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Early Indian Heads, starting a collection
Sharkman987
Posts: 40 ✭
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Did I buy more cull coins??
The first two are, the 3rd isn't technically a cull, depending on the reverse. Low grade IHCs are not expensive, you just need to be a little more careful in shopping.
Don't buy culls unless your budget honestly keeps you from getting anything better, the last coin is acceptable if your on a low budget.
It doesn't ...
I take it that you are perhaps a YN? If so, or if you are an adult beginner I would buy two books. First a recent edition of "A Guide Book of United States Coins" a.k.a. "The Red Book." The second would be the "ANA Grading Guide." If you study the grading guide you will be better able to spot "cull coins."
I was in your position cira 1964. I was collecting Indian Cents in Good, with no problems. Such coins have all of the devices clean and strong on brown planchets (coin blanks) with no spots. The "LIBERTY" is gone or almost all gone, but the coins are attractive to a point. The dates from say 1895 to 1909-P are fairly common in those grades. The coins from the Civil War era that you have here are around if you shop for them. The rubber meets the road with the dates from 1866 to 1878, Those dates are the heart of the Indian Cent collection, and they are all tough. Coins graded in Good for those dates are usually not very attractive.
I'd work on the late dates if you don't have them. It will give you something to collect, and you should be able to find them for about $1 each. it also help you learn how to grade Indian Cents.
To be perfectly honest with you, the first two coins you showed us here are not nice at all. They are coins that really almost not collector wants because they are worn, damaged and unattractive. I'm trying to be diplomatic here, so please bear with me.
So If I told you that I payed between 10 and $12 each for those coins, I'd would have been taken? I surely can't afford to just give money away, I'm thinking about selling everything I have and just going back to guitars.
Sorry but, yea, you got taken. I don't think that a coin dealer could say in business and charge his customers prices like that for those pieces. I know I wouldn't have been able sleep at night if I had been doing that to my customers.
These coins look like the kind of pieces you see in antique stores where the sellers don't know much about what they are selling and way over charge for it, just about every time.
Great.. I'm getting pretty mad over this. Maybe a new coin shop??
I'd think a new shop might be in order. Additionally, you may want to invest a little time in looking through PCGS Photograde Online since you can pull up whatever series you like in whatever grade you like and will be able to see what a more-or-less problem-free coin looks like. This will help you avoid buying previously cleaned, screaming orange copper. Good luck.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
It's funny I have it on my phone, already.
So If I told you that I payed between 10 and $12 each for those coins, I'd would have been taken?
Good lord I've given away nicer ones than those.....these are the pieces you see in junk boxes for ~$1 apiece.
Don't get mad, get educated. There is no guarantee the next coin shop will be any better. This is a great series to collect, and you can build a nice set for a reasonable price, but you have to do your homework.
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It's sad at what some dealers will do to good folks. Not sure about the rest of you but this really gets me upset. I would use other words but that would not go well here. I'm sorry you happened upon a real jerk to sell you those coins. It's bad for the hobby. Don't get discouraged over this. Do as Bill suggested and read a couple of books. I would recommend the ANA grading book to get your feet wet real fast.
This hobby should be fun.
Ive spent piece better than that, who ever sold you those at that kind of price, flat ripped you off.
Buy the book before the coin.
Just chalk it up to learning tuition and move on, the decimal point could have been moved over a bit. I have bought cleaned and problem coins in the past, and would be willing to bet that many people on this forum have done the same. Do some internet searching on Heritage, GreatCollections or coinfacts and you can see good examples of the grades you are looking for. Send me a PM with your address and Ill send you a few to soften the blow of this set back.
Welcome to our group. I started with Indian heads about 15 years ago...
Take erwindoc up on his offer, that's really cool of him! I would offer to send you one or two also, but I sold my duplicates a few years back.
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. Don't let one bad experience get you down. There are a ton of great people in the coin business but there are also a few bad apples just like anywhere else. What dates do you still need? It looks like you are putting them in a coin folder. Should be a fun project.
Sorry you had to pay some tuition but I hope you don't repeat your mistake. I think that you can build a collection of lower grade Indian cents with actually no cost when you factor in the amount you get out of it when you sell. The first rule is not to pay too much for problem coins. The second rule is to trade out of any problem coins you have into problem-free coins.
