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harthag
New Member
United States
49 Posts
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I'm looking for suggestions but more importantly I'm looking for the reasons for the suggestions. I've been interested in collecting since I was a kid, and started several times, and spent my collections several times (I read a similar post from someone in here). But now I think I'm going to get in to collecting much more seriously. I've been reading through the posts on this forum for the past few weeks, gathering info, and I'm almost ready to start. I just need to decide what set or sets I'm going to start with.
What sets would you recommend?
Here are some criteria:
Must have:
1. U.S. coins
2. I would like to be able to get at least half the set from circulation/pocket change/roll searching/face value (though I don't mind spending for key coins or to fill holes that turn out to be harder to find
3. I would like to be able to complete the set (someone in here mentioned that success leads to success or something to that effect) so for my first set or two I want a reasonable finish in sight, I don't want to be "staring at the same holes" in my folders after a while, I want to be able to finish the set within maybe 6 months - 2 years
Optional:
4. Precious metal is a plus but not necessary
5. Unusual varieties to catch the eye would also be nice but are not necessary (steel cents come to mind for visual appeal, but might be out of my price range)
6. a couple rare pieces for "bragging rights" (again that's from a post I read here) would also be nice but not really necessary
Sorry if this is way too long ... in Summary: what's a good set or two for me to start with? And Why?
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2873 Posts |
Try Jefferson Nickels, 1938 to date. You should be able to find the majority of dates still in circulation (pre-1960 gets tougher) except for keys and the Silver War Nickels. If you don't want to have to pay a premium for anything, do State/Territory Quarters. All are available from circulation.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
3048 Posts |
1901-present Type set. Exposure to a bunch of different coins, a lot of it can be done through pocket change and with a little effort the older types can be purchased relatively cheaply.
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Valued Member
United States
350 Posts |
Jefferson Nickels would be my 1st recommendation: 1. U.S. coins 2. You will likely be able to find all but the War Nickels in circulation and may even find them 3. Fairly easy to complete 4. Some silver (War Nickels) 5. War Nickels and the Westward Journey and you can always focus on finding "Full Step" specimens 6. The more "rare" pieces the more difficult #3 becomes I would also recommend the Eisenhower dollar series as a fun one to work on as it meats all of the above requirements other than being able to get them from circulation. Still a fun series in my opinion but I am biased as I am working towards completing mine now. Hope that helps and most importantly  to the community! |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
3903 Posts |
Jefferson nickels are a good bet.
If a bank will let you order half dollars, you can collect most of them from circulation, possibly even the silver ones, depending on where you are. You'll probably have to get just a few from coin shops and they won't be expensive.
You should be able to get almost all Lincoln memorial cents from circulation or roll hunting.
It is easy to get all the clad Roosevelt dimes from circulation or roll hunting, and you should be able to find quite a few of the silver given time. The remainder can be purchased at or near melt.
You can collect all the state and territory quarters from circulation, and probably virtually all the clad Washington quarters. Some of the silver ones are tougher and you won't find them in circulation.
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
Quote:
1901-present Type set. I'm not sure what a "Type set" is. (how's that for showing how new I am?) Quote:
Exposure to a bunch of different coins, a lot of it can be done through pocket change and with a little effort the older types can be purchased relatively cheaply. That sounds like what I'm looking for. If only I knew what a type set is.
