Poll: Have you spent more for a coin than a car?

RYK · January 21, 2007 2:58AM

Coins and cars...cars and coins. As a hobby, they seem to attract some of the same participants. Oreville opined in another thread that some of these cars posted here are pretty expensive. My guess is that most forum folks generally spend more on a car than on a single coin, but I will disclose that I spent more on a single coin last year than each of the last two cars that I purchased (but not the two combined). Overall, though, most of the coins I buy are considerably less in price/value than any car I would feel comfortably driving. On to the poll...

Barndog · January 21, 2007 3:07AM

I did not think that I would be in the minority by spending less on a coin than a car. My car cost me $18K new, perhaps the rest of you are driving "big wheels" to work?

19Lyds · January 21, 2007 3:08AM

Absolutely!

My very first car cost $25 and I shared it with my brother! A 1952 Plymouth straight 6, 4 door sedan!

Cladiator · January 21, 2007 3:16AM

Yes but realize that I once bought a car for $120.00

TWQG · January 21, 2007 3:16AM

TMI

jdimmick · January 21, 2007 3:18AM

I have on a few occasions spent more on a coin.

alfalfa · January 21, 2007 3:22AM

I voted "Yes," but my first two cars were only $500 and $1000 respectively.

RJ

sweetwilliet · January 21, 2007 3:23AM

No, but my current truck has a book value of about a whopping 3k, so if I sold it, I might be able to buy one really nice coin and that's about it. Maybe a happy meal, too, if I was lucky.

ColonialCoinUnion · January 21, 2007 3:24AM

Comparing the cost of a coin to car is less troubling than comparing that same coin to the cost of a college education, for example.

Unknown · January 21, 2007 3:24AM

This content has been removed.

291fifth · January 21, 2007 3:26AM

My first car cost $600 (a used 1967 Mustang). I've spent more than that on coins...but not until well after the Mustang had been sold again...for $200.

rays · January 21, 2007 3:29AM

<< Comparing the cost of a coin to car is less troubling than comparing that same coin to the cost of a college education, for example. >>

There's been quite an escalation in the cost of an education over the last coupla decades. I spent more for this 1796 half cent than my 8 years of college and professional school combined.

compromonedas · January 21, 2007 3:29AM

<< Spent more $$$$ on my wife's car then any of my coins >>

Spent more on my wife that my cars or my coins together

mgoodm3 · January 21, 2007 3:35AM

No.

razzle · January 21, 2007 3:37AM

I bought a '54 Ford for $400 in 1963; an immaculate '58 Dodge ( push-button trans ) for $800 in 1964. We still drive the 1970 VW my wife's parents bought her new for $1699.

Even the Ford cost me more than any coin I've ever bought... until yesterday. I offered $450 for an incredible 62 Franklin PFDC. It's not just a single coin, though. The display includes a few other Frankies and some Buff nickels. My only real reason for offering is the DC above. It's too risky for me to buy expensive coins, I just don't know enough about them, or grading. In spite of that, I think this one will go 67 ( or better? ). I'll know in couple days if I got it, in which case I'll be joining the club to submit it.

Thanks for asking a very interesting question that took me back a few years.

raz

Barndog · January 21, 2007 3:44AM

so either people missed the specifics of the poll (your LAST or NEXT TO LAST car) or this has turned out to be an old car thread. If the latter is true:

67 Plymouth Scamp: $200 in 1982. More bondo than metal.

RYK · January 21, 2007 3:45AM

<< Spent more $$$$ on my wife's car then any of my coins >>

Ditto. Gotta keep the wife happy.

Cladiator · January 21, 2007 3:52AM

Laura, you're the bomb!

500Bay · January 21, 2007 4:13AM

<< Other, please explain. >>

Not yet.....

Someday, hopefully.

fcloud · January 21, 2007 4:20AM

The Chevelle in my sig line cost me $2000 in 1986. Yes. I have a few coins that cost more.

