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 Replies: 13 / Views: 2,167 |
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Valued Member
United States
297 Posts |
I purchased a Dansco 7070 album today but the only coins I currently have put aside for it is a 1973 mint set. Most of my collections to date have been circulation finds and pretty much all the easy holes are filled. Before I start working on an individual coin type, I decided to first focus on trying to complete a 7070 album as the idea of having at least one of every type of coin appeals to me. I haven't done a lot of research of the rarity and prices of certain coins that make up the set but I am going to try to find BU examples of each coin. Obviously, this might not be possible in the end, and costs and availability will probably lead me to settle for lower quality coins in certain places. I am, however, willing to wait it out to find a good coin instead of purchasing the first cheap coin I find just to fill a hole. I don't like the idea of buying a coin quickly and then upgrading it in 6 months. That will leave me with too many extra coins from sets I don't have an interest in collecting. I would like to find the most common date for each type, thereby buying the cheapest coin to fill the hole. I would also like to find coins with mint marks, if possible, just so they would be visible for reference and when showing the book to others. With all that being said, I know there a ton of people on this sight who are working on 7070 sets, and even some lucky ducks who have at least filled every hold in their album, even if they don't consider the album "completed" yet. Can anyone give me some feedback, ideas, or somewhere that I might be able to go to get more information regarding the 7070 set? I would like to start making a list of the cheaper coins of each type so I have something to take with me to coin shows. My goal is to maybe spend $50-$100 a month on coins for the album. Some of the more expensive coins might take a few months to purchase, or, towards the end of the process, maybe an increase in spending due to a lack of discipline.  What are the real keys in this album so I can keep an eye out for them from the get go? Thanks in advance guys. CCF is an awesome place and I know the great members here won't disappoint in pointing me in the right direction. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
968 Posts |
Good luck with this project! I'm working on my 7070 too. I started it by taking the best coins I had of each type, although in many cases I only had one coin and they could be as low as G4. My situation is a little different than yours since I already had these coins, so I figured I may as well fill the holes I can, worry about filling the holes I have no coin for, then when I finish that go back and upgrade the lower grade fillers. The hole that has been kind of a pain to fill is the 20 cent piece. I just got one in XF-AU condition off of ebay (well, it is in the mail right now), but it took a lot of searching. I went to all my local coin shops and they either didn't have any, the ones they had were too low of grade, or the higher grade coins had issues. On ebay they were way too expensive for the good ones. By that I mean significantly over RedBook values. 1875-S is far and away the most affordable date. Another one you might not expect to be a challenge is a high grade 1943 Lincoln steel cent. I bought one I thought was in great shape, only to learn once I bought it that it was replated with zinc. The majority of "BU" coins on ebay are like this, and it can be really hard to tell for sure from just a photograph. The slabbed coins will go for $20+. I'd recommend looking for it in a local coin shop, or here if one shows up in the auction section. Those were two recent ones I dealt with. I'll let other people chime in on some of the other holes. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I completed my 7070 with coins in the VF/XF range. Some of the newer coins are AU/BU and some of the tougher coins are lower. The toughest slots in my opinion, especially in higher grades, are the Draped Bust and Capped Bust Large Cents, the 20 Cent Piece (I had a really hard time finding a nice one also), the Reeded Edge Bust Half and the two Seated dollars. If you want to do all of the coins in BU, you are looking at tens of thousands of dollars. I did my set for somewhere around $4000 or so - and that is without the gold page. It's a fun set to build! Good luck! |
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Pillar of the Community
1028 Posts |
To the OP, just take a look in your RedBook for various prices of all the different types you need. If you don't have a RedBook, get a RedBook. First off, only very wealthy people can put together an entire set in BU. Also make sure you get the modern coinage update page. Everything 20th century shouldn't be a problem in BU. The Silver Commemorative section being the most expensive, but feasible. IHCs and Lib nickels can also be bought in BU if you get a common date. All 3 barbers are possible, but IMO not worth the BU money. I'd shoot for XF barbers. Shield nickels and all forms of obsolete coinage (except 20c) go for about VF, maybe XF. 20 cent pieces are tough, as has already been mentioned. They are also practically available only in either garbage or BU condition. I'd probably hold out and try to finally pick one up in the F range. Any silver Seated coins, go XF. Trade and Seated dollars you'll have to go lower, but look for ones with good eye appeal. Later large cents and Half Cents go for AU brown and XF, respectively. Earlier, just try and get to F. Anything silver capped bust, go for mid-grade and problem free. Drapped bust, just do the best you can. I think I covered everything. |
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Valued Member
United States
421 Posts |
Good luck on your quest to do the 7070 set. I went to their site and they were sold out of the holders. I have decided to put my 7070 on hold. I am going to finish my set of 1909-1940. But one of my set backs is well not a set back I just sold my 1922 plain cent. That's ok I want to upgrade that one anyway.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
11951 Posts |
