Was This A Good Purchase?

I think it is really impossible to go wrong at low price points. Whether one pays $8 or $12 for a set of coins isn't material ; the difference is the price of a cup of coffee.

Also - if you had to drive 30 miles to find a shop with a lower price you would burn more gas than the price delta

Zack,

Grade one and then post a picture in the coin grading forum to see how your grade compares to the rest of the forum.

You did fine.

Some folks may see it otherwise, but don't worry about those who seem to think you spent a couple dollars too much. You could go out and spend the same amount of money on some pretty worthless stuff and it will never be worth the value of the purchase you've made.

From my perspective there are generally just a couple types of collectors.

One that is preoccupied up with values of each coin and view collecting as a form of investing or competition. They will always have a net margin view when completing a transaction and may view it from a successful/unsuccessful venture based upon their ability to acquire their collection at what they deem a profit.

Then there is the second type of collector who enjoys the hobby of collecting coins for it's aesthetic, historical and financial value, but isn't obsessed with the profitability of a transaction. I'm not saying you shouldn't be an educated buyer, but many as myself collect for the enjoyment it brings to us individually.

I can't tell you how many times I've paid a little more than I would have liked during some auction, but that said I can't think of a purchase I wasn't truly happy with regardless of price.

There will be a day when your budget is considerably larger and you can chase the nicer more expensive stuff should you choose to do so, but I'll bet you won't forget those early purchases regardless of the value or net profit of the transaction.

Take it from an old guy who started collecting when I had a paper route as a young kid, had that collection stolen and if I could only acquire it now ... I'd pay way more than it's worth. Most times in life, the deciding factor isn't whether you got the best deal but whether it brought some enjoyment and happiness.

Just have fun with it and you'll never have to ask if you got a good deal.

Thank you everyone for the input. It is much appreciated and all of it helps. And @GR58, I would send you my address but I don't know how to send messages or anything on here. Lol.

Hey Zach!
By now you have learned that we coin people are an opinionated lot.
Let's go back to your original title: "Was This A Good Purchase?"
If your goal was to make a quick profit - no. Chances are, you never will make a profit.
If your goal was to avoid over paying - yes, counting cost of gas and postage and what not. No worry here.
If your goal was ... to make a purchase in order to "get your feet wet" --- YES!
And here is where I come in.

Look, I just spent $2,500 on a single coin, not because I was looking for it, but because it was available.
Had I not spent 50 years on and off studying coins, buying a few, selling a few, making the occasional mistake, well,
I would not have the courage to do what I did.

I really like what GR58 and gmwatson had to tell you. THEIR WORDS ARE FULL OF CARING. Just my opinion.

And while you may not contact any one of us directly before you have made 50 posts, you can receive email if you set your
preferences to allow it. The members will tell you how to do this if want.

And Zack, many a great collection began with a relative or friend giving a newcomer such a set of "common" coins.
Enjoy the adventure and listen to your own drummer.
Matthew

PS. Here is my coin:

https://goccf.com/t/137735

I agree a little high but fortunately it was only 4 dollars too much. I wouldn't think twice on selling all that for $8 but would start the auction at that and see if it got higher. It isn't like you spent an overwhelming amount.