Any "Lowball" Gold collectors . . . ?

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ZoidMeister
ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭

I've been curious about this for a while. I wish that I had an example to start this thread out properly (I think), but I don't.

I've always been curious if a softer metal like gold ever circulated enough to render wear in the P1 to G4 range. Lots of folks have posted up copper and silver pieces with that level of wear as a part of their "lowball" collections. That even inspired me to pick up the commemoratives below.

I always see stellar gold being posted up, but not much below VF. Does anyone have and pursue "lowball" gold? Post it up if you do . . .

Something akin to these . . . ?

Thanks in advance.

Z
.

.

Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

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  • gumby1234
    gumby1234 Posts: 5,901 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I think most gold did not circulate enough to be lowball coins. There was a recent thread about lightweight gold coins being stamped with an L and bought for less money when turned in. I think most people realized worn gold meant it wasn't worth face value anymore.

    Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM

  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I recall seeing a couple of worn gold coins at shows in Seattle area.... I do not find low ball coins (of any metal) appealing though. Most likely, really worn gold coins were pocket pieces, not worn from commerce. Cheers, RickO

  • lkenefic
    lkenefic Posts: 9,518 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I'll collect certain low-ball pieces but they're usually "stoppers" for a series... for Large Cents that's 1793, 1799, and 1804. These are the three dates I never acquired because I couldn't wrap my mind around spending over 4-figures on coins with such little remaining detail that it takes an expert to identify them. I suppose it comes down to how one collects... I'm more of a Type collector, so I want there to be as much detail on the coin as I can reasonably afford...

    Collecting: Dansco 7070; Middle Date Large Cents (VF-AU); Box of 20;

    Successful BST transactions with: SilverEagles92; Ahrensdad; Smitty; GregHansen; Lablade; Mercury10c; copperflopper; whatsup; KISHU1; scrapman1077, crispy, canadanz, smallchange, robkool, Mission16, ranshdow, ibzman350, Fallguy, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, jwitten, Walkerguy21D, dsessom.
  • asheland
    asheland Posts: 24,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Kinda miss it a little. :'(

  • Dorkis
    Dorkis Posts: 22 ✭✭
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    @mark_dak said:
    It's funny, I think I just posted this one up yesterday for the first time on another thread. Not quite a low ball but this one is mine and a real difficult one to come by. I'm glad nobody stamped an L on it! Some day it may get upgraded if those Lotto numbers will ever cooperate.


    Love well circulated gold. That one sets my heart a flutter.

  • gumby1234
    gumby1234 Posts: 5,901 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I do not even understand the lowball collectors mindset. Unless they can't afford a better specimen. I think the lowball collectors are financially stable thou. What next registry sets of bent and scratched coins? LOL

    Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM

  • MilesWaits
    MilesWaits Posts: 5,597 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I don’t have any gold coins that are as worn as yours (very cool by the way) although do I do have a $10 gold Indian that I carry around in my wallet.
    As far as current lowball that would be any gold spouse coin for me!

    Now riding the swell in PM's and surf.
  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,935 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I try to avoid being “a low ball gold collector.” I owned a Charlotte $5 gold coin in VF-25 once. I came to dislike the piece and sold it for a loss. My attitude is “never again.” If I can’t afford a nice piece of gold in “my EF-45,” I won’t own it. I don’t find low grade gold attractive, except that 1858-S $5 in VG-10 is a rare exception.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @gumby1234 said:
    I do not even understand the lowball collectors mindset. Unless they can't afford a better specimen. I think the lowball collectors are financially stable thou. What next registry sets of bent and scratched coins? LOL

    .
    Hey, if you can't get "braggin' rights" at the top, you might as well go for them at the bottom, right?

    Z

    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • KentuckyJ
    KentuckyJ Posts: 1,871 ✭✭✭
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  • moursund
    moursund Posts: 3,207 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Nobody mentioned coin 'sweating' yet... was this not common with US issues? I would think it to result in some gnarly (although maybe not so worn down) gold...

    100th pint of blood donated 7/19/2022 B) . Transactions with WilliamF, Relaxn, LukeMarshal, jclovescoins, braddick, JWP, Weather11am, Fairlaneman, Dscoins, lordmarcovan, Collectorcoins, SurfinxHI, JimW. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
  • Smudge
    Smudge Posts: 10,001 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @gumby1234 said:
    I do not even understand the lowball collectors mindset. Unless they can't afford a better specimen. I think the lowball collectors are financially stable thou. What next registry sets of bent and scratched coins? LOL

    I don’t collect lowballs either, but perhaps the challenge is to find a coin with that much wear that doesn’t detail.

  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @davewesen said:
    I like them and there are registry sets for them - some of mine ....

    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @pocketpiececommems said:

    One of my favorites

    Simply Awesome . . . . . .

    Z

    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • savitale
    savitale Posts: 1,410 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I like circulated coins that actually were used in “real life” so I have considered gold in the XF range. But my impression (which could be wrong) is that gold didn’t really change hands in commerce that much. So gold coins in very low grade probably didn’t get that way through “honest” wear, which kind of kills it for me.

