What To Collect...?

I pretty much collect low grade coins because I don't have the money to buy many mint state coins, although some are affordable even to me. It also has another benefit because I try to find coins in any honest way possible. Such as looking through rolls and talking to friends about it. I've had a few friends give me a handful of coins and in one case a friend gave me a nearly full Whitman album of Lincoln cents from 1940 - 1970. Nothing real valuable but I did end up plugging a few holes in my Dansco Lincoln Cent album. A friend here also gave me a ancient Roman coin. Great gifts and I enjoy them. The coin shop I went to also gave me a few things like three steel cents and a couple old Jefferson nickels, one of them is a 1939-S.

I'm planning on purchasing a Jefferson nickel album and a Indian Head cent album as well for my next sets. I also am going to start having a secondary set of ancient Roman coins. Perhaps a few world coins, some that I like the design but I won't be going out of my way for them. I wouldn't mind owning a set of German Nazi coins. I saw a few coins from Japan that I really liked.

I'm just starting my coin collection again, so I have a very sparse collection. But I am always thinking about what I want to collect next. For now, what I stated is what I plan to collect so far.

Collecting coins is near limitless. An endless variety that I doubt you can ever exhaust the possibilities.

The ATB's are NOT 20th Century coins...Any ASE's or other coins after the year 2000, aren't either..... they are 21st Century coins ! .....
We have been in the "new" Century for almost 12 years now ! ....

If you're just starting, why not do what I did when I was a kid, start with something that flows through your pocket a lot? You won't be able to complete a collection that way, but can make a beginning to it and then fill it out from there.

OTOH, if you have time and money to pursue it, the opposite option is to go for something more exotic just because it's more satisfying. But that costs more money, of course.

Collect what you enjoy and what makes you happy! I collect Indian Head cents and Lincoln cents and Mercury dimes and Kennedy half dollars....because thats what makes me happy!

I've been doing Franklin half dollars after I picked up a few at a local bank a few months back. You should be able to pick up the whole set for about melt value as there are no rare mintage (dates or mint mark). Plus they weren't minted very long (15 years ) so you should be able to get a high grade collection sooner than most other 20th century coins. I've been finding uncirculated for about $15-$25 a piece. If that is too pricey, Mercury or Roosevelt dimes would be a good choice too. Just my 2 cents (or my 50 cents )

Some one had mentioned Franklin halves but one step further and a smaller collection as you noted would be Proof Franklin's. I have been working on cameo proofs of the set and they are tough to find in pr 66 or better in the early years but fairly common in the later. fourteen total coins in the collection, here's one example.