What to do with $100.00

100 bucks.. Easy decision if you ask me. Spend the 100 bucks on Knowledge! Buy some books on whatever it is you like to collect and use THAT knowledge down the road to get better deals, accurate grades and a better understanding on your subject. Buying 100 in silver is NOT going to make you rich. Knowledge may!

 

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come to think of it...

Maybe you could buy a membership to ANA and that way you can submit your future slabbable coins or bank notes directly to NGC or PMG.
You can also submit your coins directly to NCS for conservation with an ANA membership. You also get serious discounts on certain coin magazine subscriptions.

I would be totally lost with out my Red Book , Krause & CoinTalk.
Not only did I buy the most recent Red Book when I started collecting 3 months ago , but since then I have purchased versions from 1964 , 1974 & a Blue Book from 1975 so that I have a rough idea about valuation increases. I was able to pick up the old Hardback Red & Blue Books from Half-Priced Books for $2.00 each. If you look towards the back of the Red Book it even lists the collectible value of past editions of the Red Book.

 

Where do you do your shopping?Been to ebid,lately?

 

I try to keep my online purchases to a minimum. I prefer getting outside occasionally and visit 2nd hand stores and thrift stores. Spend too much time sitting in front of a computer and someday I may not be able take that walk outside Plus there is a certain satisfaction to getting an item I purchase , in my hands the moment I pay for it.

 

Get a high grade Merc, IMO.

Ruben

 

Don't bother calling before you go then.On the telephone,they told me they had exactly what I was looking for.When I got there,it was another story.

 

With $100 I think I'de invest in silver ounces and try to stay away from the more desired collectible coins. The reason being is that with todays economy silver will always have a value where the more rare and collectible coins may lose value due to supply and demand. But then on the other hand...to each his own ya' know!

 

I agree with Slim Pickins here. Since the original poster seemed interested mainly in buying some bullion coins or bars, I would just get started with that by buying a little bit from a reputable dealer. Following the advice here, he couldn't go very far wrong buying a few ounces of silver.
Numismatics are an entirely different story, I have no problem with that, but it takes different kind of research.

 

Oh I do buy 1oz silver bars and 1oz silver rounds ASE, Maple leafs, Chineese pandas. And Im waiting on my recently purchased 5oz bar, the coin collecting for me now is a hobby.

 

Okay I get it now :smile. I don't collect coins only bullion, but this site is certainly tempting me to branch out a little bit.

 

that plus while shopping i received in change a 1944-D war nickel so that was sort of the start. On another note while at the bank i received a 1964 and 1966 kennedy half and one bicentenial half.

 

I don't think he go wrong buying more silver either.I wish I had.

 

Ok gents so here is the score,
1x 1983 mexican libertad @ 21.38
2x 1938 and 1943 merc dime @ 3.00 maybe a little high
1x 1946 wheat penny with blue toning around the wheat side @ .40
1x 1953-S wheat penny with some reddish toning around the wheat side @ .40
1x 2002 MS69 NGC American silver eagle with some purpleish toning at the edge front and back @ 27.95

got some cases and holders as well for other stuff i have, i know that dont equal out to 100 but i plan to fish some banks for more Kennedy halfs. So how did I do.

 

I don't see any theme or organization to the collection of coins you purchased. And no books.

 

thats what i wanted and was happy with, i have plenty of time to organize and buy books, besides i could buy the book cheaper online.

 

Not everybody collects the same way. Most people need time to figure out what and how is the best way for them.

 

That's where the books come it. It is very easy to spend an enormous amount of money on coins only to wake up three years later and realize that most of it was wasted and that the best course of action is to just sell everything at a loss and start all over again. It is expensive to learn from your mistakes and much less expensive to learn from the experience of countless others who went ahead of you.

Buy the book before you buy the coin.

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, but just buying the book doesn't do much good unless you also ask questions of experienced people. Part of the problem you're talking about is somebody who picks up a Redbook and thinks he has a fortune because "it's in the book!" or buys from a non-reputable dealer thinking he's spending $100 on a $200 coin when he's actually getting a $50 coin.

You have to make mistakes in this hobby or you won't learn anything. I don't believe in telling someone what they should or shouldn't collect. It's all personal choice, but if you don't make mistakes and learn along the way, all you're doing is accumulating round metal thingies.

I have a fairly extensive library I've gotten on my numismatic roller coaster ride, and I add books on many subjects whenever I can. I don't know how many times I've seen a question about something and thought to myself "Hey! I have a book on that!"

 

Not too bad, like you said, maybe a little high but it is not like you spent 100$ for a 20$ coin.

 

I do agree with the other, buying both blue and red book should be part of your purchase. Read them as well, otherwise they are just books that you bought and serve no purpose. I will discuss your coin choices though, as well.

The 1983 Libertad you got at $21.38 is a pretty good deal. I'm just wondering about the weird .38 cents tacked on the end. Most dealers are willing to round the numbers out.

The 2 merc dimes you did well on. The current melt value is $1.30, so $.20 more for each one isn't too shabby. My dealer has mercs in a junk bin for $1.75 each....I won't touch them as they should be priced more along what you paid for yours.

The wheat cents I think were a bad buy. You can still find 1940-1959 wheat cents in rolls. You shouldn't pay $.40 for each. If you are looking to buy wheaties, make sure they are pre-1939. Although you only paid less than a dollar for both, so not too bad.

The $28 you paid for the ASE is where you got taken. Most ASE are MS69 or MS68 when you first purchase them. You could of bought an unslabbed MS69 2010 ASE for $20.50 this past weekend. Slabbed ASE's aren't such a good buy.

My suggestion....buy the red book and find a coin in there that is in your price range that is a rare coin. A coin with a low mintage or one that not many still exist. Even in VF-20 condition, buying a rare coins is a better investment than raw silver.....but you have to know what rare coin to buy, so get the red book as a minimum. I think you should get the blue book as well, as this teaches you what is marked up and what is not.