For example, you can start out by buying a small group of coins - 50 or so for a cheap price. go though them and fill in your book and use the duplicates as trading material (or sell them on eBay.) as you select additional coins look to upgrade the lower ones and fill in holes with coins that you really like. Eventually you'll have the collection you'll be proud to show others. By smart buying and selling your price of entry into your collection will be less than the value of the set.
You have a much better time doing this than I had when I tried it back in the early 1970's. Now you have the resources of the world on ebay and here on the Buy, sell, trade (BST) board. You can cherrypick bargains and sell your duplicates all from your home. Or you can go to the local show and try to press your advantage there.
If you want a group of cheap dates to start with let me know. I'll give you a terrific deal.
@Sharkman987...Please do not get discouraged..... We have all been in the same situation at one time. There are great people here who will help you (take the offer above of free coins and the offer from EagleEye)....You are on a great forum and the knowledge here is extensive. Best of luck.... Cheers, RickO
Thank you all so much and, you're right it's not a ton of money. It's not like they're making any more of them. I love the history associated with them.
erwindoc And eagleeye, I sent you both a message.
If at all possible take pictures prior to purchasing, post pics here and let the knowledgeable help out. You and your pocketbook will be a lot happier if you heed their advice.
You might have fun shopping for them at local coin shows. You can find a list at Coinzip.com.
Many dealers have "junque" boxes for lower priced coins, and you could spend some enjoyable time on the treasure hunt. Looks at lots of coins, compare them, and keep asking questions!
Also, go to the PCGS CoinFacts sight (it's free!), and look at pictures of graded coins in Good, Very Good and Fine to see what collectable examples look like.
http://images.pcgs.com/CoinFacts/26566494_32204450_2200.jpg
==Looking for pre WW2 Commems in PCGS Rattler holders, 1851-O Three Cent Silvers in all grades
Successful, problem free and pleasant transactions with: illini420, coinguy1, weather11am,wayneherndon,wondercoin,Topdollarpaid,Julian, bishdigg,seateddime, peicesofme,ajia,CoinRaritiesOnline,savoyspecial,Boom, TorinoCobra71, ModernCoinMart, WTCG, slinc, Patches, Gerard, pocketpiececommems, BigJohnD, RickMilauskas, mirabella, Smittys, LeeG, TomB, DeusExMachina, tydye
Ouch! Fugly coins....except the 1864. That's more the look/color you want but that coin is cleaned too. Understand, Eagle eye here IS the "worlds greatest authorit" on the good old Indian head penny and that bird coin too. Learn from him. Stop buying fugly coins.
...or IF you want to keep collecting fugly coins start working on the Sommer Island series. We'll let you post them and won't even have any unkind words :-)
Gotta start somewhere, but not at the bottom of the barrel. I can help ya as could several people here.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Dont be discouraged.
Years ago when I inherited my grandfather's coin collection, I was amazed at the Indian heads he had pulled from years searching the cash register in his hardware store. He had some of the big ones, namely the 1877, flying eagles, and some of the dates Bill Jones mentioned as being scarce. He did not have the celebrated 1909-S.
Well, the bug hit me and I saved and saved, and when I could bear no more to see the empty slots in his old "penny board," I went off to my first coin shop.
And there, they sold me a beautiful 1909-s in Fine for the princely sum of $300. I was so proud of completing the series, my grandfather's unfinished work, and it was the "crown jewel."
Until I joined PCGS much later and submitted it for certification...
Came back with an added mintmark, a 1909 altered to make it look like the much scarcer San Francisco key date. The dealer had to have known! But it was too late, maybe 10 years later.
I was mad. I could have gotten out of the hobby at that point, and played the victim. In the end though , as others have stated, I paid my tuition. The lesson I learned was this: Dont ever purchase something you do not yet understand, especially in haste.
There will be endless opportunities, endless coins to choose from. Your ability to make educated purchases will only add to your enjoyment.
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
You learned a valuble lesson about which dealer to avoid . You might have saved yourself a lot of down the road money. Of course you might go back and complain and see if something results , shake the tree a little