  • pmh1nic
    pmh1nic Posts: 3,503 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    When I think lowball gold i'm thinking lower end MS and AU or branch mint XF. I like something with some luster and pretty fully detail.

    The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice is it possible for an empire to rise without His aid? Benjamin Franklin
  • pocketpiececommems
    pocketpiececommems Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Yep. Hard to find good lowball gold

  • WCC
    WCC Posts: 3,322 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    It's somewhat different for gold coinage due to the metal value, but my inference is that the interest in lowball collecting generally initially came about because the coins most of these buyers buy are common and they have limited budgets. Might be somewhat different now since these coins are worth more than many in higher quality.

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,757 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I've seen low ball coins with the green CAC sticker. I always wondered if the value of a low ball coin is hurt by a gold CAC sticker.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • vulcanize
    vulcanize Posts: 1,418 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Have a few that were formerly jewelry pieces but not as worn out like some of them in the pics posted in here.

  • bob48
    bob48 Posts: 466 ✭✭✭
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    @PerryHall said:
    I've seen low ball coins with the green CAC sticker. I always wondered if the value of a low ball coin is hurt by a gold CAC sticker.

    I have a SLQ low ball set and have always wondered about the gold CAC sticker on a low ball coin.
    Is my FR02 coin with a gold CAC really a AG03 grade.
    Maybe a black CAC sticker for a low ball down grade by a point.

    Bob

    *
  • DCW
    DCW Posts: 7,876 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Thing is: any coin with enough time can go down to basal state.
    But they can't regain detail.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • Omegaraptor
    Omegaraptor Posts: 541 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    One of my local coin dealers owns a 1910 Saint in AG. Unfortunately I don't have a picture.

    Probably the pocket piece of a very wealthy person at some point.

    "You can't get just one gun." "You can't get just one tattoo." "You can't get just one 1796 Draped Bust Large Cent."

  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    wow, Wow, WOW . . .

    Great coins. Keep them coming . . .

    Z

    @steveben said:
    yep

    1875-cc $20

    1857-o $5

    (no longer own the 57-o)

    @steveben said:
    how can i forget this one:

    i love this coin...no longer own it though.

    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Dave99B said:
    Love me some old well-used gold.

    Dave

    Sweet one!

    Z

    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • Dave99B
    Dave99B Posts: 8,947 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Another ‘gem’ added to the stack via GC.

    Dave

    Always looking for original, better date VF20-VF35 Barber quarters and halves, and a quality beer.
  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Awesome @Dave99B !

    Thanks for resurrecting this thread!

    Z

    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • pocketpiececommems
    pocketpiececommems Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    This thread is like a magnet if you like lowball gold

  • ZoidMeister
    ZoidMeister Posts: 3,145 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Love your registry sets.

    Z
    .

    .

    @pocketpiececommems said:
    This thread is like a magnet if you like lowball gold

    My fledgling attempt.


    Busy chasing Carr's . . . . . woof!

    Successful BST transactions with: Bullsitter, Downtown1974, P0CKETCHANGE, Twobitcollector, AKbeez, DCW, Illini420, ProofCollection, DCarr, Cazkaboom, RichieURich, LukeMarshall, carew4me, BustDMs, coinsarefun, PreTurb, felinfoal, jwitten, GoldenEgg, pruebas, lazybones, COCollector, CuKevin, MWallace, USMC_6115, NamVet69, zippcity, jshaulis, . . . . who'd I forget?

  • BillJones
    BillJones Posts: 35,935 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 27, 2021 5:58AM
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    @pmh1nic said:
    When I think lowball gold i'm thinking lower end MS and AU or branch mint XF. I like something with some luster and pretty fully detail.

    When I see some of the early and Classic Head pieces that the really big collectors post here, I start to think that I am “a low ball gold collector.” It took me 60 years to get where I am, and I feel like a beginner when I see that material.

    BTW, the wear pattern on the very low grade Pan-PAC $2.50 is very interesting. Of course coins like that can only be created from long term pocket piece use, not general circulation.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,757 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @BillJones said:

    @pmh1nic said:
    When I think lowball gold i'm thinking lower end MS and AU or branch mint XF. I like something with some luster and pretty fully detail.

    When I see some of the early and Classic Head pieces that the really big collectors post here, I start to think that I am “a ball ball gold collector.” It took me 60 years to get where I am, and I feel like a beginner when I see that material.

    BTW, the wear pattern on the very low grade Pan-PAC $2.50 is very interesting. Of course coins like that can only be created from long term pocket piece use, not general circulation.

    Saying that you're "a ball ball gold collector" sounds a little kinky. :o
    You may want to change that to "low ball gold collector". ;)

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • pocketpiececommems
    pocketpiececommems Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @habaraca said:
    not graded but maybe soon, I use it as a card protector while playing poker.......


    Did you get this one graded?

  • pocketpiececommems
    pocketpiececommems Posts: 6,093 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    That 1910–S Saint has the perfect look 👀

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