Good afternoon Coin Talk! It has been a while since I last posted but I need some help. I am looking for some recommendations on what I should buy over the next two months. If I cannot spend any more money on coins for the month, I find that helping others decide on how to spend their money on coins is a pretty close 2nd, so assistance here would be much appreciated. Here is the scenario: 1. My 1st child is due in early December of this year 2012 2. It's a boy! 3. This is the Chinese Year of the Dragon 4. Early December birth would mean he would be a Sagittarius 5. I am looking to build a starter collection for him in hopes he will collect coins someday 6. My budget over the next 2 months is $200 or less (diapers and a college fund ) 7. Instead of buying one or two coins at my budget I would prefer to buy an assortment of coins to start his collection 8. His mother is Portuguese/Azorean (The Azore Islands are in the Atlantic and are a part of Portugal) 9. I am of a mixed ethnicity with family from Prussia/Germany, Spain and the Philippines (Sounds like a crazy mix but my Great Grandfather was born in Prussia, emigrated to the US at 6 and served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War where he kidnapped and married my Great Grandmother NO JOKE!) 10. The name is still up for debate but we are considering naming him after my father and myself to make him a III 11. I am open to US and World coins and although I tried to give some background to help with suggestions, I am open to any recommendation Just so you all can see the your chosen recommendations will not go to waste, any coins that I purchase for him will be pictured and shown in this thread for you all to see how I did. Thank you all for your time and I look forward to hearing all of your thoughts. Raul Rekow Jr.
I think you should buy the following: 1) 2012 US Proof Set 2) 2012 Portuguese Proof Set 3) 2012 German Proof Set 4) 2012 Spanish Proof Set 5) 2012 Philippine Proof Set 6) And, if you have any money to spare, get the Mint Sets for 1-5. Chris
Yes, silver eagles are nice and they have holders that commemorate different things at silvertowne.com. I am sure you can get them elsewhere as well and just pick up a new silver eagle at your local PM shop unless you want the burnished or proof coin, you can get them at usmint.gov. Another good thing about silver eagles is when he gets older, he can use them to fund his 401k.
Several countries have Year of the Dragon coins. They can get pricey but the 1/2 ounce is reasonable and usually does not carry too much of a premium. For example: http://www.providentmetals.com/2012...he-dragon-coin-perth-mint-lunar-series-2.html Btw: Congratulations is advance! TC
Congrats on your little one to be! As much as it is awesome to name him after yourself and your father be aware it can cause the credit bureaus (Experian especially) to mix you both together. A different generational code (Jr, Sr, II, III) isn't sufficient to keep that from happening. Just figured I'd let you know since I have to fix mixed credit files and other fun bureau stuff all day at work.
No connection to your heritage, but a somewhat milestone event in the year of the birth (2012) of your son. Canada has eliminated their penny/cent after 100 years. You can buy an unopened box of 50 rolls for $125. Or you can get one unopened box stamped with the very last day of minting for $275. Might be an interesting box to show off in 50 years.
Funny you should mention this Aaron because I have had issues with my father's identity and my own in regards to credit. In fact that is one of the key factors that my wife has brought up and why we have not decided for sure that he will be a III. Thanks for the advice! Raul
Car insurance, too. For over 10 years, at each renewal, my insurance company tried to raise my rates because of my fathers accidents. Even after he had died. Every year I had to fight the same fight.
First off, thanks to everyone for the great suggestions and please keep them coming if you have anymore recommendations. I love all the great ideas and it seems like buying proof sets for 2012 and beyond, "bullion" type coins or even coins going out of mint are all great choices and give me a lot to think about. I do have some questions though. Seems like I get a fairly wide array in variance in pricing when I look at the "bullion" type coins. If it is .999 Silver and a 1/2 oz or 1 oz or more, I am assuming the time of the year when each mint decides to price their coins can have an effect on the price of the coin right? Since I am not someone who collects ASE, Maple Leaf, Onza or Zodiac coins normally, it seems like I see a sizable variance in pricing from country to country and also an expected difference from site to site. Do some coins have a higher value for intrinsic reasons beyond the value of the precious metal like say silver in this case? Does lower mintage, better styling or just a longer run of the coin perhaps that make them more collectible or desired and therefore more valuable? Just seems like when I compare the Australian coin that Topcat listed to say a similar 1/2 oz .999 Silver Canadian Royal Mint Chinese Zodiac Zodiac coin here that there is a sizable difference even after exchange rates. I guess I lack the experience and know how of which sites are best to buy from and perhaps which time of year is best (upon release or before the new year?). I guess so much depends on the pm but it seems like there is something else I am missing. Maybe I should shop more based upon which looks best to me as I would with most other coins but when it comes to brand new "bullion" type coins, that I am looking to find the coin priced closest to it's weight value as a pm. Sadly I have turned this conversation onto a whole other tangent but any advice here would be helpful in knowing which series I should start and continue to buy for the youngster. Thanks again to everyone and keep sending your suggestions! Raul
I got my first born (girl - 5 now) a silver proof set, and i followed it up each year with another. I just gave them all to her. She is hooked on collecting and loves to help me pick out silver proofs to add to "our" collection. My boy is 2 - his birth coin was a Proof silver eagle. For the price, it will appreciate as he ages and since it is dated, he can still collect it. My third (girl) arrives next February, and she is getting 1/10 gold which would also fit your budget. Coins are great, but the silver and gold will also help me teach them about not only coin collecting, but investing as well, not to mention the fact they are pretty much guaranteed to increase in value and make a nice gift. Just my opinion.
Fantastic news Taribor and congratulations on your 3rd upcoming child! It makes me smile when I hear that kids are still getting into collecting coins. Did it come natural to your oldest or was it just great parenting? Any hints would be helpful for me since I don't want to push too hard. For me it was sorting wheat pennies with my grandmother when I was 5 or 6 that got me hooked. I will look into gold as well, great recommendation! I know they make 1/10 and even 1/20 oz coins which would be nice. Any series suggestions from anyone? Thanks Raul
If you decide to buy ASE's, think about the 2012 75th anniversary set - one nice semi key in that set. Or for series, buy the 2010, 2011 & 2012 silver proof sets to get all the silver ATB quarters released so far.
