Grandfather Collection - advice please

[PLS]

Hello. New here.

I've inherited a collection of artifacts that my grandfather had. He passed away in 1971 and this collection has been boxed up since then. It is not certain where the items were collected from. He grew up and lived most of his life in Northeastern Kansas. He also owned a large ranch in Southwestern Wyoming in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. I suspect most of the items are from the ranch.

I am seeking advice on what to do with the collection. If it has significant value, I would sell it. If I were to sell it, it would seem that selling the entire collection to a dealer would be easiest. It would be good to have a rough idea of what to ask for the collection. I suppose another option would be to sell the collection in pieces online. However, I don't have the expertise to price each individual piece and appraisal/authentication for so many pieces doesn't seem like a economical option. I have read that it is wise to sell items in the area they came from. Can anyone recommend a reputable dealer in the Denver area?

If it doesn't look like it has much value, I may just hang on to the collection. To be honest, I'm not really into artifact collection (maybe cause I'm colorblind and have never been good at spotting them). My kids aren't too interested in it, but maybe the grand kids will be.

Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!

Phil

 

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[jmaschal]

Nice collection. As to value it's how much does someone want to pay. There are some nice points in the collection but nothing worth a ton of money. Most is what would be termed field points. Some other points from pics 6 and 7 would be your more valuable points. It's a large collection so I guess the value could add up but can't give a specific number. Personally I would hold onto but if it's not your thing I am sure you could sell them. Thanks for sharing and I am sure someone else can give more information.

 

[joshuaream]

I can't really help you much on value, but I don't see anything that really jumps out to me as WOW type value. That said a lot of $5 to $20 pieces can add up quickly.

As far as the types and location found, a lot of the nicer notched pieces look like they are from South Texas and West Texas types, maybe even the other side of the Rio Grande into Northern Mexico. Duran, Toyah, Livermore, etc.

 

[yardgoat]

I'm not a collector of Indian Points but from past experience with dealers they will low ball you on what it's worth and maybe offer 40% of face value. You might want to take it to reputable auction house in your area, they will take a cut but you might be surprised at what it might bring at a live auction. Good luck

 

[11KBP]

I've inherited a collection of artifacts that my grandfather had. He passed away in 1971 and this collection has been boxed up since then. It is not certain where the items were collected from. He grew up and lived most of his life in Northeastern Kansas. He also owned a large ranch in Southwestern Wyoming in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. I suspect most of the items are from the ranch.
Phil

Granted, some of that material could have come from northeastern Kansas and southwestern Wyoming but the majority of the collection is made of materials that did not come from those two locations.

Hopefully you find a good home for the collection.

 

[PLS]

Might not matter... but i should have said Southeast Wyoming (west of Laramie). Also, he did make frequent trips to Mexico (driving).

Thanks so much for your responses.

Phil

 

[monsterrack]

A dealer will low ball you ,a collector will try to do the same because most want to pick through it and resale the other. Do some studies on artifacts for sale on FB and compare them to what you have. Then Place it on a online auction site and see what happens, but remember once it's gone it's gone. you may want to sell one at a time or have someone make you an offer.

 

[PaDirtDigger]

Just to reiterate what others have said, to show support of their answers... Lots of common, cheaper points there. But what i do see are those small/tiny points with the multiple notches/serrations are pretty goos points and usually fetch decent money, especially if they are perfect. Don't consider them cheap because they are small (some people really think the size matter, not always the case) maybe keep those guys and do away with the rest. Totally up to you... Thanks for sharing them, some very interesting things in there for sure!!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I have to agree with what everyone else has said. Some of those pieces could very easily have been found in Kansas or Wyoming, but a lot of those Quartz pieces are most likely from other areas. The piece in pictures #6 and #7 are going to get you the most money. The rest are field grade or maybe just a step above, and as Joshua stated, might fetch $5 to $20 each.

