So...I've been working on a little project and I've gotten to the point that I thought I'd start a conversation on the topic to get opinions/gather information/LEARN. As someone with a definite (DEFINITE) budget but an outstanding interest in coin collecting, I decided to put together a list of the best coins one could buy for under $50. Of course I am attempting to take all (or as many as possible) factors into account - condition, mintages, availability, interest, investment potential, etc... I see this list as something that could potentially be very useful to myself and others (esp. beginning collectors, which I think I'll always feel like as there is just SOOO much out there to absorb...) Of course, there are other coins that I am working toward...key dates, etc...but I like this project and I'd love to see what everyone thinks. If it seems like an interesting idea I'll post what I've come up with so far (draft #1.) Thanks all, and I just would like to say that I really enjoy reading all the posts (even though I rarely put my two cents in.) ~benjamin
You may need to narrow your focus to a particular denomination or series as there are so many bargains out there to be had for the right collector for under $50.
Alot of the coins under $50 don't tend to be the same coins that have high investment value. All of my coins are under $50. I collect modern commeratives and proof sets. I enyjoy my commems. Most people have never seen alot of them. I'm not expecting a windfall when I sell. I probably will be lucky to break even. You might try buying bulk wheeties and looking for repunched dates and varieties. Silver is low now. Not sure what else will appreciate. The old saying it takes money to make money really is true.
Picking the right $50 coins now could very well pay off quite well in the near future. With the price of base metals in such flux right now, I think it's a fairly safe assumption to think that within the next few years we'll see modified planchets for the penny and nickel denominations. With the 100 year anniversary of the Lincoln cent next year we've already started to see a run up in semi-keys in that series. But we haven't seen much change in the Jefferson series. There's a bill before Congress right now to change from the nickel to the half dime. I doubt it passes, but the idea is starting to formulate. IMO several of the earlier date Jeffersons are still quite inexpensive in the higher grades compared to their mintage numbers. An couple of examples that I'm talking about are the 38D&S. With mintages of ~5 million they're considered semi-keys of the series BUT can still be picked up in high MS grades for well under $20. Along the same lines are the 49S, 50P, 51S and 55P all of which have mintages of under 10 million all of which can be picked up in MS65 for under $10
There are still some very nice coins available for less than $50. High grade Jefferson Nickels and Roosevelt Dimes come to mind. Gem state common date Mercury Dimes as well as MS63/64 common date Morgan & Peace Dollars.
Some favorites: 1) Many Seated dimes, with very low mintages; 2) 1927 S Standing lib quarter; 3) unc Buffs; 4) silver. more to follow as I wake up.
stldanceartist I started a new thread, since I did not want to seem to hijack this one. Thanks for the reminder. http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.php?t=42444 Frank
Nickels BTW...I am not claiming to reinvent the wheel here...this is just my project and I'm putting it out there for comments/discussion in order to increase my own knowledge and perhaps get an even better list. So, hijack away if you want. Maybe it would be easier to have it all in one thread? I'm sure there are others about this subject... Okay...since I haven't worked out my list of cents yet, perhaps I'll put my list of nickels. I have been avidly collecting nickels (esp. better grade Jeffersons) ever since I started this list, mostly due to their inexpensive costs for high grade coins but also due to the fact that you can still search a bank box and actually find $2-5 face value of pre-1960 coins (and usually around 2-3 silver, a Buffalo, and even sometimes even a Liberty.) Year/Mint Mintage Grade Cost 1926 S ( 970,000 VG-8 $42) 1931 S (1,200,000 AU-50 $50) 1883 (Shield) (1,456,919 VF-20 $38) 1883 (Liberty NC) (5,479,000 MS-60 $26) 1924 S (1,437,000 VG-20 $32) 1915 S (1,505,000 G-4 $47) 1913 S (Type 1) (2,105,000 F-12 $50) 1913 D (Type 1) (5,337,000 XF-40 $35) 1914 S (3,470,000 F-12 $45) 1913 (Type 2) (29,858,700 MS-60 $34) 1950 D (2,630,000 MS65FS $45) 1938 S (4,105,000 MS-65 $9) 1938 D (5,376,000 MS-65 $8) 1927 S (3,430,000 VF-20 $31) A nickel that just misses this is an 1871 Shield nickel that lists for $70 in G-4 with a mintage of just 561,000. Thoughts? Am I on the right track? ~benjamin
Some of the silver war nickles in MS-65 FS , Smaugy picked up a beauty of a 65-FS for under $50 for me , I don't know the exact price because he wouldn't tell me , but I think around $30 . rzage
