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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,712 |
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
Hi All
I have been out of the hobby since I was a teen. I would now like to start building a collection not yet sure what focus will be or if I will keep it eclectic. I will likely want to add a new coin every month or every other month for somewhere between $250-$500 USD.
I could just pick my local coin store but would just as happily find someone remote with whom I can consult. How might I go about finding someone who is in it for the long haul and with whom I can learn and build a collection worth owning.
Best
Arb
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1119 Posts |
 definitely stick around here, lots of good info going around. Until you find your focus I would recommend not spending very much on a few coins and see what you keep coming back to and liking. I would say go to a coin show and talk to a few dealers and find a few you like who dealing in what you like and take it from there. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1601 Posts |
What did you collect as a teen, and do you still have the collection? I collected Lincolns when I was a kid and although I went to MS Jeffersons when I resumed, I later picked up that old Lincoln collection and started making it better and more complete. With the Lincolns it brought back fond memories and I've been hooked ever since.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
What type of coins are you interested in?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
 it really comes down to "what coins do you want to collect". From there we might be able to hook you up with the right person. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Here's how I did it.
I went to a several coin shows (local and national) and bought some coins from a dealer who specializes in US small cents.
I found that he and his wife were VERY honest and open.
Over time I left wantlists with them for EVERYTHING I was looking for, not just small cents.
Since they go to all the big shows it was like I was shopping the whole US.
This has been going on now for 12-15 years; he's still getting wantlists from me.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Try finding coin shows in your area. Small ones where the dealers are local and there most of the time. IF you find one, spend time talking to them. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
Once you find a dealer (an honest one, of course), and they get to know you and what you want they may start putting stuff aside for you.
My LCS decides what to buy and how much to pay partially based on their customers wants.
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New Member
 United States
10 Posts |
Hi All
Thanks for the super helpful responses. My ultimate goal here is to put money into something which is both a) enjoyable and b) delivers an absolute return over a 15-20 year period. By nature I am a contrarian and like to invest in under-loved and under-appreciated assets which will with time shine through (no pun intended). Whether it is a return to the mean or is something that people will at some point come to realize true value is my sweet spot. I have no interest in putting money into todays 'hot stuff'.
Andy
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
A contrarian today would probably be buying Bust Dollars and Silver Commems. Silver commems have been down for an extended time, and are cheap relative to other coins that old. They came off a bubble some years ago and have yet to recover. Bust dollars are just a bit out of favor right now and are coming off a hot run the past decade.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4589 Posts |
Sorry, b) - absolute return - is likely impossible.
If you are buying top of the top $1M coins, sure those will hold value.
But everything we know says that current crop of coin collectors (Baby Boomers) are dying off and their collections being sold for pennies on the dollar (vs. 10% appreciation of price paid) because not enough new collectors are joining the hobby. There just isn't the demand for the run-of-the mill coins.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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New Member
United States
10 Posts |
Yeah the demographics of the hobby are pretty dire as shown by attendance at any coin show. Some I know are hopeful that India, China et al will step in but not too sure about that. Maybe when we no longer have any money in our pockets and its all bits and bytes we will get nostalgic. Maybe I am better off just amassing a pile of ungraded gold sovereigns....
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
I don't agree. Auction results are still extremely strong. The mode of buying has shifted due to the internet. Every coin now has a national market. Coin shows are still strong out where I am too. There are a lot of older collectors, but when I was collecting back in the 80's that was the case as well. Serious collectors have always been 40+.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5828 Posts |
Quote:
Most serious collectors have always been 40+ Fixed it  |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,712 |
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Posted 05/23/2016 06:39 am
