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 Replies: 34 / Views: 3,968 |
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Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
I have and elderly relative who's health has been deteriorating the last several months. He's been collecting coins for at least 65 years. My relative is 81 years young. He of course gave his son the collection. He new I recently became interested in collecting Lincoln cents. He graciously offered to give me his "extra" wheat cents telling me "you should find a few nice coins to add to your collection". I offered to pay him for the coins but refused and said he was confident that I would provide them a good home. I thought he was giving me a few jars of old Lincoln's. When I went to his house I was shocked to find out he was giving me about 30 containers of various size and shapes filled with coins.
The first thing I did was to weigh the containers. I have more or less 360 lbs. of Lincoln's! Google search indicated that there is approximately 147 cents/lb. so 147x 360=52,920 Lincoln's. This is equal to 1,059 rolls.
My plan is to take one bag at a time and first separate them into decades (teens, 20s, 30s etc.). Then separate each decade by date and mm looking for key and semi-key coins. I will then examine each coin for errors, varieties and other interesting finds. Saving the best for my collection. The rest will be placed in coin tubes by date and MM.
As I'm still a neophyte to coin collecting, does my plan of attack make sense and what should I do with all of the coins I'm not adding to my collection. Any help/suggestions will be appreciated.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
992 Posts |
You've got the right approach. When you're ready, start selling off small lots on ebay, '50 wheat cents 1940's', that kind of thing. A coin shop won't give you much for them, ebay is the way to go. Don't forget to give some away, youngsters love gifts of wheat cents, if you know any. |
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Moderator
 United States
34393 Posts |
Sounds like you are hitting the copper motherlode. Your plan sounds sensible (albeit time consuming). Depending on your level of interest, you could consider not searching for errors and varieties. Even if you spent 1 minute per coin, that would still equal 882 hours, or a full time job, 40 hour/week job for nearly half a year. I love coins, but I'm not sure that I have that level of dedication. You might though...
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Sounds like a ton (no pun) of fun! Congrats!   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1436 Posts |
Just think of all the treasures that may await you. Personally, I would make a cheat sheet of all the key and semi-key dates and rifle though them as quickly as possible sorting them that way as you are separating them by decade... Roll them by decade as you have time and sell them by the roll on the 'Bay. If you have a local coin club in the area, there may be someone there that would buy them from you... Good luck!
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Moderator
United States
56855 Posts |
I have a few suggestions. I don't know your expertise in the hobby,so learn what to look for... errors and varieties before you start searching. The rest of your plan sounds good. With the extras,maybe a contest or two here on CCF? Any local coin clubs near you? John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3402 Posts |
Have lots of fun!! Don't forget to post some so fellow CCF members can get first shot.
KK
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Wow~!! I think you have the correct first step Separate them into decades, years, mint marks etc. And don't forget to spend a few common ones here and there. Perhaps it will get someone else interested in collecting.  |
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Valued Member
United States
441 Posts |
Wow! In a part time, once in awhile searching schedule that could last you years. If space and time aren't a factor than you are set for possibly finding some cool varieties and errors. I couldn't live with myself for letting them go without going through them.
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Valued Member
United States
90 Posts |
Organization is the key. I'm in a similar situation with my mothers coins. Learn from my woes, clearly label each set of coins that you have searched and completed. I thought that keeping them to the side of my room in separate containers was adequate. I learned my lesson after my wife moved things around in the room. Staring at 50,000 pennies and no longer being confident which were searched after I had spent weeks working on them left me wanting to cry. A big thick permanent marker for the outside of each container is now always by my side when searching.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
IF you have any young relatives, see if you can borrow one or more to help.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Truly a stash of some reckoning. Best of luck and fun.
Don't forget to post photos here for us if you have questions.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8715 Posts |
Wow! You are on the right track. Separating them by date sounds good. Make sure not to clean or polish any of them. If you wish to sell some of the coins, the best way to sell would be ebay. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Wow , now that's a Hoard . Can't even imagine what he must of given his son . Good luck going through them .  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3540 Posts |
Oooooph is the word that comes to mind.
But, this road will be FUN to travel!!
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Valued Member
United States
392 Posts |
You're going to need space and equipment, lights and magnifing glass or loupe. I got some great ideas from reading the equipment threads and using the search tools on CCF. Have fun!
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Replies: 34 / Views: 3,968 |
Posted 02/11/2018 12:27 pm
