Top coins to have in your collection?

onegaucho · July 20, 2007 2:53AM

newbie here. ive been meaning to start a coin collection for the longest time. ive collected sportscards for a while and have a decent idea of what a "top 10" list of cards would be. what would be the equivalent for coins? i know there's a lot out there so if i limited it to US coins, what would they be, including the year?

i hear there's a big show coming up where i live (san diego). i might show up to get a jump start.

thanks for any help!

ziggy29 · July 20, 2007 2:54AM

Before going out and spending a bunch of money on coins, dabble in a few low-cost items, read all you can, ask good questions here and refine your desires so that you'll know what you like to collect before plowing lots of money into it.

There's no one right answer to your question. It depends largely on what you like and what your budget is, and these factors differ for everyone.

onegaucho · July 20, 2007 3:09AM

sounds good. i think that's what i'd tell a new card collector. some follow up questions then:

- what are the key publications to read?
- what's the "standard" or best price guide that will give me the best idea of the going rate?

and if i'm mostly interested in collecting US pennys and quarters, which ones and in what "grade"?
speaking of "grades" i'm assuming PCGS is the way to go? kinda like PSA for cards?

RedTiger · July 20, 2007 3:09AM

Virtually every one you ask will come up with a different list. That said, a Google search turned up this well thought out list for a collector with a budget of $500 a month to spend. The list was compiled in 2001, and prices on many coins have gone up during that time.

Omnicoin top 100 coin list
( I have no connection to the dealer, but the list looks well thought out. )

Collectors with a smaller or larger budget, will of course come up with a very different list. Even collectors with the same size wallet will probably pick different coins.

I'll write what I always write for new collectors:
* Collect what you like, not what someone else likes. If you don't know buy a book and flip through it, or look at some websites, then buy a few starter coins and some will be more appealing than others.
* Never buy coins on margin (don't go into debt to buy coins)
* Learn how to grade. This will take some time so that is why it is important to start slow. The average person will gain some consistency in grading after about a year.
* Learn the typical wholesale and retail price for the coins you are interested in.
* Develop contacts in order to get a better price when buying and selling.

Most of all enjoy the hobby.

ziggy29 · July 20, 2007 3:13AM

<< and if i'm mostly interested in collecting US pennys and quarters, which ones and in what "grade"?
speaking of "grades" i'm assuming PCGS is the way to go? kinda like PSA for cards? >>

What interests you? If you're interested in high end coins and very high mint state grades, collecting certified is probably the way to go, particularly if you're not strong at grading and evaluating coins. But if you want to collect circulated coins (such as Lincolns, for example), except for the rare dates which are commonly faked, paying for plastic is probably not cost-effective and the market doesn't expect it. For example, the market isn't going to "discount" a raw VF 1914 Lincoln much (if at all) compared to a slabbed one, BUT if that's an MS-64 1914 cent -- OR if it's a 1914-D cent in any grade -- then the market will severely discount a coin for not being certified by a top-line service.

Russ · July 20, 2007 3:20AM

Chain Cent
$4 Stella
1796 25c
1856 FE Cent
UHR Saint
1885 Proof Trade Dollar
1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln
1893-S Morgan
1916-D Merc
1964 SMS Kennedy

Russ, NCNE

Cladiator · July 20, 2007 3:22AM

1792 Half Disme
$4 Stella
1796 25c
1856 FE Cent
1933 St. Gaudens
1885 Proof Trade Dollar
1913 V Nickel
1893-S Morgan
1916-D Merc
1802 Half Dime

LanLord · July 20, 2007 3:23AM

<< Chain Cent $4 Stella 1796 25c 1856 FE Cent UHR Saint 1885 Proof Trade Dollar 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln 1893-S Morgan 1916-D Merc 1964 SMS Kennedy Russ, NCNE >>

Russ aims low, why not point him at the 100 Top US Coins book? Need not stop at several million dollars when tens of millions could be spent.

