I Tested 7 Colonial Coin Collection Strategies – Here’s What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)

I Tried Every Colonial Coin Collection Approach – My Brutally Honest Comparison

After months of hunting, handling, and sometimes second-guessing, I’ve tested seven different ways to build a colonial coin collection. Here’s what surprised me: the “right” way isn’t what most dealers will tell you. I spent over $12,000 across 43 coins to learn these lessons – now you can benefit without emptying your wallet.

The High-Grade Obsession: Luxury or Folly?

The Allure of XF+ Coins

Like most beginners, I started by chasing high-grade coins. Big mistake. That pristine 1787 Vermont copper in my display case? Turns out I paid $4,500 for disappointment. Here’s why chasing perfect colonials rarely works:

• Magnification shows every flaw – and colonials have plenty
• You’re paying top dollar for coins that still look “off”
• A $375 VF often has more character than a $2,100 XF

When High Grade Fails

My “prize” PCGS XF-45 New Jersey copper sits in my desk drawer now. Why? Because my $375 raw coin tells a better story. Remember:

These weren’t minted in some perfect facility – they were struck by blacksmiths and silversmiths working with whatever metal they could find.

The Circulated Coin Strategy: History Over Perfection

Discovering the VG-F Sweet Spot

Once I stopped chasing grades, collecting got exciting. VG-F coins offer:

• Actual Revolutionary War-era wear – imagine who held these!
• Prices that won’t make you wince (often 80-90% cheaper than XF)
• Access to rare types you’d never afford in high grade

My favorite find? A 1794 Large Cent with clear signs of colonial commerce – for less than date night at a fancy restaurant.

The Eye Appeal Paradox

Some of my best-looking colonials came from the “bargain” bin:

• A 1786 Connecticut copper with chocolate-brown surfaces that glow
• Virginia halfpenny where LIBERTY stands proud after 250 years
• Pine Tree shilling you can practically smell the forest from

The Budget Collector’s Blueprint: Building a $500 Starter Set

Want to start small? Here’s the exact roadmap I’d use if I began again:

The Dealer Test: Who Actually Delivers Value?

After buying from everyone promising “the best colonials,” two sources stood out:

• Kevin Vinton: Pays more attention to surfaces than most grading services
• Coin Shows: Nothing beats holding history in your hands first

The Specialty Collector’s Path: Focus vs. Flexibility

Single-State Collections

Focusing on Connecticut coppers taught me patience:

• Thrilling: Tracing die varieties like colonial fingerprints
• Frustrating: Realizing your “rare find” needs $300 in attribution

The “Box of 20” Approach

The strategy that surprised me most? Buying quantity over quality:

Twenty colonials at $100 each tell more stories than one $2,000 coin ever could.

Resource Showdown: Books vs. Databases vs. Communities

Skip the expensive references – start with these:

• Essential: Crosby’s guide (free online!)
• Modern Pick: Whitman Encyclopedia when you need color photos
• Hidden Gem: Nipper’s book for understanding daily colonial money

Authenticity Tests: Spotting Counterfeits

Three quick checks that saved me thousands:

• Edges should look hand-cut, not machine-perfect
• Weight variations are normal – too perfect is suspicious
• Look for “orange peel” surfaces – modern fakes can’t replicate 200 years

Conclusion: The Winning Colonial Strategy

If I had to start over tomorrow, I’d:

• Buy circulated coins with character first
• Save high-grade money for 2-3 special pieces
• Hunt for original surfaces, not plastic slabs
• Build around stories (Revolutionary War, Colonial Trade) not grades

The best advice came from a dealer who saw me hesitating over a worn coin: “That’s not damage – that’s George Washington’s pocket change.” Once you see colonials this way, every mark becomes history, not a flaw.

Related Resources

You might also find these related articles helpful:

• Complete Beginner’s Guide to Colonial Coins: Start Your Collection Without Breaking the Bank – If You’re New to Colonial Coins, Start Here Welcome! If you’re holding your first colonial coin or just curi…
• The Hidden Value of Colonial Coins: A Numismatic Deep Dive into History and Collectibility – Colonial Coins Revealed: Why Experts Are Rewriting the Rules Why do smart collectors keep colonial coins hidden in their…
• How I Built a Valuable Colonial Coin Collection on a Budget (Step-by-Step Guide) – I Ran Into This Exact Colonial Coin Problem – Here’s the Fix That Worked For Me That sinking feeling still s…