Quite a few times I hear from YN's or newbies you know Paddy I just don't have the funds as others to afford nice coins like yours. Well I have been aquiring coins for half a century from a different time when I could as a paper boy find coins in my collection bag that I needed. However that was then...and this is now! And I just wanted to share a few tips to help those who cannot afford specimens that are beyond their budget reach. There's nothing to be ashamed of... truth be told 3 years ago I made a 6 figure salary...then life happen and was forced into a retirement that wasn't planned....or wanted... I like working and truly enjoyed what I did to make a living. Anyway...the porpose of this thread is to give you a few tips on how to hunt nice specimens to build your collection on a budget. Lets start with common Peace dollars 1922 here two that are R 5 & R 6 specimens over looked by some as again the 1922 is a common date but affordable on a budget. So lets say your at a show many times dealer dont look over each coin in their invetory. So a 22 Peace is put in a 2x2 and in an binder album along with other specimens. Just ask to look at the dealers binder and take your time looking at coins within your budget and look carefully. Let your eye search over the coin for anything thats different. Here's two examples of 1922 Peace dollars Au/Bu that weren't that expensive but had something different than the others in the dealers inventory. Notice the wing ...see the spiked clashes on both examples. They both are nice specimens and both have that little extra something that the dealer missed. The two examples both have a wing spike clash... one an vam 11 A the other vam 18 A . One given an R5 rariety the othe an R6. Bingo you just found a nice variety with that little extra that fits your budget. No worries that it's a common coin....as yes it is....however its a common coin that has that little extra that you cherry picked. So now down the road after years,decades of collecting putting together a set of Peace dollars you know that your 1922 is a more desirable vam or variety. Now true we all aren't Elon Musk.... but we still can enjoy the hobby ,the thrill of the hunt,and lastly knowing that "YOU" built the set. And the only one who needs to be pleased in the end.... is ones self. Money cannot buy you happiness, but knowledge will put you on the right road to both happiness and money. "Happy hunting and if you have a common date Peace Dollar with something a little extra post them here."
Great advice Paddy. When I was young that was the way to do it. Now that I’m older, I save and buy the key dates first.
