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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,201 |
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New Member
United States
41 Posts |
Buffalo nickels of Course! I have several sets already, (an acid/restored/Good set that I put together first and I just completed a Vg set) and I have a Set of unmintmarked (p) in MS 60-63 along with an ever expanding set of varieties, rpms and want to start working towards the best complete set I can afford... The problem is I obviously can't afford to complete the set in the grade I desire... I really want to do a complete MS 60-63 set but there are several years/mints in the set I can't even come close to getting, not even in XF. The thing is I'm anal for consistancy... It bugs the heck out of me to see a vf coin in an MS set but its like.. for a guy in my financial status its unavoidable and I feel like I'm setting myself up for dissapointment and being discontent in the set in the end. So I'm sitting here frusterated... Buffs are the only coins that really love... And the set is untouchable for me... So whats a guy to do... Shoot for AU and and be on the watch for VF in the keys and XF in Semi-keys that I can afford? Or make it a life long goal to complete the set in MS and just dig in and start start trying for this MS set... I'm babbling now and so I'll stop... But what do you guys do when you are working on a set or want to work on a set and you just can't afford the coins you want?  Is it time to move on? 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2443 Posts |
You might find some MS coins that are damaged/scratched/cleaned...they won't be 100% perfect but they will still count as an MS. If I was you, I would sell your other coins and fund for the new MS. It seems like the MS will make you the happiest so go with it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
936 Posts |
I would buy the expensive ones right off the bat. The common ones will not increase in value like the key dates do. Once you get the key dates it is all down hill from there!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
There are really quite a few paths you can take with this:
1. Complete the whole set in VF/XF. I'm not sure how appealing you find circulated buffs, though.
2. Save up and buy the keys in MS first. Sure, you may only buy a couple of coins a year. But they'll only continue to increase in value, and you'll have that huge hurdle out of the way.
3. Collect the keys as problem-coins with MS details. You know, like cleaned coins (not too harsh, hopefully) or (my favorite) scratched coins that are technically mint state. I like scratched keys because as long as it isn't too noticable, you get a great coin at a big discount.
4. You could always complete the set in AU with AU keys. It would be MUCH cheaper than shooting for MS, and if you buy choice AU55/58 coins, there really isn't too big of a difference aesthetically speaking.
5. Pray and buy lottery tickets!
When there's a coin I really want but can't afford at the moment, I usually take to selling off other various coins in my collection to fund that purchase. First, I make sure that those coins are easily replaceable, and that I really would enjoy the new coin better. In fact, I'm in the middle of doing this right now.
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Pillar Of The Community
3147 Posts |
Nothing is more important than your own self satisfaction in what you are collecting. Most coins, especially the classics, have value and there is something for every budget. Many Buffalo nickels are extremely difficult now to find in any grade, and at a fair price, so I make every attempt to buy whatever comes my way as I can always upgrade later or sell of the undesireable low grade coins at a later date as my collection progresses. Never say NO to a BUFFALO!!! While you may do as you wish I would recommend you stay away from acid dates as they may be a tough sell down the road. |
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New Member
 United States
41 Posts |
Thanks for the well thought out replies folks... I hadn't thought of "damaged" MS coins...Its a idea... I think I'll undertake the MS set... I just won't be happy with anything less, so I'm in for the long haul I guess... I also like the idea of starting out on the tough dates and working down. I have a couple thousand saved up, so I guess I'll start looking for my 1921-S, 1924-S and 1926-S to start out... I'll have to get a great deal on the 26-S & 24-S... The 21-S I should do alright on... From there its gonna take some steady saving and chipping away I guess. I'll keep you all updated as I find coins and will probly run quite a few of them buy you folks as I consider purchases! Thanks all!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
936 Posts |
I have also found that buying partial or complete sets save money. I have bought a few partial wheat sets and I would pick out the gems or ones I wanted for mine and sell off the rest. I know buying the sets takes something out of the "hunt" but it does work for upgrades and completing sets
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
A lot depends on how old you are. If your very old like me then there may not be time, let alone money to aquire a complete set of anything in MS grades. However, if you have time, the money will come around somehow. I would suggest do as I did way back when I started collecting coins. I first tried to just complete a set. Then when it became tuff to complete I started a second set. Every time I aqired a new coin if good enough it would go into set #1 and the one in #1 goes into #2. Eventually, someday all your sets #1 will be all MS or close to it. Most of mine are. And many of the #2 and #3 seets also. As of yesterday I had 96 Whitman Classic Albums. Today at a coin show I added one more Album and oddly enough it was a Buffalo nickel Album. I know the dealer at the coin show I was at and he just cave me the album for nothing and it had about 10 coins in it. Naturally all were really nothing type coins but just couldn't beat the price. At a flea market a few years ago I bought a 3 ringed binder with those plastic pages that hold 20 2x2's. There was 238 Buffalo nickels in there and for $80. Just be patient and eventually you too will find what your looking for. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
764 Posts |
i had the same problem with my morgan set. I have about 30 in MS, and then realized that hundreds of thousands of dollars are not in my budget any time soon. now, my collection varies from vf to ms, with more on the au/ms side.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1173 Posts |
Excellent advice, JustCarl!
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,201 |
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Posted 07/14/2007 08:36 am
