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Classic Commems

sbeverlysbeverly Posts: 962 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum


Every 5 to 7 years I tend to change my focus.

I have pondered this the past year or so, and I keep coming back to the
Classic Commems.

I have a few AU's that I plugged into a type set about 30 years ago.
Stone Mountain, Lincoln and a couple of others that I don't recall just now because
I haven't looked at the type book since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Anyhow,...I have decided to pursue these.

High Grades, Eye Appeal, starting hopefully with the Pilgrim.
Why the Pilgrim? I like it very much, and I think it will kick start my purchasing.

This is a long winded way of asking if anyone can point me in the right direction of resources, and
Dealers who can help me in my next leg of my lifetime coin collecting journey...
Positive transactions with Cladiator, Meltdown, ajbauman, LeeG, route66,DennisH,Hmann,FilamCoins,mgoodm3,terburn88,MrOrganic, weg,dcarr,guitarwes,Zubie,Barndog,wondercoin,braddick,etc...

Comments

  • shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,447 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Look at Larry Whitlow's site, that should generate some slobber. Julian usually has some nice ones but doesn't post many on his site. Mark Feld has some nice ones, but only a few at a time. Legend has a few nice ones, but you'll need a second mortgage.

    On second thought, I don't think we need anymore commem collectors.image
    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
  • yellowkidyellowkid Posts: 5,486 ✭
    Like Toners? A good strategy or at least one that works for me, and I think Mark Feld articulated it , is to look for the pieces that are just short of "monster" color, they tend to sell at a much lower premium than their more colorful peers. There are a ton of commems out there, but most of them are ho-hum so take your time! I have had three Pilgrims in the last two years, and I'm still looking for the right one.image
  • messydeskmessydesk Posts: 20,461 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Look at a lot of coins, because there are a lot of coins. Use Heritage's auction prices realized as your price guide. Be patient with issues that are plentiful ugly (Monroe, Sesqui).
    John
    Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
  • kimber45ACPkimber45ACP Posts: 2,399 ✭✭✭
    I like the commems, a few of them anyway.
    Pilgrim
    Oregon Trail
    Texas
    California
    Spanish Trail

    The others don't appeal to me much.
  • LeeGLeeG Posts: 12,162 ✭


    << <i>Every 5 to 7 years I tend to change my focus.

    I have pondered this the past year or so, and I keep coming back to the
    Classic Commems.

    I have a few AU's that I plugged into a type set about 30 years ago.
    Stone Mountain, Lincoln and a couple of others that I don't recall just now because
    I haven't looked at the type book since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

    Anyhow,...I have decided to pursue these.

    High Grades, Eye Appeal, starting hopefully with the Pilgrim.
    Why the Pilgrim? I like it very much, and I think it will kick start my purchasing.

    This is a long winded way of asking if anyone can point me in the right direction of resources, and
    Dealers who can help me in my next leg of my lifetime coin collecting journey... >>


    I love the series and have been collecting them for years. Be patient in finding the right coin for the right price.

    Books:

    QDB's Encylopedia

    Kevin Flynn's The Authoritive reference on Commemorative Coins 1892-1954


    Great Dealers in no particular order:


    Mark Feld


    Michael Printz @ Larry Whitlow


    Pinnacle Rarities


    Aspen Park


    Numismatic Americana



    Enjoy the series! image
  • ddbirdddbird Posts: 3,168 ✭✭✭
    Good luck

    image
    image
    ">"    http://www.cashcrate.com/5663377"
  • richardshipprichardshipp Posts: 5,647 ✭✭✭
    After having sold off most of my early commems... I still find myself looking at the ones for sale all the time. Have fun and be patient for the right coins.
  • mozinmozin Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭
    I must like the Pilgrim Commem a lot, I have 21 of them. I tend to stay away from the heavily toned ones.
    I collect Capped Bust series by variety in PCGS AU/MS grades.
  • sbeverlysbeverly Posts: 962 ✭✭✭
    Like Toners? A good strategy or at least one that works for me, and I think Mark Feld articulated it , is to look for the pieces that are just short of "monster" color, they tend to sell at a much lower premium than their more colorful peers.

    Sounds like a good strategy
    Positive transactions with Cladiator, Meltdown, ajbauman, LeeG, route66,DennisH,Hmann,FilamCoins,mgoodm3,terburn88,MrOrganic, weg,dcarr,guitarwes,Zubie,Barndog,wondercoin,braddick,etc...
  • sbeverlysbeverly Posts: 962 ✭✭✭

    I want to sincerely thank everyone who has responded.

    I got some enjoyable homework to do..
    Positive transactions with Cladiator, Meltdown, ajbauman, LeeG, route66,DennisH,Hmann,FilamCoins,mgoodm3,terburn88,MrOrganic, weg,dcarr,guitarwes,Zubie,Barndog,wondercoin,braddick,etc...
  • sbeverlysbeverly Posts: 962 ✭✭✭
    QDB's Encylopedia Kevin Flynn's The Authoritive reference on Commemorative Coins 1892-1954

    Hey LeeG

    I believe in the buy the book concept...Which one would you recommend first?
    Positive transactions with Cladiator, Meltdown, ajbauman, LeeG, route66,DennisH,Hmann,FilamCoins,mgoodm3,terburn88,MrOrganic, weg,dcarr,guitarwes,Zubie,Barndog,wondercoin,braddick,etc...
  • LeeGLeeG Posts: 12,162 ✭
    The QDB Encl will be tougher to find and more expensive than the Flynn reference. Here is a good source:


    Flynn Book
  • sbeverlysbeverly Posts: 962 ✭✭✭
    The QDB Encl will be tougher to find and more expensive than the Flynn reference. Here is a good source:

    Hey LeeG,

    Just bought it...
    Thanks for the heads up and saving me a FIN. I was just about to pull the trigger here.

