UPDATED

civilwarcoincollector · January 18, 2013 5:44PM

I am a new member hear and wanted to break the ice. I am collecting civil war coins. I love history and really love the excitement of looking for coins at coin shops. My collection so far is small. I am looking at five more coins now. Hear is what I have so far.
1861 Half dime XF
1861 Trime XF 180 degree die rotation
1861 Seated Quarter AU but It looks like to me some idiot cleaned it (SOLD GOING TO UPGRADE TO NON CLEANED COIN)
1861 O Seated Half Dollar G+ (SOLD GOING TO UPGRADE)

Any help with this collection is greatly appreciated.
I really like trimes and the seated coins.

I have posted my list on the bst thread. thanks

I have two coins that I have agreed to buy and they will be in my hands in a couple to three weeks.
1862 H10c pcgs au55
1861 $2.50 gold piece xf/au

lordmarcovan · January 18, 2013 6:59PM

I'll pass on rendering judgment on those prices, without seeing the coins in question.

Is your AU-details 1861 quarter worth submitting for grading? Maybe not- it seems like a waste of money to submit it if you know it's not going to grade due to the cleaning. Unless you want it in a PCGS "Genuine" holder or something like that. But is it worth keeping? Absolutely, if you like it.

JJM · January 18, 2013 9:56PM

try posting your "want list" over on the BST board

ambro51 · January 18, 2013 10:06PM

Hi and welcome to these forums. CW era coinage can be interesting but it's not generally different or rare. It sounds to me that while you are generally focused the coins you are buying are all over the map condition wise. I'd suggest laying off the MS issues and concentrating on problem free VF-XF pieces. This will give you more coins for the money and make a nice looking set. Start reading up on civil war tokens as these give a unique view into the period. Though originals are out of the question the Bashlow restrikes of the CSA Half dollar and Cent are reasonably priced and should be in any collection of CW era coinage. Get yourself a Gold Dollar also, these played a big part in war era commerce as soldiers could send and recieve these through the mail.

lcoopie · January 18, 2013 10:07PM

hi CWCC

keyman64 · January 18, 2013 10:08PM

Welcome! Since you are new, I might suggest buying PCGS graded coins, maybe even with CAC stickers, to limit mistakes...although I am not sure if you are new to collecting or just new to the forum. As always, read the books and ask questions before buying. Best of luck to you.

s4ny · January 18, 2013 10:12PM

Sounds new to the forum but not new to collecting.

joeykoins · January 18, 2013 10:22PM

Hi and

to school!get ready for some wholesome advice from the forum of hard knocks.You'll be amazed what you will learn,and not only about coins.

once again.Yeah what you have there seems as your a veteran in collecting rather than just starting out,wow!I think the cheapest and most fun collecting will be starting out with the Lincoln cent.but I see your on your way to fun already,congrats. - joey

littlebear · January 18, 2013 10:38PM

Welcome!

Larry L.

etexmike · January 19, 2013 12:03AM

and welcome to the boards.

Mike

Swampboy · January 19, 2013 12:24AM

TwoSides2aCoin · January 19, 2013 12:31AM

This is a wonderful place to grow in so many ways. I know I still act like a child. It's the numismatist in me.

We're not all grumpy.

Moldnut · January 19, 2013 12:35AM

RB1026 · January 19, 2013 12:44AM

Welcome civilwarcoincollector!!

It's hard to offer advice to you on those potential purchases without seeing the coins themselves. My suggestion is to buy coins you like, that you feel are strong for the grade, and that are within your budget. If you are shopping solely based on price then the PCGS price guide is a great tool for you. I'd also offer that you consider getting PCGS CoinFacts. I find it to be an invaluable resource I can access either from my computer or my iphone wherever I am.

Best of luck in your endeavors

Walkerguy21D · January 19, 2013 12:54AM

Welcome aboard!