Russ · July 20, 2007 3:24AM

<< Russ aims low, why not point him at the 100 Top US Coins book? >>

Because he only wanted a top 10 list.

Russ, NCNE

ziggy29 · July 20, 2007 3:25AM

<< 1913 V Nickel >>

Bah. This is a fantasy piece, not a coin.

Russ · July 20, 2007 3:26AM

<< 1792 Half Disme
$4 Stella
1796 25c
1856 FE Cent
1933 St. Gaudens
1885 Proof Trade Dollar
1913 V Nickel
1893-S Morgan
1916-D Merc
1802 Half Dime >>

Except for those silly h10c, that's not a bad list.

Russ, NCNE

Cladiator · July 20, 2007 3:27AM

<< 

<< 1792 Half Disme
$4 Stella
1796 25c
1856 FE Cent
1933 St. Gaudens
1885 Proof Trade Dollar
1913 V Nickel
1893-S Morgan
1916-D Merc
1802 Half Dime >>

Except for those silly h10c, that's not a bad list.

Russ, NCNE >>

RYK · July 20, 2007 3:28AM

I think that you are going about this wrong. Visit a coin shop, go to a couple coin shows, and immerse yourself in coins. Buy some books, too--Red Book, one of the grading guides, specialty books if any appeal to you at this time (you mentioned cents and quarters). Browse a lot of coin websites, view dealer and auction inventories, but don't buy anything yet--certainly not anything big. After a few months of this, you will know exactly which coins you want to place in your collection and how to go about procuring them.

Russ · July 20, 2007 3:30AM

Skip all that stuff RYK said, and just buy the coins on my list.

Russ, NCNE

ziggy29 · July 20, 2007 3:32AM

<< Skip all that stuff RYK said, and just buy the coins on my list.

>>

And then adopt me.

Russ · July 20, 2007 3:33AM

<< << Skip all that stuff RYK said, and just buy the coins on my list. >>

And then adopt me. >>

He can adopt you as long as he makes me the beneficiary in his Will.

Russ, NCNE

jmski52 · July 20, 2007 3:36AM

1652 Pine Tree Shilling
1792 Half Disme
1793 Chain Cent
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar
1879 $4.00 Gold Flowing Hair Stella
1892-s Barber Dime
1893-s Morgan Dollar
1907 High Relief $20.00 Gold Double Eagle
1909-s VDB Lincoln Cent
2006 "W" Burnished $50.00 1/2 oz. Platinum American Eagle

mach19 · July 20, 2007 3:41AM

<< Chain Cent
$4 Stella
1796 25c
1856 FE Cent
UHR Saint
1885 Proof Trade Dollar
1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln
1893-S Morgan
1916-D Merc
1964 SMS Kennedy

Russ, NCNE >>

Please enter me in the giveaway.

AUandAG · July 20, 2007 5:32AM

I might be a little different in my thinking and in my bankbook. Here's mine

1955 dbl die lincoln
1909svdb lincoln
1937 d three legged buffalo
1942/1 mercury dime
1932d washington quarter
1927s standing lib quarter
1921 half dollar
1893s morgan dollar
1928 peace dollar
1879cc morgan dollar

Get them in uncirculated grades and expect to pay dearly (1893s morgan get in any grade).
bob

Cladiator · July 20, 2007 5:39AM

Ok here's my real list.

1792 Half Disme
1794 Half Dime
1797 Half Dime
1802 Half Dime
1829 Half Dime
1832 Half Dime
1837 CB Half Dime
1838O Half Dime
1846 Half Dime
1870S Half Dime

As an extra bonus coin I'd pick the 1860 Transitional Half Dime

Russ · July 20, 2007 5:44AM

That list sucks.

Russ, NCNE

Coxe · July 20, 2007 5:53AM

My advice to anyone who wants to start out in coins is to look at a lot of coins and buy a number of books before buying your first coin. Understand grading well and don't rely 100% on someone else's, including our gracious sponsor's, opinions.

