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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,445 |
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
If you had $60 to spend (not much, I know) would you buy one decent PCGS MS-63 WLH or 5 low-grade Barber halves? I am only 16, so I am trying to make cost-effective purchases. Thanks! |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
I would go with the better quality coin over quantity
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5417 Posts |
Quality over quantity. You may think now that quantity is better but that will pass as it did with me. Pick that MS-63 WLH.
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Pillar of the Community
872 Posts |
I'd go with Quality over quantity.
I know your young, and collecting is an awesome skill to have.
Coin Collecting can increase your attention to detail and also your bargaining and marketing skills.
If your planning on starting a WLH set, and your going through a dealer, let him know that your going to try to start a set. What's that tell him? You'll probably be a return customer if he treats you right. Don't ever be afraid to ask polite questions about the product your about to purchase. Look over the coin carefully and make sure its going to be one you plan on keeping for a while. You can start with the lower grades and then eventually over time, buy a higher grade one, or go to a dealer and trade up which may require a little cash out of pocket as well as the trade.
There are three great grading companies that I work with. Only two, PCGS and NGC offer a certification lookup that offers the Value of the coin as well. Last time I looked, ANACS didn't offer the value of the coin during a certification lookup.
There is also a newsletter called "Coin dealer newsletter". They offer a downloadable product called the "Greysheet" It gives dealers a general idea what the coin market is doing. I am not sure if WLH are in the greysheet, but the Coin dealer newsletter website might give a better breakdown of what coins are in what publications they offer. I buy that issue once every 6 months or so, since I dont see a need for one every time it comes out. It shows everyone what the prices are like and evens the bargaining table since the dealer knows, you know what the prices are for each coin your interested in.
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Valued Member
United States
373 Posts |
I agree with what everyone is saying...quality will hold up over time. Common date, worn Barbers are worth approximately their silver value, and never more than that.
However, I would add that with careful and patient shopping, you should be able to find a PCGS MS64 Walker for $60. I personally find MS64 a real step up from MS63, and generally with noticeably better eye appeal.
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Valued Member
 United States
83 Posts |
Thanks for the input guys. This coin would be for a type set I am working on. Would I be able to get a better price if I bought ,for example, a MS-65 FB Merc at the same time and then tried to negotiate a little bit for the pair?
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
Would I be able to get a better price if I bought ,for example, a MS-65 FB Merc at the same time and then tried to negotiate a little bit for the pair? Thats up to the seller. It never hurts to politely ask though |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
Neither.
A MS-63 would be from the 40s and a LOT of them are around.
Instead, a nice fine before 1921 would be a better pick.
Similarly, a single, fine Barber Half, which are darn difficult to find, would
maintain its value over time.
Cost-effectiveness is a good thing. However, the availability of a given coin often
outweighs other considerations, INCLUDING what the price guides say.
The Greysheet does list the Walkers. If you have specific questions about price for them or other coins I may be able to help. It is given by bid/ask. Paying 10% over the asking price is not out of the question for a nice example.
Finally, $60 can get you a NICE coin for your efforts.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Although only 16, so much depends on what you like, want to do, plans on coin future, etc. I'd actually suggest not spending that on just one coin. What I'd suggest is to just go to a bank and purchase rolls or bags of coins and look through them for whatever. You should get a copy of the latest Red Book by Whitman Publishing so you know what is really what. I noticed you said your working on a type set. Many people do and then loose interests in them later since once they fill up, not to much left to do except upgrade waht you have. I'd always suggest getting a few Albums for Jefferson nickels, Roosevelt dimes, etc. and try filling them up. For some reason when I was young, I'd always try to fill an Album rather than just have one or more expensive coins. But everyone has different taste. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1804 Posts |
Baldy........... Quote:
5 low-grade Barber Halves Personally I like quantity over quality when you have a limited starting budget. Anyway good luck and welcome to CCF |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1531 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
83 Posts |
Perhaps it is possible to do both quality and quantity with a limited budget? Like justcarl said, does a certified MS65-66 set of silver War Nickels sound like a good project? |
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Valued Member
United States
269 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
A very long time ago when I was 16 I chose quantity over quality because I wanted to collect a series. It was exciting having multiple coins rather than one higher quality coin.
The downside was that after a few years I wanted better quality coins and had to sell off the lower quality coins. Because I was a novice collector I paid too much for the lower quality coins and sold most at a loss.
Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith Edited by cipster
04/15/2014 10:47 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Impossible to answer without knowing what you are collecting. For those saying "quality over quantity" so by the high grade Walker, that's fine....if he is collecting walkers. But if he is collecting Barber halves what good is a high grade walker going to do him? He'd be better off with the 5 low grade Barbers. Now later he mentioned it was going to be for a type set. In that case why 5 Barber halves? Why not one better grade Barber? After all if you bought 5 low grade Barbers and put one in the set, what are you going to do with the other four? You don't need them but your money is tied up in them. if you are going to tie up the money anyway, it's better to tie it up in something nicer that you do need. So now if we are considering one nicer mid grade barber half, or a common MS-63 walker, Then I would say go for the Barber. MS-63 walkers are common and easy to find and probably will be for some time in the foreseeable future. Nice mid grade Barbers are tough and becoming tougher all the time. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
589 Posts |
I would buy both. MS62 WLH for 35 and a VG-F Barber half with the other 25.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,445 |
Posted 04/14/2014 11:59 am
