[Off Topic] Coin Collecting

capitalist pig · 02-05-07, 04:31 PM

I collect some coins. I too have a bunch of early 1900s coins. I have a few 1874 silver dollars, and the oldest thing I have is a couple of coins dating back to around 100 bc. Had the 100 bc things appraised years ago, and I was dissapointed in how much they are worth.

Coins are funny, age doesnt mean that much, its how few of a certain coin are that brings its value.Or coins that are double stamped, or something weird like that brings the value.

Good luck with it.

Later

compaqDikk · 02-05-07, 04:37 PM

coins are worth nothing. i asked for $3000 for a 1908 nickel at a coin show and the cokksucker said it was worth nothing and to go chunk it into a CoinStar machine

Doug · 02-05-07, 04:43 PM

the cents from before 1982 are now worth about 2 cents ( for the copper), from before 1959 they go for about 5 cents. The early stuff like 1917 is worth more, but still common.

You may as well save anything from before 1982 in cents. After 1982 they are mainly zinc with a copper plating. 1982 exists in both metals, but its hard to tell the difference, you'd have to weigh them.

Doug · 02-05-07, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by compaqDikk

coins are worth nothing. i asked for $3000 for a 1908 nickel at a coin show and the cokksucker said it was worth nothing and to go chunk it into a CoinStar machine

a 1908 nickel in low grade can be had for about $3, it can be worth 3k in the highest uncirculated grades, but its unlikely you have that.

Its not Coinstar material, should be worth at least $1 in pretty ugly condition.

onlooker · 02-05-07, 04:51 PM

Yeah, I seen in 1943 they made a silver penny which was made of steel to save on copper for the shell casings for WWII.

And if you find a copper colored 1943, let me have it. Because they are selling for well over $10,000 each. But there is suppost to only be 40 in existence.

Doug · 02-05-07, 04:53 PM

You wont find that 1943 copper cent, a few exist, but what you'll find are plated or altered coins. I don't think a genuine one has been discovered in decades.

compaqDikk · 02-05-07, 05:59 PM

thanks. i guess my grandaugther's great great grandchildren could see like $50 for it

slacker00 · 02-05-07, 06:12 PM

I have collected coins all my life. I've had many friends tell me the same old story about how they had an uncle die or whatever and he had coffee cans filled with old coins from 1910 on up or whatever. Thing is, most of the coins are probably worth little over face value unless they are silver, then they are worth their weight in silver. You might try to Ebay them, which is probably the best bet, barring knowing someone honest and expert enough to give you a real honest answer.

Coin dealers are scum, in general. They'll always lowball and tell you your coins are worthless, then they'll gouge you when they are selling you a coin.

Bottom line, a coffee can full of old coins aren't worth much more than face value, unless there's a key date, or if they're still in the mint rolls directly from the bank or something. Old pocket change really has no value, except the silver content.

Doug · 02-05-07, 07:17 PM

Quick guideline, with prices on the low side:

copper cent= close to 2 cents
wheatback ( pre 1959) = 4 cents
buffalo nickel= 50 cents
silver dollar (pre 1936)= $10
Any dime quarter or half before 1965 is 90% silver, worth maybe 8X face value, depending on silver price.

halves from 1965-70 are 40% silver, maybe 3X face value.

Any earlier stuff like from the 1800's of course has value.

There are certain dates worth considerably more in many series, but very little from the 40's or later is scarce.

Hulu · 02-06-07, 08:19 AM

An old woman in my mom's church died several years ago and donated all her belongings to the church so they had a huge estate sale where I bought a jar of change for something like $2. I found several Canadian pennies from 1915-1919 and something from england dated 1897. More interestingly though, she was originally from poland I believe and there are dozens of pre-1950 coins from all over europe including one that looks like its from the Soviet Union with a hammer and sickle on it. Probably not worth anything but interesting to hold on to nonetheless.

Hulu · 02-06-07, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by Doug

You wont find that 1943 copper cent, a few exist, but what you'll find are plated or altered coins. I don't think a genuine one has been discovered in decades.

This thread caused me to dig out my coin box and I actually have one of the 1943 US pennies made of steel. I always wondered why this one was silver in colour. Now I know.

There are also a few French 1 Franc coins from 1941-1945 that appear to be made of aluminum. Likely another wartime measure I would guess.

Doug · 02-06-07, 01:56 PM

I can't help with the foreign stuff, too much to know there.

