Hi all! I'm new to this board and have been lurking for quite some time. I've learned so much from you guys...goes back to what my Mom taught me, 'Keep your mouth shut & ears(or in this case, eyes) open' Anyway, I've recently acquired my Dad's collection when he passed away this past December. I've always had an interst in coins and had started my own small collection. However, since getting my Dad's I've been doing a whole lot more reading & research and am finding myself sucked in even further. I'm still in the process of sorting through my Dad's stuff and deciding what direction to take with it. There are some gaps I'll fill in and some individual coins that I'd like to complete a series of. One of the main attractions for me in numismatics is that there is no right or wrong way to collect...it's not that cut & dried. The fact that I can collect in any way that intrigues me only makes it that much more exciting. I'm not competing with EVERYONE else to collect the same things, so the possibility of actually completing a certain type of collection is plausible if not likely. Sorry, guess I got a little off topic. What I wanted to ask everyone is this...The TNA (Texas Numismatic Asso) show is this weekend here in Ft Worth and I'm very excited to be going. This is my first coin show ever and am looking for advice from everyone. As a newbie, what should I be looking to learn from this? What should I keep my eyes open for? Do the dealers at these things generally have time to talk to newbies like myself and answer questions? I'm going armed with a short list of things that I'd like to find (both coin-wise and supply-wise). Any input/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Robin
Your first show? Great! Well that particular show can be a little overwhelming. It is a little on the large size. But what in Texas isn't? For your first show, take your time to see what is there. Do not be in a rush. Many of us (dealers) travel from show to show, so you never know who will be there. Most dealers when they are not busy, are more than willing to talk coins. Please remember that these are just people, so if one is rude, don't take it out on the rest of us. My firm does not have a table at this show, but a few of my staff members and I will be making the rounds. I would suggest that you keep your list handy, and do not buy the first coin that fits. Walk the show patiently, and look for multiple examples of the coins you need. Pick the best coin that fits your budget. All $10 coins are not the same. I use $10 as an example. One dealer may have a nice "G" or Good Barber Half for $10 and another dealer may have a nice "VG" for the same amount. If you are building a type set, the date and mintmark are not as important. Shows are also a great place to pick up supplies. If you need a referrence book or flips or whatever, it can be found at a show. Most of all, have fun. This is what the hobby is all about. Meet some dealers, and see some great coins. Have lots of fun and let us know how you liked it.
Welcome Robin. There is a saying among coin collectors - buy the book before you buy the coin. It is the best advice you will ever get about collecting. If your interests are primarily US coins, your very first purchase should be the 2004 Red Book, officially known as the Guide Book of United States Coins, by R.S. Yeoman. If your interests are primarily world coins, your very first purchase should be a used copy of a fairly recent Standard Catalog of World Coins by Krause & Mishler. I say used because the new volume is around $50, and covers only 1901-date. If your interests are primarily ancient coins, which I know absolutely nothing about, ask a couple of the dealers at the show for their recommendations on a startup book. Whatever you do, buy the book (and study it) before you purchase coins. Now, if your primary interest is investment in precious metals, ignore everything I've said and just start buying silver Eagles and/or gold bullion coins. As you will note if you have been reading the recent postings about EBay and other sources of counterfeits/forgeries, it's a jungle out there, and the best way to keep from being eaten is to armor yourself in knowledge.
Hey Welcome!!!!! Sorry to here about your father. What collections are you trying to get done?? I've never been to the TNA but the coin shows I've been to have been great!! Keep you eyes open and your ears too!! My favorite thing is the Bargain Boxes....some dealers will put some coins in a box and mark them down 20% and you pick out the ones you want. I have gotten some great UN-C Franklin half dollars and every date of Proof Ike dollars. If you want to know a price ask....At first I didn't want to keep asking "How much is this one" or "can I see that one" but I had to learn too!! Someone else will have to tell you about bartering...I have not been brave enough to do that. Hope you have a great time...and don't forget to let us know how it turned out Speedy
i have never been to a show either. their is one coming up in the fall though. i will be attending. joesmom, hope you have lots of fun on the hunt...
