Would like to hear some numismatics opinions from coin collectors

Hello folks, i just want to start off with saying, I am a coin collector. I love coins, the history behind them, the art stamped on them, and the thrill of building a new collection of type or year. So for anyone who is not into coins, one would probably find this discussion a bore. Obviously all opinions are welcome, but it's not necessary to criticize me when I say I will purchase a single coin that could also buy a used automobile. If anything, it should say something about the purchasing power of coins and the benefit of collecting as a way of saving as well.

Whatever, moving on. All collectors are familiar with the 70 point grading scale. Now comes my dilemma. I favor collecting coins from former Spanish colonies, new world stuff but Phillipines as well. I favor South and Central American/Islands coins as well. I make my purchases primarily on ebay, but have ventured into a new niche money auction site as well.

Anyways, right now I have my eye set on a specific coin only produced for one year near the end of Spanish American war for an island in the Carribean. It would be my second acquisition for the whole set which was produced in a handful of denominations for only two years. There are four right now in my watchlist and they vary from AU-50 to MS-62. For a 130 year old coin with such limited mintage it is nice to see a mint state specimen with great luster at a reasonable price. There is also an AU-55 and AU-58. My 1500$ offer for the ms62 was ignored, which was half the asking price. I am hoping I can still get it for under $2k maybe 1800 or so. The au58 is asking that very price, and I can get the Au55 for 1200.

The images on ebay are rather crap vs what is offered by the pros at great collections, but all four coins appear very close in quality. I know that the mint state category is determined by how many knicks and scratches there may or may not be while maintaining exceptional detail and luster.
The AU however comes really close to the ms62, and I wouldn't mind saving that money. But to have this coin in a mint state would be one of my personal favorite coins.

From a numismatic POV, is the difference between an almost uncirculated -55 and a mint state 62 worth it for a potential $800 spread, or does it really come down to my personal preference???

I have coins that are rare but I don't know how to sell them.

a reply to: musicismagic
Well that depends on how rare they really are. Are they certified or raw?? Raw being loose coins you can still physically touch in your hands, and certified being the coins sealed in protective tamper proof acrylic cases and graded by a renowned third party coin trading service.

If they are raw, you can get a preliminary appraisal here
Or if they are graded, you can fill out the forms here have them consigned and submitted for auction.

I am really hoping St. Udio will see this, I know he is a coin collector.

I have been collecting coins since I was 12 years old. At this point I mostly collect silver coins, especially dollar coins. 90% of my coins are graded now.

I collect unusual coins that you don't often come across in circulation. I also buy coins from the Mint.

Just a hobby.

Kind regards,

Bally

a reply to: worldstarcountry

I recently just started collecting coins.
It’s not much whatsoever yet,

I have a 1953 silver dollar, and 5 Nazi 3rd reich coins from 1939-1945
I came across those at a collector’s market over Christmas.
I never seen them before. I had my 13 yr old daughter with me at the market and got to have a long conversation about WW2 and the rationale of a madman.

I was introduced to older coins when I was a kid. My buddy down the street was all about wheat pennies and I have been interested since. I never collected but I have some silver coins my mom gave me. I googled value , nothing special. I will save for silver value or to melt if I have a werewolf or vampire problem ......If you have read this far I have a treasure hunt for you. If any of you live anywhere close to Raleigh NC and have a metal detector, I will give you a location that should hold a silver dollar that my buddy pocketed from the local flea market with slight of hand. I think It was worth ten bucks in about the early eighties. We buried it together and it is probably still there. I am no where close to the location and have no intention going there anytime soon or at all. Let me know. Of course if you find it I want pics.

a reply to: worldstarcountry

Q: From a numismatic POV, is the difference between an almost uncirculated -55 and a mint state 62 worth it for a potential $800 spread, or does it really come down to my personal preference???

I believe this comes down to your goal of collecting. I collect baseball cards, which is in the same "ballpark" as coin collecting when it comes to purchasing raw cards (coins) and graded.

1) A store of wealth (buy) - if you have no attachment or enjoyment, a weaker buy signal
2) Personal enjoyment (BUY)
3) Combination of both (BUY BUY)

I can tell you unequivocally that graded mint prices for pre-1981 cards are on an exponential curve. Compare a PSA 8 with a PSA 10 and you'll likely find at least a 5x price increase. In some cases even higher, but it depends on population.

