With a small investment of $200 a year, which is better? Set of MS67 state quarters or ASE MS&PR70

TurboSnail · March 16, 2017 10:27PM

Hi there! I am returning to coin collecting after two decades since my little girls start to love shinning coins. Back in the early 90's , I used my allowance/lunch money just to complete the mint sets from 1955-1991. However in 1992, I sold my entire collection at 1/10 of purchase price to a local coin dealer due to a family tragedy and I needed money for food.

Lol, enough of my introduction as a greenhorn to this forum. So what do you suggest? A new set of quarters or silver eagles each year? Thanks in advance.

DancingFire · March 16, 2017 11:21PM

$200 ?? I'd buy a MS64 Barber dime.

TomB · March 16, 2017 11:38PM

Howdy and welcome.

I would suggest you read, read, read and then read some more. Along the way I would look at images of coins and look at coins in-hand. If you want to "invest" $200 per year then I would suggest generic (also known as ungraded, raw or unslabbed) ASEs for as close to melt as possible. In addition, I would urge you to buy the State Quarters at a local shop for 50-cents each, or thereabouts, and fill out some albums with your daughters.

If you follow my advice you will learn a lot, will protect yourself from paying far too much for far too little in this hobby and will spend plenty of quality time with your girls.

Coinstartled · March 17, 2017 2:02AM

You can pick up many circulated silver (1932-1964) Washington quarters on Ebay for close to melt. For another hundred each, you can buy the 32-D and 32-S in modest grades.

In a crises they can be pretty easily liquidated.

Type2 · March 17, 2017 2:14AM

I would go cherry picking and try to triple it, then by a very nice coin after doing so.

Nap · March 17, 2017 4:00AM

If you want put together a set of state quarters, no need for slabbed coins, just pull them from change or go through bank rolls. They will probably be AU condition and attractive enough for an album.

If you want high grade big shiny coins, ASE's are great. Buy them raw for close to melt value.

If you want to build a set of something without running into prohibitively expensive key dates, consider Jefferson nickels. If you want something older, consider capped bust half dimes. They are remarkably affordable in XF/AU and no key dates.

Greg Reynolds (goes by Analyst on the forum) has a series of articles on acquisition strategies to fit different budgets and you may want to check those out.

If you just want to have fun with coins, mix it up. Buy modern silver Eagle, a circulated Barber type, a circulated capped bust type, a large cent or two, Chinese cash coin, and some fourth century Roman bronzes. I think that can be done with $200.

1630Boston · March 17, 2017 4:05AM

Welcome, keep reading and keep posting

ricko · March 17, 2017 5:42AM

@TurboSnail.....Welcome aboard and back to the hobby. TomB has given excellent advice (above) and he is a seasoned collector/dealer. I certainly second his recommendations... Best of luck and have fun with your daughters... Cheers, RickO

TurboSnail · March 17, 2017 6:24AM

Thanks for the expert advises and warm welcome from everybody. I can understand the reasons of modern coins in high graded slabs aren't the ideal investment in money wide. However I have to give in and set for modern coins due to a lower budget and eye appealing to kiddies (2 & 6 years old). Plus, we do need some samples of high graded coins on hands to study them.

Personally, I would rather invest in one single key dated older coin. But it would take out the fun as a family activity. In fact, we just had a successful bank rolls hunt event last weekend with over couple hundreds in changes. We got a brand new box of 2017 P pennies and one 1968 Kennedy half. And whatever left, I am planning to go to coinstar at the local supermarket and exchange them for Amazon GC to make wife happy.

291fifth · March 17, 2017 6:38AM

Coins and collectibles in general are not likely to be much of an "investment" in the future. Young people don't care about them and the current group of collectors are aging rapidly and fading from the scene. Collect for enjoyment but don't expect to make any money by doing so.

TurboSnail · March 17, 2017 6:54AM

@291fifth said:
Coins and collectibles in general are not likely to be much of an "investment" in the future. Young people don't care about them and the current group of collectors are aging rapidly and fading from the scene. Collect for enjoyment but don't expect to make any money by doing so.

