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If you were alive in 1900, what would you do with $100

Only $100, no more. Would you buy from a dealer or collect from circulation? What would you collect?

I'd probably buy some territorials, and maybe spend $20 or $30 on some BU barbers from circulation
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Comments

  • I would go to the bank(s) and try to pick up some 1893-S Morgans at face value. And if I came across any Carson City's I'd hanq onto to them also.
  • morgansforevermorgansforever Posts: 8,492 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What I know now, all the 93S's I could find, oh and a 95O proof Morgan.
    image
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  • morgansforevermorgansforever Posts: 8,492 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What would you purchase Golden Eye?
    World coins FSHO Hundreds of successful BST transactions U.S. coins FSHO
  • RichieURichRichieURich Posts: 8,571 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Probably 1873, 1877 and 1878 proof sets, a couple 1895 Morgans, 1876-CC 20c, 1894-S dime, 1870-S Seated dollar, and as much of the 1870 - 1873 CC silver coinage as I could find in as high a grade as I could find.

    An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.

  • Invest the money, wait nine years, move to San Fransisco, and buy some new pennies before the VDB got removed =)
    I heard they were making a French version of Medal of Honor. I wonder how many hotkeys it'll have for "surrender."
  • KaelasdadKaelasdad Posts: 1,232 ✭✭✭
    LOL, how about invest the money, and wait until 1915 and buy a nice complete Pan Pac set.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    But what would your life expectancy be in 1900? Would when you're expected to die affect your decision? image
  • DennisHDennisH Posts: 14,011 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd live a year, get myself to San Francisco, and buy 10 rolls of quarters. image
    When in doubt, don't.
  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How about invest the money, wait until 1933 and then go buy some Saints image
  • Buy 1877 IHCs , 1893-S and 1889-CC Morgans as well as the proof 1895s. Proof sets from just before the turn of the century were cheap too. Probably snag some Charlotte and Dahlodega gold coins at face value while I was at it. If I had anything left over a nice 1792 half disme would complete the hoard! Wow! Of course I'd be well into my 130s now or so.......
    Spare your best friend's life!! Adopt an adult dog at your local "kill" animal shelter. You will be changed.
  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 7,360 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Interesting to think about ... if I had lived back then and invested in something, it probably would have been for a 20 to 40 year horizon ... if I knew then what we collectively know now, well, whoever I had left things to would be rich, probably into the billions (if they still owned those investments) ...

    but as I thought a little more, wouldn't it have been worthwhile to make a time capsule with hand-picked Gem's from the new year to leave for the generations;

    Complete 1900 Proof Set with Gold ... about $45.
    Five 1900 Morgan Dollars from each Mint ... about $18.
    Five 1900 Barber Halves from each Mint ... about $10.
    Five 1900 Barber Quaters from each Mint ... about $5.
    Five 1900 Barber Dimes from each Mint ... about $3.
    Five Liberty Nickels ... about $1.
    Five Indian Cents ... about $.25
    Something really safe to store them in ... about $7.75???

    Value today ... priceless!!! image

    and still would have had $20. left over !! image


    Here's a 1900-S Quarter to color the page ... wish it was 5 Gem's instead ... but I'll take what I can get image

    imageimage

    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • AnkurJAnkurJ Posts: 11,370 ✭✭✭✭
    Buy stock in "Microsoft" for pennies :-D

    AJ
    All coins kept in bank vaults.
    PCGS Registries
    Box of 20
    SeaEagleCoins: 11/14/54-4/5/12. Miss you Larry!
  • garsmithgarsmith Posts: 5,894 ✭✭
    Buy all the rolls of uncirculated morgan dollars I could get my hands on at face value, than I would store them smoewhere where they would get some nice roll toning after 107 years!
  • OKbustchaserOKbustchaser Posts: 5,552 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The same thing I would spend the equivalent amount on today....bust silver.
    Just because I'm old doesn't mean I don't love to look at a pretty bust.


  • A bottle of whiskey and a Colt revolver......then hold all of you guys up for your coins!!image
    Monday April 10, 2006 9:04 AM

    SM1 calls me a troublemaker....image

    --------------------------------------------
    Sunday August 19, 2007 9:17AM

    A mentor awarded " YOU SUCK!!"
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139
    Haul ass to New Orleans. Get to know someone at the mint and egt them to repolish the O/CC dies a little and sell me 100 PLs at face.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
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  • BarndogBarndog Posts: 20,516 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd likely spend the money on food, some decent clothes, maybe splurge on ice for the icebox. Maybe with a hundred bucks I could take a half day off on Saturday and make it just a 66 hour work week.


