How do you decide?

Hey guys. Ive got the whitman coin expo next saturday (Any of you going that day?) and i just cant decide what i want to focus on while i am there. At all the past shows ive been to i just buy anything that catches my eye wich is nice at first but kind of dumb because im not building up sets or a specific collectioin im just buying random coins that i like. For this whitman expo i want to focus in on something but i have so many interests that idk what to focus on. How do you guys decide what to do when your not currently focusing on one specific thing? My interests right now are rosies, my first peace dollar, junk silver as bullion, standing liberty and washington quarters, and jeffersons. As you see i have a long list and i probably sound like a little kid who doesnt know anything but i just honestly cannot decide what to add to my collection haha. Thanks in advance for all the help. -Ryan

 

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Affordability and ease of acquisition are always big determiners for me. If I can't afford 10 coins in the 35 coin set for example, no since in starting that series.

 

With the large shows I look for the keys of the set that I am building as they are a bit more prevalent there. I usually check out http://www.collectorscorner.com/ to see if one National dealers have what I am looking for then go directly to them. If they don't have anything that grabs me on that site, I will walk the entire floor first before I buy something unless it's an absolute must have at that price. I have in the past bought the first item I've seen in the past, only to find one a bit better and cheaper at another table.

I have in the noticed that if you register and wear the name tag the dealers do seem a bit friendlier. Also if a dealer asks what your looking for, let them know(not oh just looking) as if they don't have it in their case yet they may have bought it earlier but haven't put it into their inventory yet.

 

If you had in your collection one Roosie, one Peace dollar, one SLQ, one Washington and one Jefferson, and you had to give away all but one, which one would you keep? That's the one you should try to buy.........forget about junk silver unless you can get it below melt.

Chris

 

Thats an interesting way to look at it. I would probably keep the peace dollar but like ill have one hundred dollars at the show so even though i would keep the peace dollar, do i want to get like two nice uncircuoated peace dollars, or do i want to get like alarge lot of uncirculated jeffs or rosies to start up like a dansco

 

You don't have to spend everything on one or more Peace dollars, but make that your priority and spend what remains on whatever you'd like.

Chris

 

Try to find a Peace Dollar you like. Then use the rest on any bargains you find on junk silver or your other interests.

 

Go for a 1927 Peace dollar. Nice relatively low mintage year and undervalued in my opinion. TC

 

I agree with this. Also, you might want to look for coins you know the most about. Focus is the key at a big show if you are newer at collecting. I have experienced this first hand. Trying to look for too many different series at a show like this may overwhelm you. Then again, it might not. The junk silver is best left to the smaller "coin club" shows. They seem to have more bargain bins and tend not to update their prices on common silver coins.

 

Haha maybe if i saved every penny i get i would be able to afford a 1927 at the 2013 expo lol. Great coin tho

 

Thanks for all the advice guys. What i think i will do is spend half of my money on a nice peace dollar, possibly slabbed, and then just mozy around the expo and buy into some of my other interests. I mean nice uncirculated roosies and jeffs are no more then five to ten bucks a piece except for a few semi keys and then maybe ill get a half decent slq

 

Humor me. At the show, see if you can spot a nice looking 1927 Peace dollar for $100 or less. I am thinking you may be able to get a raw BU or slabbed AU58 within your budget. TC

 

I'm going to the show Ryan, but on Friday. I'll be sure to leave some goodies for you though.
Before I go to a show I sit down and make a list of dealers I want to visit, and what I'll be looking for at their tables. I'm always looking for nice counterstamps, New Jersey obsolete currency or scrip, and some coin related medals, encased, rolled coins etc. I try to limit myself to these things, because they're my main collecting interest now and I try to stay disciplined. Years ago I was like Doug, buying anything that caught my eye, but I've changed so I can concentrate on series of notes, tokens, and even counterstamps (I always look for NJ or Philadelphia issues first). There's no "wrong" way to collect, so just go to the show and enjoy yourself. Make sure you let us know what you find. Good luck!

Bruce

 

Really? The 2011 blue back has even the lowest grades at or around a thousand haha. But ur one of the wisest on here so i will scout one out and post pics if i get it. Thanks for telling me that they come that cheap

 

Ahhh. I wanna go on either thursday or friday cuz school lets out on wednesday but i dont have a way to get there. Oh well. Im sure saturday will still bear some good deals

 

You need to throw that book in the trash. You can buy a MS64 for around 500 or so. Probably less.

 

I picked up a 1924 Peace in MS64 for $50 at the Richmond show in May. Sure it was a common date, but I didn't have a 1924 and the common date Peace dollars were trending up nicely due to the silver market.

 

Grey Sheet for an MS-63 1927 Peace is $150 bid, $165 ask. Always ask for their best price. Your money is just as green as any dealer's money.

Just look for a nice and shiney 1927. (I don't like Peace Dollar tone.)

 

With the 1927 Peace, I agree that a slabbed MS63 (PCGS or NGC) is probably over the $100 price limit, but that a raw BU (MS60-MS62) or an AU58 can be had for a $100 or slightly less. TC