LindeDad · January 19, 2013 1:35AM

I would think long and hard before spending that much money for some of the items on your list for RAW coins of that era. Great history leads to too many of them having been messed with over the years, long term I would recommend limiting the search to items you can see in hand, and when not in hand professionally graded to assure value long term for high cost.

johnny9434 · January 19, 2013 1:38AM

enjoy your stay

civilwarcoincollector · January 19, 2013 2:05AM

Thanks for all the welcomes and advice

percyb · January 19, 2013 2:15AM

Welcome. Looks like you have a clear path for collecting in your ken.

lcoopie · January 19, 2013 2:20AM

MFH · January 19, 2013 2:30AM

Welcome and you are collecting an era of great importance in our Nation's History !!

Best of luck with your set. My megher set of 1861 coins is family based - my Great Grandfather's birth year !

Senex · January 19, 2013 2:34AM

civilwarcoincollector · January 19, 2013 2:38AM

I just posted my wish list on the BST forum.

OldEastside · January 19, 2013 3:06AM

Welcome aboard

Steve

civilwarcoincollector · January 19, 2013 3:15AM

<<

>>

Beautiful coin

Ahrensdad · January 19, 2013 4:04AM

Welcome

DorkGirl · January 19, 2013 5:01AM

lkeigwin · January 19, 2013 5:33AM

Welcome to CU. You'll find a lot of help here.

I would recommend sticking to graded coins, and buying slowly. Of course collect what you like but if I were in your shoes I'd probably strive for coins in a similar grade range and maybe focus on one or two series rather than hodgepodge buying.

I am not impressed by the price of the raw '62 IHC. You should be able to find a nice graded one for that price or better. It's hard to say about the others without seeing pictures (which you will find very handy down the road).
Lance.

BillJones · January 19, 2013 6:17AM

<< 1862 indian head penny ms 64 or so not graded by anyone $300 >>

I would not pay hundreds of dollars for raw coins. If the coin has a problem you didn't spot or it is over graded, you can lose most of your money. Buying a certified piece will not cost you that much more.

<< 1861 indian head penny NGC ms61 for $175 >>

Most coins graded MS-61 are not that nice. A fair number of them are not even Mint State in the opinion of some collectors and dealers. Gray Sheet bid/ask is $140 to $155 for this coin. The price is at a retail level for a coin that many dealers would not pay the bid level for if it were offered to them, UNLESS it is exceptional or under graded.

In general I'd avoid spending a lot of money on raw coins before you have really become an informed coin grader. You should move carefully even with certified coins (NGC or PCGS) before you locate a dealer you trust and have beefed up your expertise.

Myqqy · January 19, 2013 8:26AM

Welcome!

How come no one says "FRESH MEAT!" anymore??

civilwarcoincollector · January 19, 2013 2:02PM

<< 

<< 1862 indian head penny ms 64 or so not graded by anyone $300 >>

I would not pay hundreds of dollars for raw coins. If the coin has a problem you didn't spot or it is over graded, you can lose most of your money. Buying a certified piece will not cost you that much more.

<< 1861 indian head penny NGC ms61 for $175 >>

Most coins graded MS-61 are not that nice. A fair number of them are not even Mint State in the opinion of some collectors and dealers. Gray Sheet bid/ask is $140 to $155 for this coin. The price is at a retail level for a coin that many dealers would not pay the bid level for if it were offered to them, UNLESS it is exceptional or under graded.

In general I'd avoid spending a lot of money on raw coins before you have really become an informed coin grader. You should move carefully even with certified coins (NGC or PCGS) before you locate a dealer you trust and have beefed up your expertise. >>

thanks for all the good advice

civilwarcoincollector · January 20, 2013 1:59PM

some awesome and great people on here so far. thanks for all the advice

azxc · January 20, 2013 2:56PM

Welcome, sounds like you have a pretty neat collection trend going.

sniocsu · January 20, 2013 4:21PM

Welcome!

Justlooking · January 20, 2013 5:45PM

Welcome! One thing you'll hear over and over on this board is, buy the coin and not the holder (or the "grade"). Without seeing the coins, few here would offer an opinion on the prices you quoted.

