When I was 11 I got a paper route. My parents made me save half of what I made towards college, but did give me permission to spend $250 of the first $350 I made on a coin. I bought a BU 1899 $10 Eagle. I walked into the store with a huge wad of $1 bills, and even though I was 11 I was short and looked even younger. I think everyone in the store jaws dropped when I pulled out that wad of cash to pay for it!
Now move ahead 12 years... My first purchase over $400 was a 64rd 09-s vdb for $1500, and then like 2 weeks after that I bought an au-55 1856 Flying Eagle for $7200.
My first one was a $4000 combo: 3 Morgans: 1881-O NGC-65, a 1900 NGC-66, and a 1921-S in PCGS-65 from Ellesmere back in 1999. It was a great example of how doing PART of your homework can be dangerous!
1938-S NGC MS68 Washington Quarter for $7k...........its was more than triple the amount I spent on any other quarter in my set.....I gulped when I saw it, I gulped when I agreed to buy it, I gulped when I paid for it, and I was still gulping a week later! It was 3 or 4 years after that prchase that I was able to pay that much (or more) for a single coin.
Craig If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
My first big time ( over $1,000.00 ) was a 1900 PCGS MS64 Liberty $20 I won off eBay from the legendary Legend for about $1245.00. Since then I've gone totally nuts on Platinum Bullion. Got 2 of those 2004 $100 Platinum Proofs ( from the Mint) and a bunch of 2005 BU First Strikes off eBay.
I'm seriously thinking of selling off a bunch of stuff and getting a really nice 1700's Silver Dollar. Maybe I'll totally let loose and crack the $10,000.00 barrier.
What the heck - it's only money. I've always wanted a nice old Silver Dollar - so why the heck not? Better to have at least one really cool Coin instead of a bunch of flotsam - right?
Guess I better learn to grade first. I'd hate to get an MS60 1798 and then find out it was really an AU55. I don't have that much confidence in those TPG's to totally trust the number - and I sure as heck need a Coin in a slab to protect against counterfeits.
The 72 DDO in this pic. Picked it up at the Salt Lake City ANA winter show a few years back in 2000? The SBA was the second pig purchase that I had made and at the same show. Before that, it was probably spending $50 on a 1995 DDO lincoln.
I'm seriously thinking of selling off a bunch of stuff and getting a really nice 1700's Silver Dollar. Maybe I'll totally let loose and crack the $10,000.00 barrier.
wait till you pull the trigger on 25k, thats a deffinate heart knocker, but also note by then your hooked
Probably the first that was outside my normal budget at the time was an 1877-S half eagle in PCGS AU50. It was decade ago or so and, by that, in an old holder (green tag). Should have sent it in for an upgrade as I lost money on the piece when I sold it in auction recently enough. Nice coin to have while I did anyway and that's a big part of what it's all about. Now for the really big $$$, that's another game entirely.
The first big coin I ever bought was a 1938 PF68 Jefferson... my heart was pumping on that one... and it will be the last coin I ever sell...
Steve
U.S. Air Force Security Forces Retired
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
A nice Oregon was on my list of coins I must have that I could actually afford when I picked this up at the October PAN show. It's at PCGS right now and may end up toe tagged due to the weirdness on the rim. I paid too much at $375 out of haste, so regardless of what happens with this coin, whether it is body bagged or graded MS65 (powerball odds) I will always treat it as a lesson learned.
Im sorry I got a email saying I was a smart bleep. The First Coin the I bought was 2 sets of the 1995 anniv AMERICAN EAGLE SET, back 9 years ago for $850.00 each, I couldn't believe that they are worth $9k, I'm thinking about selling them soon before the bottom falls out. What do you think, keep them long term. I have 5 more years before my son turns 16, he wants a jeep, I don't know if they will climb or not in this hobby, I know I have some nice gold in the set too, but how in the world does a 1995 W american bullion coin make so much profit? Oh well that was my first buy, it was for the gold only, I almost broke up the set and sent in for grading.
Mine was a 1928 St. Gaudens $20 back in 1978 for around $350. From the first time I had seen a picture of one I wanted one. I used the Christmas tips from my paper route to pay for it.
Watch the mirror count the lines The battle scars of all the good times
My first "BIG" coin purchase was almost my last purchase. As a 16 year old I purchased an 1893-S Morgan that ended up being an "added mintmark" piece. This was back in the late 60's. Luckilly I was ablee to recoup my investment and the piece was pulled off the market.
