Best value in coin collecting?

My vote goes to the humble Jefferson nickel. Uncirculated prewar specimens can be bought for a song, and many pre-1960 nickels are still in circulation. I also love the way old nickels age. The silver bicentennial quarter is another cheap way to get a rare 40% coin. I bought 2 circulated1950 nickels and a silver bicey proof quarter today and spent little money on them.

 

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Books.

 

Already got my 2014 red book.

 

Coin roll hunting offers the best value. Any coins you pick up at face value which allow you the pleasure to search, and can then deposit for face value represents a win-win situation. Other than that, IMO, silver bullion 5 ounce ATB coins near spot look promising. TC

 

I agree with coin roll hunting being a cheap way to obtain coins. I was talking about specific coins but you do bring up a good point. My job allows me to buy coins at face value but it is so unpredictable that you never know what you're going to find (which is what makes it fun for me). Getting old coins back in change is another cheap way to get coins, but the odds of finding anything interesting are low. Finding coins in circulation, whether getting them in change, finding them in the till at work, being given them to me by customers, and roll hunting is the most rewarding way to obtain old coins.

 

While I love the books answer, but I would say whatever makes you happy. Its a hobby. While many of us like studying history, others simply like pretty coins, while others get the most joy finding rare coins at face value. However coin collecting givess YOU the most joy is YOUR best bargain.

 

Franklin halves.

 

SGS graded gems.

Seriously, I would say the knowledge you obtain, or the opportunity you have to share the hobby with someone. I am currently involving my girlfriend and baby sister into the hobby - to see the eyes of my baby sister light up when I hand her a "measly" Sacajawea dollar, or when I hear her rummaging through the house so she can find some, in her words, "special coins to fill up my coin book!", it just warm my heart.

So the ability to create a connection through something that has risen or destroyed nations is the best value this hobby has.

 

I said books, plural.

 

I have learned a lot over the last year (but not enough to prevent me from asking stupid questions.) I've learned that pennies from the 1960s and the 1970s tend to green with age. I can spot a zinc penny. I can spot a silver coin. I can tell a coin is silver by the way it sounds being dropped. I've observed the differences between date sizes in certain years of pennies. I've noticed that S mint coins are fairly rare in Oklahoma. I've learned how to detect old Jefferson nickels by wear patterns and how 1940s cupronickel nickels tend to yellow as they age. I've learned how rare some coins are in circulation and how surprisingly common some coins are. Much of my new knowledge was gained looking through thousands of coins, but I've learned a lot here as well. I've angered some guys because I cleaned a bunch of terrible looking quarters and made them look good enough that a novice couldn't even tell they were so gross before. I've been told to never clean a coin and made the same guys mad by cleaning a nasty 1953 nickel. I have realized that my favorite era of coins is the 1920s. I have examples of coins that I didn't even know existed until my interest in the hobby skyrocketed last summer. I have theorized that the tough economic times of the last few years resulted in collections being spent in face value, leading to an increase of old and valuable coins in circulation. I've been a collector all of my life, but I've gained a lot of knowledge in the last year.

 

About the books - if you find a series you like get books on that series. I have one on Franklin/Kennedy half dollars and Peace dollars.

 

I saw how those coins you cleaned came out. I thought they looked better. They looked really nasty before the cleaning. My take on cleaning is simple, if it improves the look of the coin and you like it, then go for it. Especially if you plan on keeping the coins for your yourself. I also think there are times where cleaning is not really necessary and could cause more damage than it helps. With that said, I don't see why so many people act like it's such a sin or taboo. I think some folks act angry cause they want to convince others (and themselves) that they are serious collectors. I suspect some also do it cause they don't want competition.

 

I get angry over cleaned coins when I have to observe atrocious hair lines that ruin a mint state coin. Really grinds my gears.

However I spend most of my time observing my coins through a loupe and it makes that cleaning HIGHLY visible and thus annoying and it destroys the value.

Meanwhile, non cleaned specimens continue to go up in value as everyday new collectors enter the market and whether through accident or negligence, we lose good, original coins on a daily basis.

 

There's at least one out there. I just spent a dateless shield nickel. Whether it gets past the cashier to whom I gave it is a different story.

<snip
Getting old coins back in change is another cheap way to get coins, but the odds of finding anything interesting are low. Finding coins in circulation, whether getting them in change, finding them in the till at work, being given them to me by customers, and roll hunting is the most rewarding way to obtain old coins. unsnip>

 

I vote for ancient coins. Where else can you find a REAL rare coin (in some cases one of a kind) for under a hundred bucks? Or decent "common" coins starting at ten dollars?

Alfred

 

how about british 18th century trade tokens.still get a nice one for £15--$20--name of issuer fun researching his trade and place of issue--real social history.

 

My old LCS had a selection of ancients - and in my modest price range - but I can't find a reliable source online within my budget...with one great exception (medoraman).

 

While I like the 'whatever makes you happy' and 'books' replies, my vote goes for Half Cents. Hard to find a better value out there, IMO.

 

When you say "best value" what exactly are you referring to? When I think of value I'm thinking of resale value. As such, I tend to think of anything made in 90% silver or better as being a good value.

However, if by value you mean inexpensive, I am personally fond of collecting 40% silver eisenhowers and 40% silver half-dollars. They are large, nice looking coins without the expensive of the 90% silver content.