Nice looking pieces though. If you decide to piece it out I may be interested in some on the small serrated types in pics 6 and 7.

 

[rock]

pic 6,7,9 and the last one the Maul is the best pieces.

 

[Twitch]

PLS - there's a crescent shaped artifact on the bottom row of the 6th photograph. Can you provide a close up of both sides? If that's a desert crescent it's a super cool artifact. Thanks.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

PLS - there's a crescent shaped artifact on the bottom row of the 6th photograph. Can you provide a close up of both sides? If that's a desert crescent it's a super cool artifact. Thanks.

I saw that too and it sure looks like a Crescent.

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

You've got a few in that mix that look to be Palaeo. The crescent is amazing (and rare). The small ovate blade on the right hand side of the first picture is very nice. The lancelot point in the center of the third pic could be Palaeo, but hard to tell in the pic. Is the grey one on the lower right of the fifth picture fluted? There might be a quad point in the same picture as the crescent, near the center. The one at the bottom right of the 7th picture might be a Clovis, but I can't tell if it's fluted of not in the pic. Bottom right on the 8th picture looks like a little Agate Basin. If you're able to get some close ups of those, I'm sure people will be able to ID them

 

[PLS]

I'll try to get some close-up pics posted this weekend.

Again, thanks everyone for you input.

 

[RGINN]

Wow. I don't know anything about selling arrowheads or their value. That crescent piece caught my attention real quick. Lot of side notched points, but they're not southern plains. Some look a lot like from those mound builders. The spear thing in the last two pics. Is that metal? Reminded me of a Spanish halberd in a way.

 

[BagLady]

Very nice collection. Quite a variety. IMO, a collection like that would sell better if you can identify the regions/ages of the pieces. It would take a lot of work documenting them, but worth it in the long run.

Maybe you can find a local boy scouts club that would help with that. You would be surprised how they would enjoy the education looking up the various points, and will earn badges in doing so.

 

[PLS]

I'm re-posting pics of the collection. I had reduced the size of the previously posted ones, so these ones will have a little bit better resolution. I have renamed/numbered my pics to match the way this forum displays them. I have also added a grid system. Sorry, but I'm pretty ignorant on artifact identification right now. That and my color blindness makes it difficult to determine exactly which items people are asking about. So, if you have any questions about specific pieces, if you could refer to the pic number and the grid coordinates, that would make it a lot easier. For example... the potential crescent piece would be on Pic06 and grid coordinates A5 (or maybe A5 to B6). Thanks.

 

[PLS]

PLS - there's a crescent shaped artifact on the bottom row of the 6th photograph. Can you provide a close up of both sides? If that's a desert crescent it's a super cool artifact. Thanks.

Here you go...

 

[PLS]

You've got a few in that mix that look to be Palaeo. The crescent is amazing (and rare). The small ovate blade on the right hand side of the first picture is very nice. The lancelot point in the center of the third pic could be Palaeo, but hard to tell in the pic. Is the grey one on the lower right of the fifth picture fluted? There might be a quad point in the same picture as the crescent, near the center. The one at the bottom right of the 7th picture might be a Clovis, but I can't tell if it's fluted of not in the pic. Bottom right on the 8th picture looks like a little Agate Basin. If you're able to get some close ups of those, I'm sure people will be able to ID them

I'm sorry, but I'm having a little difficulty figuring out exactly which artifacts you are talking about. I'm very new to this (and color blind). I've re-posted the pics of the collection with a grid coordinate system on them. If you have time, could you identify which items you are talking about with the pic number and coordinates?

Thanks!

 

[PLS]

Wow. I don't know anything about selling arrowheads or their value. That crescent piece caught my attention real quick. Lot of side notched points, but they're not southern plains. Some look a lot like from those mound builders. The spear thing in the last two pics. Is that metal? Reminded me of a Spanish halberd in a way.

Yep, it is metal. Not really sure if it belongs with the collection. It was in the same box.