High Grade commons or lower grade key dates

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by bkozak33, May 22, 2011.

  1. bkozak33

    bkozak33 Collector

    which would be a better investment
     
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  3. lkeigwin

    lkeigwin Well-Known Member

    If you're looking for an investment you should probably consider something besides coins. Very few collectors make money at this hobby.

    Setting that aside, I would rather have the keys. But I know others feel differently. Buy what you like.
    Lance.
     
  4. rzage

    rzage What Goes Around Comes Around .

    Like Lance said , collectors usually don't make money , Me I'm mainly a type collector so I go for the cheapest coin in the best condition .
    Key dates tend to do better if the demand is there . But I don't plan on selling my collection , hopefully one of the grandkids will take an interest .
     
  5. CamaroDMD

    CamaroDMD [Insert Clever Title]

    I agree...coins are not a good investment, collect them because you like them but not to make money. That said, I think keys are the safer bet.
     
  6. KoinJester

    KoinJester Well-Known Member

    Agree with the others the words coins and investment in the same sentence equals a bad idea

    As in any collectable quality over quantity
     
  7. SWThirteen

    SWThirteen Needs a 24/7 Coin Shop

    Key's hold their value better than common dates, so they would be the "better" investment, but neither will be a good investment if your goal is to make money. If your goal is to collect for the fun of it, and perhaps be able to sell it when you're old and grey, then key dates would be better than commons. If the coins you are talking about are silver or gold, then that's a different story.
     
  8. mpcusa

    mpcusa "Official C.T. TROLL SWEEPER"

    Do it because you love it!!

    And the reason is a simple one why very few people make a dime at collecting! there are so
    Many collectors and so many coins and everybody wants to undercut the other guy even
    If it,s losing money and that,s what usually happens!
     
  9. Danr

    Danr Numismatist

    a type set of semi-key coins would be a cool thing to have. For example choose the 1912 S nickel over the 1885. the 1908 s cent over the 1877. You could still snag a few full key coins on a budget though- the 1932 d quarter in lower grades should be do-able. The best part is reading up on various series and learning about them.
     
  10. Collector1966

    Collector1966 Senior Member

    There are ways of making money in coin collecting, but you can't just dive in head-first and expect to make a killing. You really have to do your homework, and that includes learning about everything from grading to pricing to determining authenticity. But even if you have done your homework, I think it is extremely difficult to make money with the following:

    Ancient coins
    Medieval/hammered coins
    Common low-grade coins
    Common slabbed coins
    Modern slabbed coins
    Uncertified type coins*
    Foreign coins
    Modern mint products
    Coins sold on the teevee and in non-numismatic publications

    Personally, my best luck has been with junk silver that I bought several years ago.
     
  11. Leadfoot

    Leadfoot there is no spoon

    Of the two, key dates. But really that's the lesser of two evils, IMO, as coins tend to be a terrible investment.
     
  12. jcakcoin

    jcakcoin New Member

    Collect coins if you like them. You won't make a lot of money with coins (with the obvious exception of buying low and selling your silver at the peak of the recent silver spike/bubble).
     
  13. statequarterguy

    statequarterguy Love Pucks

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