What Proof Coins Are Required To Make Your Series Complete?

I find worrying about these things to be the fun and relaxing parts of the hobby!

I can only buy coins so often...so much of my coin time and devotion and thought must go into things that are not related to the actual purchasing of the coins. My wife calls it "playing with my coins". But isn't just playing with them...it is thinking about them and how I want them to look and be in the coming years.

And trying to decide who I am as a collector and what I consider complete and how it affects the whole collection, well, by golly-- it is one of the more enjoyable parts of the hobby for me.

At the end of the day I will collect what I want to collect, since I always have. And I will be at peace with it.

I love to hear what other people consider complete and how they will do it-- because I always hear such great things I might not have otherwise thought of. Thanks in advance to all!

Not long ago I finally finished my Franklin PR65-Cam set.

I'm working on collecting all the silver proof dimes. I have all the silver Roosevelt's up to 64, so I decided to collect all the silver proofs in the years which they made them to present date. I have a few so far. I'm not collecting any clad ones just the silver proofs they issued, and I'll include the March of dimes set.

I agree with the others about collecting what you want. The great thing about this hobby is the flexibility you asked what proof coins are required to complete a set and the answer is whatever proof coins you require of yourself.

My collecting is guided by the economy, not in general but my economy as an individual. I collect what I can afford so therefore I collect modern US coins, I also happen to really like them. I go after all of the proof coins that go with my sets in each of their varieties I.e. 1981-S type 1 and type 2 (this is what I can afford). If I buy a coin in OGP then I tend to leave it in the OGP. If I buy a coin in a TPG holder then I leave it there. If I buy a raw coin that does not have a hole in the appropriate Dansco album (I use Dansco exclusively) then I create one by using the spare holes at the end of the album or I will buy a blank page and insert it, I then use my label maker to identify the coin. This is how I collect, I don't know how unique it is but I don't care, it is what I do. I don't really care to "complete" a series or set because I enjoy the hunt more than the finish.

Check out this thread I started in the US Classic Coins forum to see how I have dealt with the issue. The majority of my older proof coins are certified and slabbed, so they won't fit into a standard album. So, I decided to create an all-digital "virtual" album for display on my computer (and the Internet). It's not quite the same as holding them in my hand, but I think it looks pretty good.

Oh -- and with the recent purchase of a proof Buffalo nickel, I am officially declaring my modern proof type set to be complete (I still have one hole to fill for classic proofs). Another advantage of creating my own album is that I get to decide what belongs in it and what is required for it to be "complete"...

Crazyglue - what you are expressing is called creativity. Many studies have shown that many collectors become collectors as a way of ordering their world as they please. The decisions you make affect the composition of your collection. You create your own collecting world.

The comments and questions you ask point to a creative mind looking for more options to consider in building your collection.

Take pride in that attitude.

It's been about 34 months since I last posted on this topic and decided to post my updated checklists.

Lincoln Cents: Need 1936,'37,'38,'39,& 1940.
Jefferson nickels: Complete
Roosevelt dimes: Complete
Washington quarters: Complete (yes, finally got that 1936)
Franklin halves: Need 1950, 1951, & 1952.
Kennedy halves: Complete
Eisenhower dollars: Complete
S.B.Anthony Dollars: Complete
Presidential dollars: Complete
Saq/Native American Dollars: Complete
Innovation Dollars: Complete.

PS: My sets do NOT include any 'pre-set' (before 1936) proofs or minor variations.

I began collecting business strikes many years ago, filling the holes with Lincolns and Jeffersons. I recall my father bringing home a Christmas saver's book for dimes from the credit union. Sadly, I can not seem to locate that one. But, this was how coin collecting began for me. And probably like most of you.

My first proof coin came in the form of set, the 1994 Olympic as a gift. Soon after I bought a regular release set, then another and so on. All of which are still as they were packaged and shipped. Which I now have back to 1955 (including the SMS sets if we're counting those).

Answering a great question, by the way, I for one do not consider them necessary for a complete series. Only for the above reason, beginning with business strikes meant for commerce. So for myself it's a separate collection entirely as I am trying to complete them. At some point I'd like to go back before 1936 when the coins were issued individually as well. Those can get pricey. Especially if I would be extremely fortunate enough in finding some with their original packaging/envelopes. They are out there.