Old Coins VS. Modern ? That is the question

I prefer 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries but also enjoy quality 20th century coins and currency. I keep my eyes and mind wide open to what pleases me Sal. Great post I enjoyed the question, thank you.

 

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Whatever I can buy right and move quickly.

 

Indeed the same for me..."history in your hands" as they say. Unfortunately, U.S. history isn't what it used to be in the eyes of all-too-many these days, esp youth/young. That said, I don't cut it off at the transition year of 1900 from old-modern...for me it's pre/circa-1964. Other than all these "errors" (which most aren't that we see inquiries about on CT)...and which is about all that many YN and other newbies think coin collecting amounts to these days...it's hard for me to appreciate much about most post-64 U.S. coins.

 

90 percent of my collection at the moment is 1800's early 1900's with a sprinkleing of moderns and most of those in my type set.

 

Of course your definition of old versus modern is pretty random if the cutoff is 1900. Morgans, Barbers, IHC, Liberty head gold are all both old and modern. Anything silver intended for circulation is something I generally like plus the classic commemoratives.

 

Old, I consider anything after the introduction of the steam press and hubbing to be modern.

 

Me and dad (RIP) collected modern Proofs so I still collect these...I added modern key dates in all denominations including gold and silver bullion keys (including some rare high-demand foreign gold date sets). Since I don't have a lot of retirement $ to spend, my classic coins also lean toward key dates in whatever condition I can afford at the time (even lowballs or lower grades and have NO prejudice against well circulated specimens). I'm VERY picky what I purchase, prefer fewer better coins vs lots of common stuff I accumulated as a kid i.e. assembling or finishing an entire date set of my common Lincoln pennies or Buffalo nickels, at MY age now (I also like the history and study of coin types in general), seems a waste of ticking-clock time and resources.

 

I like anything but my favorite is from the beginning of time until the end of World War II (1945)

 

Anything after 476 is a bunch of modern crap.

 

I love the early US coins. That tie with history is too good. But I also love the generation of artistry that Teddy Roosevelt pushed for (1907-1921). But hell, I also dig the Gobrecht coinage. but modern stuff? Seems to be 80% grading and holders and 20% bullion. No tie to history and either truly ugly designs or outright copies from the Teddy R period.

 

I am much more interested in coins dated before 1900. The older the better for me. I collect modern coins, but I have never paid really high prices for them. For example, the only way I will ever get a 1969-S doubled die cent will be if I find it in a roll or something. I would never pay the going price for it. Furthermore, I would probably sell it if I found one.

I think the most I have ever paid for a modern coin was $2,200 for a 2009 High Relief $20 gold in MS-70. A lot of that price stems from the fact that it has an ounce of gold in it.

 

I like the concept of the Mint producing bullion coins so the Public can possess precious metals at a reasonable price above it's content value. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened and it's just a manufacturer of new collectables for marketers with political connections. It is everything I loath.

 

I like both but a new release has to be fairly significant or a great design for me to be interested.

 

This year buying modern coins has become totally miserable from the mint unless it’s a total dud, like law enforcement commemorative coins. For that reason, I am very thankful that I am not hooked on the latest modern coins. The mint’s sales policies have taken most of the fun you might get from them.