I have taken some photos of a couple Barber, Walker, Franklin from the collection. Any help with grading and value would be appreciated. Please, I am a newbie, so the 'less cryptic,' and more clear and serious the replies, it would do me well. Thank you.
The 1892 Barber half is harshly cleaned, but if it wasn't it would be $200 1905 is probably a couple hundred. Walking Liberty and Franklin aren't worth too much, maybe like $20-50 at the high end.
I've got my RB, but they say the prices are not realistic. I am also going by the PCGS price guide. I am only taking my best guess at grades with the PCGS photograde.
Plus the Red Book has written indications to grade by...three letters of LIBERTY visible...etc. Although the prices are garbage, you can tell what is valuable and what is "garden variety".
I was using the written indications at first, but I am finding the PCGS photograde very helpful as well.
I can't see how in the world anyone can collect coins (or anything else) without a price guide. A Red or Blue Book is ESSENTIAL. But magazine price guides like Coin World and Coins Magazine are OK too. You're right, and education is the best thing. Red Books or Blue Books are not that expensive, and if you are on a budget, you can still pick up last year's edition at a discount. I used to be a stamp dealer. You'd be surprised at how many people would buy wallpaper and sheets of stamps from the post office without a clue as to what they were worth or how many gazillions were printed. KNOW YOUR HOBBY. Ask questions of dealers and people more knowledgeable than you. Subscribe to a hobby magazine. Join a coin club. To put it simply, try to educate yourself.
I wonder what my father used in the 1950's. I think I remember the Coin World magazine coming to the house. I am enjoying myself learning about coins but I am just trying to manage my father's collection well, in case something happens to me, I don't want the collection to be in a garage sale. I have no heirs. I'm going to make a will, when I get the collection well organized and can get an idea of the value. I might join a coin club.