Yes I was burned on the McFarlane Spawn figures. I must have one of the biggest collection. I have a entire room hang with toys on cardboard. Some used to worth hundreds if not thousands. But the market is at a few bucks each on fleabay now. The only worthy complete set left is "Wild the wild thing are" signed by both Sendak and Mcfarlane.

david3142 · March 17, 2017 7:09AM

@TurboSnail said:
Thanks for the expert advises and warm welcome from everybody. I can understand the reasons of modern coins in high graded slabs aren't the ideal investment in money wide. However I have to give in and set for modern coins due to a lower budget and eye appealing to kiddies (2 & 6 years old). Plus, we do need some samples of high graded coins on hands to study them.

Personally, I would rather invest in one single key dated older coin. But it would take out the fun as a family activity. In fact, we just had a successful bank rolls hunt event last weekend with over couple hundreds in changes. We got a brand new box of 2017 P pennies and one 1968 Kennedy half. And whatever left, I am planning to go to coinstar at the local supermarket and exchange them for Amazon GC to make wife happy.

Do not use coinstar! You'll be giving away 9%! Just roll them back up and return them to the bank. Going through rolls is a great intro to the hobby and costs only face value.

MACGE1 · March 17, 2017 7:10AM

You won't necessarily lose money buying moderns - you just need to know which ones to buy. Generally speaking spending $200 a month buying state quarters isn't conducive to making money. Finest graded low pop coins are a very different story. If you want to buy a single older dates coin with 90% of your budget, I've got mountains of state quarters in Pcgs & NGC holders and I'd be more then happy to send you a care package. PM me your shipping info and I'll get something out to you.

Coinstartled · March 17, 2017 7:17AM

@david3142 said:

@TurboSnail said:
Thanks for the expert advises and warm welcome from everybody. I can understand the reasons of modern coins in high graded slabs aren't the ideal investment in money wide. However I have to give in and set for modern coins due to a lower budget and eye appealing to kiddies (2 & 6 years old). Plus, we do need some samples of high graded coins on hands to study them.

Personally, I would rather invest in one single key dated older coin. But it would take out the fun as a family activity. In fact, we just had a successful bank rolls hunt event last weekend with over couple hundreds in changes. We got a brand new box of 2017 P pennies and one 1968 Kennedy half. And whatever left, I am planning to go to coinstar at the local supermarket and exchange them for Amazon GC to make wife happy.

Do not use coinstar! You'll be giving away 9%! Just roll them back up and return them to the bank. Going through rolls is a great intro to the hobby and costs only face value.

Might be worth the 9% (5c per roll) to let coinstar do the work on cents. I believe that they issue Amazon gift cards at par with no discount.

cmerlo1 · March 17, 2017 8:47AM

Neither.

david3142 · March 17, 2017 9:09AM

@Coinstartled said:

@david3142 said:

@TurboSnail said:
Thanks for the expert advises and warm welcome from everybody. I can understand the reasons of modern coins in high graded slabs aren't the ideal investment in money wide. However I have to give in and set for modern coins due to a lower budget and eye appealing to kiddies (2 & 6 years old). Plus, we do need some samples of high graded coins on hands to study them.

Personally, I would rather invest in one single key dated older coin. But it would take out the fun as a family activity. In fact, we just had a successful bank rolls hunt event last weekend with over couple hundreds in changes. We got a brand new box of 2017 P pennies and one 1968 Kennedy half. And whatever left, I am planning to go to coinstar at the local supermarket and exchange them for Amazon GC to make wife happy.

Do not use coinstar! You'll be giving away 9%! Just roll them back up and return them to the bank. Going through rolls is a great intro to the hobby and costs only face value.

Might be worth the 9% (5c per roll) to let coinstar do the work on cents. I believe that they issue Amazon gift cards at par with no discount.

Is that true? Then I stand corrected. Sounds like an easier choice.

messydesk · March 17, 2017 9:12AM

Your investment that will give the biggest payoff is not specific coins in specific grades, but the time you spend sharing a hobby with your kids. They don't understand slabs and grades at this point in time, but they do understand shiny things they like looking at. If they have a collector personality (this is a trait that I'm convinced you're born with), then that can be channeled toward coins. Get some Dansco albums or even cheap "thumb-buster" folders and collect raw state and national park quarters from change or bank rolls. Get the occasional raw ASE for a Dansco album.

jmski52 · March 17, 2017 9:30AM

I would buy some blue Whitman folders, cents and nickels, and quarters. Then, I would start collecting from circulation. Don't start thinking of these coins as an investment, but you'll find it to be fun. Along the way, start reading as others have suggested.

