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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,639 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
I've joined the collecting awhile ago and recently developed an interest in some of the classic coins and was thinking about working on an album of one of three coins. Being a retiree my funds are not vast, and my wife just put her foot down against my purchasing the gold Kennedy. So I think that that statement sets the tone for what follows. The following is a synopsis of my intended choices: Album #1: Indian Head pennies Album #2: Barber dimesAlbum #3: Liberty nickelsCurrently from various sources I have on hand about 75 IHC, and maybe 50 Barber dimes, and no nickels. What I am hoping to hear from other collectors of these coins is how difficult it is to put together a suitable collection, what the key dates are (I'll also be doing research on this), and advice on whether I should be doing the collection in raw coins or graded stock. My initial thought is working with raw coins. At the present time I have no idea if any of my current coins are duplicated or not. I know I have a lot of work to do but hey I'm retired with a wife that doesn't like to spend money. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
All three of those have a few pretty expensive key dates. For the Cents, 1877 is going to cost you at least $600 ($1000+ for a nice one) and 1909 S is going to be $400+. Nickels, you are looking at upwards of a $1000 for a mid grade 1885 and nearly as much for the 1886 and 1912S. Dimes, you just won't get an 1894S, period. There are also several very expensive dates, but also a lot of dates where you'll be paying $50 each. I think the Dimes would cost you the most overall. Nickels and Cents might be a toss up given your head start, but there are fewer coins in the Nickels series.
And don't be too hard on your wife. What would you say if the reverse happened and she wanted to drop $1300 on something you thought was frivolous? You'd probably talk her down, too.
Edited by tkbslc
09/27/2014 02:42 am
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Moderator
 United States
56855 Posts |
My vote goes to the IH set. Good luck with what ever you choose. John1  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1116 Posts |
I wasn't being hard on her, in fact when I mentioned it to her I even told her that I wasn't going to be getting it unless I get rid of one of my 4 coin proof AGE sets that I'm never going to be completing anyway.
Besides isn't the 1894S dime a real good example of mint cronyism helping out big bankers. We don't even know if the very few examples are even out there since they've never surfaced. The whole thing is really an abuse of power within the government structure. But moving on, I will be acting like a politician and will continue to study the situation for awhile.
I like the IH's a lot because you can still find them in circulation once in awhile. The other coins aren't to shabby by any account. Since I already have a few dimes I just might work them in a twosome project. The whole situation is going to take a lot more studying.
I think a trip to the LCS is in order to do more research. But all in all I just may start the sets and have no realistic chance of completing them at all.
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
I would do large cents from 1816-1857. There are no key dates (unless you get into varieties) and they are an interesting relic from our nation's past. Depending on the grade, each one will cost you on average $10-30 for an attractive specimen, or around $5-10 each for filler, low grade coins.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8517 Posts |
Do the Barber dime albums even have a hole for the 1894-S ? Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
http://blog.davidlawrence.com/index...ysis-1894-s/A comprehensive overview of this "issue" is written here. I have completed both the nickels and dimes. It only took about 30 years and I am still tweaking the dimes. And I had two generations of collectors upon which to build. Both VF or better. I was never drawn to the cents as the other members are. All three sets can be completed in low grades. The difficulty arises when Fine to Extra Fine grades are sought. In a nutshell, these coins do not exist outside of collections of old-time collectors. For example: 1912-S Nickel Four examples for sale on the David Lawrence site. Three are good or good-6 and one is mint state. Nothing in between. The same on ebay and the same at coin shows. Have you considered collecting by type? Or a year set? To buy an album with the goal off filling all of the 'holes' is very frustrating. The Grey Sheet lists the following Bid/Ask prices for the three sets. Indians (no varieties) $1,800/$1,975 Nickels $975/$1,075 Dimes $1,100/$1,200 Good to Very Good condition. Such sets would and could be put together easily but not really be more than 'any old' examples which technically fit the grade. Eye appeal would be ignored. Such sets occasionally appear on ebay. I vote the dimes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
52Raymo, the old folders had a cardboard insert in the hole stating 'RARE' and the Dansco Album
thankfully ignores it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4417 Posts |
Interestingly, the early large cent collection, 1816-57, could be as affordable as these later sets. In time, if expenses permit, an example of previous types could be added, as well as a colonial copper or two! The 1857 will cost the most, maybe a hundred or so for a decent, well-circulated grade. An 1823 in like condition will cost perhaps $75 or so. Maybe, you'd want to spce things up with an 1817 15 star variety and an overdate? As opposed to the sets mentioned, comparatively fewer non-collectors have probably seen the large cents, so these will make a more interesting display item, methinks. Instead of getting an album, I'd consider using an old siverware chest, reworking it to house a date run, with a lift-out tray. Given that the coppers would be lower grade specimens, I'd not put them in flips but instead let them rest atop a felt-clad tray for onlookers to fondle.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I've got well over 100 Albums. Been at it for over 60 years. I go to from 2 to 4 coin shows a Month. Based on this I would say if your just going to start a collection of any kind, you'll be spending a lot of money on coins like Indian Head cents. Barber dimes are a bit easier to acquire and should not put you back to much monitarily. Those Liberty Head Nickels are the easiest ones for you to make up a full set and even in all MS grades. The 1913 one is a bit more difficult to find though.  If you really want to make up a complete set of anything, Just get any Album for Jefferson nickels. If you have a decent bank in your area that will sell you bulk coins, you could almost complete that set from every day change and bank rolls. However, based on you already having a lot of IHC's, you may have a decent start there already. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
