Just Buy the CC Coin

Dearest Smeagol,

Regardless of whether or not your Precious was a good economic value in itself, the "first step" education you gained in its pursuit was priceless.

I apologize for being the Johnny Come Lately to this posting chain, but I was greatly impressed by your ability to ask yourself logical questions, seek the answers from a bunch of willing sources, then advance to the next step. I promise you that every one of us tripped, skidded and stumbled along this same muddy path to CC collecting knowledge. Please allow me to tip my hat to you for your honest, introspective approach.

Ugly Coins vs Warn Coins

Eye appeal is hugely important. Coin that are stained, too darkly toned, scratched, graffiti ridden etc are known in the coin collecting world as "Drek" ...Yiddish for crap and several nastier words. If you don't like the way the coin looks, trust your gut...don't buy it. No price discount can add luster or remove scratches and detracting dings.

Personally, I love very warn coins with no problems. That is, coins that have retained their original surfaces (ever been cleaned) do not have scratches, dings or other detractions. Such a coin can be very handsome, in my opinion. Please allow me to put my money where my mouth is...

At the August C4OA gathering in Carson City this year, I shared a collection with fellow members that I had been working on for some time. It's a "Single Digit" Carson City coin collection. Every coin in the collection is graded VG-8 (single digit) or less by NGC or PCGS. None had damage designations, in fact, I have worked very hard to collect examples with as original a surface condition as possible. In other words, just pure wear.

Beer Budget

Just because the single digit collection is made up of fairly inexpensive, low grade coins does not mean it's been easy to complete. In fact, many denomination/dates are more difficult to find below VG-10 then they are in mint state!

At this time, I have 45, single digit Carson City dates. Below, is a photo of my 1870-CC 25c which resides in a PCGS AG-3 holder. To me, the coin is very handsome. It has no problems, just plain honest wear.


Keep up the exploration and intelligent, self diagnosis. You'll make a great coin collector if you stick to it and stay away from E Bay and some other dens of iniquity that your C4OA friends will warn you about.

All my best...Belay Off

Belay,
You should do an article in our Curry's Chronicles about your "one Digit collection " That would be a very interesting read. I love your "Rian's Bequeath Collection" those are some monster coins. I am like most a beer budget collector with some beauties in my collection and like all the rest of us, the "CC" fanatics treasure each and every one.


Food for thought,

Loosechange

Hi Belay, Maryelise, Loosechange, Randysc, Garryn and all

I had the complete satisfaction of seeing Belays "single-digit" "CC" set live and in person...it is fantastic beyod words!

I agree that worn coins without holes, bad graffiti, whizzing and/or other tooling are actually beautiful coins. Every single coin in Belay's single-dig set had almost a "cameo" type appearance (due to the normal wear patterns attributed to good old fashioned high use)...quite eye appealing. I am amazed to find that such a set is indeed very difficult to complete.

Belay offers some great advice here to all collectors.
Maryelise (Frodo) ..."stay true to the quest"

the drummer

Dearest Fellowship of the CC Coins:

I appreciate ALL your feedback, advice, enthusiasm, expertise, images, compliments...and most of all comradery!

I will forge ahead on my quest for completion of a CC type set with much more knowledge and confidence than I could've hoped for because of you...when I pick up my hobby again in 2012.

Confession: I was supposed to buy only one CC coin, and I've purchased three! Hubby has forgiven me, but you know women and shopping. Gotta pull in the reigns for now.

It is very difficult to curb my newfound enthusiasm for CC coins...I admit, I just want 'em all and I want 'em now! I am truly hooked. So it's time to refocus by researching the coins I have purchased, their years, what was going on at the CC Mint and in the country at the time, and "spend" my energies writing about them.

Speaking of writing... If you get the November 2011 edition of The Numismatist, please look for my guest editorial! It's actually a re-publication, with permission and slight revision, of my very first Curry's Chronicle article (Spring 2011). Needless to say, I am again thrilled, humbled, and honored. (As far as I can tell, you should be the ones publishing in these magazines and not me.)

Your friend, Smeagol/Frodo

Hi Maryelise

It is our honor and pleasure to have you in our club!

"One "CC" coin to rule them all" :silly:

the drummer

CC coins to me are like potato chips. You just can't have one you have to have a whole bunch!!!!!!!


Loosechange:)