My Grandpas Collection

[AugustMoose87]

My Grandpa's Collection

So I have to start this with a rant, and then I will get to the goodies.

When my Grandpa passed ways, his three kids split things up and got ready to sell the house. They set some of the stuff aside as "big ticket" (the house, the cars, etc.) and the rest. The rest of it they decided they were going to split up, and give each kid a chance to pick something they wanted. So my uncle was oldest, he went first (don't know what he took), then my aunt (again, don't know) and finally my mom... She told me that the thing she wanted most was Grandpa's coin collection, not because it was especially valuable, but simply because it was the one thing she remembered her dad really enjoying was sitting at the kitchen table, sorting and organizing his coins. So, she said she wanted the collection. My aunt and uncle stared at her for a few seconds, and then said "what part, because you can't have the whole thing..." Mom said they fought for over an hour before she conceded. Rather than keep the collection all together, or at least the components (ie keep all the cents together, the nickels, dimes, etc.), my aunt and uncle decided it would be best to divide everything evenly. So rather than one person getting the whole collection, or at least a cent or nickel or dime collection, each of them got 1/3 of a collection. I kind of get the process, but at the same time, I am (and my mom is) still a little pissed off that the collection Grandpa worked so hard to put together got split up like that.

Whew, ok, now that I got that out of my system... My mom has been debating what to do with her portion since then. She has come to the conclusion that she will likely sell them... She doesn't want to get rid of them since they were Grandpa's, but since it is a fractured collection, and I am the only one of her kids interested in it, it would be best to sell it and use the money to do something for the family. So, she has asked/allowed me to go through it and catalog what is in there, determine if there is anything special we should hold on to or sell separately, and keep a few coins that will help fill in my collection. This will be spread out, but I thought you guys might be interested, and may be able to point out anything I miss as far as being of interest.

 

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[AugustMoose87]

So, I started with what I have the most experience with - cents. When I was at the house for the funeral, I actually found a few Indian Heads in Grandpa's workshop, and I grabbed them. They were in rough shape, but I was obsessed with pennies at the time.

Anyways, I started with his Lincoln Cents. Here is a picture of my Wheat folders before...

1909-1929



1930-1958



And after...

1909-1929



1930-1958



Then there is his folder...



I was really hoping I might be able to fill some in with either what I had, or with finding stuff in the rolls he had, but not much luck. I had two extras that he needed, but still a fair number of holes in there. I was thinking of trying to fill in what he has left with his memorial cents, but I'm not sure that would increase the value enough to make it worth the work (feel free to chime in on that).

After filling books as best I could, here is what we had left. Some were in fairly good shape, some you could barely read the date.

	50 - 1960D Uncirc
4 - 1958	8 - 1958D
1 - 1957	14 - 1957D
7 - 1956	24 - 1956D
3 - 1955	13 - 1955D
	2 - 1954D	1 - 1954S
4 - 1953	11 - 1953D	1 - 1953
3 - 1952	15 - 1952D	1 - 1952S
1 - 1951	12 - 1951D	2 - 1951S
1 - 1950	8 - 1950D
4 - 1949	5 - 1949D	1 - 1949S
4 - 1948	3 - 1948D
2 - 1947	8 - 1947D	1 - 1947S
10 - 1946	10 - 1946D	1 - 1946S
13 - 1945	5 - 1945D	1 - 1945S
15 - 1944	14 - 1944D	3 - 1944S
27 - 1943	17 - 1943D	3 - 1943S
5 - 1942		1 - 1942
12 - 1941	3 - 1941D	1 - 1941S
2 - 1940
7 - 1939
9 - 1937
1 - 1936
9 - 1935		1 - 1935S
12 - 1934
5 - 1930	2 - 1930D
2 - 1929
1 - 1925
21 - 1919		2 - 1919S
14 - 1918	2 - 1918D
5 - 1917	3 - 1917D
2 - 1916
2 - 1914
1 - 1912
2 - 1909

Next Up - Indian Heads

 

[kenstein]

If I'm not mistaken, the 1909 is of interest because they were made both as Indian-heads and Lincolns that year.