    Link
    Positive transactions with Cladiator, Meltdown, ajbauman, LeeG, route66,DennisH,Hmann,FilamCoins,mgoodm3,terburn88,MrOrganic, weg,dcarr,guitarwes,Zubie,Barndog,wondercoin,braddick,etc...
  • JustacommemanJustacommeman Posts: 22,852 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Lee's list of sources is solid. Good luck and have fun doing it. FYI- You might want to add Bonnie Sabel at Albanese. MJ
    Walker Proof Digital Album
    Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 4,308 ✭✭✭✭✭
    You may want to collect circulated classic commemoratives. Many circulated specimens have a great look, and they're much cheaper.

    image
    3 rim nicks away from Good
  • claychaserclaychaser Posts: 4,406 ✭✭✭✭
    OK, here's my 25 cents worth:

    image

    You can go many different ways. The first is to decide if you are serious about completing the 50 piece type set of the 144 piece date and mint mark set. For myself, I sooned got frustrated on the 144 piece route, as there are just too many Arkansas, BTW's and Washington Carvers, plus even the neat designes of the Boone's and Oregon Trails. Plus, you then have high priced coins such as the Missouri 2x4. You should have either a total set or per piece budget in mind to really go at this and have some fun with it.

    The next thing that comes to my mind is whether I wanted white or toned coins, or to shat degree of each. Many collectors (like slinc), like white lusterful coins. For myself, I try to get toning that has the right "look" for the issue. Some coins come in really nice looking blast white, like the New Rochelle, and some have a particular sheen to them that tones up differently than others, like the 25-S California and the 26-S Oregon, as opposed to the rings on the Pan Pacs. I like the variety, and go on the "look by the issue" route.

    Then we come to the grades. Some collectors want a set with all a certain grade or higher. Here, I am selecting nice examples for the grades, and upgrade if the right coin comes along. If you buy right, there can be little or no cost (and sometimes a profit) when you switch out. The coin above is just a 60, but I liked it, so I bought it.

    If you can, go to major coin convention and paw thorugh the auction lots to get a feel for it. Make some notes on coins you like and don't like, and see waht they bring at auction.

    One dealer that I found has a deep inventory is Certifed Assets, where I bought this one:

    image

    This coin has the "look" that I like in this issue. There are many nice white ones, but this one appeals to me.

    This is a fun set, as you can find all the coins with enough time and effort. Prices are way down from 10 years ago, and who knows if and when they will recover. For now, HRH's "just have fun with your coins" mantra is the theme I am going by.

    Hope this helps!





    ==Looking for pre WW2 Commems in PCGS Rattler holders, 1851-O Three Cent Silvers in all grades



    Successful, problem free and pleasant transactions with: illini420, coinguy1, weather11am,wayneherndon,wondercoin,Topdollarpaid,Julian, bishdigg,seateddime, peicesofme,ajia,CoinRaritiesOnline,savoyspecial,Boom, TorinoCobra71, ModernCoinMart, WTCG, slinc, Patches, Gerard, pocketpiececommems, BigJohnD, RickMilauskas, mirabella, Smittys, LeeG, TomB, DeusExMachina, tydye
  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    My favorite Classic Commems are the Illinois/Lincoln, Maryland and Grant.
    Many designs are beautiful and deserving of minting while many are pedestrian
    and to put it mildly, very blah. It is a very personal thing as to what a collector
    likes and one certanlny has a large selection to choose from. This series has
    been in a downtrend for the past 10 years, except for the beautiful toned specimens.
    One must be careful of the toners though, for at the height of the toner craze, many
    Commems were doctored. When you see raw Commems, be very careful as many have
    been whizzed, over dipped or treated in a manner most distressing to true collectors.
    There once was a place called
    Camelotimage
  • JJMJJM Posts: 8,090 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I haven't looked at the type book since dinosaurs roamed the earth


    in a album for 30 years , eh?
    Tone Check ! aisle 3 !
    👍BST's erickso1,cone10,MICHAELDIXON,TennesseeDave,p8nt,jmdm1194,RWW,robkool,Ahrensdad,Timbuk3,Downtown1974,bigjpst,mustanggt,Yorkshireman,idratherbgardening,SurfinxHI,derryb,masscrew,Walkerguy21D,MJ1927,sniocsu,Coll3tor,doubleeagle07,luciobar1980,PerryHall,SNMAM,mbcoin,liefgold,keyman64,maprince230,TorinoCobra71,RB1026,Weiss,LukeMarshall,Wingsrule,Silveryfire, pointfivezero,IKE1964,AL410, Tdec1000, AnkurJ,guitarwes,Type2,Bp777,jfoot113,JWP,mattniss,dantheman984,jclovescoins,Collectorcoins,Weather11am,Namvet69,kansasman,Bruce7789,ADG,Larrob37,Waverly, justindan
  • CameonutCameonut Posts: 7,396 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Snagged this one at the Spartanburg SC show this past weeekend. My first Iowa and my first commem in this style holder.
    I tend to buy a commem once in a while - especially when proof cameo upgrades are tough to find.

    imageimage

    “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

    My digital cameo album 1950-64 Cameos - take a look!

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