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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,091 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
Well I've been collecting for about 6-7 months and I'm all over the place. Kind of my personality to try to experience everything all at once when picking up a new hobby. I just about finished a 20th century type set. I just have the barber half left and the rest of the set is AU or better so I can't afford an AU barber right now. I have a boatload of modern coins (penny through half dollar) I pulled from coin rolls and filled cheap folders 80% full and I don't even like them already. Might give them to my kid or just dump them. Seems pointless to have folders full of coins that are worth face. I'm not finding much joy in them and roll hunting stresses me out! I have a few each of Walking Liberty half, Franklin half, Peace dollar, Morgan dollar, Modern Commemorative Half dollars, Large Mexico Silver Pesos, Canada Silver Dollars and Half Dollars, and some Silver rounds. I find I like the larger coins with silver. I could see working on sets of any of these (Morgan would be a date set as CC are out of my price range right now). So what do I focus on? I basically have a big binder full of seemingly random coins right now. I'd like to try to build up something with a coherent strategy this year instead of "ooh, that's shiny! I'll take it!" I have maybe a $75 budget a month this year. I'm also using coins as a reward for sticking to my diet and exercise goals, so some smaller carrots more often sound better to keep me going than saving it all up for 1 big one. I was thinking maybe a Morgan Date set, a Canada Silver Dollar type set, A set of Modern Canadian Silver Commemorative dollars, a Type set of Silver Pesos, or regular Peace or Franklin sets. Thanks if you read all that rambling and thanks even more for your suggestions! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1208 Posts |
Yeah, I started collecting as a child, and stayed in a constant state of 'collection ADD' until I was in my 30s. I finally decided I was going to finish a complete set for once in my life. I picked business strike ASEs, in a Dansco. Mainly because it wasn't a huge set, they are beautiful, and none are rare. So it was going to be easy enough that I would keep my promise to myself that I would finish. It was a great feeling to finish it. My next set was Jefferson nickels. Again I let Dansco be my guide as to what I was going to call a complete set. I mainly chose nickels at that time because silver was stupid high, and it just seemed right to build up a set that was not silver, and not many people would be focusing on with the silver craze. That, and I wouldn't be overpaying for coins simply for silver value. I love that set! I had great fun putting it together, and it was most satisfying to finish the Jeff set. I highly recommend it. Anyway, get focused, and build at least one complete set in your life. Every collector should experience the feeling of completing at least one set. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1208 Posts |
The biggest thing to consider when picking a set (and this will make or break you IMO):
Pick a set that you know you can finish in a 'sane' time frame.
IMO, if you pick a set that is too hard or expensive, for your first set coming off of
'collection A-D-D", you are setting yourself up for failure. Pick one you know you can
finish, and when you are done, you got that great feeling, and know if you want to do
it again with a more challenging set, or if you want to go back to collecting everything.
Sorry for the double posting, but I had to point that out. IMO it's key to staying focused.
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Valued Member
United States
63 Posts |
I agree with what the others have said. I also just completed my ASE set its an easy set to complete. Morgans look nice and this may be bad but I simply don't want to put together a set because it seems like everyone I know collects Morgans. I chose Franklins for next set. I also find my self drawn to silver type coins. But I just like US type coins. I think you are on the right track. Your first set should be whichever of the sets you mentioned you like the most. Like you said its a reward to yourself so try and decide which set you like the best and work towards that goal of finishing it. (I know it's not easy to pick favorites.) |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Franklin half dollars or Peace dollars are both nice sets for a "first" complete set. And yes, it is very rewarding to completely finish a set, especially your very first set. Keep us posted 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
When I looked for a new collecting area I'd sit down with the Red Book and examine size and cost of each issue. I didn't like large sets so all of the Seated Liberty and Barber sets were out (exception: IHC's). I didn't like sets with a stopper like the SLQ's with the 1916. I ended up with: -- a lot of the copper issues -- a complete matched grade birthyear issue, proofs included -- a type set One you might consider is silver Roosevelt dimes. A matched set (MS-64 or -65) is not that expensive. This issue is probably the most ignored of 20th century US coins. I've got: -- an UNC raw set -- a slabbed MS-66 set -- a slabbed PF-67 set -- a slabbed MS-66 FT set (As you can see I like matched sets.) Edited by kanga