  • << <i>But what would your life expectancy be in 1900? Would when you're expected to die affect your decision? image >>



    average life expectancy in the USA was 41 years
  • jmj3esqjmj3esq Posts: 5,421
    Obviosly you woul dhave to know what we know no. If that was the case I would probably try to get as much gold at face as possible.
  • bfjohnsonbfjohnson Posts: 541 ✭✭✭
    I agree with the wait a year and head to san fran for the quarters!
  • speetyspeety Posts: 5,424
    Pay the mint workers to make me my own errors. When did they start to stop the 'fantasy' coin restrikes? If before 1900, i'd wait a couple years and get the J-1776 and a PanPac set
    Want to buy an auction catalog for the William Hesslein Sale (December 2, 1926). Thanks to all those who have helped us obtain the others!!!



  • << <i>Invest the money, wait nine years, move to San Fransisco, and buy some new pennies before the VDB got removed =) >>



    You read my mind.

    That and find any CC dollar I could get my hands on.

    OR.....

    Gold at Face Value.

  • CheeseGuyCheeseGuy Posts: 191 ✭✭
    $100 in Black Eagle Certificates
    I like cheese, notes, and coins. In that order.
  • EagleEyeEagleEye Posts: 7,677 ✭✭✭✭✭
    First of all, you couldn't buy anything. No one would accept the funny small dollar bills with Federal Reserve on them. The coins, ha!, you think they would take a nickel quarter. After you get out of jail for passing bogus money you'll have to find a job and work for $4 a day.

    So, you had better take a handful of worn seated silver or some gold with you.

    All the CC dollars were still in bags. You'd probably do best buying all the 1895 Proof Dollars around - nobody collected Morgans back then. you probably could have gotten them for $4 each. Maybe the best thing you could do is drop in on ol' Captian Haseltine and see what treasures he would pull out of his "refrigerator".
    Rick Snow, Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Inc.Check out my new web site:
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,433 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'd go find a few mathematicians whose work makes me miserable and hire hitmen.
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • OverdateOverdate Posts: 7,172 ✭✭✭✭✭

    10,000 1877 Indian Head Cents.

    My Adolph A. Weinman signature :)

  • Seeing that it is 2007 and if I was old enough in 1900 to buy coins that would put me at around at least 117 so I would no doubt be pushing up daisys long ago.

    But if I knew then what I know now I would probably wait till 1907 and then buy 5 of the nicest high relief $20 saints I could find.
    image
    1969s WCLR-001 counterclash
  • RarityRarity Posts: 1,451 ✭✭✭✭
    I would look for a gem proof gold Double Eagle.
  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,651 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would have invented the internet image
  • joefrojoefro Posts: 1,872 ✭✭


    << <i>Invest the money, wait nine years, move to San Fransisco, and buy some new pennies before the VDB got removed =) >>



    Bingo! This has to be the best buy for the $100. It has to be better than the 1893-s dollars and san fran quarters people are saying.

    10,000 S-VDBs x $3000 each ~ $30,000,000 now!
    Lincoln Cent & Libertad Collector
  • OverdateOverdate Posts: 7,172 ✭✭✭✭✭

    10,000 S-VDBs x $3000 each ~ $30,000,000 now!

    Only if you could buy them at face value. I read that they were bringing a significant premium even when they were newly released.

    Also, a large increase in the supply of uncirculated examples would probably bring down the price.

    My Adolph A. Weinman signature :)

  • clackamasclackamas Posts: 5,615


    << <i>Buy all the rolls of uncirculated morgan dollars I could get my hands on at face value, than I would store them smoewhere where they would get some nice roll toning after 107 years! >>



    No you get those bags cherry pick them, turn in the garbage and do it again until you are storing bags of MS68's. I'd do the same thing with all the current coinage. Also take out an add in the paper buying any original roll of seated coins, flyers, Indians and pay 50% over face.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,946 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>How about invest the money, wait until 1933 and then go buy some Saints image >>



    Make sure you get a receipt from the US Mint otherwise they will later be confiscated by the Secret Service.

    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

  • rec78rec78 Posts: 5,885 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If you had $100 to spend on coins in 1900 you were rich. Coin collecting was different back then. There weren't very many coin collectors,and only a few dealers, most people had to work hard usually 60-80 hours per week or more just to survive. There was little time for hobbies for most folk. Not many collectors collected by date and MM in those days, simple type coins were enough. But a lot more coins were available for a lot less cost. My choices would have been early type coins in xf+ conditions. Nice early large cents or bust dollars or any 1790's coins. You have to look at the situation as it was then. Sure you can say wait a year and buy 1901-S quarters but no one had advance information like this. There were no albums, coin folders or even 2 X 2's. Liesure time for hobbies such as coin collecting did not really exist until after WWII. There was not even a lot of general information available.
    image
  • I'd wait until 1901 pick up a few rolls of 01-S quarters (400 coins average grade of 63 - trends for about 16.4 million).


