Which would you rather have?
MidLifeCrisis
Posts: 10,565 ✭✭✭✭✭
1) A high-end type set of US key dates (09-S VDB Lincoln, 16-D Mercury Dime, 93-S Morgan, etc.)
2) A high-end type set of colonial coins (coins that circulated in early America, as defined by the Red Book and/or PCGS Registry)...but they include super-rarities (R6 and R7).
The key dates are generally more well-known and popular, but practically none of them are rare.
The colonials are much more rare and historical, but much less popular or known.
(I forgot how to create a poll, but I would rather get your responses, thoughts and reasons for your choice anyway. So a poll is not necessary.)
3
Comments
Definitely #2 for me……although I personally own a lot more of #1 at the moment.
1
Colonial coins feature many examples that are great designs, but collecting them isn't attractive to me. My choice is 1 - mint made stuff.
Similarly, I could get a super rare collection of foreign coins, but the value would be in what I could sell them for so I could buy coins I’ve read and dreamt about for the last 30 years (option 1)
2 for me as well. Again there's some good rich history out there to be had like this 🫡
A high end set of Early United States of American coins would be nice. Do you consider them Colonial coins?
I certainly prefer door #3 to #1. Not a series collector so many other choices are preferred over #1.
I like option #3 also. Early United States coins 1794 (or 1792) to 1838
A variation of #2, I guess?
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Interesting; but, are values in the Wild, Wild West?
2, for sure, out of those 2 choices.
Mr_Spud
Looking for Top Pop Mercury Dime Varieties & High Grade Mercury Dime Toners.
The added option 3 early US type would be my preference, but back to the OPs options, I think #2 would be interesting.
And I’ve long coveted an Elephant token, (even the common London variety is fine), so I’d probably start with that one.
As a preference, I'd opt for the Op's #2 as well. I'm definitely much more drawn to Early Type because of its rarity... finding an 09-S VDB or a 1916-D Merc at any major show is fairly straightforward... try finding a 1796 Quarter or Half (SE) at that same show and you'd be hard pressed...
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.
Perhaps, but my answer remains the same even on a budget. Plenty of fun stuff sub <5k.
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
I was referring to Pioneer gold. Your last two examples are pretty mainstream (and very nice).
I would need a better definition of 'high end' in each choice.
In any decent quality, colonials any day over common 20th century US key dates.
Very nice @PeakRarities Really like that $10 1860 Pike's Peak. One of my favorite territorial designs.
Successful BST with drddm, BustDMs, Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
I would need more defined parameters. I could make either option very interesting if allowed a bit of latitude. Is a 1804 dollar considered an option in the “key date” set? Most of the most valuable coins in the world fit your key date description.
I do like colonials though. Again, a specific definition would be necessary
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
I would choose the colonials since they have more interesting designs and history than the key date type set. I also think my dollar could go farther with colonials. Owning a 1916-D dime gives me no more pleasure than another date in the series. I’d rather that the coin itself have a compelling feature beyond mintage rarity. Interesting toning, die cracks, off center or double strikes, cuds, etc would be my choice.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Colonials, bar (cent) none.
Key Dates?
A (1916-D) dime a dozen.
peacockcoins
2 - I love the Colonial coins...
K
2 for me though the coins don’t have to be “high-end”, but choice for the grade.
1
God comes first in everything I do. I’m dedicated to serving Him with my whole life. Coin collecting is just a hobby—but even in that, I seek to honor Him. ✝️
Easiest question ever, absolutely, positively #2!
Key dates are mostly readily available, even in high grade, just expensive.
But I hate colonials....so key dates it is.
Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm considering jumping back into the deep end of the colonial pool again.
Thanks Tom, mine too. 🫠
Founder- Peak Rarities
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Colonials, hands down. Such a cool period of history - individual colonies, not even united. Especially with the 250 year anniversary coming up.
But also love the dream of frontier gold, or at least cool pre-civil war seated liberties. There is something cool about an original 1850s S anything.
You asked, so I'll give you my answer.
Since I don't have the money to get either on my own, my answer is simple: If someone is offering one or the other to me, I would prefer the one that is more valuable. In addition to the obvious reason, a "collection" that I didn't work for is largely meaningless to me, except as a repository of value; so I may as well take the larger repository. The major part of the pleasure I get out of this hobby is simply the chase; without a chase, it's an empty acquisition, for me.
I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose to do. Life doesn't always have to be made of one way streets. I did see in another thread that the Redbook series is coming out with a book on Territorial Coins. the thread is titled "New Whitman Books" or something like that. for what I know, they may also have a book on Colonials. I have always found thast series of books very helpful at least as a starting point. You can always study both that way. James