7070 W/Pics Upgrade Advice Help!

I would get rid of some of those nasty looking copper pieces. The large cent, the flying eagle, 1859 indian head, 1881 indian head most defintely (way to much green on that one). You can get some serious type replacements for those on your budget. May take one at a time but some of those need to be let go for your 7070, especially since your goal is xf to better.

Well, with $100/coin, you should be able to get some pretty decent upgrades.

I'd start with the Copper and the holed coins, as well. Your 1943 cent appears processed, so there's no reason not to replace that one. If you've got $100, you ought to be able to find a nice 67 - though if you're buying raw, I'd have a hard time advising spending more than 20 for an MS coin.

The large copper is the closest to my heart, and with $100, you should be able to get a pretty nice, problem example.

I found a nice VF FE the other day for $100, I'll bet it's still available. The Indians could all use upgrades... But for me, the priority (besides the coppers) would be getting problem free replacements for the holed coins. Perhaps you could start another set just of holed coins (but that's after you get the good stuff out of the way).

I'd start with those holed Seateds and trimes, personally. Then I'd upgrade my cents.

When I was completing my 7070, I made a list of all the coins I wanted to upgrade. I then did some research using sources like Numismedia, PCGS and ebay Completed auctions to set a range of prices for each. My goal was VF/XF or better, so I would usually set the bottom end price at around VF-20 and the top end around AU-50, with a middle price of XF-40. So, I'd have something like this for each coin:

Standing Liberty quarter - Type I 50-80-110

This means I'd expect to spend $50 for a low VF coin to $110 for a low AU coin, with a target of around $80.

Then you just start working the list. The nice thing about a list is you will soon learn if your pricing is off and can adjust accordingly. You will also know where you won't be able to meet you budget - for example, Seated Liberty dollars aren't going to work at a $100 budget.

There are a lot of coins you should be able to get for $20 and more for $50 and only a small few will run you more than $100.

Good Luck!

I would work on the holes in your album. Not the coins with "holes", but where you have no coins "holes".

Nice 1853 quarter! $20-50 is a reasonable range to upgrade or fill many of your holes, and the coins you already have can be sold or bartered with - even the holed ones - to increase your available budget. I just needed to 'focus' my budget - and stop falling in love with random shiny objects - to fill up most my 7070. Holes I have left include the Draped Bust and Classic head large cents, upgrading my filler 20 center, and the seated Liberty and Trade dollars. I found Commemorative 1/2s (acceptable graded examples) like the Columbian (AU $25), Lexington (AU $90) or even Pilgrim can be had in our budget. I am upgrading still though, just today found a Maine 1/2 at a show in NH that took the best of next week's budget! Good luck and have fun!

First it depends on your collecting goals and how quickly you want your type set to come together, type sets in low grades can be put together fairly quickly while I have heard stories taking decades to assemble their sets.

Finding problem free lower end examples of the following will likely account for the majority of your 7070 budget even if they are heavily worn and don't show much detail. I would suggest going over your $100 dollar limit so you can get decent coins that still have some detail and are not problem coins.
The Draped Bust Half Cent starting at $60+
The Draped Bust Large Cent starting at $80+
The Classic Head Large Cent starting at $75+
Seated Liberty Twenty Cent Piece starting at $80+
Capped Bust quarter starting at $70+
Capped Bust Halves -- Reeded and Lettered Edges starting at each $60+
Liberty Seated dollars -- With and Without Motto starting at each $230+
Trade dollar starting at $120+
I would suggest saving up a little and getting nice type coins in at least VF20 to fill these more expensive slots so you're not as tempted to upgrade again down the road as much when filler coin no longer is enough to satisfy your collecting goals. Type sets are not usually assembled in a short period of time and many collectors spend years and even decades finding just the right coin for their 7070.

Personally I have been working on purchasing the coins for my type set for several years now and don't think I will have it in a presentable state for years. I'm going to try to have at the coins at least be XF40 with many of the more affordable coins be in high AU or in lower MS grades.

Most of all have fun and enjoy the thrill of the hunt for the perfect coin that fits well in your set.

When I started my 7070 dansco .. I did about the same
thing you have done so far .. just filling the empty holes.(except no holed coins for me)

When I got done filling the holes .. I was not very happy with the set. At that point I started upgrading the coins I liked the least... my 7070 is just now getting to where
I am really liking it.

My advice would be ..stop buying coins that would not meet your goals (XF or better). If you pay $20 for a problem coin .. when you could get a problem free coin for $40. then wait for the problem free coin.

Do as Kenkat suggested. Make a list of the coins you need.
Check all the price guides. Make the list to reflect possible date, grade and price you would like to pay.


With a good list you would be able to go to coin shops or shows .. or ebay to find the coins you need.

Base what coin you look for .. by on what funds you have available. (if you have $40 .. see what you can get on your list for $40)

Good luck man!