Hello everyone So as not to Hi jack another thread,, Where do you draw the line on Modern coins ? Do you consider each coin on its own merits or do you simply pick a date and let it speak for all coins ? Rick
Well even thought I put this in the other thread I will put it here again!! 1964...I don't collect any post 1964 coins. Yes I think if a coin was silver, gold, etc, it would be ok for me to collect it, but I'm not sure if I want to yet. Most of the time if a coin is past 1964 I either sell it, trade it, or such...unless its to complete a set...like the Jefferson Nickels...I would go ahead and get the coins that are past 1964. Speedy PS--I guess you could say I don't collect clad coins
I tend to think in terms of series instead of dates. An Indian head penny is old, a Lincoln is modern. A merc dime is old, a roosevelt is modern. A Barber quarter is old, a Washington is modern. A buffalo nickel is old, a Jefferson is modern. A..., well, you get the idea.
I would call them modern. Just because something is scarce or valuable doesn't mean it can't be modern.
What would you call an IKE Dollar modern or old? I'd like to think of the IKE Dollars as modern even though I collect them. However, I' m sure there are collectors who would think of IKEs being old. Especially those born after the mintage stopped. Also, I will collect any coin where I THINK it is worth more than it's face value.
I think I can safely say that most people who have been in the collecting game for any amount of time will put a date on 'moderns' as about 1900. coins made before this are generally thought of as old coins and any denomination that was produced during or ending in the 1900's are considered as moderns for all practical purposes. Kind of the same way as some five year old coin collector would probably think of old coins as those minted before 2000. It's all relative and what you want to place your stake. Your the one to decide.
Your question is interesting. For me, I do not collect clad coins unless they are included in a two or three coin modern commemorative set. I collect silver dollars ( trade, Morgan, Lafayette, and Peace and all modern commemorative silver dollars. The 'operative' word is silver. Therefore, no Ike or Susan B Anthony's or SAC dollars. Coins in silver are intrinsically beautiful and the modern commemoratives are beautiful as well as inexpensive. They all tell a story. I collect only uncirculated or proof. Other than an AU 1879-0 Morgan and a AU 58 Lafayette dollar I thought was uncirculated, the rest are uncirculated or proof. I don't think you can go wrong with silver. But who knows...maybe your crystal ball works better than mine which doesn't work at all.
I kind of agree with Old Dan, but I am not sure I would put the Barber series as modern. I kind of think of modern as starting with the Buff Nickel, Merc dime, SL quarter, WL half. Oh yeah, and the Lincoln cent.
