I am very excited to begin collecting again, I spent years finding and focusing on my arrowhead collection. Here is where I am at with my coin collection. I have a backpack full of coins that I inherited from my grandfathers collection. I've only sorted through them 3 times in the last 5 years and had no idea what I was looking at. He was in WW2 so I think they were coins he collected overseas. That collection is in my parents safe in MD. As soon as I get ahold of them I'll take pictures and post them on here for your opinions. My collection or actually my sons collection consists of 12 Half Barbers G-F, a few seated liberty quarters, 2 Capped bust halfs, 1 bust quarter, and one draped large cent. I'd like to focus on old U.S. silver and coinage. I guess my question involves longterm investment and market trends of these coins. Somone out there has an idea in their head of how barbers, busts values would look like 50 years from now. I would love to hear any opinions. Being that I don't have the deepest pockets in the world, I'm on a coin budget of about $200 a month. I struggle between buying 5-10 half barbers or holding out for 1 nice bust. I would love any opinions on building this collection or opinions of future market conditions. I realize these questions are kind of blunt and naive with no short answer, but any advice would be great! =0:eating:
Warning - I am not qualified to give advice. I do have an opinion - good or otherwise. I like Barber series alot, especially the dimes. However, when I am thinking of the word "investing" with modern coins, I am often drawn to Mercury Dimes. May be it is part of my up bringing, maybe it is because it heard it from a saleswoman (yet, I have heard of a lot of coins pushed too, and I don't jump on). Anyhow, that is just an opinion from someone who has never made a dime on a coin (I have'nt ever tried to sell them). Glad to see you posting. Your son's collection sounds marvelous. I like the fact that you are starting with coins that he might be able to touch without too much concern.
Great Family photo!!! Your investment dollar is always IMO quality verses quanity each and every time. The coins you want are the ones you studied about and held off buying. The coins you want are the ones in a dealers case that everyone wishes they bought 12 years ago. The coin you want are the one you say "I wish I had the money for". The coins you want are the key and semi-key dates of series - the same ones that everyone else wants. The coins you want are those coins make you want to drool over. The coins you want are the carefully selcted coins you "went way out on a limb for" and thought you were crazy for spending that much at the time. The coins you want are the ones dealers, collectors and investors stop and say "wow, can I see that one for a second"? The coins you want are the ones you don't see everywhere all the time. In 99 out of 100 coin hoards that we see the same holds true. It's common date silver, gold or copper that there is still tons of hiding in basements, boxes, cabnets, dressor drawers everywhere. The coins you want will not be found in those places. I only wish I followed my own advice to you 20 years ago - I did not buy many of the coins you want!
Can't cover the investing angle - I have no way to speculate what the values might be. But I can say I like bust coinage the best. I think the real question is what would make you enjoy this more - a complete collection of barber halves or a complete collection of VF to XF bust halves? If you are looking for pure investing then I would put that money in something more secure than coins. BUT if collecting for the fun of it - bust coinage all the way. BUT buy the best problem free example of the coins you like. This is one of those tough questions to answer.
welcome to the forum... i collect arrowheads too. as for the coins, difficult to say unless i can see pictues. Long term investment? ... man , thats difficult! but hang on to the arrowheads, high grade Indian artifacts are bringing a good price now, just think what they will be worth years from now.
I'm collecting for fun and not worrying about the investment angle. I figure no one worries about making a profit with their bass boat and that's the way I'm approaching this hobby. Like you I really like the Barber Halves. My goal is to put together a matched set of coins that grade between VG and F. Anything better will look out of place. I'm staying away from coins that even remotely look as if they've been cleaned or in any way messed with. I like those that are a little 'black' around the stars on the obverse. They look like they recently came out of someone's pocket. As a school teacher my limit and yours is similar. Those are my opinions and I'm sticking to them. Barberpolecat ("Shine on, shine on Harvest Moon . . .")
