Key Date Coins Beyond My Budget.

I understand your frustration - I have thought about this key date topic many times.

If I had my way, I'd like to spend around $50 max for each coin. That's expensive enough for me that there is some challenge in finding nice examples while not busting my budget. The thrill of the hunt is there at that price point. There's not too many sets you can complete for $50 dollars a coin though, so you have to start saving up and prioritize. It's hard to be patient but it's a must if you want completed sets.

I'd love to do a Washington quarter set, a Walker Half set, a Mercury dime set, etc. and I could get to 90%+ complete on all of those without too much trouble. But to finish them would divert resources away from my Lincoln set, so I just don't start them. But maybe some day. Given time and patience, it is surprising what you can achieve.

Why build a set of nearly-identical-looking coins?

T-BOP, you should feel relieved that you are no different than 98% of coin collectors. All of us have been through (and still are) the gut-wrenching time when you get to the point of either stopping or jumping over the "money wall".

It took me a l-o-n-g time to eventually start paying more money for coins than they were logically worth. I struggled with the Lincoln cents the most...Why should I spend $10 for a penny?

When my friend first got me started with coin collecting, he told me "Coin collecting is a VERY EXPENSIVE hobby!". I found out quickly that he was actually telling me the truth! It was just during this last year when I started buying the A+/key date coins to fill holes which were getting dusty from the wait. I thankfully am finally in a position where I have available funds to get certain coins that I thought of never getting for many years.

Also, like others have mentioned, I was never too much into needing top-notch coins; I'm totally happy with lower grades (but I DO have limits on going TOO LOW). If you are truly looking for MS sets then your fulfillment level will be much higher and take much longer to accomplish.

Let me get this straight, I should organize my coins and put them into sets?

hmmmmm

I am in the same position with my 7070, Lincoln Cent, Indian Head cent, Buffalo nickel, and Mercury dime sets. However, I prefer to think of it as a pause rather than a stop. One day. One day.

So summing this all up for most of us is the availability of extra funds for the higher priced coins we need for our albums.
I also am in a little better position in my life where I can now try for those elusive demon coins to fill those empty holes. But please don't tell my wife.

I should be there eventually.

I was trying to bid on a 1909 s vdb when I could afford one. The bid was at $495.00. Then it went up, up, and up until it was at $579! I still regret not putting in a bid of $580. It was an PCGS F12 BN.