| Author |
 Replies: 41 / Views: 5,701 |
|
Valued Member
Canada
343 Posts |
I'll try to be concise here and apologies if I end up all over the map. I want to continue a bit of the discussion that Inconnu started with his "Why I Gave Up Collecting Canadian Coins " with my humble collection of Canadian 50 cent pieces as a focal point (see photo). Personally, I am still trying to figure out what I enjoy most about this hobby. I do not have a strict focus in terms of types of coins and as I continue to learn my interests seem to be expanding. I have always liked the 50 cent coins and enjoy collecting them. The photo attached is part of my humble collection. Off the bat I am aware of a number of things: I have limited myself by the type of holder - it's not a bad way to present the coins and can be a good conversation starter - BUT It contains mixed grades of coins - more importantly ungraded coins - no TPG holders. Over time I have swapped out some of the 30's and 40's years and upgraded from VG - 8's to AU or EF 40's - still not officially graded though. Going down this road I will eventually end up with a nice holder full (except for key dates). But what of it's value? - which is important to me as well - either if I choose to sell the coins or pass them on as a valuable keepsake. Is this the best way to collect these coins given the state of the hobby?  In twenty or forty years will these coins be more valuable in terms of numismatics or will their value be realized by being sold for melt value? Would a better way to proceed be to just bite the bullet and start buying high grade key dates? In terms of satisfaction and enjoyment I suspect there could be equal amounts of enjoyment in going both ways. However, I also know that having a high grade key date is also subject to the whims of the market. I see all the discussion in regards to TPG and talk of "grade creep". Trends has a $3500 difference between a MS 62 and MS 63 1913 50 cent piece? And it's another $7000 to go one grade higher . . . ?  Do I really want to play that game knowing that even if I buy something slabbed that I still have to buy the coin and not the holder and at that point the actual quality of the coin is very much a subjective thing? Anyway, just putting some thoughts out there. This is a super community and I have lots to learn. Hopefully some of your feedback will help me to focus going forward.  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
3234 Posts |
Thanks again for your concerned input here, and in the Inconnu post. 50 cent coins can be a tough one to finish off and we do have very knowledgeable members with that series to help you out here. With this red holder you are limited to seeing only one side and we have had RCM red holders that did damage to the coins in them. The red RCM material actually attacked the nickel pieces in them. I don't know if this will also be a problem for your coins here. If your coins do not warrant being slabbed or professionally graded,..then don't worry about that. The fun is finding a missing piece..and slowly working towards your goal. |
|
Valued Member
 Canada
343 Posts |
Arrrgh. Would this be the same type of felt used by the RCM holders in the 70's? I picked the holder up at an auction a couple of years back. I have no idea how old it is. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
Aghawk: so many questions and many are speculative on the market... 1st: I have to say I love the display I think it looks really nice! Like you I also really love 50 cent pieces and enjoy picking them up on occasion. Quote:
Going down this road I will eventually end up with a nice holder full (except for key dates). But what of it's value? - which is important to me as well - either if I choose to sell the coins or pass them on as a valuable keepsake. Value will be intrinsic. I love the way a full set is displayed and I really like the fact they're not all slabbed in some way. To me it's much more eye appealling. Selling them off as an entire set later on... seems to me most mid grade stuff is grouped and high grade as well as keys are sold off individually. Quote:
Is this the best way to collect these coins given the state of the hobby?
In twenty or forty years will these coins be more valuable in terms of numismatics or will their value be realized by being sold for melt value? Only you can decide this and take action as you see fit. Most hobbies people sink a lot of money into them and never get their money back. Somehow in numismatics not only do we want our money back but we want a return. That always seems to be the case that you have a hard time talking about coins without talking about what they're worth. I think there will always be some sort of market for coin collectors but I really think the best years of this hobby are in the past. We're going towards a cashless society = less exposure to coins = less coin collectors and greater surplus of what is already out there. Quote:
In terms of satisfaction and enjoyment I suspect there could be equal amounts of enjoyment in going both ways. Personally I don't put much more into this hobby than I can afford to lose. Some people enjoy a specialty coffee every day, some people like to go out for fancy dinners. I live a pretty simple life. I work, I coach and I spend as much time as I can with family if I'm not working or coaching. I only allow myself to put a very limited amount of money towards this hobby. So I can go out and blow the entire budget on one purchase or I can sell some of my other items to buy something that interests me. But if the entire coin market bottomed out tomorrow it would suck but I would not be of the mindset that I lost money. I consider the money I put into this hobby already spent, just like the person who enjoys their specialty coffee everyday. sorry for the thesis! |
|
Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Think I have one Canadian 50 cent piece around, can't find at moment. It was intriguing when bought, first of its kind in my "Queen's Silver" type collection, think I paid @ $20 (US) for it. I'm no connisuer of Canadian coins, particularly varieties, but may I ask why some of these in certain series cost so much, seems a higher rate than US? Especially when paying thousands for a coin whose value increase is as iffy as the stock market, you stand to lose way more than you gain. Now, I'm going by NGC's up and down list of US coins so maybe comparing apples to oranges? What are these "Trends" you refer to, an outfit of sorts to set prices, or just a trending growth/decline record source? This seems a wide gulf of opinion among you " northerners"! |
|
Valued Member
Canada
343 Posts |
Thanks for the thesis AgCoinAu!  Exactly what I'm looking for. Quote:
Somehow in numismatics not only do we want our money back but we want a return. I really found this comment insightful and will consider it as food for thought. Being a photographer as well I know (especially since digital) that most equipment I purchase (especially camera bodies) will be replaced by the next model within a year or two and I expect very little back in terms of resale value. Crazyb0 "Trends" refers to a publication put out by Canadian Coin News and in it they have listings for Canadian Coins and values for corresponding years and grades. As I understand it these values are used as guides only for relative value. Typically, most collectors are not going to ever pay full "Trends" pricing. Edited by aghawk
02/10/2017 1:34 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
Aghawk, stick around, the 50c piece is a fascinating denomination beyond one per year of release. There are many varieties that you might find interesting to pursue and for example, if you have a chance to pick up a 2014 Charlton 68th edition, in the back section King George VI lots of varieties are illustrated. When I get myself organized, I plan to post up some of them and it's great fun if others join in as well! Quote:
Trends has a $3500 difference between a MS 62 and MS 63 1913 50 cent piece? And it's another $7000 to go one grade higher . . . ? Do I really want to play that game knowing that even if I buy something slabbed that I still have to buy the coin and not the holder and at that point the actual quality of the coin is very much a subjective thing?
