Its Been A While..any Suggestions On Lincoln Wheat Set?

For basically starting over you should really check Google for possible coin shows in your area and go to all of them. Keep away from ebay. If no coin shows, try for coin clubs in your area. Some have small coin shows that are not well advertised so finding a coin club may be the next best thing to a coin show. Get to know the prices of anything your looking for prior to buying any coins.

Nancy, what's the rush? I don't know how many bags or boxes you've searched, but some people here (including me) have found some incredible coins (see other threads here on CCF).

There seems to me to be two types of coin collectors... those who find their collection, and those who buy their collection. If you have the money, go for it! I prefer to try to find coins for my collection... I do have the time (squeezing in between work and chores) and I find it extremely fun! It's only a chore to roll search if you make into that. I never know what I'll find in a box of pennies... the thrill is in the hunt! Lincoln pennies are readily available, and people have found nearly the whole set over time, and again, there is a special thrill opening a roll and finding some amazing coins.

Some older series you cannot collect by "finding them" in circulation and you "have to" purchase them, but this isn't the case with Lincoln pennies. In my very first box I searched I found a BU 1930D Lincoln wheatie, that was pretty thrilling not only because it cost me one cent, but because I found it "in the wild." I've found many die varieties, error coins, lots of copper, and even silver, and I even have a pretty good start on a Canadian small cent set.

After just a few boxes, I have managed to obtain every Lincoln Cent from 1940 through 2011 in mostly BU condition (except the mint only proofs and a small date 1960), a few from the '30s... to me, every box I get from the bank is an adventure. Yes, I could just buy them, but where's the fun in that?

@merclover -- The info you reported is exactly what I suspected. It is almost impossible to find a wheatie pre-1930 by searching bags and rolls. I have personally found a very nice 1927 Wheatie and even a 1907 very worn IHC. But the sheer thousands of cents you have to go through to find something "interesting" in the sense of "old" is just too much.

NOW, if you are talking about searching cents for things like Wide AM, Close AM, and DDO / DDR/RPM varieties then THAT is a completely feasible and worthwhile task if you are up for it. I personally don't find looking through thousands of cents to be very exciting...

Essentially it boils down to your preference. I don't think it's fair to make a somewhat disparaging comment about those who "buy" their collection versus those who "find" their collection. I dare to say you will not ever find a Matte Proof Lincoln in circulation, nor any of a host of many other coins. One of the joys of collecting coins is that there are endless ways of doing it -- your preferences will guide you but maybe not others.

Cheers, and happy searching!
-Brandon

I didn't say "never", I said "not ever".

Found one of those "not ever" pennies from a Brinks roll tonight.

That's a nice looking 1909 VDB and an awesome find from roll hunting. That said - I cannot tell if it is MS or not but regardless, it is not what I (at least) would consider "BU" - which I would classify as MS Red or Red-Brown with lots of remaining red mint luster.

It will all come down to your goals for your set as to which approach will work the best.

Lol I just love talking about wheaties! I have been so excited about starting back into collecting that I've spent about 100 bucks this week on BU's and non-keys..trying to fill holes..I get so pumped about collecting. Just wish I had more mula haha!