ok at some point i have to laugh or be put in straight jacket

[melmcbee]

As I went to my ebay account, well lets just say i won a lot of auctions. Did I really bid in all of these. HA-HA. If you are bored and want a good laugh look at this for "tuition"

just from 8-31-04 to 9-3-04

 

 

 

my winnings in the last 3-4 days please dont break a rib laughing ha-ha

 

If it wont let you view then I will separate the url's in the next post which anyone is welcome to delete if the url works. Sometimes I have to just lighten up. And believe it or not I do want all of your valuable feedback because it is teaching me so much.

 

These I think I might get semi credit for

 

6 us mint 5 pc proof sets

 

Old Morgan Silver Dollar 1921 P XF+ LH226

 

1883-S MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR: VF 20

 

1901-0 MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR: F 12

 

1900-P MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR: VG 8

 

1921-D MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR: XF 40

 

Now my next post will probably the big laughs. Please remember I know ya'll are too busy to view everything, but every little detail you do have time to tell me helps sooooooo much.

[spy88]

Melanie,

 

Your 3-4 day link didn't work but I did look at the other auctions you listed---and your other threads.

 

I don't think anyone here will laugh at you for buying what you are buying, but I'm pretty sure most of us are scratching our heads saying something like..."What is she trying to accomplish here? What are her collecting goals?"

 

In my opinion, you don't seem to have a plan about what you want in coins or in collecting them, other then to just buy ones that seem to fancy you. And really, there isn't anything wrong with this. But at some point in the future, were you to keep at it like you've done so far, you'll realize and ask yourself the same questions I've posed above. And there are others.

 

Although you haven't spent a great deal of money yet (I'm guessing), most if not all of the coins you've bought have been raw---i.e. not graded/slabbed. If you don't know how to grade coins of any series, and specifically the ones you are buying, this can come back to haunt you in the future. Why? Because you will continue to let the sellers determine the grade thus the value for the coin. What if they are guessing or over-grading? What if the coin/auction/description isn't factual concerning hits, nicks, carbon spots, and a whole lot of other problems that can be left out of the listing simply to pass it off to someone who doesn't know any better? It's hard enough and extremely risky even for those of us who do know how to grade, either just a speciality series or across the board, to buy raw coins just from a listing/description/with pictures. Not everyone tells the truth and software can make a VG-8 look like a MS66.

 

My advice to you would be to go to your library and sit yourself down with some basic coin collecting books. I think I've seen a "Coin Collecting For Dummies" (no slam intended!). From my experience, they do an excellent job in all their books of breaking down the subject, give lots of good advice, and explain in easy to understand terms instead of assuming you already know more then you do.

 

I would further advise you to seriously consider buying only slabbed coins from now on. They will cost you a little more but you will have the satisfaction of knowing the coin is 95% what is advertised. Stick with either NGC or PCGS. This will also be a basis for your own "grading education". Go to your local coin store and ask to see the lowest NGC or PCGS graded Morgan or Roosie or whatever series you want to persue (and this is another question you really should ask/answer for yourself before you go). Pick out of the series your interested in a common date in all grades. If you can afford to buy it and want to, do so. Then look for another of the same date/series/slab but at the next higher grade. Continue as far up as you can afford to go. Once you've accumulated 8 to 10 in a row grade-wise, you'll be able to start to see why the grade assigned matches the coin and just as important, why the ones on either side of it grade-wise are better and worse condition.

 

There are so so many beautiful coins out there that you could buy but you will find it impossible to explain to yourself, let alone someone else, what your goals are without some form of foundation to start with. There's plenty of time

and a lot of money to be saved by investing in learning and deciding what to buy before you buy!

 

The last thing any of us want to see happen is for you to continue as you have and realize too late that you may have thrown away a good deal of money on coins you will never realize a return on your investment when selling them! This in itself, is one of the foundations to collecting. Here's another one. After receiving every coin you buy, it should put a smile on your face when you're holding and looking at it!

 

JM2cW

 

David

[Wihlborg]

Melanie,

 

David has given you some of the best advice I have read for you, especially the part about forming a plan for your collecting interests.

 

As someone new to coins it seems to be natural to want to buy it all. Most of us have been there, done that when we were first starting out, however after a while most new collectors come to realize that they are drawn toward one or two types of coins that they like the best, for instance, Morgan dollars or Lincoln cents. The problem is they now have a large hoard of raw coins that they want to get rid of. This may not be as easy as it may seem, as many of these coins may be overgraded or have problems which will keep knowable collectors from being interested in them.

 

My advice is also to take a little time looking at pictures of different coin types and as many real coins as you can. Pick one or two series that you like the best and learn as much about them as you can. Then buy coins from those series that are in NGC or PCGS holders. Buy the highest grade you can afford, BUT don't go out on a limb to do it! Most new collectors, as they gain experience, find that it is far more rewarding to own fewer coins that are in higher grades (nicer detail, eye appeal, etc.) than a lot of coins in lower grades.

 

The reason we are telling you this is because, if you concentrate most of your collecting effort on one or two types of coins at a time you will become more knowledgeable about those coins. You will learn to grade those coins better and over time you most likely will have a nicer collection to show for your efforts. Your collection will probably be worth more also, which is always nice!

 

Good luck with wherever your collecting interests lead you!

 

John

[melmcbee]

This is just what I want from you guys Thanks. I dont have a goal because I am collecting for 3 people. My father, husband, and myself. I have no intention of selling what I have purchased because like you said I dont know what I like yet, I want big silvers for my father and husband but for me i too many different types. As far as that book goes, Praise be that is just what I have been looking for Something I can understand. I have a "redbook coming but I know I wont get it so that book suggestion for dummies is great. Once I have realized what I like then I will control my urges and wait to afford a slabbed piece. What is the lowest grade you would start out with?

Oh this is now being saved in my favorites under "lessons". So I can refer back when needed.

I want coins that aren't made any more. History.

 

As I always say Ya'll are the greatest

[EVillageProwler]

Melanie,

 

Do you go to the larger shows? If so, look one of us up. I'm certain at least one of us will have the time and inclination to sit down with you to chat, answer questions and to share fellowship derived from a common interest.

 

One more thing, and I don't know if it's been said to you already: coin collecting is generally regarded as a marathon. Slow and steady is the key. When done right, it can be extremely rewarding!

 

EVP