Best old silver coin for investment?

Stone Mountain is gaining some momentum, but I'm also surprised that the civil war part of the series hasn't fared better

 

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high grade standing liberty quarters with full heads.

 

I'm working on higher quality Walking Liberty Halves at reasonable prices right now. As you can imagine, the going is tough, especially on those earlier than, say, 1934. I might go with @harley bissell on SLQs next, but I expect this to be quite daunting and without much financial reward.

 

I spend $300 to spend every year I don't spend that much but I'm not poor

 

I mean no offense, but if you can only spend such a small amount comfortably, I wouldn't worry about "investments", but focus solely on enjoyment.

That said, if all one needed to do was ask a forum which coins would offer guaranteed returns, wouldn't everyone be doing it, and in the process likely destroy the market? Think about it...

As for advice, I'll sum it up in one word.... QUALITY.

 

The Peace Dollar series has great variations in "strike/die quality". Cherry-picking well struck examples could make you some money.
Stay away from buying rolls...they've already been cherry-picked.
Another good series for cherry-picking well struck examples is the Walking Liberty and Franklin half dollar series.
Start with the common dates and move to the key dates as you learn.

 

Where can I find a website of demands on a coin?

 

there is no such website but you can get some idea from the dealers' buy ads. If all the biggest dealers are asking for the same type of coins the market for them is hot.

 

Both NGC and PCGS show available coins (multiple sources), recently realized prices, and 5 year price history of each coin...for each grade.
You can pretty much derive what the demand is from those numbers.

 

There's an old saying that goes: "there's no free rides in numismatics" and I fear is something you're going to have to learn the hard way.

Again, if all one had to do is look at a website, don't you think everyone would be doing it and reaping the rewards? Seriously, there's a very good reason why so many press the notion of doing this only for enjoyment; if collectors with decades of experience cannot always make money, what makes you think that you can simply waltz in and do so?

 

If you don't have much money. Try silver mint sets - pre 65. If you come up with a very good set, one coin in the set can be worth much more than the set itself. sometimes 1000 times more. Even newer sets can work the same, but it is much harder to tell exceptional grades. Newer sets need to have coins, or a coin that grades at MS 69 to be worth a lot of money.

 

Too many "smart" people buy problem coins at coin shows, crack them out, then resell them on eBay at much inflated prices...to people who don't know any better.
If making money is your only interest...that's one way...but you'll kill the hobby.

 

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I agree with going for quality. Better to spend $100 on a good coin than $25 each on 4 bad coins. When you go to sell quality wins. But I think the key is to remember that nothing is guaranteed and unless you play the crack out game you should plan to hold on to the coins for several years if you hope to make a gain.

 

crack out game... How does that work Silver Mike... bust them out and hold...

 

For bullion I would go war nickles, you can buy them in bulk for about 35 cents a peice and their melt value is around .96. For numistic investment, listen to everyone else.


Thanks,
Jacob

 

Think about that for a second. If their melt is twice what you can buy them for what do you think they would sell for when the time comes?

 

Folks who assume that they can ALWAYS sell a quality coin at a reasonable price are frequently dismayed at the results they get when the time comes. Even key date problem free coins can surprise you. For your own knowledge and piece of mind I suggest that everyone select one of their investment coins and pretend that they have an emergency and shop it around for a QUICK SALE and see what percent of retail value you are offered and by whom. With that knowledge you will know what to expect and who to take it to. Keep an open mind and treat it like a learning experience which it will be. Enjoy.

 

Great advice Harley. A couple years ago, I "reactivated" my coin collecting interests after a couple decades of dormancy. Before putting too many $$ back into coins, I took a couple recent purchases with me to a coin show to see what dealers would pay. You find out quickly where you have made good buys and where you have overpaid. Fortunately there are some dealers out there who will give you honest feedback and will spend a few minutes sharing their knowledge.

 

I learned a lot when my house was destroyed by flood. There is NO PREMIUM for a mint never hinged stamp or a slabbed MS n