Featured How to buy US coins that are good values, and not get victimized.

Why don't you write a book about it. Chapter 1: All about the AU grade. Chapter 2: Those are not die polish lines. Chapter 3: Scratch a coin and look for the raised displaced metal. Chapter 4: Match the scoop to the nickel mark. Chapter 5:...

 

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Really, just helping? Are you sure you're not delaying the work by trying to skew the content to your own made up interpretation, like you often do here? How do you squeeze in all your questionable, contradictory, long winded opinions and posts here on CT, when you have such an important role in a definitive book? Try to focus over there, will you?

 

This could have been an informative thread, but it has become seriously venomous.

torontokuba, you are being blinded by hate and spite... that will not serve you well in the long run. You don't have to agree, but even in the event that they are totally wrong and you are right, being a total douche is not helping. You can express your opinion much better by being smart rather than being aggressive.
I think you are taking a very narrow approach to this. You have some good points, other people have good points too. The difference is being objective. You seem like a young collector, and I hope you stick around, but this is a horrible attitude to have when socializing with other collectors... regardless of who is right or wrong.

 

A. He's not a collector.

B. I have no problem with your opinion about me. You can say your piece, I can say mine and we can move on. GDJMSP inflicts his opinions onto others, does not let up and continues to repeat himself relentlessly without anything concrete to back it up. He does this over and over, topic after topic and I refuse to let it slide, when I know it is wrong, contradictory, vague, etc. as it often is. I am not planning on sitting silently, as someone who leaves no room for the concrete evidence and opinions of others, continues doing so in many many threads. He is the biggest troll on this forum, with the same song and dance under every topic. He knows best and the rest of us either agree or end up in another drawn out repetitive senior citizen rant about 50 years, the collections of others, experts, numismatists, etc. I'm not interested. I'd like to be able to engage others without having GDJMSP or his posse interfere in everything with their interpretation of how things should be always and forever, hiding behind all these silent experts and so called numismatists they refer to. He may be the biggest asset on CT for some, but, he's also the biggest liability, if you truly take the time to read the conversations he has been involved in. Maybe you should ask him not to take over all the informative threads with his high and mighty attitude. That would make the forum a lot more enjoyable. I'm done agreeing with nonsense on CT.

 

@torontokuba, it looks to me, and possibly others, like you've come in looking for a fight, and you're doing your best to turn "How to buy US coins that are good values" into "My beef with @GDJMSP".

Others have tried to turn the thread back to more cordial discussion, but it seems like your campaign against Doug is more important to you than the topic at hand.

Your profile tagline is supposed to be self-deprecating humor, not a battle cry. Please don't take over this thread for your own personal jihad. You've made your point; now, let us get back to the topic at hand.

 

Agreed, point taken. My apologies to the innocent bystanders. I have made an effort to contribute to the real discussion here. I do have a beef with the self-proclaimed guru. Will try to let it go, for now.

 

Ok I'll throw my 2 cents in I have spent a lot of time handling and learning to grade coins. When I started out it was with circulated wheat cents and the occasional silver coin I pulled out of change. I worked my way up from there the Internet is a handy tool I'm no tech expert by any means but I love being able to pull up coin facts or ha archives on my phone while out on the road when I encounter a coin that's quality but not in a series I actively collect. As to the tpgs and slabbed coins their great for buying and selling sight unseen but in my business I often encounter and buy a lot of raw coins. Knowing how to grade and assess coins is a must. Then I send them off to a tpg for better resale value

 

Hey, at least you're not trying to delete people you don't like...

 

Um all we suggested is buying cheap coins to look at as a beginner. So are you saying you have to be in our junior year at cointalk university before you can buy a roll of circulated buffalo nickels? Really? Neither toro nor myself said anything about new collectors buying raw s-vdb's. How badly do you think it will go for someone new buying junk silver?

 

"The Complete Guide to Washington Quarters" seems like a decent quality reference book. It boasts over 200 photos (1994 quality) and some solid substance. It is available for free, as kindly pointed out by @-jeffB in this topic... Book..."Complete Guide to Washington Quarters"

I like it enough, that when I saw an inexpensive ebay auction with shipping to Canada, I pulled the trigger to get myself a hard copy.



http://blog.davidlawrence.com/index.php/reference-books/the-complete-guide-to-washington-quarters/

 

Nice thread Morgandude. Great information.

 

I agree. It's a shame it got sidetracked.

 

I second that

 

I'm only able to visit one or two coin shows each year. It used to be more but work changed that. With every show, I always walk away having learned a great deal.
With a room full of coins, collectors and dealers, I'm going to have a great time.

I have also learned a great deal from local shops. Most dealers love to teach when they have the time. Not saying they are always correct. Over time you become friends with the dealers and other collectors that hang out there. We all learn from each other and build a trust in each other.

With books, I learned the hard way. I bought a lot of stuff that was helpful but not as much as other books would have been. I learned to ask for opinions from those that knew the series before buying the book. Some of the older books are the best but may not be the only one you should own.

We all have many options on where we can learn. I'll use everything out there that's helpful.

 

A point of view from someone who is new enough here to still be reasonably objective:

This happens a lot on CT threads, and a lot more often than on other coin forums I follow.

Nothing wrong with healthy debate; that's one of the ways forums inform and educate. But not when it becomes venomous and personal.

It's one reason why I don't post more, and why I exercise extra care in choosing my words when I do.

 

You shouldn't have to though sir. Most of us are not like that. There are some on here I disagree strongly on one thread, and gladly like their posts on another. Heck, Morgandude and I have had a few strong disagreements before, but I respect his posts and listen to what he has to say. Its a discussion forum, one should be free to express their opinion as long as they are willing to also listen.

I just gained my first two members on ignore, and am now much happier for it here on CT. The ignore function works wonderfully.

 

My only point sir would be you should learn how to grade a series, at least in the grade range you are thinking of buying, before you make a purchase. I believe everyone on this board will admit, be they me and Doug or the most fervent pro-TPG fan, that there is a ton of latitude in grading. Every single series has coins fairly graded and overgraded. I would postulate very, very few undergraded slabs exist, but that doesn't matter. How do you protect yourself from the overgraded slabs? That is my worry. If you do not know how to grade, then you are liable to be the one paying "book" price for a coin marked a 64 when its really an overgraded 62. For authenticity purposes, I would agree using TPG's are a wise move if those issues are known to be heavily counterfeited.

As a further point, the danger in relying on TPG's only is; what will happen when the chinese get better at faking the slabs? They are already pretty close. What happens when your security blanket is itself the subject of worry? That is why I preach education sir. Look at lots of coins, use good dealers, and educate yourself are the three things I recommend for everyone in this hobby for these reasons.

 

Dear torontokuba & Vegas Vic,

In the future please be advised that you must be an administrator, moderater, or supporter to post here without being labeled a Troll if your insight or opinions differs from theirs.
I, IMHO, thought the thread hijackers were GDJMSP & medoraman.
Thank You Toronto! Your a straight shooter and call them as you see them.
Of course, I will certainly be put in my place for spelling & grammer mistakes by a certain individual.