Does a toned coin,i.e., the 1884 O Morgan mention cost more than a non-toned coin? I have a RAW 1884 O Morgan with a little toning on the edge that my father left me. Just wondered is it worth grading?
Short answer yes. That coin is on sale for $800 on ebay right now, which is basically $750 over the normal price without toning. If it has a little bit of yellowish rim toning, then yeah you can add about $5-10 on the normal price if it didn't have toning. If it has more bright rainbow colors then the price really goes up. A nice BU Morgan with actual rainbow colors on the rim usually goes for about $20 more than normal price. Make a separate thread and we'll help you out on that thread!
A 1921 year set in EF-40 grade is doable except for the double eagle - that set will be celebrating its centennial next year and will be highly salable - maybe a 'short' set without the St. Gaudens but including the 1921 commemoratives will have to suffice
When I was young, I fell in love with mercury dimes. In the early '60s, maybe 5% of dimes in circulation were mercury dimes. The barbershop in our town had a Coke machine like this one, and my Mom would give me a mercury dime for a Coke so I wouldn't fuss in the barber chair. Fast forward ten years and I had a paper route...and a complete "Blast White" uncirculated Mercury Dime collection...except for the 1916D. I had a G-4 example, but it stood out like a sore thumb. So, in 1972, I asked the owner of our local coin shop to locate the best 1916-D Mercury Dime he could find. He found a nice one (MS64FBL by today's standards), but said it would cost $600! I didn't have anything close to $600 (that's like $6000 today)...however, I would get about $10 per customer for a Christmas tip. I spent the entire year cutting lawns and signing up new paper customers hoping to save $600 by Christmas. By Christmas, I achieved my goal...$600 saved! I proudly marched down to the coin store to claim my prize...only to be told that he had a customer that wanted it for $800, but that I had first right of refusal...at $800. I was crestfallen, I busted my butt for an entire year, thought I had a deal, but instead, learned a hard lesson about business. I didn't have $800, but told the owner that I would be back. I exhausted all my options, so I finally went to my Dad to see if he would lend me the money...girding myself for an unpleasant lecture. Much to my surprise, he agreed! ...but I had to let him hold it until I repaid the loan. I repaid the load quickly, but when I wanted to put the coin in my Whitman folder, my Dad advised against it...so I let him hang onto it. He had it wrapped in aluminum foil...like all his other coins. About 6 years later, my ex-Brother-in-Law stole my coin collection and sold it. All my other mercury dimes were gone...except for the 1916-D my Dad was still holding for me (Phew!). I've since rebuilt a nice Uncirculated Mercury Dime collection around my 1916-D, but it was much more expensive the second time around.
Mine, too. Also, an AU or better 1889-CC Morgan dollar to upgrade my F15. Also, a 1927-D Saint, but you can delete the word "quite."
An 1877 Indian cent in XF is just outside my comfort zone. It always has been and probably always will be.
1864 small motto two cent piece in VF or XF condition; and 1936 matte proof Lincoln cent. I have all the brilliant proof cents from 1936 to 2020, and would like just one matte proof.
I have an 1883 S in excellent condition but I do not TPG my Morgans or for that matter none of my coins unless I purchase them already graded and slabbed.
Unfortunately this list is very long, but some would include: Indian Head 1/2 eagle Athenian Owl A Carolingian Coin Aethelred Penny Cnut ....and the list goes on and on and on....
I thought this would be an easy question, but based upon some of the responses, one choice is not is simply not an option. I would hazard a guess most of the single coin responses are from older collectors who have satisfied most of their desires, but then again, I may be wrong, again.
I travel quite a bit. My most valuable coins are stored at my Sister's house in Connecticut. I think I posted a picture of it on CoinTalk a while back. It would have had to be around the 2006-2007 time frame. I got out of coin collecting when I joined the USAF. I didn't get back into it until after my Father passed. I had completely forgot about the dime, but came across it as I was settling my Father's estate. It was still wrapped in the same aluminum foil after all these years. That's when I decided to put my uncirculated Mercury Dime collection back together...and when I discovered CoinTalk. Does anyone remember Elaine or Krispy?
I had a chance to buy a 1916/16 Buffalo Nickel in 1984. Gorgeous XF, problem-free. $2000. I would have needed to pull savings money, which would have needed spousal concurrence. I've regretted this decision ever since.