@Mlalonde1977: I completely understand where you're at. The number of issues being released by the
RCM these days makes it difficult to know where to focus. Maybe reading about the approach another collector has taken will help...
For my collection, I focus on coins with a historical theme vs. those with designs of birds, insects, mammals, flowers, etc. So, I mostly just buy the commemorative silver dollars that the
RCM issues each year, but I sometimes supplement these with historically important issues such as the recent silver coins for the War of 1812.
I began working on a set of silver dollars in the mid-1990s and each year would purchase the new issue released by the
RCM; I collected the Brilliant Uncirculated versions. When they started releasing "Special Edition" proof dollars that were not available in an uncirculated version, I purchased them as well so that I would have an example of each design type. Over time, I back-filled my collection by purchasing all of the specimen/uncirculated silver dollar coins the
RCM issued from the period before I began collecting the new issues (i.e., from 1971 to 1993).
A couple of years ago, I decided to "complete" my collection by adding an example of each regular edition proof commemorative dollar from 1981 on; I also added each of the colourized and gold-plated coins.
Now that I've "caught up" with all the previous issues, it's fairly easy to keep my silver dollar set up to date â€" it requires the purchase of only four or five coins each year. I find that having a particular focus â€" and sticking to it â€" makes my collecting pursuits more enjoyable.
Hope this "food for thought" is helpful to you.
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
Posted 03/26/2013 6:20 pm