Goldminers · March 17, 2017 9:31AM

Another consideration could be the National park quarter 3 piece sets direct from the Mint or from some coin shops for the older ones which are about $10 for each Park and include pictures of the National Parks which can also stimulate future vacations with your family and learn some history, too. Plus one of the coins is silver which could be a good thing in the long run.

Edited to say I agree with the above recommendations to collect circulated coins in albums for fun as well.

Good luck

Goldminers · March 17, 2017 10:16AM

Something else I liked as a kid was to collect some very inexpensive circulated foreign coins. You can get lots of these very cheap at coin shops. They will not be an investment at all, but it helps kids think about other countries and could be fun to see how coins in other countries vary a lot compared to ours. Yes, I know this is a US coin forum, but as a kid I really liked seeing foreign coins, and as an adult I still save a few when I go to other countries to visit.

thevolcanogod · March 17, 2017 10:26AM

Hard to say without knowing your horizon for investment. I'd try and pick off a two-coin Kennedy collectors set for 120-130 then sell off the Robert Kennedy commemorative for 40-50 and keep the matte proof half then start to fill in the rest of the Kennedy set over time. Or try and pick up 2 American Liberty silver medals raw for under $100 each - one W and one S. But since these are moderns I'm sure most here will hate those suggestions.

Coinbeast92 · March 17, 2017 10:30AM

When i first started a couple years ago, my local coin shop showed me a type set album, and it is my favorite album by far. you get to collect one of every major coin in American history. The best part was you can get any grade you want and fill the book at you own pace. Many of the coin you will be able to find fairly inexpensive and the tougher type coins you can just wait and find one in a lower grade/ Common Date.
This is just my 2 cents. their are plenty people here with wayyyyyyyy more experience then me so i would definitely listen to them, i've learned a lot reading these message boards

P.S If i had to choose between ASE Or state quarters i would choose ASE MS/PF Every time.

johnny9434 · March 17, 2017 10:33AM

i like the idea of a 1/10 oz gold eagle other wise id go with the ase's. jmo

MrEureka · March 17, 2017 10:46AM

As others suggested, $200 is better spent on fun and education than on "investment coins". I'd suggest picking up lots of used albums from local coins shops and local coin shows. You can probably even find some freebie albums here on the forum if you ask nicely. Then, start hunting everywhere, and don't spend a lot of money.

It might also make sense to buy a good mix of cheap things from a dealer and salt your pocket change with them from time to time. For a $100 bill, you can have years of great pocket change finds. (If you don't have a good place to buy a deal like that, I can help.)

ChrisH821 · March 17, 2017 11:16AM

I know your topic is moderns, but there is a lot to be said about the value of common date silver dollars. You can pick up an attractive 1880-s or 1881-s Morgan for between $40 and $50, you can also pick up 1922-25 P mint Peace dollars very inexpensively and have a nice handful of eye appeal. FWIW my local shop here is about $40 for common BU pre-21 Morgans and $25 for common BU Peace. I've gotten many choice coins that way, not gems obviously but quite attractive.

mkman123 · March 17, 2017 11:25AM

Just buy a mix of silver eagles and 90% silver such as halves, dimes and quarters, also lets not forget some morgans and peace. Basically you can show your kids what coins used to be like.......a mini history lesson for them and easily resellable without a massive loss compared to other stuff like your modern sets and your mcfarlane collection

ElmerFusterpuck · March 17, 2017 11:33AM

Lots of good advice on here already, but I'll throw in my 2 cents, which is my segue! Along with what was mentioned above, throw in a lower grade 2 cent or 3 cent piece, along with a later date half cent or large cent. Those are unusual coins compared to what is out there today, plus they are fun and interesting to look at and have some neat history behind them.

And welcome to the forum!

ms70 · March 17, 2017 11:42AM

Welcome!

Baley · March 17, 2017 12:07PM

At that age kids, for $200 a year consider a blend of novelty privately minted and/or subject matter of interest to them ( animals, Disney, etc ) and world mint NCLT 1 oz silver bullion coins of their birthyears, as close to silver spot as possible (within $5) and older AU/BU Morgans and Peace dollars, also at low premium, say $35 and under.

