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 Replies: 117 / Views: 15,884 |
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Valued Member
United States
123 Posts |
Any bad buys, mistakes in cleaning coins, misunderstanding of coin terms, etc?
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Valued Member
 United States
123 Posts |
For me, my biggest mistake was either to buy low quality coins, or when I bought a regular 1909 in very average condition for $8.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
Buying cleaned and polished Morgans from my LCS's junk bin because I thought white shiny ones were always good.
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New Member
United States
20 Posts |
Not starting sooner! But not buying the right coin for my budget, and then upgrading later.
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Pillar of the Community
Poland
3201 Posts |
Putting junk bronze or copper coins in a citric acid solution... and ending up with a pink mess instead of a green mess. While it generated no loss, as they were all garbage to begin with, that certainly wasn't the improvement I was looking for...
The more problematic one would be not focusing on anything of value or at least worth holding on to.
In other words, buying lots of coins with little monetary, historic, or aesthetic value. Where are they now? Sold, of course.
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Valued Member
Germany
303 Posts |
I cleaned the first crown-sized coin from Prussia that I bought with 13 years or so. Still, because the coin is somewhat special to me I still got it in my collection and would never think to replace it.
Then, I started buying coins only because they were old and regardless of their condition. Now, I also upgrade to better conditions...
Best
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
Quote:
What mistakes did you make as a newbie? All of them   John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4333 Posts |
A few embarrassing ebay buys. When I listen to LED ZEPPELIN...so do my neighbors...
Roll hunting since '77
Dirt fishing since '72
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Quote:
Not starting sooner! This. I had the opportunity to buy a gold coin in 2010, passed, still don't have any gold in my collection today (aside from Siberian copper). Quote:
Then, I started buying coins only because they were old and regardless of their condition. I still do this, but try to justify it with bargain prices. (It helps that I almost never buy non-ancient coins for more than $2 or so.) And I do look at condition when buying ancients (which, ironically, also led me away from a few good deals). |
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Valued Member
United States
175 Posts |
Never cleaned, that was quite evident from the beginning. But everything else you mentioned... YES! lol
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
For me it was buying lots of cheap U.S. junk . As I have mentioned in an old thread I went with quantity instead of quality . When I first started ,I would have rather have 10 common date AG-3 Buffalos than 1 BU common Mercury dime.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10982 Posts |
My biggest mistakes usually involved getting in bidding wars during an online auction. Don't do it.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
Quote:For me it was buying lots of cheap U.S. junk . As I have mentioned in an old thread I went with quantity instead of quality . When I first started ,I would have rather have 10 common date AG-3 Buffalos than 1 BU common Mercury dime. Mercury dimes are one series where I make an exception to the $2 price, because they're so beautiful, and finding them below $2 is almost impossible. But yes, if I can get AG-3 Buffalo nickels with 10 different common dates for, say, 4 dollars (Numista value for AU common Mercury dime) - I'll definitely do it. I only have like two Buffalo nickels so far. |
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Valued Member
United States
115 Posts |
When I was 12, some 50+ years ago, I wanted my dad's Morgan's to look new, yes, I took a silver cleaner to them. They sure looked nice and new and I was so proud of them, there were only a handful and nothing but run of the mill dates, but the damage was. What actions did my Dad take you say, he was understanding and looked at me with eyes that burned through my soul, but never said a word, may he RIP.
JFH
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3453 Posts |
First coin show, jumping up and down like a cheerleader when I found something I had been looking for for about a year. I THINK the dealer may have doubled the price...bought it anyway.
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
Not starting earlier is definitely one but I can name off a few. Buying a FE Cent for a low grade and probably too high of a price. I wouldn't get rid of it though because it was my first purchase and I still love it. I cleaned a '43 steel cent with TARN-X because it was literally illegible. I didn't get the Blue Book early on like I should have. I haven't gotten an album for each category which makes even a great score annoying because I have to change the whole thing.
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Replies: 117 / Views: 15,884 |
Posted 04/10/2016 01:25 am
