If Given $100, $250, Or $500 For Coins - What Would You Buy?

hmm. my first thought was:

i combine all the cash— $850- to make the best gold coin purchase I can, within the limit of the $850. if any cash left, I buy silver of some kind.

if I have to keep the purchases separate:

$100- junk silver;
$250- I might be able to find a really decent 1909-S wheatie;
$500- upgrade some of the business strike ASEs in my dansco, not giving a hoot about premiums if the cash is given to me, just get the upgrades.

recommendations:

I'm not very good at recommending anything, but if I had to i'd say:

spend it sparingly, get a nice variety of things that draw your attention immediately, get various grades, study them, shop slowly, no rush, pause to do some reading.. pursue a wide variety, get as many different things as you can, don't limit yourself to strictly coins, allow yourself some slack for supplies, books, etc., and most importantly—- go after what makes you happiest. if you get something that you ultimately don't like, find someone to trade with. whatever you end up doing, have fun doing it.

If given any money at all I'd use it to pay my property taxes.

Same here I have exactly zero gold coins.