Newby with Inherited Collection

Good evening folks!

Googled up this forum tonight, and after about 3 minutes I gather that this is the place I need to spend some quality time!

About 3 years ago, my father passed away, and one of the few things he left behind, is a coin collection that he'd been working on since he was a child. After mother passed away a few months ago, the collection was passed down to us children. As trustee of the estate, I've taken responsibility to learn it's value so we can decide what to do with it.

In the few "what's it worth" postings I've seen, I get the hint that I need to post pics so I'll work on getting some shot. But just to give you a brief summary, here's a partial list of what's in the collection:

• Complete set of Franklin Halves
• Mostly complete set of Morgan and Peace (is that right?) Dollars
• Annual proof sets from about 1968 or so up through early 90's
• Several dollar bills ($2 and $5 with RED seals??) such as silver certificates and such
• A few coins that I believe to be error coins? And a dollar bill that's missing some printing
• Several other proof sets, some are commemorative, etc.

There's a bit more, but I think those are most of the highlights. I'll start taking pics ASAP, and will be posting them to a private family blog at some point, so my siblings can learn what I'm learning too... But I'd be really interested in getting some feedback from folks here too.

So my question is this... should I post everything I want to discuss to this same thread to keep everything in one place, or should I open different threads in the different subtopics? I've been on forums that have different preferences, how do you all like things around here?

I can't wait to get acquainted with you guys, talk to you soon!!

Farns

 

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Hey Farns,
This is the place to be. post some pics and you will get plent of help.:thumb:

 

If you want to know values, take some pics and put them all in the "Whats it worth" forum. To ask questions about the coins and for values you can put them in "Coin Chat" or the "U.S. Coins" forum. For the error coins you have, you can put them in the "Error coins" forum and the paper money in the "Paper money" forum for best results. Make sure you post good clear pics. BTW....Welcome to CoinTalk!!!!

 

Wow. this is already harder than I thought! I can't get good pics of these coins with my camera. I've got a Casio Exilim 6MP camera, and I'm trying different settings of macro, flash, and/or white balance, and I can't get a good image. How do you guys take your pics to have them turn out so good??

I'm dead tired, been up since 2am, but I wanted to post a couple things first. Two small folders, one called US Emergency Coinage, and one called The Silver Story. My pics are no where as good as what I've seen here. Any tips or tricks to getting a good photo without glare and such?

I'm gonna crash, but I'll shoot some stuff tomorrow and try again!

 

here's what I've got... I'll post real pics to the right forum, but i just wanted to show you how my pics were looking... any ideas on how to make them better?

 

Farns...welcome to CT...sorry for your losses!

Make sure you post the Paper Money in the Paper Money Fourm...
I would be interested in the notes as well as other folks!
The one with missing printing as you described is one I would like to see close ups of.
If I can help, you can send me a PM....

Looking forward to the images!!

The Silver Certificate dollar (note) in the image you posted looks like a Series 1935 H signed by Granahan/Dillion
please confirm this for me..if not a Series 1935H it should be a Series 1935G with the Motto and a back plate# higher than 6787...."In God We Trust should be on the back of the Note above the "large spelled out ONE". The SN# ExxxxxxxxA suggests it is a 1935 H and in Gem it is around 35-40$....do not take it out of the holder!

Look at the back of the note and find the tiny plate#s...if it is 6878 or lower, that plate was used for 18 subject notes!!

RickieB

 

if he's interested in values he should hit Heritage although I'm very interested in seeing his Morgans.

do you have 1895 Morgans?


Ruben

 

Farns, I would recommend that you obtain a copy of the Redbook ~"Guidebook of United States Coins" and look at the section on Morgan Dollars you mentioned as that most likely will have the most value. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Public Library should have copies. Read about mintmarks ( the book will help), and see if you have some of the coins with higher value ( use maybe the EF column to compare).
If you do, then start with the photos of those. Since they are large coins, it will be easier to photograph them ( do both sides). Your camera seems sufficient as the photos of the cents were OK. You may find you need to use a software program to crop them.