Many dealers just sell foreign coins by the pound after removing any obvious silver/gold and other items they want to bother to research.

Canadian is easy to look up,other stuff you sometimes have a hard time identifying to country of origin.

onlooker · 02-07-07, 02:39 AM

Originally posted by Hulu

This thread caused me to dig out my coin box and I actually have one of the 1943 US pennies made of steel. I always wondered why this one was silver in colour. Now I know.

Good to see this thread sparked some interest, and helped someone learn something.

I just found it interesting to have such a old piece of history, even if its pocket change. I probably wont become a coin collector, but I will check and keep the older stuff as I find it.

Doug · 02-08-07, 01:01 AM

Originally posted by capitalist pig

I collect some coins. I too have a bunch of early 1900s coins. I have a few 1874 silver dollars, and the oldest thing I have is a couple of coins dating back to around 100 bc. Had the 100 bc things appraised years ago, and I was dissapointed in how much they are worth.

Coins are funny, age doesnt mean that much, its how few of a certain coin are that brings its value.Or coins that are double stamped, or something weird like that brings the value.

Good luck with it.

Later

Well you might have the date of 1874 wrong, I think it unlikely you have several from the earler types of 1874 vintage, the commonely found Morgan dollar wasn't issued until 1878, so if you have "several" of 1874 that's like a $100+ item.

Old Roman type stuff from thousands of years ago can be had for cheap enough ( like under $100), but much of it from ebay is bogus.

With US coins what determines the value is rarity and condition,in general older means rarer, but there are exceptions as many silver dollars from the 1880's are rather common in uncirculated condition because of reasons I don't care to write an essay about.

Coin dealers aren't all scumbags, but their are dishonest dealers for sure, kind of like any business.

If any member of SBR wants an honest opinion of a (US) coin , and can take a high quality photo of it and post it, I'll tell you what I think of it, or I could give you a link to a forum where you could get opinions from many others instead of just me, thats probably even better. I know my shit with US coins, but a serious inquiry with photos could always go there, I tend to the general since I'm dealing with non-numismatists here.

Doug · 02-08-07, 01:11 AM

These guys are forum of coin collectors, a forum is always better than one guy, kind of like the SBR of coin collecting. I'm a member there, but haven't posted in months. I'm basically a former collector, but I retain my knowledge, even though not actively collecting/trading.

Coin Talk

http://www.cointalk.org/

Coin Talk Forum

onlooker · 02-08-07, 01:12 AM

Thanks for the offer Doug.

Today I was in my car driving to the Hilton and I have some change in my cup holders. There was a wheat penny staring at me...it was a 1957 penny.

Nothing special, but cool none the less.

Doug · 02-08-07, 01:30 AM

Originally posted by onlòóker

Thanks for the offer Doug.

Today I was in my car driving to the Hilton and I have some change in my cup holders. There was a wheat penny staring at me...it was a 1957 penny.

Nothing special, but cool none the less.

You have to realise just how common that coin is, hundreds of millions were minted. Common date wheaties trade in bags of 5,000 ( $50 face) for like $200-250.

The real modern idiots are the ones saving rolls of those state quarters, yeah those are going to rare !

onlooker · 02-08-07, 01:35 AM

I know it is, I figured I didnt hit the lottery.

Doug · 02-08-07, 01:59 AM

I'm extremely knowledgable about US coinage, I know a lot more about US coins than I do sportsbetting, I know what has no potential to ever appreciate in value beyond the rate of inflation, such as the Eisenhower (full size) "silver" dollars of 1971-78, I'm sure you could buy as many as you want for $2 each now, 30+years later, -EV in other words !

Coins get hoarded, often without good reason, there really isn't anything minted in your lifetime ( or your parents")that is rare, or will be rare, but that's simplified to the numismatic inelligence level of sportsbettors, thus I suggest a coin forum to many, I'll give my opinion if you trust me more, no reason not to trust me, I don't want your stuff !

Doug · 02-08-07, 02:51 AM

just a note, these Cointalk forum guys are kind of rigid, they don't like to offer an opinion without a good photograph, which is fine... I try to be general, and advise the folks here that have the common crapola, like a buffalo nickel and aren't equipped to do good photography of coins... so these guys are technical is what I'm saying. If you can provide them good photography of your coin that's worth 50 cents, they'll tell you it's worth 50 cents... I try to tell you that beforehand, as most of what you have is likely low-end.