LucyBop · January 21, 2007 4:20AM

Coins and Cars?

weird people.......

fcloud · January 21, 2007 4:21AM

<< Coins and Cars?

weird people....... >>

They both start with "C"

Zoins · January 21, 2007 4:32AM

Not yet. I'd probably need a collection of cars before I consider spending more for a coin.

mozeppa · January 21, 2007 4:33AM

Lucy you're a hoot at times!

DennisH · January 21, 2007 4:42AM

Near the end of my freshman year in college I bought a 1966 Corvette convertible 327cid/350hp 4spd from a dealer friend of my mom's for just $1300. It was a stock, problem-free driver that I enjoyed like crazy for about two years and made good money on when I sold it.

I've spent more for a coin many times, but I wish I still had the car.

Jcarney · January 21, 2007 4:45AM

I haven't spent more money on a coin than for my current car, but I have spent more for single coins (actually multiples of) than I spent on my first few cars.

LincolnCentMan · January 21, 2007 5:05AM

Have I spent more on a coin than what I have personally spent on a car? No. Have I spent more on a coin than some people spend on a car? Yes.

-David

tjkillian · January 21, 2007 5:17AM

My last car I bought new in 1998, so no, I've not spent more than that on a coin. Now my first five cars all cost less than $500, so I've had many coins that cost more than I've paid for a car.

pcgs69 · January 21, 2007 5:37AM

Mixing coins and cars! Somehow my buddy is immortalized in this pic and not me. Go figure. I no longer have this car though

But no, none of my coins cost more money than my last car.

(removed image, felt sketchy leaving my old license plate up there)

ColonialCoinUnion · January 21, 2007 5:45AM

<< Mixing coins and cars! Somehow my buddy is immortalized in this pic and not me. Go figure. I no longer have this car though

But no, none of my coins cost more money than my last car.

>>

You may as well just leave a PCGS blue box of coins on the passenger seat when you park it.

cladking · January 21, 2007 5:52AM

<< Absolutely!

My very first car cost $25 and I shared it with my brother! A 1952 Plymouth straight 6, 4 door sedan! >>

Dang you're cheap. I splurged and bought a '63 slant 6 just for myself @ $50.

JRocco · January 21, 2007 6:07AM

More than my first car---oh yeah, but not more than my last, or next car.

fcloud · January 21, 2007 6:36AM

Oh, I just remembered. I bought a car for $50 once.

RichieURich · January 21, 2007 10:25AM

<< 

<< Comparing the cost of a coin to car is less troubling than comparing that same coin to the cost of a college education, for example. >>

There's been quite an escalation in the cost of an education over the last coupla decades. I spent more for this 1796 half cent than my 8 years of college and professional school combined.

>>

Rays, a SUPER half cent!

You did very well buying this coin. And its value has increased over time, not decreased over time like the normal car.

DHeath · January 21, 2007 10:54AM

Which car Robert?

My cars......

MrSpud · January 21, 2007 11:32AM

I've spent more on every coin I ever bought than I paid for my car. Click on this link Link and click on the "Meet the Winner" banner to see why

Fairlaneman · January 21, 2007 11:48AM

<< Oh, I just remembered. I bought a car for $50 once. >>

I sold my first car for 35 bucks. It was a 55 Chevy 2 door hardtop......

Ken

LucyBop · January 21, 2007 11:51AM

<< 

<< Oh, I just remembered. I bought a car for $50 once. >>

I sold my first car for 35 bucks. It was a 55 Chevy 2 door hardtop......

Ken >>

Dooooooooooooh!

Lakesammman · January 21, 2007 12:17PM

Yes. And 3 years ago I sold 2 pennies and bought a floatplane.

perfectstrike · January 21, 2007 2:22PM

Absolutely, my first car cost $100 and my first new car was only $2995.

