The Trade-Up Game: how far will I get in one year?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by lordmarcovan, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    In 2005, Canadian blogger Kyle McDonald started out with one red paperclip and traded it for a pen. He kept trading upwards until after a year and fourteen trades, he had traded up to a house!

    Several years ago, I did this with coins, on Collectors Universe. Did I end up with something worth thousands? No, but it was a lot of fun.

    I’m going to attempt this again. I’ll start with a very inexpensive “seed coin” which cost me nothing, attempt to trade up from that, then keep trading up and see how far I get by the end of a year.

    At the end of one year, I will sell the final coin I ended up with and split the year’s proceeds 50/50 with one of the partners I traded with during the year (who will be selected by random drawing after November 19, 2026).

    How far do you think I’ll get? The goal is more about the fun of the journey than it is about making money.
     
    lordmarcovan, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    The Starter Coin: a 1920-B Switzerland silver half-franc
    My cost: $0.00 (it was a gift)
    Estimated value: $3.43 (the silver melt price as of 11/19/25)

    IMG_4616.jpeg IMG_4617.jpeg

    What’ll I get for it? Let’s wait and see! :)
     
    lordmarcovan, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
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  4. Treashunt

    Treashunt The Other Frank

    That should be a fun ride
     
    Treashunt, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:50 PM
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  5. Mr. Numismatist

    Mr. Numismatist Strawberry Token Enthusiast

    I'm actually doing something similar except, I sell the item instead of trading it, then use all or part of the money to buy the next item. My "journey" started with a modern quarter found on the floor of a store.

    I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this thread!
     
    Mr. Numismatist, Nov 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
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  6. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Where are you now in your journey?
     
    lordmarcovan, Nov 19, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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  7. Bill in Burl

    Bill in Burl Collector

    I'd love to join in but, being in Canada, the tariffs and postage would be bad.
     
    Bill in Burl, Nov 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
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  8. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Yes, shipping will be a considerable dampener, particularly in the earlier portion of the game when it’s just cheap coins on the table.
     
    lordmarcovan, Nov 19, 2025 at 3:20 PM
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  9. Inspector43

    Inspector43 More than 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Great idea.
     
    Inspector43, Nov 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
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  10. longnine009

    longnine009 Darwin has to eat too. Supporter

    It might be interesting to see if economic, political and geopolitical conditions different from 2005 affect peoples' attitudes. IE they may want two trinkets now for their one trinket as people tend to hoard in times of uncertainty. Or maybe they want make believe trinkets such as NFTs, that didn't exist in 2005, so as to appear "techie." Etc...
     
    longnine009, Nov 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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  11. Dafydd

    Dafydd Supporter! Supporter

    Many years ago at a Tulsa Gun Show an Octogenarian dealer told me that part of the fun was buying a mongrel runt of the litter dog and trading it up to eventually be a Pedigree dog @lordmarcovan. I bought a Stevens 32 rimfire rifle which no one wanted in the USA because you cannot buy ammunition easily and took it to the UK because you didn't need a license for the same reason as ammunition was not available. I paid $80 dollars for the rifle and committed never to sell in the chain. In between the Stevens and a few modern guns eventually I ended up three years later with a $6000 1790 Twigg flintlock pistol. Along the way I made many friends, everyone thought they had a great deal and was happy and no one felt cheated. Particularly me!!
    This is a great post @lordmarcovan thank you.
    My current challenge is a bit like what you did to get a gold escudos. I want to trade 90 slabbed Morgan dollars into a gold shipwreck coin possibly at FUN January 2026.
    I will post the two guns tomorrow unless a moderator says no as it will encourage the further pursuit of historic artefacts.
     
    Dafydd, Nov 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
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  12. Mr. Numismatist

    Mr. Numismatist Strawberry Token Enthusiast

    I started in July of this year. I'm only 3 "trades" in.

    This is my current item:
    48.png
     
    Mr. Numismatist, Nov 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
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