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 Replies: 25 / Views: 3,558 |
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Valued Member
United States
336 Posts |
Some years ago I spent some time pondering about what date set to start. I knew I had limited finances to put it together so I picked out the Kennedy halves. Once I came up with the idea I explained my goals to my Mother. She, at the time, was one of only a few that would listen to what I had to say about coins. She was really supportive of the idea. At the time she and the family played a lot of poker for change so every Friday she would buy a roll of Kennedy halves from the bank and let me go through the dates to see if I needed them. Anytime a better condition one came along I replaced that as well. We had a blast looking through them. For my birthday and for Christmas I generally got Kennedy proof dates that I needed for my collection from my mother. She would go to the local coin store and pick them. Eventually we got to the point where many of the dates were found. So we started replacing the circulated coins with uncirculated. About two years ago I hit the point where my collection of proofs and uncirculated Kennedys were nearly complete. I enjoyed doing it so much I didnt want to stop yet lol. So I decided to add all the silver proofs, common die varieties, and get a hold of the 1998 matte. This is where I am now. I'm currently finishing up the silver proofs and studying die varieties in Kennedys. The way things are going I don't think I'll ever truly finish collecting Kennedys, even when my financial situation improves. I have so many fond memories of the time I spent collecting these with my mother and now my wife. Should be interesting to see just how big this collection gets :P Edited by EconBrony
06/12/2015 01:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
That's what it is all about. Good story and you should share some pics of your collection some time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Great story. Keep up the collecting! Maybe someday you will get all the coins you need. Then again, you can never really finish collecting.
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Valued Member
 United States
336 Posts |
@ tkbslc
Im working on coin photography currently. I've done photography on the side for a few years for a bit of extra cash, but I'm not very good at taking pictures of coins yet. I'm very picky about the quality of my pictures, so give me a little bit :P
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Valued Member
United States
336 Posts |
@ Numisma
lol, very true. I'll be collecting until the end of my days. I've got way too many little projects (that normally turn into larger projects) and so many cool stories/experiences in coins to stop. Then to top it off, my wife collects coins too :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
There are so many things I want to do, but not enough budget/time to do them. My family supports my collecting, but I am the only one that knows anything about coins, apart from when silver was minted, which I taught my parents. It actually turned out useful recently when my father recognized a 1964-D Quarter Dollar in his change.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts |
Quote:
but I'm not very good at taking pictures of coins yet. I'm very picky about the quality of my pictures, so give me a little bit :P I'm in the same boat. I have been studying up on this topic and it looks like I'll need to invest in a new lens for my Olympus e-LP1 & a teleconverter. Really nice story about you & your mother. Your set will never be complete until the Mint replaces the Kennedy half with a new design. Till that happens, you'll be maintaining it. Good luck to you. |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Excellent tale of your journey. Thank you for sharing.  |
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Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
@EconBrony I too was bitten hard by the Kennedy half collecting bug years ago, after I bought from Heritage a 1964-D Prooflike NGC Kennedy half that came with a pedigree to the day of issue from Kenneth Bressett, editor of the Guide Book (and a very nice gentleman who wrote me a personal letter to that effect). I have now nearly completed the "Complete" PCGS Variety Sets, Circulation Strikes and Proof, and a couple of my Registry Sets are going to be #1. (Well, at least one, I think.) I have also bought and sold more of the 1964 SMS coins -- all denominations from cent through half dollar -- than any other coin dealer in the United States in the last several years, including the #1 complete PCGS-graded 1964 SMS set, with the Kennedy half graded MS69 and all four other denominations graded MS68. So, I think the Kennedy series is, needless to say, completely rewarding. It also *affords* almost unlimited opportunities to sink more money into you sets, so there is that consideration as well. Happy collecting! I hope you continue to upgrade your collection. Best Regards,  George |
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Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
336 Posts |
@ giorgio11
You've got some impressive registry sets! I was very happy to see the no FG variety in your set. I've always liked that variety. On a day I have some more time I'll have to visit your website as well as go through your other sets. I've gotta go through the pictures :)
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
Thanks for sharing this story. I also love the Kennedy halves and it was a lot of fun roll searching for varieties when I was able to. I hope to find another source. It was great fun finding clashes, DDOs, etc. I was hoping to find the rotated die varieties, but never did. |
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Valued Member
United States
406 Posts |
Hey @Econbrony thanks a lot, it has been a labor of love. I was a teenager in Dallas when President Kennedy was shot, but I would have admired him no matter where I lived. It was a sad time, but really coincidental to how I made my decision to concentrate on Kennedy halves. I just looked around at all the modern series to see which ones I thought had the most character, the most appealing denominations (dimes are too small for my eyes and the FS Jefferson thing is just so Done), the most varieties, and the Kennedy halves stood out from all the rest. Not to mention that Walter Breen wrote in his 1988 E ncyclopedia that he thought the Kennedy halves would soon be phased out ... here we are 27 years later, and the series is still going strong. The Complete Varieties Registry Set, BU and Proof, has more than 300 entries now! Note that there are three No FG varieties, the 1972-D No FG, the 1982-P No FG, and the 1966 SMS No FG. The 1972-D is by far the most difficult in high grade. There is only one MS64 and the guy wants a hefty amount for it. My MS63 is one of three in that grade. The good pictures in my Registry Sets are by Todd Pollock of BluCC Photos, the lousy pictures are by me. I basically got him to photograph the first half of my set and someday *when I get through upgrading* I want to have him shoot the later half as well. Happy collecting! Best Regards, George Edited by giorgio11
06/14/2015 07:33 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
Great story, EconBrony. I just got the 2015-S silver proof the other day, which makes my set almost up-to-date. I'm still trying to decide if I want to include the 1998-S matte proof to my set. I also need the 1981-S Type II proof. It really bugs me that this coin isn't included in the Dansco.
Edited by Darth Morgan
06/14/2015 11:13 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2270 Posts |
The Kennedy set is a great set since it can be completed and so much can be learned in the process. Starting with circulating coins just adds to the excitement and learning possible. Most of the Gems can be found at very low cost in mint sets and some of them are so common that it provides incentive to look foir the toughies. The '72-D is remarkably common but even the toughest like the '82-P can be found with patience. This set now spans more than half a century and has undergone subtle and massive changes yet retains the original design. No other US series has so many different metallic and production methods.
It's a great set and best of luck in your collecting.
Time don't fly, it bounds and leaps.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12815 Posts |
Thanks for sharing this story! I'm working on my Kennedy set as well, but just haven't focused on it recently.
Welcome to the forum, good luck with the set, and post some pics if you can.
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Replies: 25 / Views: 3,558 |
Posted 06/12/2015 03:06 am
