Hello Are any of you into early commemorative coins? I have noticed some decrease in price on these (Columbia, Delaware, etc.) and I look forward to purchase a couple in the near future. Any thoughts? Any commems you like?
I somewhat collect Early US Commems. I like the Pan-Pac and Oregon Trail designs best. The history of these coins is very interesting and educational. Do you have the book by Breen & Swiatek?
I too collect the occasional early commem, they can get to be expensive though so I am always on the lookout for a good buy, or maybe an AU piece of a rarer type that still has the same kind of eye appeal but isn't near as expensive.
I guess it depends where you purchase them from. I have noticed that prices can swing either way ebay. Deals can be had at coin shows and at your local coin shop. I think early comms are a challenging collection to put together, but can be very rewarding if ever completed. Good luck.
Started collecting them this last year so far got 1. Stone mountain 2. Oregon Trail 3.Boone 4. Lincoln-Illinois 5. Columbian 1/2 Next would like to start getting all the ones pertaining to the Cival War . rzage
I collect them when the price is right. I have a Long Island, Bay Bridge, Stone Mtn, and an Oregon trail.
I am working on early and modern as $$$ permit. My goal is one (quality...nice in hand...AU or better) coin of each type, then major varieties. Earlys I have: 92 Columbian Half 93 Columbian half Isabella Quarter Alabama Half Grant Stone MTN 46 BTW
I collect the early commems as money permits. The ones I want now are costly so one at a time. I have the 1892 & 93 Columbian half, Oregon Trail half (the one in my avatar), and a Stone Mountain. I want the Texas Independence and Connecticut Tercentenary commems next. Also on my want list is a nice BU Isabella quarter & a Panama Pacific Expo half. Modern commems are much easier, I'm wanting a Jackie Robinson & that will probably be my next buy. So many coins, so little money. That will change one day!
The Isabella quarter is definately on my want list , also Grant , both nice coins .:smile:hatch::hammer: rzage
These were my last two purchases from last week. I got them for a decent price. Other than the carbon spot on the SC, both were very nice coins.
Both decent designs I like the beaver on the Albany , wonder why they used it ? Probably a lot of trapping , but I don't think of trapping & Albany . rzage
I have only collected early commens for my 7070. Basically, I look for commens for the places we have lived or other pertinent reasons. I have a Maine and a Wisconsin at present.
I noticed that the Redbook prices for MS60 early commemoratives are fairly reasonable. Some are quite high in that grade though(Grant/Star, Missouri 2 star 4, ect). The 1927 Vermont has a Catamount on a pedestal(?) for a reverse. The photo in the Redbook seems to make the cat too large for the coin. It appears to have it's nose covered by the coin rim(or at least it's nose must touch the rim). My concern about buying non graded is that i might end up with a doctored coin, such as a Grant with an added star, ect. I stumbled onto this website offering many graded commemoratives http://www.commem.com/prod23.htm
Yes, if you are looking for grant with star, it's better to buy a graded coin http://www.pcgs.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=310&universeid=313&type=1
If you are ever not sure, definitely, don't buy. If I had my choice between a slabbed coin and raw, I would always go with a slabbed coin. Typically, when I buy these coins raw I try to stay below MS60 prices if at all possible. I bought both these coins at XF prices or less. My local coin shop purchased a near complete set of early comms and he is now auctioning them off. I have bought half and this other guy has bought the other half so we always competing for the coins. The two that I missed out on that I am still kicking myself was a Wisconsin and Roanoke. The one I am going for this week is the York, Maine.
Great site Thanks for a great site for Commemoratives , real decent prices too . Think I'll pick up a Pilgrim , sold the one I had years ago .:smile:hatch::hammer: rzage