Luke Judge

Coin collectors frequently advise potential customers to buy the book before the coin. This is essential advice for the new collector as well as the seasoned one. A collector armed with several comprehensive guidebooks will be on the alert for valuable items in the area of his chosen interest. Pertinent guidebooks state values based on year minted and current condition. Books, discussion groups, collecting magazines and dealers can guide the new collector in learning how to judge the condition and value. Obviously, the better the coin’s condition, the more valuable it is. It is not necessary to have the latest edition of guidebooks unless the collector is buying recently minted versions or frequently selling parts of his collection. An older version can be quite useful in determining relative values, as a coin that was rare ten years ago will generally still be rare today. Online auctions and bookstores often have older collecting guides at bargain prices.

Those just beginning in the hobby will want to narrow their area of interest to one region, one time period, or one material. Perhaps a collection could be built of all Asian, European or US coins, from early hand stamped Persian ones to modern commemoratives. Another collector may build a collection of all 19th or 18th century coins. History buffs frequently have a collection of coins from time periods they are particularly interested in. Ancient Roman and Greek coins are a favorite with collectors. Guidebooks are essential when collecting these, as counterfeits are common. Exclusively buying silver or gold world coins can build an investment collection. Although silver and gold values change daily, the value of the coin is based first on its rarity and condition, then on minor fluctuations in the price of the precious metal from which it is minted.

Many serious collectors began with a handful of world coins acquired as children. Once the fascination with exotic history begins, it becomes the basis for a more significant hobby. One reason for collecting world coins, as opposed to United States, is the allure of ones minted around the globe. They can be found at coin shops, flea markets, coin shows, antique stores, and online auctions. The savvy collector uses current value information to search online auctions, always watching for a bargain that others may not know exist. Caution should always be used when bidding online. Look for experienced dealers who are experts in their field.

Starting a world coin collection can lead to a lifetime hobby, both rewarding and fascinating. Becoming an informed collector may turn the hobby into a lucrative investment.

half Cents discussion groups, gold world, precious metal, silver and gold

By John B. Manbecka Brooklyn historianSpecial to The Brooklyn Eagle

Coney Island: recycled again?

For the first decade of Coney Island’s existence as an amusement park, everything old became new again.While the rides, the tricks, the mirrors, the excitement attacked visitors with such force that they never wanted the thrill to cease, at the end of the day, they had to go home. And that was reality. Until the next time.

It was the same each year. With fresh paint and new names, the experience of Coney Island lingered in the senses. The glory of those international expositions —a.k.a. world’s fairs — lasted a year or two while the fair operated. After the deconstruction, only memories remained.

But Coney Island was forever. Then the inventiveness of the entrepreneurs turned stale as the years rolled by and technical progress caught up with them. Growing up, we noticed that the rides seemed cheaper, the monstrosities smaller, the charm cheesier. The good old days came to be secluded in heart and mind.By the time reality of wars passed the artificiality of the make-believe cyclorama, Coney no longer thrilled, and history was doomed to the past. So Coney traffic thinned, the rides closed, parks burned, and only the memories floated in one’s head.

Now the memories are being immortalized. Call it landmarking. Names are dredged up to suggest a new era. Horace Bullard, in the 1970s, wanted to recreate Steeplechase but a ballpark beat him to home plate. Now his office building, the Shore Theater—renamed in 1964—but formerly Loew’s Coney Island (1925), is slated for possible landmark designation. And it’s across from a new MTA station designed to look like old Coney. Down the street—Surf Avenue—a lot sits ready for construction crews. Formerly the magnificent Feltman’s restaurants (nine of them) occupied that lot as well as the late, great Astroland (1954-2009).This year it will open as LUNA PARK!!!

Next to it stands the fabled, landmarked Cyclone Roller Coaster. On the other side the wonderful Wonder Wheel can be found, maintained to perfection by the Voudouris brothers and their families. Also landmarked.Amble along the Riegelmann Boardwalk (never to be landmarked because not an original slat remains) to the spidery frame of the Parachute Jump, landmarked in 1988. Of course, you passed the 1923 Child’s Restaurant, landmarked in 2003. Now it’s a senior center. What else?