<< <i>My first "BIG" coin purchase was almost my last purchase. As a 16 year old I purchased an 1893-S Morgan that ended up being an "added mintmark" piece. This was back in the late 60's. Luckilly I was ablee to recoup my investment and the piece was pulled off the market. >>
Your experience was not uncommon. So much for the good old days before TPGS's.
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
bought this early last year for $900.. NGC G-4. In hindsight I wish I would have went all out and really stretched my budget, since JJ teaparty had a bunch to choose from... still, this was the best coin of the 4 that were under $1275. I ended up buying another one from them that they listed on ebay, PCGS G-4, for the same price. I figured I could turn right around and sell it for $1000 which I could have, so it was a good deal. I've still have two of these coins.
<< <i>The first time I ever spent $1000 on a coin was an 1892 Morgan PCGS 63 DMPL. I sold it 4 years later for 4x what I paid. >>
That's really nice. I am sitting on a monster set of DMPLs and am not sure if it is a mistake to hold onto them still. The collector in me wants to hold and complete the set (only a few more to go and only 2 serious dates among them). OTOH, the folks asking for me to consign them do make a good point on the profit.
As for my really big purchase it was a pair of coins: the 1901 PCGS MS61DMPL dollar and an 1892-O NGC MS64DPL dollar, both spectacular but representing a typical downpayment on a house.
First biggy was a raw Morgan 1893S described by Bowers as F12. It went VF25 at PCGS--but I was just happy it graded since I didn't know what I was doing years ago.
Comments
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
Now move ahead 12 years... My first purchase over $400 was a 64rd 09-s vdb for $1500, and then like 2 weeks after that I bought an au-55 1856 Flying Eagle for $7200.
Another reason I don't like Morgans.
The name is LEE!
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
I'm seriously thinking of selling off a bunch of stuff and getting a really nice 1700's Silver Dollar. Maybe I'll totally let loose and crack the $10,000.00 barrier.
What the heck - it's only money. I've always wanted a nice old Silver Dollar - so why the heck not? Better to have at least one really cool Coin instead of a bunch of flotsam - right?
Guess I better learn to grade first. I'd hate to get an MS60 1798 and then find out it was really an AU55. I don't have that much confidence in those TPG's to totally trust the number - and I sure as heck need a Coin in a slab to protect against counterfeits.
The SBA was the second pig purchase that I had made and at the same show. Before that, it was probably spending $50 on a 1995 DDO lincoln.
wait till you pull the trigger on 25k, thats a deffinate heart knocker, but also note by then your hooked
Go BIG or GO HOME. ©Bill
-Daniel
-Aristotle
Dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas. Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero.
-Horace
Philippines Set
NSDR - Life Member
SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member
Steve
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
$2650.00 for it.
Oscar Wilde
Collect for the love of the hobby, the beauty of the coins, and enjoy the ride.
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
A nice Oregon was on my list of coins I must have that I could actually afford when I picked this up at the October PAN show. It's at PCGS right now and may end up toe tagged due to the weirdness on the rim. I paid too much at $375 out of haste, so regardless of what happens with this coin, whether it is body bagged or graded MS65 (powerball odds) I will always treat it as a lesson learned.
The battle scars of all the good times
As a 16 year old I purchased an 1893-S Morgan that ended up
being an "added mintmark" piece. This was back in the late 60's.
Luckilly I was ablee to recoup my investment and the piece was
pulled off the market.
<< <i>My first "BIG" coin purchase was almost my last purchase.
As a 16 year old I purchased an 1893-S Morgan that ended up
being an "added mintmark" piece. This was back in the late 60's.
Luckilly I was ablee to recoup my investment and the piece was
pulled off the market. >>
Your experience was not uncommon. So much for the good old days before TPGS's.
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
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>The first time I ever spent $1000 on a coin was an 1892 Morgan PCGS 63 DMPL. I sold it 4 years later for 4x what I paid.
That's really nice. I am sitting on a monster set of DMPLs and am not sure if it is a mistake to hold onto them still. The collector in me wants to hold and complete the set (only a few more to go and only 2 serious dates among them). OTOH, the folks asking for me to consign them do make a good point on the profit.
As for my really big purchase it was a pair of coins: the 1901 PCGS MS61DMPL dollar and an 1892-O NGC MS64DPL dollar, both spectacular but representing a typical downpayment on a house.
NSDR - Life Member
SSDC - Life Member
ANA - Pay As I Go Member