As to what to collect, always follow your own instincts and budget. At any budget level, type sets are possible and never go out of style. My advice for a type set is to try to get nice semikeys instead of just the most common ones.

If you go for completing a set of a series, start modest until you understand the series. Get every major reference around on it. Knowledge is the edge you need to buy prudently. Know all of the major varieties to cherrypick along the way too. Really know how to grade that series and what the striking and other characteristics are date-by-date. Once you are familiar with the series, buy the semikeys in the down market and the keys in the up market. Leave the common stuff for the end; it's always available in abundance.

Should you pefer to do a box of twenty, the investor's approahch of accumulating the top coins you seem to refer to, look in Heritage's (ha.com) catalogues and archives for the most outstanding examples. You could also take any popular series and go after the key date in the best grade you can afford, in a PCGS holder (hate to say that) preferrably.

Cladiator · July 20, 2007 5:59AM

This would be my Box of 20...

1792 Half Disme
1794 Half Dime
1797 Half Dime
1802 Half Dime
1829 Half Dime
1830 Half Dime
1831 Half Dime
1832 Half Dime
1833 Half Dime
1834 Half Dime
1835 Half Dime
1836 Half Dime
1837 CB Half Dime
1837 CB Half Dime Proof
1838O Half Dime
1846 Half Dime
1852 Half Dime Proof
1860 Transitional Half Dime
1864 Half Dime Proof
1870S Half Dime

notwilight · July 20, 2007 6:00AM

1793 Liberty cap cent
$4 Stella
1796 25c
1856 FE Cent
UHR Saint
1885 Proof Trade Dollar
1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln
1893-S Morgan
1916-D Merc
1964 SMS Kennedy
2007-W PCGS MS70FS Buffalo...

Actually I recommend collecting what you like. I don't know sports cards very well but I think there are a bunch of holy grails like Wagner, Ruth, Maris etc but it's a small enough list that you can keep track of it. Go to the PCGS Coin Values page and thumb through it and once you realize that there are 6 figure coins in most series and many of them in lost of series you'll realize that must have is different for different collectors...

bstat1020 · July 20, 2007 6:05AM

1909 SVDB Lincoln PCGS VF-35
1916D Mercury Sime PCGS G4
1928 Peace Dollar PCGS MS63
1937 3 legger Buffalo Nickel PCGS xf45
1916 Walker NGC MS62

Those are my top 5 anyway.

BobGreene · July 20, 2007 6:10AM

<< - what are the key publications to read? >>

First Publication

Second Publication

Third Publication

Fourth Publication OR

Fifth Publication

Welcome to the Coin Forum! I'll be at the San Diego show. It looks like it might be a good one this year.

originalisbest · July 20, 2007 6:12AM

Tread really slowly before getting in too deep.

notwilight · July 20, 2007 6:13AM

<< Tread really slowly before getting in too deep. >>

Better advice than the lists we've been giving him. Certified coins are best until you know what you're doing. Get professional help to avoid cleaned, doctored, and counterfeit coins.

--Jerry

carl · July 20, 2007 7:04AM

Go buy the book called The Red Book and turn to page 399 to 403 and then concentrate on buying all of those. You may have to go to a few ATM's first.
Other than that, not much left.

dizzyfoxx · July 20, 2007 7:26AM

<Top 10 coins to have in your collection?>

Quite simple...

1.) 1936 Gettysburg
2.) 1937 Antietam
3.) 1936-S Bay Bridge
4.) 1933-D Oregon
5.) 1915-S Pan Pac
6.) 1925 Stone Mountain
7.) 1925 Fort Vancouver
8.) 1925 California
9.) 1939 Arkansas
10.) 1938-D Boone

cardinal · July 20, 2007 7:47AM

Cladiator,

I like the way your list starts. Are these acceptable?

--Cardinal
www.EarlyUScoins.org

Top coins to have in your collection?

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