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 Replies: 13 / Views: 1,604 |
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New Member
United States
20 Posts |
I'm new to the coin game. I've been into coins almost a year now and after a cursory "education", I'm ready to start a set, of some sort. I got into coins because of my love for history. I am presently very interested in the Depression era and just prior to the Depression...the 20s. Basically, 1919-1941. In fact, I'm reading a few books about the era at the same time. Anyhow.... What ideas could you more experienced collectors offer for ideas for sets? My budget is pretty much up to $250 each or so for the more expensive coins in the set. Could be more here and there (mostly less), but I'm not willing to spend upwards of $750+ for a coin. A few I thought of were depression era Buffalo nickels in lower MS grades, from 1929-1938 OR Mercury dimes from 1929-1940 mid MS. Depression era lincoln cents from 1929-1940. That kind of thing. Any suggestions for maybe a set of all coins minted in a particular year? I thought maybe 1929, but there's no dollars and 1929 Walkers seem pretty pricy. Or maybe all coins minted in a particualr Presidential administration in that era? Anyone do a similar set? Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Also, adding some notes from the same era would be neat too?! Thanks for any ideas you have. |
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Valued Member
United States
149 Posts |
High grade type set?
Of all the major varieties of coins minted during those years you stated. And you can look at the commemorative halves too.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
While its not directly the depression I think doing a year set for the last year before and first year after could be a nice addition to it as well. Being able to see the last coins made before and the first ones made after seems like a nice bookend to whatever you do inbetween to me.
Like mentioned above I love the idea of a type set for those years which you could expand and add more for any of the series you really like.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
All coins in a certain presidential administration is an interesting idea... I'll have to think on that one. As for year sets, if you consider the Depression going from 1930 to the mid 40s, I think a 1943 P-D-S set is a great one to assemble. You can get all the coins in MS or high AU affordably, but the silver nickels and steel cents really stand out. That set would have Walking Liberty halves and Mercury dimes, giving it a nice look. A complete set of Walking Liberty halves is a nice one to assemble. There are 3 keys (1938-D, 1921, 1921-D) and a few semi-keys (1921-S, the pre-1920 coins...). But they are all within your price range. I am a big fan of nickels. You can put together a complete set of Buffalo nickels. Like with the Walking Liberty halves, you can do a cheap set cheap or a nice set for some money, and anything in between. For the buffalos, I would start with the most expensive coins, and use that to determine what grade you want for the rest of the set. For the Walking Liberties, you can divide that set into three groups: 1916-1932, 1933-1940 and 1941-1947. Each set can be a different grade range to make the set more feasible. I have a friend who has been assembling an MS set of Walking Liberties from 1933-47, and he has been stuck finding the last 3 coins in the grade he wants. Standing Liberty quarters are another great, iconic coin, but I don't know how pricey they get. You can assemble a very nice set of Peace dollars from 1921 - 1935 in MS they will all be in your price range. The keys are the 1921 (which is very affordable right now, in my opinion), the 1928, and the 1934-S (which is the priciest... you might start with this one to determine what grade you want for the rest of the set). |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1080 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
You just might be able to complete a set of Two Cent business strikes at $250.00 limit per coin, though the 1872 would be pretty low grade. I think your idea of a depression era set of US coins is a great idea and would make a cool presentation.  There are a lot of sets that could be completed with your budget in mind, modern era nickel sets, Peace dollar set (already mentioned), Type set of 20th century (non-gold coins), type sets of odd denominations (excluding gold), Many date/year sets of a coin series. Some grading sets could also be acquired (ie: on of each grade slabbed for a particular denomination). Mint Mark set of a certain denomination, etc. Good luck and keep us informed here at CCF! "Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440Edited by westcoin
06/19/2013 7:37 pm
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New Member
United States
7 Posts |
Good topic, I am in about the same situation. New to collecting and trying to decide upon a set to start collecting. Seems like there are subsets of large cents and many older coins that are more affordable than others. I hadn't thought of sets based on historical events (presidential era, depression era, and so on) but like the idea.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4416 Posts |
How about assembling a 1923 year set? You have six denominations for that year plus a Monroe Commemorative Half; and, could add a "saddle blanket" or large $1 bill. Of course, the Walker is the most expensive coin, but perhaps the lower cost of the others would justify that cost?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
I am especially proud of my essay which may be found here: https://goccf.com/t/149312In it, I paint the Barber coins against a backdrop of history organized around which president was in office and which states were in the Union. To collect an historical set, not matter what events you choose to concentrate on, is a very worthwhile goal. Let your imagination go free! allmcc4, Study the mintages of coins from the Depression Era. Notice how they dropped off. No demand from commerce. That is your historical tie-in. Come WWII, the demand for coins went up sharply. So did the mintages. |
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Nice essay. You write good well. If I'm up all night with that song running around in my head.....    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7191 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1959 Posts |
I started with type collecting. That will get you sucked into the addiction. That "gateway" drug, I mean, collection will eventually spread like fire and you will be on your way. I have about 7 sets running uncomplete. Down to mostly keys. Everyone does it differently. My son is also Type collecting and has a set of wheat cents minus the keys 3 keys.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
aalmcc4:  to the CCF! How about a type set of U.S. classic coins, most common dates in MS60, with lustre? THAT would impress your friends! Obviously such a set would be impossible to complete, but does that REALLY matter? You can assign your own boundary around what you could consider to be a "set". I LOVE the design of U.S. neo classic coins! All are miniature works of art. I am not really into sets, although they can be fun. Been there, done that. I had a complete type set of Australian Pounds shillings and Pence coins 1910 to 1964. Sold many years ago, then started into ancient coins. Why ancients? I asked myself: What series could I collect that would be impossible to complete? Boy, have I learned a lot along the way! |
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New Member
United States
26 Posts |
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Replies: 13 / Views: 1,604 |
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Posted 06/18/2013 6:36 pm