There. Your first lesson.

civilwarcoincollector · January 20, 2013 9:00PM

<< Welcome! One thing you'll hear over and over on this board is, buy the coin and not the holder (or the "grade"). Without seeing the coins, few here would offer an opinion on the prices you quoted.

There. Your first lesson.

>>

ambro51 · January 20, 2013 11:34PM

My favorite CW dated piece...

civilwarcoincollector · January 21, 2013 4:02AM

<< My favorite CW dated piece...

>>

That is really nice.

civilwarcoincollector · January 22, 2013 5:04PM

ttt

drfish · January 22, 2013 10:02PM

Hi my advice is do not spend the money to have your raw coins graded. I'd reccomend researching Heritages archives for prices realized at auction. This will give you a good idea of the look and cost of coins you are searching for. My final advice is take your time and buy the nicest examples you can afford. For your civilwar set ,the box of twenty concept would work really well.

TwoSides2aCoin · January 22, 2013 10:08PM

<< Welcome!

How come no one says "FRESH MEAT!" anymore??

>>

One of the Rules: "Vegetarians Only" ran off the spirited fun of this place.

civilwarcoincollector · January 25, 2013 2:56PM

ttt

rhedden · January 26, 2013 12:28AM

Here are some Civil War Silver challenges for you:

See if you can "cherrypick" an 1861/0 half dime without paying for the variety.

Find nice examples of 1863-s, 1864-s, and 1865-s half dimes in PCGS holders in XF or AU. Good luck!

For silver 3c, find certified examples of 1863, 1864, and 1865 that are NOT proofs.

In dimes, try to acquire 1863, 1864, and 1865 P-mints in PCGS holders. Look out- circulated proofs are less valuable! All of the "S" mints 1861-65 are tough in certified condition, but 1864-s is the most available.

Find a nice 1864-s or 1865-S quarter in a grade you can afford, in a PCGS holder. 1863, 1864, and 1865 P-mints are no longer easy either.

In halves, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865 P-mints used to be ignored by collectors. Now finding one in a PCGS holder is really tough. Look for VF to AU coins.

In dollars, there are plenty of 1861-65 coins around - with cleaning and problems! I would recommend to never buy a Seated Dollar that isn't certified; many of these are fakes, and the rest generally have problems. Try finding even one coin in a PCGS holder that isn't a proof. They are expensive, but one gets what he/she pays for.

Notice anything missing in the above lists? The 1861-P issues for the minor denominations are all common ($1 is not). You will find these, and be left searching for the ones I listed.

civilwarcoincollector · January 26, 2013 9:12AM

<< Here are some Civil War Silver challenges for you:

See if you can "cherrypick" an 1861/0 half dime without paying for the variety.

Find nice examples of 1863-s, 1864-s, and 1865-s half dimes in PCGS holders in XF or AU. Good luck!

For silver 3c, find certified examples of 1863, 1864, and 1865 that are NOT proofs.

In dimes, try to acquire 1863, 1864, and 1865 P-mints in PCGS holders. Look out- circulated proofs are less valuable! All of the "S" mints 1861-65 are tough in certified condition, but 1864-s is the most available.

Find a nice 1864-s or 1865-S quarter in a grade you can afford, in a PCGS holder. 1863, 1864, and 1865 P-mints are no longer easy either.

In halves, 1862, 1863, 1864, and 1865 P-mints used to be ignored by collectors. Now finding one in a PCGS holder is really tough. Look for VF to AU coins.

In dollars, there are plenty of 1861-65 coins around - with cleaning and problems! I would recommend to never buy a Seated Dollar that isn't certified; many of these are fakes, and the rest generally have problems. Try finding even one coin in a PCGS holder that isn't a proof. They are expensive, but one gets what he/she pays for.

Notice anything missing in the above lists? The 1861-P issues for the minor denominations are all common ($1 is not). You will find these, and be left searching for the ones I listed. >>

good info

civilwarcoincollector · January 29, 2013 2:36PM

TTT

Type2 · January 29, 2013 2:55PM

Good start so far.

My first post: my collection and question UPDATED

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