| Author |
 Replies: 36 / Views: 5,121 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
Hey there all. I've been checking the prices of Canadian large cents on ebay, and circulated copies appear to be $1-$2 for an average condition coin. I decided just to collect 1920-current, but at those prices it sounds like it could be affordable. Are those the typical large cent prices? If I go to a coin shop are those the usual prices for a circulated copy? Also, I'm aware that there is always the "rare" mint years but how easily are they to get. I already have a few and am considering large cents now, but that would probably arrive in the future. Ken |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
Hi Ken,
depending on grade you would be able to buy most of the canadian large cents for a couple dollars each. Key dates can end up being quite pricey. I'm not sure how it is in the states but here in canada just about every coin store has a bin full of large cents that can be picked through, though mostly they end up being 1900-1918 and earlier dates would cost more money. If you wanted higher grades then you would have to be open to spending a bit more money in most cases.
Do you have any coin books you can use for references for prices?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
636 Posts |
Yepper Malissadawn nailed it exactly what I was rolling around in my head for a response.
If you really want to get sophisticated, you can try and collect the different bust varieties associated with each year.
The book is a great idea, not only for prices, but so you can see pics of the different varities.
On another note, theres nothing finer than having a large cent in your hand, where the detail of Queen Victorias hair, or the Kings crowns after that, are as pristine and sharp as the day it was released.
Theres just something about gawking at the detail thats enjoyable.
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
386 Posts |
$1 to $2 is typical pricing for the common Large cents (e.g 1859, 1893, 1896, most of 1900-1920) in G to VG condition. The expensive one is the 1858 (typically goes for $100 for G to VG) Most other pre-1900 large cents can be had for under $10. On ebay your best buys are when someone is selling a small lot. I bought a set of 1911 to 1920 large cents a few months ago for only $8.00 US. It is nice see to Americans collecting Canadian coins. I have expanded myself beyond Canada into Wheat pennies and Indian heads myself. Edited by 1945V
03/12/2009 08:17 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
535 Posts |
I have been surprised at how affordable almost all Canadian series are. Of course key dates are pricy, but even those compared to US coins are affordable. This may sound stupid, but my advice when collecting Canadian is to get good coins. With most of my coins I'm inclined to buy poorer quality coins so I can get more. But frankly with most canadians you should be able to afford better quality. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1007 Posts |
Okay friends, you have convinced me. The coins are affordable and easy to get -- with exception of some key dates as with everything -- so I guess when I'm attempting to finish up with my small cents I'll jump into the large cents. I don't have any books as of yet, but I'll get the usual Whitman folder and a guide book.
1945V, I love Canada and things Canadian. I'm only about an hour's drive from the border, then less than an hour to WInnipeg so I can visit when I like.
karrlot, that doesn't sound stupid at all. Of course affordability is important to me being on a limited income, but if the prices are that low you might as well get better quality.
I've always liked the copper coins: Lincoln Cents, Canadian small cents, British Farthings, etc. I suspect in less than a year from now I'll be gathering up Farthings also. (I have a handful now.)
Thanks again for all your responses. I really appreciate it.
Ken
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
"...I love Canada and things Canadian..."
Fess up. It's the poutine, isn't it?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
Quote:
Fess up. It's the poutine, isn't it?
 so funny you said that! as someone who was born and raised in the US nad then came to canada there were 2 things that completely blew my mind right away........ the amount of snow and the first time I saw cheese on top of fries with gravy! so weird to do but soooooo good. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1082 Posts |
Even regular fries and gravy alone is so quintessentially Canadian. You see it nowhere else, but in Canada, it's something that goes way way back.
When I went to University in Minnesota, I used to love to drop into restaurants and order fries and gravy, just to see the reactions it would get. Most often, that reaction was one of confusion. You'd think it was something totally unfathomable. Usually, I would have to say to them, "You've got fries, right? And you've got gravy? Just give me an order of fries, and put gravy on top of it."
What was really wild was when the restaurant carried biscuits and gravy on their menu. Now I can understand gravy on mashed potatoes -- that's typical when one does a roast beef dinner. Fries are still potatoes; they're just cooked a different way. So what would be unusual about gravy on fries? However, gravy on biscuits? That makes no sense at all. Even though most Canadians have heard of biscuits and gravy, it's something that hasn't caught on here at all.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
I love the large Canadian pennies.. along with the Great Britain pennies. Malissa did you say bins full of large cents?!  Now, sausage gravy on biscuits.. that's heaven..!  Edited by xshift
03/13/2009 03:07 am
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
HI Xshift
yep I said bins full. I haven't been to a coin store yet that didn't have the large cent bins. Not all are in great condition in the bins of course. Any with victoria are usually really rough looking. But most times I just buy the whole bin and sort it out later. I have gotten lucky that way, but only a few times.
I also like to find the small silvers bins. Usually full of early 5 cent pieces and the GB 3 pences. (which I love the most) A lot of cull/junk coins but still buy them anyway and sort out the keepers and set the rest aside as silver weight value.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2669 Posts |
I love the GB 3 pences as well.. wow, I really wish I lived closer to Canada  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
The comments about gravy on fries made me think about the Canadians who come to Grand Forks on weekend shopping trips. First off, we LOVE when the Winnipegers (and also the Manitobans in general) come and help the Grand Forks economy! However, you can always tell who is Canadian in Grand Forks. Fries and vinegar in one. Buying up cases of Carmex in the little tins. Just a couple of noticeable tidbits.
and yes WpgLwr, I like Poutine! Had some at Grapes. Also love Molson's!
I'd better get back to the topic..... I like the idea of bins of large cents. Makes it even more tempting.
Ken
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Here in the US, one can often find a nice 1915-1920 in VF-EF in dealers' 25 cent boxes. I must admit that I have a tendency to always buy them.
Do you guys think that it is better to just pass these up and spend the money on one better coin rather than on the bulk large cents?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
1931 Posts |
Archraz, here is what I do.... if I see large cents that aren't holed or badly damage (wear is okay it happens over a hundred years sometimes) and they are low priced I buy them. I start all separate sets of large cent albums. Then when I can afford to I buy nicer grades or varieties and add those to my personal albums that are just for me. The lower grade sets I can sell for spare cash towards better cents.
The sets usually will sell because even if they are average grade, and common years not all coin shops have all years available in the cheap bins. So most people are willing to buy a small set if it includes all years that they are missing.
I personally had a complete set of all years and most varieties (which cost me quite a lot of money) and when my mother's set from my father went missing I let her choose whatever she needed out of mine to make her feel better. Hurt to let them go but would have hurt her more if I kept them to myself.
Anyway, if you love them buy them. thats how I shop. :)
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1007 Posts |
malissadawn, that's the way to do it. You can always upgrade to something better if and when it comes along. If there's something right there in my hand that I don't have but it's not in the best condition, I buy it for a place holder if anything else. There will always be someone that will come along and buy it later on.
A bird in the hand...
Ken
|
| |
Replies: 36 / Views: 5,121 |
Posted 03/12/2009 08:12 am
