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 Replies: 11 / Views: 1,171 |
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Valued Member
United States
226 Posts |
What is the first thing you think of when you look at a nice G4 or even a VG8 coin? Do you see just something worn out only wishing you had a XF40 or MS coin? While we all want the best, do you really appreciate the fact that this coin has a history, and as the saying goes "if it could only talk" would have a wealth of lessons to share. Don't get me wrong, I am constantly in upgrade mode and can spend hours looking at mint state IHC's  . But collecting coins has taken me places in my mind that only good books were able to do previously. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
812 Posts |
I have always preferred coins that are truly "money" (have been used by a person to purchase something). Coins that could theoretically be used as money (but never have) are pretty, but not nearly as interesting.
I know this is a minority opinion, but if everyone thought like I did it would just make it a lot more expensive to collect what I like, so it works for me.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2049 Posts |
I am with Bilbo on this. I like to imagine the stories the coin could tell, especially if it's from the 1800's. I cant help but wonder if anyone famous from the past held that coin at one time. Of course I'll never know, but it gets the imagination going.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
I'm wondering if someday, the DNA technology will be so incredibly sensitive that they will be able to tell everyone who has handled a particular coin- if anyone famous has held it at one time, might command a nice premium! Maybe wishful thinking right now, but look where we are now with DNA technology compared to 10-15 years ago.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3233 Posts |
Bilbo, I agree with you totally when it comes to bullion material, such as today's Eagles. I'm also not so hot any more on the plethora of commems we generate and their cost. I'm even more mystified at the silly practice at putting that stuff in plastic with high grades on the holders.
However, Proofs are a whole different issue. Especially 19th century stuff like I've sort of specialized in. Those coins were meant to show what the circulating coins look like in beautiful, perfect detail. Yes, they weren't meant to circulate and only for collectors, however they're rarer, more highly-detailed specimens of their circulating counterparts.
Edited by Prethen
03/14/2008 09:03 am
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Valued Member
United States
57 Posts |
Since I am only a beginner I would rather have several examples of worn coins than one ore two in mint state. This isn't to say that eventually I wont start buying high grade coins but for now I just want to get my hands on as many types of coins as I can.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1984 Posts |
I'm with Prethen on this one. PS Prethen/OT--Still looking into that other thing, thinking of getting an ANACS submission together. Also, have you seen the 85 3cn on ebay right now? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1000 Posts |
I always thought I was in the minority in regards to prefering circulated well worn coins to their expensive cousins. It appears there may be more of us than I thought. Both for price, but more importantly the history.
But I can see Prethen's point. For instance I have very recently and slowly started my 2 cent and 3 cent collections. I have been buying very worn coins, maybe graded Good if I am lucky. I do plan on buying at least one example of each that is in great condition so as to display what these well worn samples would have looked like before the history.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6326 Posts |
I'm in agreement as well....... and I have A LOT of "old worn coins"......There is something neat and so lucidly historical about them ! Always being able to upgrade (or already have) is of course there, but yup.....i like "old" well used ones too..........
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
The "historic" coins are the only ones I can afford! The average grade of the coins in my collection would probably be G4 (on a good day).
I do try to get a really nice example of each series collect, so I can see everything that's supposed to be there - very helpful when grading the coins. Most often, I'll get a Proof.
One of the comments that has always ticked me off is the one where someone breaks open a slab to "free the coin from its prison". Yeah, RIGHT. So you can move it to it's new prison - an air-tite in your locked safe or safe-deposit box. Big difference.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
I like old coins that have seen a bit of wear, but that still show the beautiful detail that makes them works of art. Give me a nice VF-EF coin from the 18th or 19th century with a bit (but not too much) of honest wear, and I'm in heaven.  That doesn't mean I can appreciate  more heavily worn coins, or MS-68's, either. But that's not where I like to be when collecting. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1840 Posts |
How's this for worn:   It's a 1757 real from Lima that I posted a while back. This nickel-sized coin obviously did some hard work, quite possibly in colonial America. |
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Replies: 11 / Views: 1,171 |
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Posted 03/13/2008 12:47 pm