01/07/2015 07:39 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
827 Posts |
kanga, That's the OCD in all of us numisnatists.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
I would suggest starting a Franklin half set. Then I would do a Peace dollar set, which is more of a challenge. You could even do these two sets at the same time- go back and forth each time you buy just to keep things interesting. I am currently working on 4 different sets. For me, just working on one set at a time is not enough, but any more than the four I currently have going would be too much. It took me some time to find the right balance. |
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Valued Member
Canada
165 Posts |
@tkbslc, I for one was in the same dilemma. I kept collecting all sorts of stuff until I found an interest in Canadian Silver Dollars. I started a type collection, from the first 1935 silver dollar minted at the RCM to 1967, the last year minted in silver. Most of my coins are AU, so not too expensive. My collection consists of: 1935,first Voyageur and commemorative (George V) 1937, first George VI (Voyageur) 1939, Parliament Building commemorative 1949, Newfoundland commemorative 1953, first Queen Elizabeth II 1958, British Columbia 1963, my birth year, lol 1964, Charlottetown/Quebec commemorative 1967, Canada Centennial commemorative I do not collect varieties however, which would definately add to the cost of my collection, especially the much sought after, low mintage 1948. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1512 Posts |
Why not sell a bunch of your miscellaneous stuff and use the boatload of modern stuff in the folders that you don't enjoy to purchase that AU Barber Half?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1158 Posts |
Quote:
Why not sell a bunch of your miscellaneous stuff and use the boatload of modern stuff in the folders that you don't enjoy to purchase that AU Barber Half Well the only ones I don't enjoy are the circulated stuff in the folders. But those are all change jar and coin roll stuff. I'd be lucky to get more than face value for them. $50 maybe. The other "misc" I see as the start of collections I'd like to finish. I don't really want to get rid of any of them because I do enjoy them. Another thing is that I don't really even like the Barber coins! I paused because I didn't want to spend that much on a coin I don't like. I keep thinking I could get one of the cheaper CC Morgans in a pretty nice grade for the price of an AU barber half. Or maybe a handful of MS Peace dollars, or practically the whole set of Franklin halves. Maybe I should just get a F-15 one for $60-70 to complete the set, but is an empty hole or an ugly coin worse? Edited by tkbslc
01/07/2015 12:44 pm
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Valued Member
United States
63 Posts |
Quote:
Maybe I should just get a F-15 one for $60-70 to complete the set, but is an empty hole or an ugly coin worse? My Two Cents....if all are ms or au's I'd rather stare at a hole...than look at a fair coin. Don't compromise quality just to fill a hole. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I suggest going to a coin store, coin show or hobby store. Buy one or more of each Album they have. Try filling them all. Nothing to loose you know.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
Okay, I'm going to go for Franklin MS-grade set this year (sans proofs).
I have a lot of binders and 2x2 pages I could use for this, but trying to decide if I should get a real album. That $20 could buy a Franklin or two, you know! I guess I'm not just all over the map with collecting, I'm also there with storage methods... :)
If I get ADD, I'll switch back to Canada dollars for a while.
I gave my mostly full penny, nickel and dimes to my 5 and 9 year old girls. They seemed interested and maybe they'll have fun finding the last dozen.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
Quote:@tkbslc, I for one was in the same dilemma. I kept collecting all sorts of stuff until I found an interest in Canadian Silver Dollars. I started a type collection, from the first 1935 silver dollar minted at the RCM to 1967, the last year minted in silver. Most of my coins are AU, so not too expensive. My collection consists of: 1935,first Voyageur and commemorative (George V) 1937, first George VI (Voyageur) 1939, Parliament Building commemorative 1949, Newfoundland commemorative 1953, first Queen Elizabeth II 1958, British Columbia 1963, my birth year, lol 1964, Charlottetown/Quebec commemorative 1967, Canada Centennial commemorative I do not collect varieties however, which would definately add to the cost of my collection, especially the much sought after, low mintage 1948. Thanks for that list, I think I'm going to finish that one soon, too. I really like the Canadian dollars and surprisingly the first year they start is the last year for U.S. dollars. I have a few from that list already. Edited by tkbslc
01/09/2015 1:43 pm
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,091 |
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Posted 01/07/2015 02:09 am