Looks like your getting some good advice, and I do hope you enjoy putting this set together. Let me give you my experience and opinions for this adventure you are about to take. I started my 7070 in the 1980's. At that time, I was not able to put much money into collecting, and did not really put the quality of coins I would have liked to. When I finished my album this year (minus the gold page) I was not really as happy with it as I thought I would be. Where I went wrong was not just putting in lower grade coins but also not putting in some of the dates, coin choices that I really wanted. For example I really like the looks of a nice 1853 Half dollar with arrows and rays. But for that slot I put in a 1854 w/arrows but no rays, just to fill that slot. Since I completed the set I have upgraded several coins and I am starting to like my set more. My experience is, I tend to look at the poorest quality coins in my set, when I first open my album. So now, when I look at it I try to pick out which coin I like the least and try to find a better one. I do like Kenkat's 7070, his goal of looking for VF/XF coins seemed to work very well. Looking at the pictures of his album is good motivation to put a good set together. My opinion would be to pick coins you like, at a grade level you will be happy with. Also there are some modern coins you could fill with very nice/high grade example that you may not ever want to upgrade. Some that come to mind are. 1950 D Jefferson nickel ($20 or less) 1996 W Roosevelt dime ($15 or less) 1970 D Kennedy half ($20) I put this in the clad spot, because I consider it silver clad. Lastly when you see some of the harder coins, at a good price, at the grade you want, with no problems, then figure out how to get that coin. Some of those harder coin to me were Draped bust half and large cent, Three Cent Silver, capped bust dime and quarter, 20 cent coin, reeded edge half dollar and the two Seated dollars. Good luck with filling your new album |
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Valued Member
 United States
297 Posts |
Thank you everyone for your replies. I do understand that a lot of the older coins from the 1800's will probably not be cost feasible in the highest grades and I will be happy with VF and XF coins to fill these spots. I should have been a little clearer on that point. My goal is to have a nice looking coin in each hole, that shows the detail of the coin. I do have a 2012 RedBook. I know the prices are inflated, but it will give me an idea for price ranges and also show me the more common mintages to help me find cheaper options. It's going to take me a long time to complete the set but sometimes the most important thing is to take that first step by buying the album. I hope the journey is as fun as the eventual destination. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1424 Posts |
the 7070 type set is a challenge but it's very rewarding to look at all the different types of coins in one album. I still need a Seated dollar and I have a few that need upgrades like my Classic head large cent, now those are tough to find! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2936 Posts |
The bottom line for all of this - relish the enjoyment of building the set. It's almost electric holding the coins that chronicle our country's history in small, round pieces of metal. "Be the ball.."
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
Congratulations on your purchase!  We all have to start somewhere. I see no problem acquiring BU coins for most of the 20th century, but as mentioned above, the 19th century will prove to be difficult and costly. Patience will be necessary. My 7070 is far from high grade, but I enjoy of having circulated coins in my album. It feels more historical, in my opinion. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2335 Posts |
Quote:
My goal is to have a nice looking coin in each hole, that shows the detail of the coin. If you don't intend to play the upgrade game it's going to take a good bit of patience. I started mine a few years ago with the same goal & still have around 20 holes to fill. |
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Moderator
United States
15414 Posts |
I salute your ambition and wish you well with the set. Believe you have been given some solid advise and am looking forward to photos as you work through the set. Quote:
I enjoy of having circulated coins in my album. It feels more historical, in my opinion.  with jbuck on this ... honestly circulated and problem free coins just feel better to me ... I can imagine the hands they have changed through on their way to me ... and holding them brings me great joy as a collector. David |
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Valued Member
United States
466 Posts |
an idea I am going to use for my album, when I get around to buying it is using a proof set from my birth year for the modern coins I would also like to use the silver bicentenial coins another idea I have that I would like to do when I get my album would be to go from the newer coins down to the oldest coins. No reason for that lol, I just like order Also ,for the commemorative half dollar spots I would like to do 2 silver commems and 2 clad commems that mean something to me. Not just random coins. Things that spark my interest, or have a deeper meaning. The ASE I would get will be in my birth year. Higher grades when I can, and lower grades when I have to. Those are my ideas and the way I am going to go about my album. Keep us posted. I can't wait to start mine one of these days. |
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New Member
United States
1 Posts |
This is for Granite, what I have started doing is filling the album or folder. I prefer the Dansco albums, I started by purchasing another of the same album 6-12 months later. Initially I went though my change, which I save and roll. The holes that are left I fill with MS quality coins. I have only 1 complete album, Jefferson nickels. When I replace a coin in the first album with an MS coin, the replaced coin goes to the second album. I have also started to but Whitman folders as well. This gives me something to sell I have not sold anything yet but want to accumulate enough to purchase some of the higher valued coins. I am on disability so purchasing something over $150 is not an option. I emailed a guy who has a complete set of uncirculated Jefferson nickels and he has done the same thing. His uncirculated set was listed at $5,500 and the second album at $1,500. It is fun to see my collection grow and I am looking forward to actually sell as well as buy. Good luck, my friend! Fred |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 2,167 |
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Posted 11/12/2011 10:22 pm