My personal advice is that if you have the cash, GO FOR IT. Pay the extra because this stuff is not going to lose value. I saw a purchase of mine from March 2000 go from $400 (I paid) to $1300 (I sold) last year. It was incredible because I thought I had overpaid!

Best of luck to you and don't ever lose your joy from collecting.

We have a few silver dollars we inherited, not many, but they will hopefully be worth something to acquire food if everything comes crashing down. Maybe one will pay for a bushel of potatoes, we have enough to buy three bushels. Same with all silver coins, they do have metals that will be widely accepted if things go haywire.

Most people are aware of what a coin is made up, having a book to prove they are silver or gold is a real benefit if TSHTF. But remember, if you have a lot of these and people know about it, you have put a target on your back. I prefer to keep some scrap copper around so I don't have to start cutting apart all my plumbing if things go sour for a while.

Knowing how to hunt, fish, and grow food is a good thing in a time of turmoil, I taught my kids how to do this, but of course they have been listening to social programming that contradicts what I have taught them. Always remember to teach your kids how to survive, what they do with that info is not on you, but reminding them occasionally not to get caught up in the rat race is important too...even though they think you are getting old and delusional and they believe another great depression can never happen. People are no smarter now than they were fifty years ago, remember that.

The value I put on a coin is the value of the metal it contains, I am not a collector of coins. I believe a hundred year old silver coin has the same value if it is in extra fine or mediocre shape....but most people have been convinced otherwise. I do not believe a penny should be worth thousands of bucks just because it has a special defect or was a double stamp, but there are people who do and that is their life, I won't say they are right or wrong, they are just different than I am. Birds of a feather flock together, but a rare coin could be almost worthless too if TSHTF. Just like owning a nice car and there is no gas anywhere to be found. Our societies values are based on beliefs, not reality.

Collecting coins can be fun, we do have some coins from the fifties and sixties in good shape, but nothing valuable, maybe some pennies are worth ten cents, and some dimes are worth a buck. The silver dollars we have are worth about sixteen bucks each the last I checked years ago. They are probably worth close to as much in silver as the value is to a collector.

II collected stamps since I was 7 years old. In my late twenties my collection was getting rather valuable. I began hitting the shops and auctions for higher values to fill in those hard to acquire items. While browsing in a shop one day, I noticed the dealer had a section of coins on display. One coin caught my eye and I asked to inspect it. It was an Austrian Maria Therese trade dollar. It had an oval sort of shape but I thought it was beautiful. It was graded VF+ and cost me $18 usd in 1978 dollars. Over the years I've picked up other coins that struck a chord with me. Morgan and Peace dollars along with Liberty Walking and Franklin halves are favorites with me.

a reply to: Avardan
Well you definitely understand my question from the collector's prospective. I'm going to make another offer and see if I can get a bite. Hopefully this one will not be simply ignored but at least countered.

I have been looking for this coin since last year, when the average price for them was half what is being listed today. Clearly waiting did not help me in any price wise. The rest of the coins in the set are low cost enough, it just happens this one is the highest denomination.

My immediate priority is a 1916 gold Cuban 4 peso ends Sunday. The one I am talking about in the op has no current expiration so I may just wait until at least next Monday to make my decision. I may have to flip a coin to choose between the Ms62 and the au55

originally posted by: Macenroe82
a reply to: worldstarcountry

I recently just started collecting coins.
It’s not much whatsoever yet,

I have a 1953 silver dollar.

wait, what?

did you mean Half Dollar? or maybe 1923?
or Canadian?

pretty sure no US Silver Dollars in 1953.

I do some collecting but nothing major.

a reply to: ElGoobero
He probably just misspoke. Likely has it in a drawer with some other loose circulated silver and doesn't think about it much.

a reply to: worldstarcountry

I guess it comes down to why you collect coins. Is it for the future financial gain or for the history. That should help steer you, in my humble opinion.

When we homeschooled our son, we bought coins from many eras in history that coincided with what we were teaching.

Roman emperors, Roman coins.

American Civil War? Script and coins from the North and the South.

During WWI & WWII? Nazi, Japanese, American and English coins.

We still collect, not so much for the financial gain but for the history attached. Our current searched are coins @ the American Revolution.

Good luck!

a reply to: DBCowboy

I'm going to buy the ms62 if i get my Cuban gold 4 peso for the right price which ends Sunday. If i can get them both, that will she it for my high ticket coins for this year. I'll just be picking up lower value items and finishing off and adding to my type collections of more common stuff.