 

[cudamark]

None of those dates/mint marks are key dates or even slightly rare. Condition of each will determine value. Now if you have a mint error or rare variety (such as a '55 double die) that can change dramatically.

 

[AugustMoose87]

I know they did both in 1909, but from what I have read, a 1909 Indian would be a LOT more valuable than the 1909 Lincolns I have. And thanks for the confirmation cuda. I didn't think I had anything special, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to get some second opinions.

I forgot to mention, if anyone has any suggestions on determining a fair price for all or part of the collection, speak up. I was kind of thinking something along the lines of - I have no special pennies, and the average wheat penny goes for $0.15 (pulled a number out of you know where) and I have 100 (again, just a random number) so I should sell them for about $15. We have a coin dealer in town here, and from what I have been able to gather, he is a pretty fair guy. But I just want to get an idea of what I should expect when we take it to him so I know when to sell and when to walk.

 

[AugustMoose87]

Not NEARLY as many Indians to work through, but still cool. So I had the four I grabbed from his shop, I just added them back to the collection and started sorting.

Returning to the collection we have some so bad you can barely read the date...

1 - 1907

1 - 1906

7 - 1902

1 - 1900

And some that are in pretty good condition... Looks like some have been tumbled or cleaned, but still lots of detail on them.

3 - 1908	7 - 1907	3 - 1906	2 - 1903
11 - 1902	1 - 1901	1 - 1890

In addition to those, my collection has expanded a bit... 1890, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 and what I was pretty excited about...



A 1909! I know it isn't the rarest or most valuable coin in the world, but it was still kind of exciting since I did a double take and went "wait... I thought lincolns were 1909..."

 

[AugustMoose87]

Forgot to mention that I also found a 1974 Lincoln with Kennedy's face stamped next to Lincoln. The look to be fairly common on ebay.

 

[enamel7]

Forgot to mention that I also found a 1974 Lincoln with Kennedy's face stamped next to Lincoln. The look to be fairly common on ebay.

They were counter stamped after the mint and sold in sets. By the way, the average wheaties go for about 3 cents apiece.

 

[coinsareawesome]

The 1909 Indian isn't particularly valuable, either. I had two of them, 'til I gave one to my dad. That one is probably $15.

 

[coinsareawesome]

Still, cool to have so much more than what you started with!

 

[AugustMoose87]

Thanks for the info guys. And yea, I knew that 1909 IH wasn't SUPER special, but I was excited. And thanks for the 3 cents value enamel, that was exactly what I was hoping to use to at least get a ball-park price.

 

[AugustMoose87]

So, first a few oddities. In the collection, Grandpa had two tokens, both for 1 cent each. One to "G.T. Scott & Co" in Albia IA (that is where they lived) and one to "Hocking Supply Co" in Hocking, IA. I'm not an expert, but I would expect those would be more valuable back in Iowa, since it would be more likely to find a collector. In with those two tokens was a WELL worn 3 cent silver. You can still see the star and shield, as well as the III and C on the other side. All I can see for the date is what I THINK is the top of a 3.

Grandpa also had a handful of Canadian coins as well, and as best I can tell, he kept most of them for their metal value. I figured I'd go ahead and finish up the pennies/cents before I move on to the nickels, so here are the Canadian pennies. On the odd chance anyone knows of one that is worth more than its melt value (about $0.02), let me know.

1-1978, 1-1971, 1-1970, 1-1968, 1-1967 (centennial??), 4-1966, 4-1965, 9-1964, 4-1963, 5-1962, 3-1961, 1-1960, 1-1959, 1-1958, 2-1957, 2-1955, 1-1953, 1-1949, 2-1945, 1-1944, 2-1943, 2-1940, 1-1939, 1-1937



Tomorrow after work I'll dive in to the US nickels.

 

[cudamark]

There again, condition will play a big part in their value. No rare date in the Canadians either but look for some of the varieties on the 53's and 55's........shoulder strap or no strap.....and the 65's for the bead and "5" varieties. If the 37 is in VG or better condition, it has a slight premium over lesser grades.

 

[AugustMoose87]

We'll start with the Canadians this time... 1 "Victory" nickel, 1945 was the most interesting one.