David

Aegis3 · January 21, 2007 4:44PM

I voted "other", as I've been fortunate enough to live carless so far. In any case, more money for coins.

notwilight · January 21, 2007 4:54PM

Why is everyone posting what their first car cost when the poll specificly says your last or next to last car. Those two cars cost $43k and $20k for me. If we count motorcycles the last 4 were $3.5k, $5k, $8k, and $1.1k so I guess I have bought coins more expensive than my last motorcycle but not even close to my last car.

--Jerry

lordmarcovan · January 21, 2007 4:59PM

Yes. In my past, I have had some truly crappy cars, including a $400 Subaru.

The most I have spent on a coin is probably in the $900 range, with the most expensive coin I've sold fetching somewhere in the $1,200 to $1,400 range.

Of course my $400-dispose-a-car and $900 coin buying days are from different periods in my life, when I occupied different rungs of the socioeconomic food chain. I'm still fairly low on that food chain, compared to many, but I suppose I'm in the middle range overall. I'm still a working schmuck who has to keep a "real" job to pay the bills.

I still have never owned a new car, and the 1994 Dodge van I've driven for the past five years or so (which I crumpled the front end on in a minor accident earlier this month), is still the "newest" vehicle I've ever owned, and the most expensive (cost $7K when I bought it).

lathmach · January 21, 2007 10:22PM

Sure, but that's because I've bought a lot of cars for $50.
That was a fair price for a used car that was still drivable back in the 50's and 60's.
My first car was a 51 Olds I paid $50 for, my second a 51 Chevy I got for $50.

Ray

RYK · January 21, 2007 11:04PM

<< Why is everyone posting what their first car cost when the poll specificly says your last or next to last car. Those two cars cost $43k and $20k for me. If we count motorcycles the last 4 were $3.5k, $5k, $8k, and $1.1k so I guess I have bought coins more expensive than my last motorcycle but not even close to my last car.

--Jerry >>

You are correct, but folks are having fun with it, and we are reading a lot of interesting stories. I never knew that there was a time you could ever buy a car for $50!

Longacre · January 21, 2007 11:09PM

Mrs. Longacre would beat me like a red-headed stepchild if I ever bought a coin that costs as much as a car.

However, she does not have any trouble justifying incurring a similar amount for window treatments for the house.

MajorDuty · January 22, 2007 2:54AM

Shoot, some on here have paid more for a coin than some houses!

notwilight · January 22, 2007 3:24AM

<< 

<< Why is everyone posting what their first car cost when the poll specificly says your last or next to last car. Those two cars cost $43k and $20k for me. If we count motorcycles the last 4 were $3.5k, $5k, $8k, and $1.1k so I guess I have bought coins more expensive than my last motorcycle but not even close to my last car. --Jerry >>

You are correct, but folks are having fun with it, and we are reading a lot of interesting stories. I never knew that there was a time you could ever buy a car for $50!

>>

I grew up poor. The list of cars I've owned for less than $500 is long but not very interesting...

Tonedbuff · January 22, 2007 3:52AM

Well, if you include the allowance for time gaps... my first car was a 1974 AMC sportabout wagon (yeah, it was embarrasing). cost $700 in great condition.
I do have a handful of coins that cost more than that.
Now, in terms of recent cars... no coins even come close. If I had a payment of $550 per month on a coin I'd kill myself

Baley · January 22, 2007 4:09AM

My current car was more expensive than any of my coins, but my previous car, a 1986 300zx, at $5800, was cheaper than my most expensive coin

ARCO · January 22, 2007 4:19AM

In absolute terms, Yes I have paid more for a coin than a car. In relative terms, not even close. In the days when I could only afford a $1,000 car, I was spending ZERO on coins. Now, that I can spend $5,000 or more on a coin, my cars cost in the $40,000 range.

For myself coin collecting and its joys completely lose its luster when a coin has to be bought for more than about $2,500. It is no longer a hobby, but a major financial stress. I just don't get that much enjoyment from a piece of metal that sits in my vault as compared to what that money could do for me in other areas of living. I guess it is all relevant.

Tyler

Poll: Have you spent more for a coin than a car?

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