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Valued Member
United States
243 Posts |
I'd suggest State Quarters minted from 1999 through 2008 - 50 different states, each with a distinctive reverse, and all quite easy to find in circulation with some patience. (The 2009 DC/Territorial quarters are a bit tougher to find in circulation but easily available from your friendly neighborhood coin dealer I'm sure) Or you could try Lincoln Memorial Cents from 1959 through 2008 - again, very do-able from circulation as long as you don't worry too much about the small date/large date varieties and such.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1470 Posts |
yes type set is a good one--nicks and then pennies (but some pennies are expensive)--most are within reach
"The internet? Is that thing still around?" Homer Simpson.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1244 Posts |
I agree with the Jefferson nickels set suggestions. A relatively easy (and fun) set to build. Like has been said above, once you get back past 1960 or so, it becomes quite a bit tougher and you will probably have to do a lot of coin roll hunting in order to fill some of those holes. Lincoln Memorial cents ( LMC)(1959-2008), Lincoln Bicentennial cents (2009), and Lincoln Shield cents (LSC) (2010-present) can be completed very easily from circulation. Lincoln Wheat Cents ( LWC) (1909-1958) are significantly harder to come by in circulation. Maybe modern dollar coins (Ikes, Susan B. Anthony's, Native American, Presidential)? Would probably have to ask your bank teller or retail cashier if they have any in their till. If you're looking for some silver, you can always do a Franklin half dollar set. You aren't going to be able to complete that from circulation but it's a small enough set that it's not too hard to put together with a couple of trips to your local coin store and rooting around through their 90% junk silver. |
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New Member
United States
49 Posts |
So the vote is in, I'll start with Jeffersons, by far the vote winner, and also Kennedy's since the 50 cent piece in my pocket is what got me thinking about collecting again. And I'll slowly work toward the 1901-present Type to get an idea of what direction to take next. Thanks everyone for the explanations, suggestions and help
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
592 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
350 Posts |
Enjoy the journey and come back often to share your success and ask questions. I can't even begin to tell you how much I have learned on this forum.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1050 Posts |
A type set is one example of each type of coin struck for the period covered. For example a 20th Century type set of cents would consist of one each of the following: Indian head cent 1901-1909 Lincoln cent, Wheat ears 1909-1958 Lincoln cent, steel 1943 Lincoln cent, Memorial back 1959-2000 I would suggest you purchase a copy of the Red Book, A Guide to U. S. Coins which will have all the information for each type of coin struck by the U. S. Mint both regular issue and non circulating legal tender. Non circulating legal tender are coins that were issued only in mint or proof sets, the American Silver Eagles and other mint struck bullion related coins. You could probably assemble a set of the Lincoln cents 1959-present fairly easy enough by roll hunting in less than a year. The Jefferson nickel set from 1938-present you could get virtually all of the 1960 to present roll hunting and many of the pre 1960 issues within 2 years though there will be a few dates which you may end having to buy but in circulated condition they are very inexpensive. A set of Eisenhower and Susan B. Anthony dollars can be assembled from circulation. These dollars you'll have to ask for at the bank as they don't stay in circulation very long anymore. Quote:
(steel cents come to mind for visual appeal, but might be out of my price range) Nice circulated steel cents are under $1.00 each and uncirculated steel cents will cost well under $10.00 each and beware of reprocessed coins. A reprocessed steel cent has been replated. Good luck 
They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or "we'll blow you away." And then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big guns, and they said in Somali, "Igaralli ahow," which means "Excuse me, I didn't mean it, my mistake".
Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991
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Valued Member
United States
416 Posts |
If you don't have a storage method yet, Dansco has a nice Type Set album. It's out of production right now, but there are still some around. It's #7070. There are a lot of coins to get, but several very interesting ones. There are a couple of early silver dollars that are going to be hard to find for under $100 but I haven't paid more than $50 for anything and many items are under $10. You can limit the type set to 20th century, but then you miss out on some pretty cool stuff. Here is my Dansco 7070:      I still have a long way to go! Dansco is making a new Type Set album, probably for the new pennies, new nickle design, etc., but I collect mint and proof sets of everything after 1968 so I don't care about that. This is, without a doubt, the most fun part of my collection. There are folks here that have BRILLIANT specimens in every slot, but in lower grades it's really quite affordable. Jefferson nickles is fairly easy from 1960 to date. I even found a proof in circulation (somebody spent their coin collection)! You will probably even find quite a few from the 50s if you hunt enough rolls. Try to get hand rolled rolls from the bank. Those are more likely to have older nickels. Good luck! |
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Moderator
United States
17291 Posts |
Nice 7070, larsdog! Jbuck! ... Coin Collector since 1978 ... Learn about my Avatar here!
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Valued Member
United States
350 Posts |
Quote:
Jefferson nickles is fairly easy from 1960 to date. I even found a proof in circulation (somebody spent their coin collection)! You will probably even find quite a few from the 50s if you hunt enough rolls. Try to get hand rolled rolls from the bank. Those are more likely to have older nickels. My son and I went through a single box of nickels (all BWR) and completed all years and mint marks from 1960-present for our circulation set with the exception of 2009. We also filled several of the pre-1960 holes in the folder but no silver. If you enjoy roll hunting like we do then I don't think you would have any trouble completing this series from rolls. I am sure there will be some that will be a bit more elusive but that makes it all the more rewarding when done. Oh, and nice 7070 larsdog!
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Posted 07/06/2012 3:39 pm
