I have a bunch of US coins that I started off with, but where do I find some popular coins to add to my collection without spending rididculous amounts of money?
Well, what is a ridiculous amount of money? The popular coins are going to cost more because there is a demand for them. Plus, if they have a low mintage and thus a limited supply...they are typically priced accordingly. I guess a better question is, what "popular" coins are you interested in?
Well, what I mean by a ridiculous amount of money is like thousands and thousands of dollars. I know that you have to spend some money, I think everyone knows that, but the coins I'm more interested in right now are 1800s large cents and i'm also looking for some barber dimes
Then focus on what you like to collect old fellow. Buy the highest grade you can afford and above all else, enjoy yourself.....
There is nothing wrong with lower grades if that's the only thing that fits your budget. Looking at Barber Dimes for example...the 1894-S isn't going to happen. People who collect this series have accepted that they will never have the money for one unless they win the lottery or something. But, for the rest of them...they are obtainable. For example, look at the 1895-O. That coin costs thousands in high grade because they are very rare. But, a lower grade can be had for a few hundred. Also, when looking for coins in your price range...especially key coins, make sure the coin you buy looks good. A circulated coin can have excellent eye appeal while the same coin in an MS grade can be ugly. The MS coin is much more expensive but the circulated coin looks better. One thing to keep in mind though. Don't buy problem coins. Don't buy coins that have been damaged by cleaning because they are cheaper. You are MUCH better off to get a lower grade coin that isn't damaged than one with a little nicer details but has been harshly cleaned. That's a mistake every collector has made and trust me, it's not worth it.
Try Google for a list of possible coin shows. Type in coin shows and your state. Also, some sites such as Coin World have lists of coin shows. If you go to a coin show you would see numersous variesties of what your looking for and in numerous price ranges. Also, depending on where you live there may be some flea markets where coins are sold. Always try those before you attempt to purchase anything on the internet like ebay.
