Big Winners And Losers!

Last year, I purchased a 1723 Woods Hibernia halfpenny for $30. I got it and it turned out to be a very nice 1723/22 which I resold for $110.

As far as losses, I went through a period where I was buying all kinds of Large Cents because I wanted to learn how to attribute them. Unfortunately, I wasn't very discriminating on how much I spent. When all was said and done, I don't think I lost a lot, but on a couple of the individual coins, I lost a fair amount.

[quote]Originally posted by Susanlynn9

Last year, I purchased a 1723 Woods Hibernia halfpenny for $30. I got it and it turned out to be a very nice 1723/22 which I resold for $110.

As far as losses, I went through a period where I was buying all kinds of Large Cents because I wanted to learn how to attribute them. Unfortunately, I wasn't very discriminating on how much I spent. When all was said and done, I don't think I lost a lot, but on a couple of the individual coins, I lost a fair amount.

Susan,
EAC'S have always been tough for me. Almost every one I've bought has had some kind of burnishing or mild surface corrosion.(tough to see in straight on photo's and even in hand without a loupe) I hang onto them because I love doing attributions on the coins and many in lower grades are still reasonably priced.

No doubt about this one as both my wife and I were fortunate enough to make the Vatican City coin list before they froze it in 2002. Proof sets were less than $50 each that year and sold for $1300.00. Mints sets were $15 and sold for $880.00 and the silver commemoratives were around the $45 level and sold for $350 to $450.00. While I love to KEEP everything I buy we could not sit on these coins in 2002. Our initial investments of around $350.00 turned a $2300 profit in 3 months. Values have dropped each year since but they are still very good and I am still pursuing and collecting the silver commemorative Euros and now have collecting friends all over Europe!

I never dreamed of collecting foreign coins and swore I never would!!! Have asked myself repeatedly "What in the world are you doing and should I REALLY be collecting these euros?" Well we see what the euro is doing and along with that I have my dealer telling me NOT TO STOP now. Guess someday I will get to show these things off some where? And, hopefully I might be worth something or at least my little guy!

OK. I will tell you my most favorite coin story that happend to me when I was 10 years old.

My mother and I went to the town Of Cloverdale, California. This is just a tiny place nestled in the center of the Sonoma wine country. My mothers sister had lived here for a number of years and it was our turn to visit her.

While I was eating lunch a friend of my aunt's called and asked if she could help him out a bit. He was 87 years old and had a hard time getting around. My aunt sorta of looked after him.

I decided to go with her and left mom to do the dishes. We pulled up in front of this beautiful, large Victorian home that looked like a turn of the century design. My aunt had told me that the man who lived there was born in the house and never moved away.

As I walked in I felt I had stepped back a 100 years in time. It seemed that the man had never felt a need for replacing his furniture or anytrhing else that I could see. I fell in love with a floor model oil lamp that had a full glass shade and 12 long crystals hanging from it.

About that time Mr. Galli came out of the kitchen to greet my aunt and me. About the same time I saw this small box about 7" long, 5" wide and 3" deep holding open a full size solid oak door. I said to myself no way can that box hold that door.

I asked Mr Galli what was in the box that it looked to light to hold that door. His response was, "I don't know. It been sitting there for 80 years." This was like shoving a knife in the heart of this 10 year old. I asked if he would mind me looking in it to see. He approved, without much concern.

I headed for the box as if I was being chased by the defensive line of the San Francisco 49'ers. The box was made of wood and looked hand carved by a kid taking a crafts class. It was heavy...way too heavy.

I worked about 10 minutes to get the top off without hurting the box. The lid came off and my jaw dropped to the floor. The box was filled with Indian Head Pennies. It looked like someone needed a door stop and thought the pennies would do the trick. Most of the pennies looked like they were never circulated. It counted out at 427 coins in all.

Mr. Galli sold them to me for face value if I would get new pennies to replace them. I got several rolls of newly minted 1957-D cents and filled his box. I went home happy.

catman