New Collectors - The Journey Thus Far

My father and I recently started collecting coins. He was stashing silver rounds in preparation for the coming zombie apocalypse and I suggested that it may be more interesting to piddle around with low grade silver dollars - you get a little bit of history that way and you don't have to pay much more than the coin's spot silver value.

We went with Peace Dollars because they're a really short series and readily available in low grades with only a couple of difficult dates.

We also decided to start with the 1922/1923 dollars knowing that, as clueless beginners, we were going to get burned - this was our way of limiting our losses. The goal was to build a collection of a couple of dozen AU/MS dollars, have them graded, and then use the cleaned/wire brushed/polished examples as tools for learning what to look for in a Peace Dollar.

As it stands we now have one of the world's finest collections of cleaned/brushed/polished Peace Dollars.

You don't only learn about Peace Dollars this way, you also learn about dealers. For example, at our first coin show the kindest and most personable old gentleman sold my father and I five beautiful Peace Dollars - all of which have been cleaned. Not only were they cleaned, but in my small collection they're the most expensive ones I've purchased short of a PCGS slabbed MS63.

I still have that guy's card.
He won't be getting more of my business.

The point is: We can now look at these Peace Dollars and know why we wouldn't ever purchase such a thing in the future. I value these because there just is no better learning tool.

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My father is attempting to collect AU 58 Peace Dollars but we like picking them raw and sending them in to be graded so that we learn to grade for ourselves. He's the only person I know that will send in a coin and be upset that it came back a grade or two higher than he expected.

"Oh rats, it is Uncirculated!"

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At our second coin show (Lansing, MI) I entered a raffle and won first prize. I told the guy on the phone that I was a little bummed because I wanted seventh place which was a 1925 Peace Dollar. He said, "But the 1853 half penny is quite a bit more valuable." The problem is, what would a half penny get you in the zombie apocalypse.

Nothing, that's what.

 

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Welcome, and your post brightened my day!

 

A very entertaining post by the OP.

 

Completely agree. A lot of people knock details coins but they can make for a great reference library and seeing them in person can really help speed up the learning process.

 

Should have had the Lansing show guy contact the seventh place winner and see if he would be willing to trade.

 

I don't want to trade the 1/2 penny until I've had time to clean it up a little bit.
My dad has a belt sander, we're gonna get to work on it this afternoon.

 

Hopefully that's sarcasm

 

There are also some folks out there that shouldn't be allowed to collect coins.

 

I would never use a belt sander on a half-penny; that is why God made Brillo pads.
In truth, I was hoping that imagery was too awful to be taken seriously.

That said, it would be interesting to see some examples of coins with a notoriously bad cleaning job. That changes the direction of the thread a bit, but do any of you have some examples in your collection of which you'd like to post pictures?

Anything you know about cleaned coins would also be helpful.
I've still tons to learn.

 

Thought so just had to make sure lol.

 

This thread might be of help.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-details-discount-thread.301855/

 

+1

 

Love your post! I too collect Peace$'s and Morgan's, my favorite is the Peace dollar and your right, they are easier to collect. Be careful tho, once you start collecting Peace $'s, it's not hard to gravitate to the Dark Side. (VAMing Peace $'s) Hee hee hee

 

Oh no... I'll never go there.
Although, I do have a Peace Dollar with a FBL.
VAM that!

 

Well, I'm sure one or two of us have a horribly cleaned coin that we could share. But, are we willing to embarrass ourselves enough to post it!?!?

I'll see if I can find something that will help you when I get home tonight....

Oh, and BTW, this was one of the most enjoyable posts by new member I've seen in a long time. Thanks for the chuckle or two!

 

Ok, here's a harshly cleaned 1932-S Washington 25¢

The seller's pics did not show it to be so harsh....

 

Beefer,
Thanks for sharing those images.
The dull surface of a cleaned coin is very obvious in those pictures.

-Gregg

 

just for grins and giggles, here are the seller's pics (I always save the seller's pics):

 

Beefer,
The sellers pics look photo-shopped to me.
It appears as if some of the fields have had the blurr brush applied.
I'm not an expert, that is just my gut reaction.

-Gregg

 

Pure and absolute, deception.........string the bullock up.