Probably someone has mentioned, do not clean the coins in any way until you get comments, not even wiping with a cloth. Pretend each is worth $$$$ and handle it accordingly. In reality, that is probably not the case, so bear in mind that most posted values ( especially in the redbook) are higher than the market price, but if you have to split the value as an executor, if you use the redbook you should be able to feel you were fair for all. I have been an executor, and when you have one value system, division goes a lot easier.

Trying to clean can reduce value SIGNIFICANTLY. hey, Welcome to the Neighborhood ...Forum.

Jim

 

Welcome Farns! I am sorry to hear about your loss. I hope you carry on the tradition.

 

When using the Macro function, turn off the flash and use an outside light source. I take my pics during the day and in the shade, that way I get diffused light come in from around the coin and I can get to within an inch of the coin and not leave a shadow. :thumb: I will usually get around 1600dpi on a large cent that way and on a dollar, you won't be able to get as close but you'll get the same sized pic . . . give-or-take.

Or, you can play with different light sources until you find one that works but the flash won't work.

Ribbit

Ps: Welcome to CoinTalk! :hail:

 

One inch? Holy cow! That's what I call 'Up close and personal'. Your camera must have a very, very short focal length. I'm surprised any light at all can reach the coin.

 

The light comes in from all angles except up. On a large cent, I can get close enough that the coin fills the screen from top to bottom and still manages to focus. :kewl: I don't usually get that close, since the pic becomes too large to view without getting dizzy. :goofer:

Ribbit

Ps: I've got a pretty 1797 coming in next week. I'll shot it as close as possible and post it full size, so you can see just how big, big is.

 

I agree with desertgem, get a copy of the Red Book (A Guide Book to US Coins, by R S Yeoman.)

That is where you should start.

 

I do that and the Camera blocks the light. Lately the camera doesn't like it, but when it was working correctly it had no problem with that.

Ruben

 

Welcome Farns.......there is much to learn, but take your time. Rushing into learning what you have will bring mistakes. I suggest you segment your collection and learn all you can about that segment to understand what you have. For example, you could start with the Morgan Dollars. That is one of the most popular series in the hobby and there are many experts on-line that can provide guidance on what you have (not only value, but VAM varities). Make this an enjoyable journey, not a rushed destination to reach.

 

Good idea about Heritage Ruben. I didnt think about that.

Yes, I have three 1895 Morgans.:thumb:

 

Welcome to the forum. I'm interested in the peace dollars. get some pics and post them. Do you hve the 1921 or the 1928?

 

hi guys! Long day, much to share...

In answer to the Dollar questions... 5 seperate blue albums (don't recall the brand) the Franklin Halves is 1948 to 1963 and complete. then Morgans from 1878 to 1886, then one from 1887 to 1896, then 1897 to 1921. The Peace dollars are 1921 to 1935. The Halves is the only one that's complete I think... they're locked up right now, so I can't check... but the rest i think are missing a few each.

I'm a scout leader, and last week I took the opportunity to do a little show and tell with some of the exciting parts of the collection. I think we'll try to do the coin collecting merit badge. It sounds fun. I dumped a big jar of pennies on the table, and had them find a penny for each year from their birth to present. They had so much fun, I decided to do the same with my 5 year old. So we went to a coin store today, and bought some of those Harris folders, the ones for pennies. two of them to cover 1941 up through 2008. I also grabbed one of those statehood quarter ones, it seemed rather obligatory. Also got plastic holders that do the penny, nickel, etc... for all 3 kids, so we can have them find their birth years. And last but not least, a sack of wheat pennies for a buck to start out the collection with. We've got a jar with about 500 pennies in it, we'll start going thru them tonight and try to work on a few each night, I think it will be a fun project for me and my boy.

Anyway, grabbed a 2009 red book while I was there, so I think I'm ready to dive into this! I actually did buy a few small sets when I was a teenager. Mostly commemorative stuff. Sold a lot of it in college on ebay to pay rent I'm sure there was nothing too spectacular there, had a bunch of banknotes tho. That sucked. Selling my really cool mountain bike sucked too... but I digress...

I'm gonna try some pics in the morning, supposed to be good and sunny outside. So we'll see what happens! Talk to you all soon!

PS - what's the green seal at the top of this thread?

 

Someone really liked your thread and nominated it for thread of the week!

Still waiting to hear on the Paper Money Farns.... :smile

RickieB