Intervention Required?

ProofRon · 07-12-2006, 11:30 PM

Coin fever?
I posted my first message last week, wanting some advice on what to do about all the old proof sets I pulled out of my storage, with the intent to find out what they are worth to possibly reduce my inventory. Big mistake!
I've been bitten by the coin bug again, and haven't done much of anything lately except browse the coin forums and search for coin reference material.
Here's a list of what I have purchased/ordered these past two weeks- I'd like those who are currently knowledgeable of the coin world to let me know which would be considered to be worth while, and which are probably wasted effort:

1-Purchased 2007 Red Book
2-Purchased 5X and 10X B&L magnifiers
3-From Air-Tites.com:
.10 pairs Mens white cotton gloves
.50 packs of Supersafe 2x2 coin holders for Cent/Dime, Nickel, Quarter and Halfs
.100 count box of Saflip Double Pocket coin flips
4-From Amazon:
.The PCGS Official Guide to Coin Grading and Counterfeit Detection
.The Official American Numismatic Association Grading Standards of US Coins
.Photograde: Official Photographic Grading Guide for US Coins
5-From US Mint:
.2006 10-Coin Silver Proof Set
.2006 40-Coin Two Roll Set (Colorado)
.2006 Kennedy Half Dollar 2 Roll Set
.2006 Return to Monticello 2 Roll Set
.2001 Kennedy Half Dollar Bag -200 Coins
6-Two small SentrySafe airtight, waterproof, fire safes
7-Three Gem BU NGC certified 2006 Silver A E First Strikes(1 free)
8- One Box of Nickels from bank (can't say that I got anything decent out of it)

PLEASE- Tell me to take a deep breath and stop (unless there are some more important
things you can suggest that I should consider to make my collecting more fruitful.

**budgood** · 07-12-2006, 11:36 PM

I'd say branch out to anything besides moderns. You want to really catch the bug again ? - pick up a bust half or a early gold eagle .

Other than that I'd say you have got a great start- all of the best books , nice loop & gloves !

Join the ANA -

& keep asking questions !

**GDJMSP** · 07-12-2006, 11:38 PM

Yup - you've done suffered a relapse. The disease is running rampant in your sytem once again

You've already passed the point of no return - welcome back to the fold

Now then - as to what you should do next - buy books. Forget buying coins for a month or two and just buy books - nothing but books. And read as much as possible. Start reading - RIGHT HERE. Read every thing you find and click on every single link - and then read that. And then go buy some more books - and read those.

Did I mention to buy some books ?

When you're all done with the books - THEN you can start buying coins

**Speedy** · 07-13-2006, 08:54 AM

It looks like you are back

.....I think you ordered some pretty good things you get you back in the hobby fast!

As GDJMSP said...buy books, all of the books you can.

Speedy

gulfofmex · 07-13-2006, 02:50 PM

Books are great for any collector, there's something to learn for everyone. I remember when I started collecting coins I set a limit for my self, 3 days later I woke up from a trance and spent a few hundred more than I wanted to :P but it was worth it, and there's always something new to look at when your collecting, ALWAYS, good luck!

CoinDude08 · 07-13-2006, 03:50 PM

I know the feeling man.... I have the coin bug as strong as ever.

bruce 1947 · 07-13-2006, 04:03 PM

Hi Ron,
Welcome back to our hobby glad to have you here, read as much as you can, and be sure to come here befor you buy. Doug has put allot of work into the links he has listed they are all well written and very useful. If you have any questions about any type of coin or currency this is the place to come, there is allot of knowledge here and very nice people that are always happy to help.

ProofRon · 07-13-2006, 07:35 PM

I appreciate the responses. Today has been Uncirculated day- I have 26 Uncirculated mint sets dating back to 1958, and am doing a first pass grading on them (haven't received all my grading books yet).
It seems more fun grading Uncirculateds than proof sets- and the coins seem to be worth more- I wish I had known that the Uncirculateds would be worth so much- I guess I am lucky that several of mine are in great shape- especially '71, '81and '90. I have a problem with 1-cent pieces (I now know that these are not called "pennies" thanks to this forum).
But several of my Uncirculated cent pieces would grade out almost perfect, except for one tiny rust looking spot, usually on the reverse- Does this completely ruin the value, or is there something I can do to make it look better? Right now, I'm still looking at them through the plastic folder they came in, so cant tell how bad the spots are- but they are small. I guess this should be another thread?

**GDJMSP** · 07-13-2006, 10:52 PM

Sounds like you are describing carbon spots on the cents - yes it affects the grade, in a bad way I'm afraid

And no, there's nothing you can do about it.

But even without the carbon spots, it would extremely unusual for the coins to grade higher than MS67 and most of them will grade under that. I'm not saying it's impossible, just extremely unusual.

When it comes to grading the books are the best place to start, but books are only the beginning. It takes a lot of experience to learn how to properly and accurately grade coins and you only get that by doing it - a lot of it. I'm not trying to discourage you, rather the opposite. I'm trying to encourage you to practice your grading. Look at as many graded coins as you can - it helps. And eventually you will begin to understand the differences and hopefully even see when the grading companies make mistakes. Trust me they do. And so will you, but that's how we learn

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