Let them handle the coins, but don't make them

Bayard1908 · March 17, 2017 2:21PM

I suggest that you buy yourself a metal detector and build a coin collection with it. There are Mercury dimes and Buffalo nickels waiting to be dug up in every older neighborhood.

abcde12345 · March 17, 2017 2:27PM

Get a roll of State Quarters from your local bank and cherry out the best ones. Use the money for grading fees with pcgs. Profit!

TwoSides2aCoin · March 17, 2017 2:29PM

Hard for me to advise you. I can tell ya that two people came into the shop in the past week looking for 2017 P Lincoln cents for their albums and I didn't have even one. My bad. You could help me out with a roll.

TopographicOceans · March 17, 2017 3:26PM

Others might disagree, but I wouldn't recommend Statehood Quarters as an investment, even PCGS MS67's.

Closer to the truth would be SAE's since it can be a play on silver and might go up in value during the next 2 decades.

FredF · March 17, 2017 6:14PM

What I did with my YN's:

1) Buy whitman cent albums
2) Pay cash for purchases to make sure that I got change
3) Worked with kids to get a bunch of coins in the album
4) Got a few rolls of wheaties from my dad
5) every 2-3 months, went down to the local B&M and let each kid pick 2-3 cents to fill holes in the album

I think I spent closer to $50/year on coins than $200. When the kids were interested in roll searching, we roll searched, but when the kids would rather have been doing other things, the coin albums sat on the shelf. I never forced it on them.

Zoins · March 17, 2017 6:27PM

If you're looking for an "investment" with a return without doing much research like cherry picking, perhaps the best return in the past few years has been overstruck coins by Dan Carr, @dcarr, purchased at issue price. For example, you can pick up a "1917" Broken Sword Reverse Peace Dollar including shipping. Some benefits include:

almost 100% probability price will go up
beautiful looking work of art
historical original broken sword reverse

Whatever your opinion on these, I think everyone should hold and examine one in hand. They are truly works of art and the reverse is somewhat mesmerizing to look at.

TurboSnail · March 18, 2017 10:19PM

Thank guys.

@david3142
Coinstar charges processing fee of 10.9% in exchange for cash. But 0% for Amazon e-gift card.

@MACGE1
Thank you for your kindness. I may pm you soon once I test out the water before taking a full dive.

@messydesk , @jmski52
Agree. The biggest payoff is the time spend with my kids. Raw and Dansco albums (fun sets) have already being consider and in process of getting them. But I am also planning to secretly hide an additional set in form of highest grade with slabs just to let them relive their childhoods when the time come.

@Goldminers
It's every man's dream to travel across 50 states. But it is also my dream if someone can invent a quarter press/stamp machine and set them across each state's tourist attraction centers. As for foreign coins, I always enjoy the animals designs such as pre80's Singapore mint. One can only hope that our U.S mint can do the same with coins. In fact I do believe there were stamps printed with 50 states birds and others couple decades ago that can be put in consideration.

@thevolcanogod
I am sure that modern Kennedy keys has a great return. But I am uncertain about them two decades from now. As precious metal, this premium is high. As fun factor for kiddies, it is one of the bigger coins but not for the design/ artwork within.

@ChrisH821
I always admire the artistic designs on the coins before 50's . Setting the budget aside, it would break my heart to ruining these pieces of art in hands of my young kids or myself if purchase in rare higher quality. And It will always bother me if I settle for lesser grade in which we can't fully enjoy the views of these beautiful pieces.

@ElmerFusterpuck
I just happen to receive a 3 cents nickle today in mail. And family was having fun debating the reason of "3 cents nickle" instead of "3 cent pennies"?

@Baley
It kind of happened at Long Island coin show today. My 6 years old went inside the show with me while mommy stayed with a sleeping baby in the car. As predicted, my daughter would choose the biggest and shiniest coin. First thing that caught her eye with a Carson city Morgan. I had to reject due to my lack of knowledge and the coin was in slab of course. Her second choice was "Franklin Mint Bicentennial Sterling 2000 GRAINS Silver Proof Medal 1776-1976" in which we did purchased.

