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 Replies: 16 / Views: 4,501 |
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Valued Member
469 Posts |
Hello all, get ready to read! Right now, I am just absolutely fascinated with all things relating to early American coinage, especially coppers. Colonials, Large and Half Cents and early tokens have found their place in my interests, but when I go to my LCS, the only things available are over valued and over graded examples. For instance, last time I went in, the proprietor had a few large cents in his half off bin. They were one Draped Bust and three Braided Hairs that would all be details grades. Since I am a broke college student with very little income (I only work summers when I am back home) I am only able to buy those kinds of lower grade examples, or coins that are very good deals. Anyway, the Draped Bust was either 1805 or 1803 (could not tell) and was worn completely smooth on the reverse with a massive rim hit right an 12 o'clock on the obverse. Unfortunately, when I inquired if the $30 price tag on it was the half off price or the price that would be cut in half, he informed me it was the former. Same goes for the Braided Hair cents, all ugly and valued too high. So, last Sunday, I travelled about an hour to a coin show in my 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass which barely made it there. I searched far and wide for some sort of decent deal, but to no avail. The only thing I walked away with was an 1851 Braided Hair in VG condition that I purchased for $10. I spent more money on gas getting back and forth than I did at the show! Now, I don't mean to bore any one with my ranting, so I will just get to the point. Does anyone out there in the Community Forum know of any reputable online dealers with good deals on early American coppers? To meet my requirements, they couldn't really be high end coins or too pricey. For those reasons, I am not even sure if anything I am looking for even exists. Also, and I know this isn't the place to be posting this part but I hope the admins will let it slide, if any kind and caring people who read this post would like to trade with me for any Colonial, Large or Half Cents, I have lots of foreign coins including a bunch of silver. Hopefully some one who reads this could point me in the right direction or would even be interested in contacting me for an exchange of sorts. Again, sorry for posting the part about trading, but this post is mostly about US classic coins and not about trading so I hope it will be allowed on this forum. Can't wait to hear some opinions! Thanks, Carson |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
Hi Carson! I like Harlan J. Berk for many different types of coins, but there are many affordable coppers here. You have to register but it's free and the browsing is fun even if you don't buy anything! http://www.hjbltd.comEdited by Moe145
06/16/2015 09:41 am
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Valued Member
 469 Posts |
Thanks Moe! I have never heard of that site and it looks to have a huge inventory. I will certainly take some time to see what I can find on there.
I appreciate very much the speedy response.
Edit: Just looked at it and, unfortunately, even those are too expensive for me. I suppose the most logical approach, at this point, would be to attempt trading for them.
$40 for me is food for almost the whole week and I need to save up for when I go back to school. I will be moving out of my dorm and into an apartment next semester so I need to buy things like a refrigerator and microwave and furniture, and that stuff is expensive!
Still, thank you so much for the link and hopefully some time soon I can actually afford to buy some of those great looking coins!
Edited by Pytellc
06/16/2015 09:52 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
Pytellc. I am an enthusiast of early American copper and a member of EAC. Given your budget, I would advise against buying any coins from dealers. You will lose your shirt if you ever want to upgrade and I would say you can get the same coin for half the cost being patient on ebay (true auctions not buy it now). A good example of this would be the coins jerryc39 posts in the classic coins grading forum. He has a knack for finding great low grade copper on ebay for better than dealer prices. Also, try to avoid problem coins. I know you are on a budget, but better a low grade problem free than a high grade with problems. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
Have you tried ebay? If you take the time to learn how to separate the good from the bad, there's a lot of nice coins out there. |
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Valued Member
469 Posts |
Thanks guys for the advice! And yes, I have actually had some very good luck with ebay. Very recently, as a matter of fact. Just the other day I bought another 1851 Large Cent in F+ for the exact same price as I paid for the one I got at the show. Unfortunately, though, I have issues buying online because my bank account is solely for savings, I never touch the money in there no matter what. For that reason, and I know it's pathetic for a 20 year old, whenever I want to buy anything online I have to give my father the money and borrow his credit card. And, suffice it to say, he is not a big fan of my coin collecting. In fact, he is not a fan of spending money on anything. He just doesn't understand why I love coins so much. Anyway, out of my paychecks, which I can cash in where I work, I save about $30 a week just for coins but rarely get to spend it. Most of the time I save it for a little while and end up just putting it back into my savings account. I'd hate to try and solicit a trade on the wrong forum, but, anyone interested? Trading the coins I do have, which I am only somewhat partial to, for ones that I absolutely adore seems to be the most reasonable and effective manner of acquiring what I am seeking. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4415 Posts |
Try joining a local coin club and network with the members. Some clubs run monthly auctions. Members often sell to or trade with other other members.