Thank you all so much for the warm welcome and great advice. National Dealer - Thanks so much for the advice, I will be sure to shop around. Much to my husbands delight I'm very good at bargain hunting and usually very good at NOT grabbing the first thing I see. However, I can see how that will be difficult at this show if it is as large as it sounds. Hope I don't get too overwhelmed. satootoko - My (and my late fathers) primary interst is in US coins. I picked up a Red Book a few months ago and have been chewing my way through it again & again. There is just so much to learn and remember that I find myself going back to it frequently. I've also been to the book store a few times but with no luck. Once I'm certain which areas I want to concentrate on I'll probably dig deeper into Amazon for more subject specific books to fill my needs. Although I will admit to being drawn to the Silver Eagles...Can ya blame me? I'm a girl, we like sparkly things...I think its in our genetic make up As for Ebay, I think it would be best for me to avaoid it until I'm MUCH more knowledgable than I am now. I don't want my ignorance to be someone elses profit. Speedy - Thank you for your kind words about my father. It really hit hard. Even though I'm 35 I was always Daddy's Little Girl...but then again, aren't we all? Thanks also for the heads up regarding the Bargain Bins...I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for them. Also, I'm really good at bartering. I guess it comes from all of our vacations to the caribbean, haggle for everything there. I'm still not sure exactly which collections I want to complete. There are some gaps in his Mint & Proof sets that I'll probably fill. Then move on to the individual coins that strike me. Mostly I'm drawn to the Walking Halves and Silver Eagles...as well as the Morgan & Peace dollars. Mu husband also likes the Morgans as well as Buffalo nickels. I'm glad he's taken an interest in this with me. Eventually I'd like to complete some year sets for the years that are important in our family's life. I want to include a short description with each one as to why it's important to our family (By birth year, year we were married, etc) then save these & pass them on to my son when he's grown. I've seen the hard snap together holders for year sets...are these safe for long-term storage? Should I get 2 for each year (1 for each mint mark)? Also, are there any album pages out there to accomodate these types of holders? I want to get the best grade coin for each that I can afford, hopefully it wont be too expensive considering the dates that I'll be looking for. Any help/input y'all can offer is SO appreciated. Also, if I'm violating any board rules about adding more questions to an existing post please let me know. Not sure if I was supposed to start another thread or not. Thanks Robin
I agree with everyone else, the first thing to do is educate yourself. In addition to attending some shows and purchasing a copy of the Red Book, I would suggest picking up a copy of the "Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins" book. Try calling your local bookstore to see if they can get you a copy. If they cannot, use the following link to purchase a copy from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...002-1134916-9964038?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 The Red Book will help you identify the coins you have, and the ANA book will help you to understand the grading process. As you will quickly learn, the price of the coins you are looking for to fill those holes will be determined by two primary factors - rarity and grade. Properly grading coins is as much an art as it is a science, but the book will give you the official guidelines and attending the shows, and checking out some of the coins for sale, will help to build your skills! Good luck!
You're completely right on not doing ebay (yet). A good bit of auctions on there are frauds. I've bought some very expensive counterfeits in the past. I still have a lot to learn but I don't mind spending 2 or 3 dollars now and then. If I'm going to buy a coin over $40, I'm sure not going to check ebay.
Howdy Robin - Welcome to the Forum Don't really know what else I can add to what's already been suggested - they are all good suggestions - except for this. Try to talk to everyone you can - dealers and collectors alike. You'd be surprised sometimes at what some collectors know and some dealers don't. You'll also be surprised at how many of them truly enjoy the opportunity to just talk coins. Don't be bashful - don't be shy - tell 'em why you're there and about your dad's collection and that you'd like to carry on his tradition. That alone will take ya a long ways Too many times when someone inherits a collection the first thing they want to do is sell it. So when a collector or dealer runs across someone like you - they fall all over themselves doing what they can to help you and educate you. You see - we all want our collections to go on after we are gone - but it seldom happens. Also if you have or can borrow a decent digital camera - take one along ! Always ask permission to take a pic of someone's coin before you do - most of the time they are flattered and all too willing. This is a great ice breaker and will likely start many conversations. And during those conversations you will learn a ton. And when you get home - you'll have some great pics of coins that you can study and learn even more Oh yeah - you'll also be able to share the pics with us here on the Forum Above all - have fun. I know ya will for a fact for are about to walk into a world of utter amazement !!
