First Album Ever To Start 2017. Suggestions?

Collecting to what end? Fun? Value? Investment? Stress (your wife said "get a hobby or get out")? Each one points to a different collection. The fact that you want to "finish" it by the end of the year, suggests that your not a very patient person and want to "test" the coin collecting waters to see if it is something you want to stick with.

What I have done is a few ongoing collection, long term collections for investment, short term collections for the impatient me and a few expandable collections. ATB Quarters are great for short term, they are cheap (you can get them for $0.25) You can collect a circulated type set to start, if you like it, you can expand to a circulated P&D, if you really get into it, you can expand to proofs, silver proofs, go all out and include S-mint. A good looking affordable and a simple or all out set. Learn some history on the way also.

Same can be said about Morgans, a date set is both satisfying, affordable and a minor long term investment. From there you can start other mint mark sets or if you have several thousand dollars laying around, you can go for the whole set.

I also collect commemorative dollars, another beautiful set, coin silver for a perceived investment, simple date set, date and mint mark set or all out date, MM and proof set, as your ardor dictates.

I collect all these sets, each can be as simple or complex, as affordable or majorly expensive as you desire.

Sounds like a good plan!

Keep us posted and....

I would second the Jefferson nickel album. You can accumulate a beautiful collection just from getting nickel boxes from the bank and roll hunting. Just keep upgrading as you go. The Whitman Classic Album really sets them off too.

Yeah yeah whatever...

Definitely history, some art (there are obviously designs that I find more appealing than others). I'm not necessarily interested in value at this point. I'm very Type A and a little OCD, so being able to complete any album would be personally satisfying. And yes, there's a little Magpie in me.

I would actually have a good start I think on an OFEC set, but I wanted to start with something that I'm more familiar with and could be found mostly in rolls/change and a handful, if that, of purchases. I'll keep it in mind, though!

Thanks for the suggestions!

Question: For something like a circulated Jefferson nickel set, I really like the looks of the Dansco album, but the Whitman is cheaper (about $5). Is there an upside to the Dansco?

My nickels look just fine in my Dansco.

Good point.

For the record, I do not dislike Whitman. Dansco is just what I happened to get (my grandfather bought my first two for me). They could have been Whitman and I would still be impressed.

Thanks. I do see how the blue-themed Whitman would be more aesthetically compatible with silver-toned coins.

I'm not worried about the price difference but more about quality and WHY it's cheaper.

For the record, I always said blue was my favourite colour and I don't know why.