It's too bad we don't all have a crystal ball. Me personally, for the most part I've become far more cautious than I was a few years ago. My strategy that suits my comfort level, I stay away from TPG, look for eye appeal and approximate grade at a price that regardless of what happens in the future, it's no big deal because it gave me the satisfaction of having it added to my collection. That seems to me to be the best way of coin collecting without future buying regrets. Edited by wildflowerAB
02/10/2017 2:02 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
5324 Posts |
There has been a few more young collectors at the last few GTA shows which is nice but we need to attract a lot more, like most kids they spend their vast allowances on gaming, not sure what to do?
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
343 Posts |
wildflowerAB Thanks! I actually have the 2016 Charlton Guide and it has a good section on 50 cent varieties. Going through it now. Don't think I'll ever give up on the 50 cent peice - just a matter of what is the best way forward. Quote:
There has been a few more young collectors at the last few GTA shows which is nice but we need to attract a lot more, like most kids they spend their vast allowances on gaming, not sure what to do? This is a tough one. I think it has a lot to do with the trend away from coins (and cash) and also even with our existing coinage. Most youngsters start out in the hobby by going through pocket change. Am I wrong, or is there less "magic" now going through change than there was back in the 60's? |
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
5585 Posts |
Stay with the non-slabbed coins. Some people like the bright and shiny things, but I like to have a piece of history in my hand, so I just shoot for AU if I can. To me, the assignment of single digit increases in the Sheldon scale over 50 was the day I started losing interest in the hobby. Except to see friends, I don't even like to go to coin shows any more .. all you see is plastic and numbers. I like your display, but carefully check out the felt in the album .. it might truly really damage your coins.
|
|
Moderator
 Canada
10456 Posts |
Actually the felt is probably ok... humidity is a coin killer (in combination with the felt). Keep your tray in a low humidity environment is the number one rule to follow....
"Discovery follows discovery, each both raising and answering questions, each ending a long search, and each providing the new instruments for a new search." -- J. Robert OppenheimerContent of this post is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses...0/deed.en_USMy eBay store
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
343 Posts |
Regardless, I think I'm going through these coins again with a closer eye. Just from the photograph I took it looks like the 67 has got some crap on it. And it does - two corrosion points just behind the ears and one at the tip of the lower jaw. Looks like this one will need replacing for sure.  Edited by aghawk
02/10/2017 3:08 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
Canada
10743 Posts |
aghawk...very nice..  , I love the Canadian fifty cent pieces, I have 2 sets from 1902-1967 ( sans, 3 in the second set)  I keep mine in 2x2's only that way you can see both sides of the coins, the early dates are going to hard to find in very good condition unless, you want to fork out a bit of money for them. I'm not sure about the folder you have yours in now. , I think the 'red' in the folder does something to the coins but, not really sure.. Nice collection so far. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1046 Posts |
i concur with all of the above..&
i`ll wager you have @ least
one treasure among them..
regards
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
849 Posts |
In terms of storage or display, Gardmaster Albums from Gatewest Coin in Winnipeg are about $16 Canadian (maybe $12 U.S.) They are PVC-free and you can see both sides of the coins. What I like is that the stiff paper inserts with the dates can be removed and you can type up your own custom sheets on a computer if there are dates missing or spots for $10,000 coins you will never own and don't want there. I have them for most of the Canadian denominations I collect. It takes two albums for 50 Cents from 1870 to date. I only collect 1937 to date.   With respect to grades to collect that is a personal question and for return on investment, no one knows. The advantage of collecting lower grades is that if you sink $1000 into this and give it up in 5 or 10 years and sell for half price you are out $500. If you buy higher grades for $3000 and sell for half price you are out $1500. On the other hand, will you enjoy looking at lower quality coins? Plus I have heard that higher grades retain their value better although I am not qualified to answer on that one. When I started collecting silver dollars (Canadian) I decided I wanted all coins to be AU50 and higher. I have achieved that with 25% of my coins AU50-58 grade, 40% MS60-62, and 35% MS63-64. The difference in eye appeal between AU50 and MS64 is not drastic enough to bother me. I could afford MS65 in some coins but visually do not see much difference from MS64 with my old eyes so will not upgrade. Other people have the philosophy to buy the best they can afford and that is fine too. On the other hand I am not as heavily interested in the 50 cent pieces. My dad gave me his duplicates to fill half of the holes, and most of the 1930s to 1950s were in VF30 to EF40 grade; so when I have been purchasing the missing dates I have been buying in that range. I am not advising you what you should do, only trying to give you some food-for-thought. Edited by punman
02/10/2017 4:19 pm
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
343 Posts |
Punman.  The food for thought is most appreciated.  |
| |
Replies: 41 / Views: 5,701 |
Posted 02/10/2017 11:47 am