  • << <i>10,000 1877 Indian Head Cents. >>


    Absolutely! That's the best response so far, if we're talking profit potential in modern times. 10,000 1877 indian head cents @ $5,000 (that's conservative) in MS, that's 50 million bucks.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,946 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>10,000 1877 Indian Head Cents. >>


    Absolutely! That's the best response so far, if we're talking profit potential in modern times. 10,000 1877 indian head cents @ $5,000 (that's conservative) in MS, that's 50 million bucks. >>



    Where would you get 10,000 of these 1877 cents 23 years after they were minted? Coin dealers were few back in 1900 and most wouldn't carry but a few specimens.

    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

  • TwoSides2aCoinTwoSides2aCoin Posts: 44,651 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>10,000 1877 Indian Head Cents. >>


    Absolutely! That's the best response so far, if we're talking profit potential in modern times. 10,000 1877 indian head cents @ $5,000 (that's conservative) in MS, that's 50 million bucks. >>



    Where would you get 10,000 of these 1877 cents 23 years after they were minted? Coin dealers were few back in 1900 and most wouldn't carry but a few specimens. >>



    Okay, Maybe I'd invent a gumball machine image
  • lathmachlathmach Posts: 4,720
    I'd take the hundred bucks, and go visit my granddad. Take him out to dinner.
    I wouldn't tell him that he would be dragged to death by a team of runaway horses in 1906 though.
    I'm sure he was the sort of guy that liked surprises.

    Ray
  • First off, I wouldn't go and buy "rolls" or "10,000" 1877 IC's

    After you sold off the first 15 or so you would bring the value down to where they would be commonplace...

    I like the idea of buying the "5 per set/mm/type" You could make a serious killing off them over time....just imagine what the saturation of even 15 "Gem" 1901-o quarters would do to the current market of them.....

    but that wouldn't stop me from waiting 15yrs and taking my time to either become a professional Ice cream scooper to accept that 1913 nickle or paying to have just one more made... just think of waiting till after the auction where Legend gets the buy on the one they owned and then walking up to Laura with a far higher grade one and going "nah na na nah nah!!!!"
    This is a very dumb ass thread. - Laura Sperber - Tuesday January 09, 2007 11:16 AM image

    Hell, I don't need to exercise.....I get enough just pushing my luck.
  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,946 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>become a professional Ice cream scooper to accept that 1913 nickle >>



    It was the 94-S dime that was spent on ice cream.

    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

  • D'oh........

    I had so many different ones to go with as an example and I really screwed the pooch up on that one........thanks for the catch!!!!
    This is a very dumb ass thread. - Laura Sperber - Tuesday January 09, 2007 11:16 AM image

    Hell, I don't need to exercise.....I get enough just pushing my luck.
  • RedneckHBRedneckHB Posts: 19,735 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would buy 1000 acres in Montana
    Excuses are tools of the ignorant

    Knowledge is the enemy of fear

  • partagaspartagas Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭
    Purchase $100 of GE stock, drip the dividends.
    If I say something in the woods, and my wife isn't around. Am I still wrong?
  • kiyotekiyote Posts: 5,588 ✭✭✭✭✭
    LaFayette Dollars, anyone!? That's where I'd put my money.
    "I'll split the atom! I am the fifth dimension! I am the eighth wonder of the world!" -Gef the talking mongoose.
  • LALASD4LALASD4 Posts: 3,602 ✭✭✭
    Get some shares of Ford and The Standard Oil Company.

    Or buy San Diego.
    Coin Collector, Chicken Owner, Licensed Tax Preparer & Insurance Broker/Agent.
    San Diego, CA


    image
  • shirohniichanshirohniichan Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
    I'd invest all of it in Amalgamated Hay and Buggywhip Corporation.
    image
    Obscurum per obscurius
  • I think i would buy most of North Scottsdale Arizona.
    I'll tell you what to do.
    Go that way.
    Really fast.
    If something gets in your way, turn.
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    I'd buy some land (don't know how much I'd get with $100, though).
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • lathmachlathmach Posts: 4,720


    << <i>I'd buy some land (don't know how much I'd get with $100, though). >>



    About half of Wyoming, back in 1900.

    Ray

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