Hi all, new to the forum. I am trying to decide what to buy myself for Christmas. I was thinking about buying a new gold Buffalo, because I think they are pretty shnazzy. Now I'm thinking about buying a 1999 w $5 eagle instead. The 1999w is going for about $200 less than the buffalo right now, do you think it would be a mistake to spend that kind of money on a 1/10oz. coin?
to CoinTalk Tbar. If you are interested in starting a coin collection, first buy (or borrow from your local public library) some basic reference books. After you have studied them, and only then, buy the piece(s) you will enjoy having in your collection to look at and admire. If you are interested in buying something for its investment value, a 1 oz. bullion piece is significantly cheaper than 10 1/10 oz. pieces, but absolutely no one can give you a guaranteed prediction of what will happen to the value of any particular piece over the course of a month, a year, a decade, or a lifetime.
I already have started collecting...although recently. I have bought and read books pertinent to the coins I am buying. My question was really...As a present to myself, what do you think the money is better spent on? The 1oz. buffalo is $800...the 1999 w $5 is going for about $600+ right now. The mintage for the 1999 w (unfinished die) could be as few as 6000 or as many as 30,000 this is still unknown. I think approx. 3000 have been graded at this time. It is the hands down key date for the $5 eagle series that is for sure. I guess I was just looking for some input. Thanks
Hello TBar... For me I have been collecting the AGE, ASE and APE series for 20 years now. The 1/10th 1999W error coin has a big brother as well..the 1999 1/4 oz W error. As being the "hands down key date" well while it is a significant coin, both of them along with the entire series will be a collection sought after years from now in my opinion. The absolute key date coins are the 1995W ASE, 2006 Rev Proof AGE and the 2 error coins we are talkingg about. After that there are the 1991 1/2oz AGE, the 1989, 1990 1/2 oz AGE. Then you have the 1988 1/10 oz the 1990 and 1991. As a matter of fact all the eagles with Roman Numerals as a date will be highly sought after down the road. If you are serious about the eagle series then start at these points..the remaing coins are realitively easily found. In my opinion..the Gold Buffalo is a nice coin..the first .9999 AU coin..but it is readily available in both finishes. Get the error coins..they are few and far between...get the best grade you can afford.. MS 68-69.. GO FOR IT!!!! Good luck..BTW I have both of them in PCGS 69 RickieB
buffalo I, myself would go for the buffalo. Two reasons, one: the coin is larger and would look better in hand, two: It's hard to go wrong with the buffalo/indian head design. That is my humble opinion.:whistle:
Buy what you can afford. Thats the best way to go about it. But I myself bought the buffalo. but i also have at least 1 of every year $5. there more like a filler for a collection to me. Although they are trending very high value this year. If your collecting simply to collect then its all about what you like. If you investing then you have to think a little different.
Hello Cloudsweeper99, Why I am blushing over that remark!! However, please keep in mind that I am no expert on gold, coins or investment advice. I just happen to be a collector of the series. For me it would be no question about it. There are many other folks on here that know gold better than I. Maybe Doug (however he is a "darksider") will come along and share his thoughts. Good Day to you kind Sir!:thumb:
Hi there Tbar and welcome. First off, I agree with what others have said, that you should buy the piece that you will be most happy with. That being said, the gold buffalo and the error coin are quite different. You will get a lot more gold with the buffalo, but with the error coin, it's not really about the gold, it's about the error. The error coin is rarer and is part of a very popular and collectable series, so I think it will hold its value. Plus, just from the tone of your post, that seems to be the one that you want just a little more. Also, you didn't mention in your original post, but if you're talking about an Uncirculated gold buffalo, you can find those much cheaper than $800. If it's the Proof, that's a different story.
Thanks for the responses guys. I think I will go for the 1/10oz. over the Buffalo. Although the 1999 1/4 also had the unfinished die error, I think the 1/10 will be a better piece to own, only because at $60-70 each the 1/10oz. piece will be more collected down the road.
I'm guessing you are talking about the 1oz Buffalo *PROOF* but note that there is an uncirculated version for $200 less, plus I picked up a PF69 graded by NGC for under $800 (just over $750 actually). I normally wouldn't go for slabbed coins of this type (only older or ancient, etc.) but when one can get the proof for less than at the mint, why not? I was ready to pull the trigger at the mint when I saw this. And yes, maybe you could get a PF70 one from the mint, I realize this. I also realize that many seem to be either PF69 or PF70 (both for the uncircs and the proofs) and that the PF69 is thus, the black sheep, but I couldn't give a rat's donkey if it's 69 or 70, nor do I even feel every 70 is indeed a 70. I just wanted the coin, and if you do as well, you might look to see if you can find a slabbed one for less. You'll pay a slight premium (not worth it IMHO) for a slabbed uncirc though.
Thanks for all the input guys..... I think I have made up my mind. To me, the possibility of the 1999 w error being one of the lowest mintage gold coins ever is just too attractive. They aren't exactly cheap...selling for 10 times mean value right now, but I think it has great potential.