In this haven of memories, surely there should be other preservation efforts. If a group of Coney Island zealots has its way, there will be. How about Nathan’s? While certainly not the original structure that advertised “red hots” for a nickel, it stands on the same spot (minus the prices).

The former Child’s (Restaurant) building on Surf and West 12th Street built in 1917, now home to Dick Zigun’s “Coney Island U.S.A.” and the Coney Island Museum is another possibility.

Then there’s the Grashorn Building, the oldest structure in Coney Island, which should be awarded the designation for merely surviving the conflagrations that surrounded it. At Surf Avenue and Jones Walk, it rose in the 1880s and still lives.

The Henderson Building, previously a music hall, a ballroom and a restaurant, anchors the southern corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues across from Nathan’s. The original building opened in 1881 but burned in 1899. Rebuilt the next year, it attracted name talent of the day, but major Coney Island alterations in 1923 included stores on the street level; the music hall functioned until 1926 when it was converted to “The World of Wax.”

Finally, the building that housed the B&B Carousell on Surf Avenue remains a possibility. The ride will re-emerge across from Municipal Park, formerly Keyspan Park, but its storage building survives.

All of these are possible icons of Coney Island’s history if the Landmarks Commission gives the word. But the surrounding area could turn into a glitzy wanna-be resort with hotels and fancy clubs. Bullard worries that all of Coney Island may evolve into another historic district. Would that be good?

Who knows? Coney Island has faced change before.

The history I would like to see is a living history museum of Coney Island artifacts with re-creations of rides as they were a century ago. That would bring Coney Island’s past to an exciting reality that no number of landmarks could equal.

© 2010 John B.

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half Cents feltman, roller coaster

One quite recent investment opportunity when it comes to gold is the American Buffalo gold coins. Similar to the gold dollar coin a US insignia will be present on the Buffalo gold coins. There should be governmental guarantees about the quality and amount of gold that is contained in every coin. This is to guarantee the worth of the Buffalo gold bullion will not be questioned in world markets. It is pretty easy to buy Buffalo gold if you are willing to do a little research to find a dealer.

The Buffalo gold coin is pure 24k gold, much more pure than many other coins, such as the 22k American Eagle gold coin, which contains approximately 8% metal other than gold. This is the case 99 out of 100 times. You are sure to get gold with 99 percent of coins. The cost of the coin is started by taking the price of gold and the coin making process into consideration. These are the things that make the buffalo coin a popular investment when choosing gold.

This is the way to locate gold bullion dealers.

The US Mint will help you to find someone nearby. You will only need to pick the state. Their website will also give estimated prices for gold coins, based on the current trading price of gold.

Use a search engine such as Yahoo or Google and search for “Buffalo gold coin.” You will be able to find many good results, like Blanchard and Northwest Territorial. It is important to check prices for different dealers of Buffalo gold as there can be a wide variation in pricing.

You can locate a dealer by looking in your phone book under the “gold” or “coins” section.

The U.S. Mint has made 300,000 of the Buffalo gold coin proof version. It seems like a huge number, however, some number more than 244,000 of the Buffalo gold bullion coins have been sold to some lucky buyers.

The US Mint will sell these to you. You can either contact the United States Mint at 1-800-USA-MINT or visit their website. They will be something that can be purchased separately.

One other choice to look at online auctions such as eBay to possibly locate one that is less expensive that the current price at the U.S. Mint site, but make sure the dealer is reputable, so you won’t buy a Buffalo gold proof coin for more than you should.

Be sure to do your comparison shopping before you invest in gold, regardless of the form that it’s in you definitely want to get your money’s worth. Investing in silver bullion is highly similar to investing in gold bullion so the same principles will apply. You are going to find just as many people trying to rip you off by overcharging on the gold that they are selling as those who will not pay you enough for your scrap gold.

{The complication with becoming a collector of anything is finding someone to tell you how much what your collecting is worth.}  {It is fun to find out how the bovine behemoth goes against coins from other countries.}

half Cents american eagle gold, usa mint