My Collection...suggestions On What To Do Now.

Good idea...I am mainly talking about Peace dollars, Walking Liberty and Franklin halves. Everything except for the key dates would probably only sell for melt value.

I think its pretty common to get pickier the longer the you collect. I would guess most people start with a focus on quantity and over time switch to quality if they can afford it.

The downfall to the quality approach is that you cant buy as much, but keeping some cheap albums like an State Quarter set or doing some circulated sets can be a great way to scratch the itch when funds are low.

That is were I am at. A lot of my lower end items were given to me by my father and uncle so they will either go to my son or I give them to children in my family. The rest of the lower end items I purchased when I was a kid and I have not been able to sell them (though a few have wound up with family members who have expressed an interest in them).

If there is no sentimental value to them and you do not think that you will look back and regret the sale, I would consider selling them. This is help you grow your collection in the direction that you would like and possibly some of your items will wind up with collectors who are just starting and cannot afford a higher end coin.

I have never sold a coin but over the years I have probably given away half of my collection. Lower grade coins, sets I was no longer interested in, coins that nieces and nephews and others were enthralled with.

Buy second albums, as you upgrade , put the lower coins in the second album, then pass it along to the next generation.

I have a Canadian 1922 - Date nickel collection. I started it when I was a teenager in the mid '60s. My dad gave me about ten of the "older" coins in lower grade to get me started. Thirty years ago I bought a few of the common missing "older" coins. Last year I bought a 1925, 1999P, 1964 XWL. I am just missing the '26 far which I hope to buy this year. That is all I am missing. All the rest was picked up in change. Other than a few key dates it won't be a valuable collection as most of the pre 1960 dates are less than AU.

Contrast that with my Silver Dollar collection started a year ago. I hope to have it complete by the end of 2014 with all key dates - hopefully all coins AU55+. It will be way more valuable than my nickel collection.

I'm excited about my silver dollar collection but I think I will still treasure my nickel collection more - completed over time with fond memories. I'm having fun bidding on coins for my dollar collection but all it requires is money - something I did not have much of when collecting nickels. It is true - money can't buy true happiness. I guess what I am trying to say is don't dismiss a collection because of its lack of monetary value or lesser visual appeal.

As posted above it seems like many collectors go through the same cycle of collecting.

In my experience, I feel the same way Basebal21 does.
Keep a few higher end sets going and a couple that cost less to put together.

One thing to consider, modern sets are less expensive to put together in high grade. Classic sets even the common coins can be very expensive.

When family members get to see my collection, the sets they like the most are
7070 Type set
Dollar date set
Modern commemorative dollar set.

Of course these are my favorites also, my suggestion would be to start one or two of these.

For less expensive sets I would do.

Jefferson nickels with or with out proofs.
Mine is with proofs it is a great looking set.
It can be done for less than $400, with all Bu or proof coins.


Also a nice looking set is the Roosevelt dime w/proofs
This set is again really nice looking in high grade.

Of course you can never go wrong doing a nice Ike set.

Remember on modern sets, go for the higher grades, MS-63/65

The dollar date set is one where you can get nice grade classic coins at fair prices, if you shop around.

Here is mine, of course I have upgraded many since I posted it.
https://goccf.com/t/80643&whichpage=3

When I upgrade I put my extra's in a Dansco stock book


Some suggest to only buy Key's, semi key's and better grade coins. Which is also a good idea, if you are happy with not having sets.

Any collection I feel you will like better if it is organized and has a good presentation.

I also like Lighthouse coin cases. I have one for my Silver ASE's, Proof, burnished and bullion. Another I have for my commemorative dollars, and a third for my better slabbed coins.

Good luck on what ever you decide

7070 refers to the Dansco 7070 Album. It is the U.S. Type set from 1800-Present.