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 Replies: 24 / Views: 2,785 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
I was initially thinking birth year coins, but that gets complicated fast. Someone suggested proof sets, but unless they come in nice holders, I don't think the non-numismatists would be that pleased, plus there's enough of a difference in price/value between some of the years that some might feel slighted (yes, there are folks on the list who will compare, and I don't care to deal with the "you like him/her better" angst).
For the inexpensive little gifts for friends, Mercuries seem like a safe bet--pretty easy to find MS65 for less than $15, and they are nice-looking coins.
With gold prices where they are, for immediate family, I was thinking of getting some gram coins. Not exactly "picked it out just for you" sort of thing, but IMO it beats gift cards--we are all hard to buy for, so we usually fall back on those. (Personally I prefer gift cards to some of the gifts my sibs have come up with--one year I got perfume, wanted to ask my brother if he had ever met me, since I never wear the stuff due to allergies. Then I wondered if he was trying to tell me something. LOL.)
Any other ideas?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
How about Silver Eagles? They're inexpensive and sure look nice!
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Valued Member
United States
424 Posts |
If your brother is single and unattached then you should get him a year subscription to Match.com.  Seriously, I think some gold or silver would be nice. If other family members are not collectors then maybe get them a colorized ASE (ew). |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
I give AU Morgans from the 1800's. Inexpensive, large, attractive, and old. Non-collectors do find them impressive.
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Valued Member
United States
96 Posts |
I've been going to the Denver Mint for years. They have great products & gift ideas in all price ranges. Good packaging as well. Rosa & Virginia are very helpful. You may want to swing by & see them.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
790 Posts |
I've been giving ASE's as baby gifts for new arrivals. Also first few years as a birthday gift. I figure babies don't really grasp the whole gift thing anyway, so give them something that will have value when they're old enough to appreciate it. I like the AU Morgan idea. I recently found a Morgan in VERY good condition among a dealer's culls. It had been dipped to the point it had little luster, my guess is to remove "unsightly" toning. I "rescued" it for $20, and stuck it in one of those old Manila coin envelopes. If it tones again, it might make a nice gift one day. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
We have been selling these.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
 Those look very nice in the Santa case! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
Consider small or large sets of high quality state or ATB Quarters. They're inexpensive, kinda cool to look at, and may spark a collecting bug. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
Also check different world coins for different interests. For example, my mother-in-law is an Elvis fan, so I got her (among other Elvis memorabilia) a nice condition Tennessee State Quarter (having Elvis). Many world coins have "themes," like animals, boats, castles, etc. There are also commem/NIFC stuff with themes, like Star Trek, predators, etc., the purchase of which could be customized for various individuals. That shows real thought in the purchase. And it would expand your knowledge of world coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
96 Posts |
Garoyn is right. I've have been giving coins as gifts for many years. I thought they were great. But I knew I didn't get it until I put myself in my grand daughters shoes and bought what I thought "she" would like. I put this "colorized coin" in my custom set at NGC(Gasp) & had her mother show her the set & see if there was a coin she actually liked. She went straight to this coin. I had her mom hand her the package I sent & this this was her reaction.  I hope this helps. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
I noticed APMEX is offering AU Peace dollars for $23 and change. Those might be nice friend gifts, unless someone wants to warn me away from APMEX? As for themed coins, I have a brother into hunting, another who is a freshwater marine biologist, a sister who is a oenophile and into Judaica (she married a Jewish man), another who is into cat rescue, Dr. Who and a couple other TV shows (unfortunately NOT Star Trek), and one who is contemplating a motorcycle tour through Ireland. I imagine I could find appropriate coins for each. But they'd have to be of pretty close to equal value which might complicate matters. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
I love that Disney coin idea for the kidlets. Way to get them interested in coins!
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Valued Member
United States
96 Posts |
Several themed coins come in various weights to fit most budgets. Most of them aren't colorized. You are light years ahead of me and many hundreds of dollars saved just by writing what your brother and sisters are interested in. I encourage you to look at APMEX as well as all the other major bullion dealers. Your local coin shop may have something as well. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
790 Posts |
Oh, also one of the people I'm buying for is a young Iranian woman I mentored through elementary and secondary school. We are still close. She's very interested in developing her young son's interest in his Persian heritage, so an attractive Persian coin with a good story behind it would really make a nice family gift. Anybody know of something appropriate? It definitely should NOT be recent--her family left Iran during the revolution and they are not fans of the current government.
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Replies: 24 / Views: 2,785 |
Posted 11/29/2016 09:33 am
