Mr. Gibbs, We Have Our Heading

After 25 years of collecting, 15 of those, seriously, I have acquired a quite large collection of this and that. I have never really went in any certain direction except for some early copper and keys. I have completed a Mercury dime set and a Buffalo nickel set. I am currently working on my IHC Dansco (my favorite Federal issue) and will complete it sometime in the future. This one, I am taking my time on as to acquire only quality coins for the grades

I think a big part of it is to leave my heir something to collect. If I have the last known available year in the collection, what's next on their list to collect? A 1916-D Merc? An 1877 IHC? A 1909-S VDB or '14-D?

If that won't take the wind out of their sail, I don't know what would. If those pieces are in there and all they have to do is bring Shield Cents or ATB Quarters up to speed, maybe they will be a little more interested to at least dabble, then broaden their horizons.

I guess that's the point I was trying to make. Well, one of them.

I feel your pain when trying to keep focused and going in the right direction.

Every time I think I have it under control, I see something new .. and end up
lost in space... again

All I can say is .. first step is admitting you have a problem
My name is Tom .. and I collect coins .... I feel better already

Hello Tom

Along time ago, in a far away place, (high school, in fact), I did advanced studies in mathematics, history and geography.

I didn't know at the time that was only the start of a continued study at least in history and geography. Why all this speil, you may ask?

As it has turned out that proved to be the foundation and background for collecting world coins, over the last 26 centuries. The coins now provide the impetus for expansion in all three areas: numismatics, history and geography. I have done some interesting travel and built a nice collection of about 2,500 interesting world coins with these tools.

Oh, and the mathematics provided the basis for my career.

Pity about my study of the English language, though: I went to da skool where thay learned ya to talk propper!

I think the only that gets this so far is svslav.

Read the title - I have a heading.

Everyone keeps trying to give me advice on not "having direction". I have a direction.

My whole point of all of this is to leave my heir the more recent holes to fill and hopefully catch the bug and continue the collection without having the stress of trying to fill key dates, which is what I want to focus on.

All the money that I was going to spend on current and future coins can be directed backwards.

If I hand this set over in 2025 and and it is current and they are missing an '09-S VDB, what do you think they're going to do - sell!

If the '09-S VDB is in there and all they have to do is bring it up to speed with shield cents, I think they might be just a smidgen more inclined to continue the collection.

Get it?

I get it Scooby. I want to know how one signs up to be your heir...

although I'm not sure 2025 is good date for me, can we move that up say, 14 years...

But I do understand what you are saying. I don't really collect in the same fashion but what I have would leave plenty of room for a future collector to come in and still have plenty to collect and at an affordable price. They could still build on it rather than dream for that one, rare,expensive coin to complete it.

Aye Aye Captain. I understand the mission you have taken. Full speed ahead.

Now. My question to you. How direct is your direction? (not sure if that is even proper English) LOL!

what I'm asking is. Are you going to start with one denomination of coin or are you just going to buy what becomes available to you that is in your price range at that particular time. I myself would love to put together a set of Halves. Unfortunately...living in Canada...we do not have access to readily available halves at our banks. Unless someone has just turned some in to the bank I' Out of luck. I wish I could go to the bank and order a box of halves. Sounds like heaven to me.

I do understand your thinking. A lot of the older coins (pre 1964) are still very affordable even on a very modest budget. Who knows what 25 years will do to those coins values. Get them while you can. Modern coinage will most likely be readily available in 20 years from now. I hope I will be around to hear people talking about LMC like we think about LWC now. Good luck with your voyage back. I hope you find it fun and fulfilling. Be sure to keep us posted.