I never gave the large cents a thought or look before. I've always thought that they would be pricey because of their age. So now let's see. My choices are: 1. IHC2. Barber dimes3. Liberty nickels 4. Large Cents 5. Bust dimes However the bust dimes may be loosing their appeal because of the 15 or so coins that are worth more than $400 or so is g4 condition. So Monday I'm taking a trip down to the lcs an make a decision. However, I think I may be leaning in the direction of the top four list above and filling in on a best coin basis at the time of purchase. I was very surprised to see that the graysheet prices the IHC set as the priciest followed by the dimes and nickels. Don't know where the large cent collection comes in at. However, by the whole coin set at one time may not be in the cards for me. The thrill is in the chase rather that in swift swooping up of a whole set. After all the fun in my other hobbies is to have multiple projects in the works at any one time so why not in coin collecting. Carl the idea of having 100 albums is very intriguing to me. My problem would have to be the ability to securely store the sets at any time as I am not a particularly trusting individuals who has multiple giant dogs in the house that do however provide a relatively large intimidation factor. However I just have to ask, you're not saying that you have 100 completed albums are you. Just the thought of that boggles my mind as to how to keep track of the coins you need for any particular album. I have 25 albums and they are not all completed and my need list extends 3 or 4 pages depending upon my own needs. More power to you as I am impressed. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4417 Posts |
Let's not forget the prospect of forming a U.S. Type Set. You could get off to a flying start with the 20th century issues! You could then move on to the major types, like one large cent, one Shield nickel, etc.; afterwards, adding the varieties. The Dansco 7070 album seems to be the most popular set to work on. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
I am working on a type set and have a fairly decent 20th Century set of coins and have been working on the 19th century with a smattering of 18th century coins. This is a work in progress.
I've even put together a collection of halves and dollars as a small portable type set. Working on a similar portable set for cents, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Last time I was up in Illinois the nephews and nieces were amazed at the coins they didn't know existed. Their parents were too. Trying to pass a torch so to speak.
As I said some things take time to accomplish.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
Carl the idea of having 100 albums is very intriguing to me. However I just have to ask, you're not saying that you have 100 completed albums are you. Just the thought of that boggles my mind as to how to keep track of the coins you need for any particular album. Most are full. Some may well never get filled. Large Cents and Sitting Liberty Dimes are some of my horrors in attempting to fill an Album. With Large Cents there are a zillion types and varieties. Slight exageration but there are way to many of those to ever really acquire all. At a coin show not long ago a dealer had a display of almost all of them and they were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Many of my other sets are completed though. For example 12 completed sets of Mercury dimes, 10 Albums of Lincoln Cents and similar with most other coins. Just started a 7th set of Indian cents. Just to many Albums and no enough safe deposit boxes anymore. If you go with Large Cents, you may well be sorry. Really not easy collection. Edited by just carl
09/28/2014 10:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1116 Posts |
Carl: {quote]Some may well never get filled. Large Cents and Sitting Liberty Dimes are some of my horrors in attempting to fill an Album. With Large Cents there are a zillion types and varieties. Slight exageration but there are way to many of those to ever really acquire all.[/quote] I find it interesting to see what you write about the large cents. From what I have heard about them it is quite possible to complete an album of these coins unless a person goes in for the variations. If some of these variations range in the hundreds or tens of thousands of dollars then like you I will probably be passing on them, and I know how much I would want to have those coins they are way out of my range and I would have to settle for what is attainable with the hope of upgrading at a later time. You certainly like the Mercury dimes and Lincoln cents and you have done what I am sort of doing with some of my coins like the current ATB Quarters. I have two sets of proofs and two sets of circulated coins that I'm working on. However with the scarcity of ATB's in circulation where I live these albums are going to take awhile to fill. Current issue quarters are what I enjoy (especially what is found in circulation). Right now I'm leaning towards the idea of just obtaining some Whiteman folders for the IHC, Liberty nickels, and large cents (however I don't think that I'll be in for the variations). At the same time with the understanding that I'll be upgrading to better albums when I gat further along in the series. Like I may have said before multiple projects are what I do in my other hobbies so why not here. |
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,639 |
Posted 09/27/2014 02:42 am