Then 3-1956, 1-1959, 2-1960, 2-1963, 1-1965, 1-1966, 2-1969, 1-1972, 1-1974, 1-1975, 1-1979, 1-1980

For both the Canadian nickels and pennies, I think I will just use their melt value as my baseline price...

 

[AugustMoose87]

I'm working on the US nickels, but before I forget, anyone have a rough idea what the average IH goes for?

 

[AugustMoose87]

Jeffersons

1-1973D, 3-1964D, 1-1963, 2-1961D, 2-1959D, 3-1958D, 4-1957D, 3-1956D, 1-1955, 6-1954, 2-1954D, 1-1954S, 3-1953, 3-1953D, 1-1953S, 3-1952, 2-1952D, 1-1952S, 1-1951D, 7-1941, 2-1941D, 4-1940, 3-1940D, 1-1940S, 7-1939

Buffalos... only 1 dateless.

3-1937, 2-1937D, 1-1937S, 12-1936, 1-1936D, 2-1936S, 5-1935, 1-1935D, 1-1935S, 4-1929, 1-1929S, 1-1928, 4-1927, 4-1926, 1-1925, 1-1925D, 1-1925S, 1-1924, 1-1923, 2-1920, 1-1920D, 1-1919, 1-1917, 1-1916



5 V's

1911, 1907, 1906, 1904, 1891


And 3 shields
1871, 1869, 1867

The 1869 was AMAZING!!

 

[AugustMoose87]

Started on dimes tonight... First the foreign ones...

1-1970 Bermuda

Canadians
1-1975, 5-1974, 5-1973, 2-1972, 3-1971, 6-1968, 1-1965, 1-1960


And on to the good-ole USofA

Rosie's
4 clad ('67, 2-'70D, 94)
3-1964, 3-1964D, 4-1963, 1-1962, 2-1961D, 1-1960D, 17-1959, 1-1959D, 1-1958D, 4-1957, 3-1956D, 1-1955, 2-1954, 1-1952, 1-1951, 1-1948D, 2-1947, 3-1946

Merc's
1-1945, 1-1944, 3-1943, 2-1942D, 3-1941, 1-1941D, 1-1940, 1-1939, 3-1936, 1-1936D, 1-1926

And 3 Barbers
1914D, 1912, and 1903

 

[AugustMoose87]

Now the quarters...

Canadians
1-1974, 1-1973, 3-1972, 1-1970, 1-1969, 1-1964, 1-1963, 1-1960, 1-1957, 1-1952, 1-1951

Clad Washingtons
4-1976, 1-1976D, 1-1970D,

Silver Washingtons
2-1964D, 1-1962D, 1-1961, 1-1959D, 1-1958D, 1-1957D, 1-1956, 1-1952S, 1-1948, 1-1946, 2-1945, 1-1943, 3-1942, 1-1941, 1-1939,

Barbers
1906, 1901


And hopefully tomorrow I will wrap it up with the Halves, Dollars and proofs.

 

[AugustMoose87]

The last of the coins...

Halves

Barber
1907D

Liberty
1934, 1936D, 1939D, 1940, 1941, 1942D, 1943, 1944

Ben
1958, 1960D, 1962D (x2), 1963, 1963D

Kennedy
1964 (x2), 1964D (x9), 1965, 1966 (x9), 1967 (x3), 1968 (x2), 1969D, 1971D (x2), 1972, 1973D (x2), 1973, 1974, 1974D, 1976D (x4)


Dollars

Liberty
18XX, 1889 (NICE), 1921D (x2, NICE), 1921S, 1921



Ike
1971S (proof), 1971d (x2), 1972, 1974D

And the random stuff... 1980 proof set; Pennsylvanian, Connecticut and Delaware state quarter sets (D&P, uncir); 1979D Susan B. Anthony; 1944 Filianias 50 Centavos; 1977 Mexico Diez Pesos

 

[AugustMoose87]

So he also had a redbook from 1994... how much have prices changed since then, or can I use that to get a baseline price for these coins?

He had some paper currency, and I've got the pics, but I'm off to Texas Roadhouse for a belated birthday dinner with my wife!! I'll post that when I get home.