| Author |
 Replies: 26 / Views: 4,399 |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1751 Posts |
When I first started collecting in earnest, I went hog wild buying anything that appealed to me. So I have a wide assortment of coins, nclt, circulation, bullion, sets. Themes is about as varied too. I have many series only partly finished, its more like a hoard! So I am working on streamlining to silver yr sets, silver dollars, silver fifty cent pieces, certain animal coins, commen circulation coins, also large cents. The other huge mistake I made was believing the color I saw on my computer, was the coins real color. I bought a number of sm cents on ebay, because I thought they were bright yellow. Boy was I disappointed. I learned it was the lighting this seller used. I felt foolish. So I don't get fooled by the attractive color anymore. I also didn't know about the different grades. What are some of your newbie errors. |
|
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
135 Posts |
HAHAHA!! Ok, I honestly had to laugh at this topic, as I was debating creating a thread very similar to this the other day. The title of my planned forum was "What the H-E-double-hockey-sticks was I thinking with THIS coin purchase?!" I can't say that my mistake was a "rookie mistake", as I've been collecting coins for years - ever since my grandparents bought an RCM proof set for me when I was young. My mistake is extremely comical, nonetheless, and will make some on this forum roll their eyes in disgust. I actually bought a coin solely for it's unique packaging (clamshell case)... absolutely asinine - I know! The coin: 2014 FIFA World Cup (with an RCM "first" - a soccer ball patterned clamshell case). Looking back now, I COMPLETELY regret the purchase. At least it was only $30!!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1751 Posts |
LOL  ,I couldn't help myself. I know a couple people seeing a clamshell, as described, would buy it too.  I have never seen this clamshell, as I pay little attention to sports coins. We all are on a unique journey collecting. We do learn from mistakes. I still have my non yellow king georgeVI pennies. I was so crestfallen to see normal pennies. It was a great listen. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 Canada
2360 Posts |
All the Superman Coins I ever purchased.
1972 Double Dollar Specimen Set (comes with two Nickel Dollars, one obv, one rev),
- was hoping for a Silver Dollar and Nickel Dollar, that started in '73.
Any bullion SML or Animal themed SML's, Privy Marked SML's with Milk Spots.
Most 25 Cent Lenticular Coins.
2012 Rolls of Pennies without the Hologram.
Martin Short Coin - I like the design but could have got it for less recently.
GITD Dinos way above retail for #1 Pachyrhinocerous
We all evolve in our collecting. I still can trade or sell these for coins I want.
No regrets, just learning that's all. Looking to get rid of my 4 GITD Dinos,
and some others for a nice graded decimal coin to fill a big hole in the album.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I found a Canadian cent in circulation and thought I was rich.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
343 Posts |
Bad grammar.
Kidding aside, I mainly overvalued low grade coins. Nothing so extravagant it hurt the pocketbook, but I probably could have haggled and paid a little less.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
256 Posts |
For me. Holding on to coins from any mint to try to sell, during the hay day, at at a greater profit only to see the bottom fall out.
Needless to say that's ended
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
6768 Posts |
Two rookie main type of mistakes I've maid, both in the rush:
**Grabbing items that I really like, but they do not have their "place" in my collection.
**Was impatient and really overpaid for some items, while refused to pay near CAD 100 for item, and bit later silver was in it's pike, so I paid CAD 150+ .....should wait just
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
644 Posts |
For me its...
Two Venetian glass candy cane coins
|
|
Valued Member
United States
311 Posts |
I've had some couple rookie mistakes. The first was paying book price for coins. And a couple times I've bought coins and realized I could get better ones online for cheaper. Got a coin show coming to town tomorrow, I can't wait.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
2845 Posts |
Bladtoff, that's a real good one! As far as "mistakes", well I have to admit I avoid the word as much as possible......otherwise the older one gets, a whole lot of mistakes begin piling up!  It's far more satisfying to consider them as learning opportunities that one has been given and then apply them accordingly in the future. As far as coins, those that I have that really don't appeal to me, I think back and probably I didn't buy them for the right reason, plus I bought on impulse. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
798 Posts |
My biggest mistake: haggling with dealers when finding a rare or high grade coin I wanted. A good example, the 2000 Dragon Privy Maple in SP70. Pop = 1. Dealer wanted $200 USD, I was firm on $175. The coin sold to someone else and I haven't seen it in 10 years. All for $25.00 and my own ego/stubbornness!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
3690 Posts |
One of my first mistakes was ordering a 'hot coin' from a dealer instead of directly from the Mint. This was many years ago when the Mint website was not as well developed as it is today but I ordered two sets (one as a gift for my FIL) of the 2004 Moose coin/stamp from a very well know KW dealer. The order was accepted at issue price. At that time, the set was still available from the Mint. Then the set sold out at the Mint and took off in the secondary market. Suddenly, the dealer "ran out" of issue price sets. However, they had plenty available at three times issue price. In the end, I found the second set at a local dealer for issue price but I purchased almost exclusively from the Mint for many years after that lesson learned. Bottom line, trust and integrity are not always something you can expect in the Coin World - or anywhere else I suppose. Of course mileage may vary these days but buying directly from the Mint usually has the advantage that they generally honour the orders that they accept. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1601 Posts |
Quote:
**Grabbing items that I really like, but they do not have their "place" in my collection.
Yup I bought some pre-65 "proof-like" sets that looked good and they're hanging out with my US proof and mint sets. I also bought a rather fancy swing leaf type proof set that I don't think it's silver (1984 - pm me know if it does in fact have any Ag content) but it is pretty. It just sticks out being one of a kind. Otherwise I really have fun picking up the odd Canadian coin when possible. We have a house out on Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula, so I sort of consider myself to be part Ottawan, geographically! |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2408 Posts |
My biggest mistakes were all the Olympic coins, except those I purchased at intrinsic value. Not paying enough attention to details like milk spots or fine hairlines and other defects on RCM products. This came back to bite me when I wanted to sell my coins. Buying classic proof, specimen sets from the RCM (pretty much all years from 1973... I never bought the 1971-72 double dollar sets). Those are readily available today for a fraction of issue price. Huge mistake was not to hoard more 50's and 60's silver coins and sets. One HUGE mistake for me (not related to NCLT specifically) was to buy ICCS graded coins. I must admit... I've had a great time despite all of those mistakes. Edited by canadian_coins
01/16/2016 3:49 pm
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
299 Posts |
I, too, have made the same mistake with ICCS holders...over 1400 times now. I will just never learn I guess.  |
| |
Replies: 26 / Views: 4,399 |
Posted 01/16/2016 05:00 am
