Question for those who have been collecting for decades now.

I've collected a few different things over time and one problem, whether it's coins or anything else, is that the people producing the stuff are trying to squeeze every dime that they can out of it, so they usually end up making so many in order to have enough to sell to everyone that that in itself makes the stuff uncollectable. I suppose low runs is one way to go, but if everyone else is doing the same thing then a large portion of what you're collecting will remain intact and won't be lost over time and there will still be a lot of them. One coin I'm having a hard time finding a really nice one in circulation is the 1999-P new jersey state quarter. I'll probably have to buy a roll of them someplace. You can't really go wrong with gold and silver as far as I can see, it's a good bet those prices will rise by the time your kid has grown.

 

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So, set aside a stack of copper-nickel moderns today, and in 115 years they'll probably be worth something, too.

...assuming that anybody outside a narrow niche even remembers coins by then. Cash is already being replaced by cards. To draw just one possible analogy, how many people do you know today who collect matchbooks? It was quite the rage back in the late 1960s when I first got interested in coins. Today, I can go for weeks without ever even seeing a match.

 

Sorry to have been away from this tread for a while and thank you for your responses. So far i am concluding the following.

1. don't buy her coin, buy her a house! HAHA, I think I will try to pay off my own house first! I'm not looking for coin to make her independently wealthy. I just see that she has fun playing with Money with Daddy. She doesn't even know what money is really. I thought it would be fun to start a little collection that would be hers and I'm looking for the best coin to do it with.

2. mint sets for each year. sounds like a great idea!

3. pre '82 pennies. This is what I had been leaning towards. When I told my Mom I was starting to collect Junk silver she mentioned how stupid she felt that she did not do it back in the 60's when she could have got them for face. Maybe, just Maybe copper will be the next bullion to pop up.

4. BU rolls each year. Good Idea!

5. BU foriegn coin for economies that will grow. interesting idea. i think I want to learn about us coins first and grow from there. Maybe as she gets older she will think foreign coin is really cool though!

6. I have not had anyone mention Ikes. These seem to be getting rare already, but can still be had for face. Do you think they have a future? Clad or only Silver?

I'm not intending this to replace a college fund ect. I just thought it would be fun, and thought i would get advise on what type of coin has the most potential. Those that mentioned the Barber are most on track with my train of thought. i was just wondering what my generations Barber will be.

 

http://www.cointalk.com/t196115/

 

I like the idea of BU rolls. In a couple decades she can search them and/or sell them. I'm not sure how they fare in the paper wrappers over that period of time though.

 

Melt value, yes, but take them to a place to get them melted, you won't get 2 cents per penny.

 

Where can you get Ikes at face?

 

Try your local bank.

 

It's not every day for sure, but with roll searching I find I am becoming a regular at several banks. I always ask. lot's of no's but so far I have been able to aquire about $80 worth. I buy them mainly looking for silver, haven't found any silver ones yet. trying to decide if I will research and look for rare or error coins or just pop em on ebay.

 

As Always i appreciate your, and everyones advise. I was not laughing at your suggestion, but at the thought of my trying to pull it off. I predict having a lot more expendable income in about 2 years, but not right now. i speak about getting her involved but in reality I am the newbie! I thought I was asking a valid question, but it appears it is one without a answer. I do have to admit I thought collector coins would grow in value as they got older and more rare. It is disheartening to hear that you lost money on a 50 year collection. My origin is that I started stacking silver, and decided I wanted some pretty silver! She loves helping me roll search half dollars. every time I bring a box in she goes "ooooo money" and comes to sit with me, and help put them back in the rolls.


Maybe I'll just plan on puting an ASE under the tree each year, and work halves with her right now. we can start a circulated penny book together once I can trust that she won't eat them (LOL) and let her determine her interests from there.

 

FWIW, I agree completely.

 

Dang, I started collecting in the early 50's and sometimes want to cry about all the bags of Mercury Dimes, Standing Libs and Walking Libs I could have saved. Haven't really sold much, but getting re-interested in the hobby, I realized that I don't know how much I paid for most of the coins I have. It is a hobby and not really a money making one. With that said, it is still lots of fun to collect ----- anything. I know some people will supress a gag instinct, but get her started looking for state quarters, even circulated ones. They are still worth $0.25 and you can put them in some neat albums. Who knows where that may lead. As far as turning any kind of a profit, you shouldn't go wrong in buying proof sets, silver proof sets and uncirculated sets. Foreign and ancient coins are fun also with that 5/$1 box at most coin dealers (at least for foreign). Happy bonding!