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How Do You Guys Decide What To Collect?

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Humanist1287's Avatar
United States
279 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  06:24 am Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add Humanist1287 to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
How do you guys decide what you want to collect?

I like assembling sets by year and mint mark personally.
I've mostly enjoyed collecting nickels, particularly Jeffersons. I am actually sort of working on my second set of Jeffersons.

One issue I've run into is if you are trying to do things on a budget, trying to collect uncommon coins just isn't really doable.

For example, I started getting into the Sacagawea dollars not too long ago. Well, you basically can't find them in circulation, at least not easily. So basically I have to go to the coin store to find them.

I've kind of tried to lean into only collecting coins mostly that can be found bank roll hunting, such as Jefferson nickels and Lincoln cents.

Awhile back, I also started a business strike Kennedy half dollar set, which sort of fizzled out since you basically can't find them most places. It's still doable obviously, but a bit more difficult.

I also collect Buffalo nickels, and have a pretty nice custom set that I've built from lower grade/acid treated coins that I got from ebay pretty cheap.

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MisterT's Avatar
United States
1858 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  07:39 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add MisterT to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
All depends on your budget and the designs you find enjoyable. Fun to search rolls but unlikely you will find tougher date coins. Circulated modern coinage will never be worth anything other than the fun you get from the pursuit. Even then some coins will not be available in circulation and will require a purchase. Myself, I like the classic early coinage. I like building type sets. The very early draped bust coinage is out of my budget right now but I have built a Capped bust type set, Seated liberty type set, Barber type set, and so on. I was forced to liquidate a large portion of my collection several years ago. As I currently rebuild some of it I find that a decade type set fits in well. That is to say that I will pick a decade such as the 1930's. I will try to include the key or semi key coins of that decade to fill the set (Cent thru Half). Again with the 40's, 50's and so on. Valuable or not just enjoy the quest for what fits within your budget. Have you tried to collect the State Quarters or Parks quarters from circulation? That is still a very doable task from loose change or bank rolls.
Edited by MisterT
04/04/2025 08:32 am
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Dearborn's Avatar
United States
71929 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  08:39 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Dearborn to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I try to collect full sets from the mint in OGP and single coin for my Dansco albums
Once I fill up an album, I move on to the next one.

I'm currently trying to get at least one coin from every country around the world that existed in the last 125 years. (which I'm almost done)
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mysilveryears's Avatar
United States
1809 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  08:55 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add mysilveryears to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
One can only collect what one has access to.
If your budget is very limited, focus on modern USA circulating issues.
It is quite possible to fill out a Kennedy half album at face value by
purchasing boxes from banks and searching through the rolls. Same
with the lower denominations, except pennies will be a bigger challenge.
Are there coin dealers near you? Look into foreign coins. The realm is
huge, interesting, and mostly very cheap. Dealers usually have bulk bins
of these available at four, five, or more for a buck. One of my favorites to
look for is the bi-metallic style of modern issues. Many countries now use
these, and the designs are varied and fascinating. Very little financial stress
is involved in this type of collecting. Good luck, and have fun!
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Cdncoins's Avatar
Canada
958 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  09:05 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Cdncoins to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
There's a number of lower cost ways to collect. I started looking in dealer bulk bins for pre-decimal UK coins. I enjoy attending shows, but dealers don't always have what I'm looking for or coins within my budget, so this gives me a nice way to search for dates and denominations that I need in a low cost way. I'm under no illusion that it will appreciate in value, in fact it's probably going to be tough to even recoup what I spent, but I find it an enjoyable low cost activity.

I've also passively started a bimetallic and birth year collection. Again, just from dealer bulk bins.

The items I do tend to spend more on these days are medals. I like the wide range of subjects, high reliefs and various sizes that they come in. In the end, collect what you enjoy and what your budget allows.
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jbuck's Avatar
United States
164145 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  09:56 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Let me see if I can track my journey...

I started with what I was given in 1978.

I then started filling "modern" folders with what I could find in my change or roll hunting. (Thanks, mom!)

I started buying coins form local shops and the Mint (annual proof sets).

I moved from folders to albums because my Grandfather's LCS buddy sold Dansco albums.

I busted up those proof sets to fill album holes.

I got interested in collecting the "previous generation" coins—Indian head cents, Buffalo nickels, and mercury dimes—to build on my earlier finds.

I started a 7070 type set to add some variety and avoid buying more albums than I needed.

Somewhere along the way I had accumulated some non-US coins, so those went into 2x2 albums.

The Mint started the quarter thing, so I had to do the quarter things.

I joined CCF and in time some fella called commems got me interested in commemorative coins and Mint medals.

I am not sure how much was decided and instead just happened.
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Marve65's Avatar
United States
5751 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  5:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Marve65 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
After awhile it's just kind of a feeling you get. A series or certain date will seem more attractive to collect than others.
New Member
United States
35 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  6:03 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add LandonM to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
It evolves and crystalizes over time.
If you're a history buff, it usually trends in the direction of whatever nation or era you're studying.
For me, coins have always been historical artifacts first, with the 'numismatic' aspect a fairly distant second.
Others are numismatists first and are first and foremost concerned about third party Sheldon grades, green stickers on the 3rd party graders holders, die states... you get the idea.

Different strokes for different folks.
Just remember its about your own interests and nobody elses.
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Errers and Varietys's Avatar
United States
59552 Posts
 Posted 04/04/2025  6:05 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Errers and Varietys to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I mostly collect modern error and variety coins, but I do love collecting Classic coins. The fact that they're very old just interests me. I like to switch up what I collect, from time to time.
Errers and Varietys.
Edited by Errers and Varietys
04/04/2025 6:05 pm
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