The nice dealer asked $80 for the coin but I offered him $60 since he told me it was around 3 oz of silver. I told him straight up that I don't mind to pay a couple dollars more over spot just for my daughter to play with this coin. He accepted the offer. And I felt bad and wanted to pay him more after googled "2000 grain of 925 silver" couple hours later.

@Bayard1908
We do enjoy walk on the beach every weekend when it was warm. And metal detector is in one of my shopping list.

@abcde12345
After 3 years of getting bankrolls for business purpose every two weeks, I have yet to find a brand new quarter nor nickle roll with Chase Banks.

@TwoSides2aCoin
Sure, please pm your shipping address. I will send a couple rolls to you sometime this week.

@TopographicOceans
I do believe the increasing value of silver with the next two decades due to the demand in China and India.

@FredF
Thanks. I will keep them in mind. As a dad, I have to educate myself to be a numismatist ( insert other name) and My Little Ponies "Brony".

@Zoins
Oh wow. those overstruck fantasy coins by Dan Carr look beautiful. If my budget allows, I would love to complete the series (beside the worn-out type).

Zoins · March 18, 2017 10:27PM

@TurboSnail said:
@Zoins
Oh wow. those overstruck fantasy coins by Dan Carr look beautiful. If my budget allows, I would love to complete the series (beside the worn-out type).

You can get them (for now) directly from Dan before they are sold out at issue price. Not only are they beautiful to look at, you will be part of one of the most exciting recent numismatic discoveries with the original 1921 peace dollar reverse bronze cast discussed right here on these forums.

KellenCoin · March 18, 2017 10:37PM

Are you planning to collect or invest?

TurboSnail · March 18, 2017 10:42PM

@Zoins said:

@TurboSnail said:
@Zoins
Oh wow. those overstruck fantasy coins by Dan Carr look beautiful. If my budget allows, I would love to complete the series (beside the worn-out type).

You can get them (for now) directly from Dan before they are sold out at issue price. Not only are they beautiful to look at, you will be part of one of the most exciting recent numismtic discoveries with the original 1921 peace dollar reverse bronze cast discussed right here on these forums.

Done. (wife must not know). I feel like a kid again. There goes my lunch money for the next 30 days.

Zoins · March 18, 2017 11:26PM

@TurboSnail said:

@Zoins said:

@TurboSnail said:
@Zoins
Oh wow. those overstruck fantasy coins by Dan Carr look beautiful. If my budget allows, I would love to complete the series (beside the worn-out type).

You can get them (for now) directly from Dan before they are sold out at issue price. Not only are they beautiful to look at, you will be part of one of the most exciting recent numismtic discoveries with the original 1921 peace dollar reverse bronze cast discussed right here on these forums.

Done. (wife must not know). I feel like a kid again. There goes my lunch money for the next 30 days.

Having fun is a great thing!

Musky1011 · March 19, 2017 1:06PM

Type coins

bronco2078 · March 19, 2017 2:32PM

With 200 in hand to invest I would go down to my local coin guy and buy 10 raw morgan dollars.

hchcoin · March 19, 2017 2:48PM

I think now is a great time to get back into coin collecting. There are some series that are way down with prices that I can't believe. I am having a blast buying the last couple of weeks in a series that is down so much I can't help myself.

Zoins · March 19, 2017 2:55PM

@hchcoin said:
I think now is a great time to get back into coin collecting. There are some series that are way down with prices that I can't believe. I am having a blast buying the last couple of weeks in a series that is down so much I can't help myself.

While some series are way down, I still feel some of them are overpriced when looking at available supply. Limited supply relative to demand is a good thing for future health of the series.

JOsborne · March 19, 2017 3:11PM

Neither. Buy CLCT stock instead.

hchcoin · March 19, 2017 3:14PM

@JOsborne said:
Neither. Buy CLCT stock instead.

That's not as shiny for the kids

bronco2078 · March 19, 2017 4:11PM

@JOsborne said:
Neither. Buy CLCT stock instead.

Back again?

roadrunner · March 19, 2017 5:16PM

Somewhere down the road silver coins will have another hey day. So I'd lean towards 90% silver coins (Mercs, Walkers, Washingtons, Franklins) at melt or raw Gem BU ASE's in an album. You always have the silver to fall back on. Circ silver dollars by date (no keys) are not a bad idea either.

With a small investment of $200 a year, which is better? Set of MS67 state quarters or ASE MS&PR70

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