Home U.S. Coin Forum

Please help me understand what a "widget" is and what is "dreck". Post photos either!!

Coin FinderCoin Finder Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭✭✭

I don't think I have any but would love to see yours!!

Comments

  • MrSliderMrSlider Posts: 142 ✭✭✭

    i usually dont bother to keep photos of dreck on hand :wink:

    Ive got a bunch of dinged up proof quarters from 70s and 80s I cant get rid of..... dreck.

    Ive got a few MS63 Common Date Morgans.... widgets.

    https://tinyurl.com/wbuh7ba (Search PCGS on ebay)

  • gtstanggtstang Posts: 1,778 ✭✭✭✭✭

    A widget is something available to the masses and dreck is widget muck or so that's how I think of it.

  • AotearoaAotearoa Posts: 1,557 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is dreck. I still don't know what I was thinking (or not thinking) at the time...

    Smitten with DBLCs.

  • ARCOARCO Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 3, 2018 8:50PM

    Choice and desirable coins are what I think I am buying, Widgets and dreck is what they really are. :)

  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,663 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Strongly dislike the terms, but think a widget is: a coin that if you sold one, you could instantly replace it on eBay with an essentially identical example.

    Dreck is: slabbed coin that by consensus here or among other informed group, is overgraded, possibly because of "issues"

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • WalkerfanWalkerfan Posts: 9,747 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Widgets are common coins regardless of the grade.

    Dreck is something that either has issues, lacks eye appeal or is overgraded.

    Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍

    My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/

  • SanctionIISanctionII Posts: 12,615 ✭✭✭✭✭

    This is a widget.

    A very nice widget, but still a widget.


  • ashelandasheland Posts: 23,755 ✭✭✭✭✭

    All of my collection basically. :D

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    The definitions supplied above cover the spectrum of each category...The terms are derogatory in nature, and, in fact, insult a vast number of hobby collectors. There absolutely is a high level of coin quality, grade and rarity. However, those 'super' coins are not found in most collections. Cheers, RickO

  • BryceMBryceM Posts: 11,858 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 4, 2018 11:41AM

    This is dreck:

    image

    This is a widget:

    image

    One is something that nobody should really be collecting, and one is something that is nice enough, but dreadfully common and requires no effort to obtain. In many series, there are a handful of key dates that are difficult to find and a bunch of common stuff to fill the rest of the holes.

    The Sac dollar lives in my dollar type set. Let's just say the Small Eagle dollars were a bit more difficult.

    In the context of big national dealers, this is also a widget (hopefully not dreck). Another date at the same grade might be a tremendous treasure. In the context of my local club, this coin would qualify as a "NATIONAL TREASURE."

    image

  • RedSealsRedSeals Posts: 279 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 4, 2018 12:27PM

    I agree with what most posters are saying. This is what I think each are:

    Widget = Common date but still collectible coin thats is easily attainable in MS62-66 (Such as Morgans, Saints, etc)

    Dreck = Anything that can be acquired from Modern Mint Sets (excluding the few rare errors)anything in bargain bins (sorry cherrypickers), pretty much any slabbed ultra common coins (For example a 2017 American Silver Eagle in MS69 - although some might consider this a widget, 1967 Washington Quarter in MS64)

    Successful BST Transactions with: PerryHall, MrSlider, Cent1225, SurfinxHI, Blu62vette, robkool, gowithmygut, coinlieutenant, Downtown1974, MilesWaits, Shrub68, justindan

  • Insider2Insider2 Posts: 14,452 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Aotearoa said:
    This is dreck. I still don't know what I was thinking (or not thinking) at the time...

    Thanks for all the answers, as now I understand the common usage. Nevertheless, what each of us thinks depends on a lot of things. That's because I've learned that one man's "Dreck" is another man's "Widget." We have to collect what is available and what we can afford. :)

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,615 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Show me your schlock.

  • fivecentsfivecents Posts: 11,207 ✭✭✭✭✭

  • BuffaloIronTailBuffaloIronTail Posts: 7,547 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @PerryHall said:
    A widget is a common date coin that can be easily found and purchased. Dreck means filth, trash, crap, etc and comes from the Yiddish word "drek". When a dealer uses this term he or she is usually referring to someone else's coins.

    Of course! NEVER EVER use "Dreck" on your stuff!

    The word itself just sounds bad (like "wreck").

    I use it on my stuff all the time, being a "common" collector.

    Sincerely,

    Shrek

    "I tell them there's no problems.....only solutions" - John Lennon
  • Cougar1978Cougar1978 Posts: 8,782 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 6, 2018 7:51AM

    It is dealer slang for competing dealers material especially if priced lower than their heavily marked up stuff. They may bash it in their marketing flyer / newsletters or their elitist attitude that they are some kind of coin land god and you should just buy from them lol.

    Investor
  • specialistspecialist Posts: 956 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Bill Jones hit it right on the nose with his description. One thing to add: price is not involved. You can have a dreck High relief

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file