Michael From PA And Question On Good Starter US Coin Sets

Thanks all.. these are great suggestions.

I am looking at some of the nice "Dansco" albums.. look like a nice way to start.. Just want to avoid a set that will be too difficult to complete.

I can probably go for a few hundred dollars per year to put towards a nice set, so can hopefully do a nice set every year or two... as long as I pick sets that don't have crazy/expensive coins..

Seem reasonable?

Michael

Sounds great.. and silver, so also get a "commodity play" as well... like it!

Yes. Make a budget and stick to it. I would add that it is a good idea not to spend all of your coin money but rather set some aside for that one key date -- there's always one that costs more than the others -- and that way when you see it for a reasonable price you can get it. If you spend all your coin money trying to fill most of the holes in the album you will have a long dry spell searching for that one coin at the right price while saving up for it.

Meanwhile, if you have spare time, you can coin roll hunt and maybe find some silver or an error coin to sell to boost your budget. It's hardly ever worth the time you invest in it but searching will give you a lot of experience and add to your knowledge.

Roll hunting is the luck of the draw when you get rolls from a bank. Some are junk and reprocessed back through others searching. Then you come across coins that have reentered commerce after someone has cashed in their jar.

to CCF!

Jeffs are interesting as there seem to be a small # of the older ones still in circulation. I started keeping only those older than I am, but since then I've found a 1940 and several 1950s.

I agree that Franklins might be an interesting set to start with. Sometimes you can pick up proofs at reasonable prices, too. I don't know that I would want to invest in a Dansco album for Jefferson nickels, if you decide to go that route.

You can find out a lot about coin roll hunting here: http://goccf.com/f/147 There are lots of topics to scroll through but you might want to scroll down until you find a thread about buying rolls from banks or something like that.

I would suggest you start small -- just get a roll or nickels for your collection or even a roll of quarters which might have a silver quarter or two. The odds are against it, which is why I suggest you start small. You'll either enjoy the hunt or find it to be a waste of time. I don't do it often but it's all about the thrill of the hunt.

The thing is, there are a lot of people who keep the odd old coin in a jewelry box -- maybe several old coins. Then the day comes when the relatives inherit the house and its contents. Those coins frequently end up in circulation because the effort to find out their worth and sell them is too great at a time when the family is trying to sell a vacant house, etc.

We have some members here who have completed albums just from searches -- so it is possible.

Otto,

Why did you say; "I don't know that I would want to invest in a Dansco album for Jefferson nickels, if you decide to go that route."

What is the concern with Dansco albums to hold a Jefferson nickel collection? Is there a problem with the album?

My current thinking is to start some nice Dansco collections of some of the "easier to fill" series, such as Jefferson nickles, Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Memorial cents, State Quarters, etc. Will make a great collectors set to be able to show the grandkids one day and maybe peak their interest. Maybe eventually work-up to some more challenging series like a Mercury dime collection - always loved those.

And then maybe to get some Proof Sets for some "fancier" things, such as maybe some State Quarter silver proof sets, or even some mint proof sets. I would probably want to keep them in their proof cases to protect them.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Michael