Even a collector on a shoestring budget can borrow books through the library system. I humbly suggest studying and learning as much as you can about your passion, early coppers. Instead of spending $10 here and $10 there, save a few hundred or more and buy a quality coin when the opportunity arises. I've found two, early date NC's in my travels, one at a flea market and another at an antique mall. One cost me $100, and the other was $175. You stand a fair chance of finding a rare variety in the middle and later dates for much less. Will you know one, when you see it? Knowledge is the key and having a reserve fund is a necessity.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3151 Posts |
thanks for your comments EF large cents. I try!
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Valued Member
469 Posts |
Everyone, thank you very much for the advice! I will take all of it into consideration and do my best with what I've got.
Also, jerryc, if you see this beforehand, just got done with that list and sent it your way...
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
It would be my first thought to suggest you reach out to - become a member of - the EAC community. Not so much as a source of coins (that would come later) but as a source of information. Early coppers need in-depth understanding to collect "well" yet are plentiful enough for your budget to be relevant if longer-term than others'.
There's plenty of nice coins in that market, but there are also plenty of lower-grade examples with less demand pressure than pricier ones. To the extent that any Early Copper can be subject to "less" pressure, of course. But here is where understanding how EAC works is to your advantage. EAC dealers tend to ask prices based on accurate knowledge of where the coin ought to be in the larger picture, not necessarily subject to market fluctuations.
And your learning process becomes proof of your intellectual investment in the real-world quality of what you buy. No reason why well-bought Early Copper in just about any grade can't be considered a solid long-term investment as long as the plan is to preserve the money rather than grow it at any specific rate. This is one subspecialty which will never lack for subscribers - it's a natural growth direction for Lincoln specialists and enjoys steady additions to the collector population.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
Join the EAC as Super Dave said, a great organization. The only place I've ever really seen large lots of EAC coins for sale is at an EAC Convention, a different kind of coin show for sure! I went to my first one this last May/June had a great time, can't wait for the next one in Charlotte. There you can find large lots of boxes of large cent s to pick through at prices that are affordable. I saw one dealer that had 100's priced in groups you pick at $9-18 piles.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1566 Posts |
As a member of Early American Copper I highly recommend joining EAC but as you said you're a college student and the $40 membership fee may be too high. I can send you a PM with a few ebay stores to check out but if you're not in metro Detroit I can't help you as far as shows or swap meets. That said I do have a few coppers I might be willing to trade for, again I'll send you a PM. If you ever have questions or need guidance about copper coins feel free to drop me an email and I'll gladly respond. |
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Valued Member
469 Posts |
I believe it will be the best $40 I will ever spend! I'm looking at the website right now and it looks so very interesting that I feel compelled to.join no matter the cost.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I'd also like to give Jack Beymer a shout out as a "good guy dealer" pretty much any member of the EAC that is a dealer too, have never had any issues with any of them in past transactions.
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
940 Posts |
Quote:A good example of this would be the coins jerryc39 posts in the classic coins grading forum. He has a knack for finding great low grade copper on ebay for better than dealer prices. Also, try to avoid problem coins. I disagree with EFLargeCents on this one. He says try to avoid problem coins, but jerryc39's 1843 large cent looks like someone scraped a knife blade across the obverse several times. A collector of early coppers, even on a low budget, should not be spending $13.50 on this coin. Price versus technical grade does not determine whether a coin purchase is good deal. Patience is key. Save up to spend three or four times $13.50 for a coin of this type that you would be proud of. It will take longer to build a collection, but you have plenty of time, and you will be much more satisfied with what you have bought. Speaking of time, how long will it be before jerryc39 gets buyer's remorse, and wants to unload a badly damaged coin, most likely getting less than paid? I would guess a matter of months. The question I always ask before committing to a coin purchase is; will I have trouble selling this later? If the answer is even maybe, I don't buy it. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
I can't keep track of every coin jerryc39 picks up, but I don't disagree with Classic Coins assessment on patience for quality and increased budget. I learned my lesson buying low grade large cents, selling them off was a difficult and losing venture. You will be much better off investing in knowledge and saving for months to buy one nice coin. With a budget of $30 a week, in two months you have enough to buy a Mint State late date (1850's) large cent! I still recommend buying from true auctions though to get the best prices. Dealers get some of their inventory from auctions, and then mark them up. Also, pick up these references to get started. There are specialty volumes on specific coin series, but they are more expensive. Determine what you are interested in first and then jump off from there. Joining EAC will also boost your knowledge and give you connections into the EAC community. References: Grading Guide for Early American Coppers 2015 Red Book Deluxe Edition (The copper section is greatly expanded in this volume) Edited by EFLargeCents
06/17/2015 08:45 am
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Replies: 16 / Views: 4,501 |
Posted 06/16/2015 09:43 am
