| Author |
 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,365 |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Happy All Hallows Eve - Eve everyone! I have enjoyed reading some of the posts recently of young collectors looking for ideas for Classic sets that are affordable enough that a complete run of dates and mint marks is mostly within reach on a limited budget. I've done some number crunching on sets where most of the dates and mint marks can be collected. I hope this can be of help to someone looking for ideas and options. My first coin was a V nickel, but I really got into coins when I picked up a few large cents and Bust dimes at local shops and shows. I was grateful I discovered some 19th Century sets that were feasible when I was starting out. I simply love the fact there are US coins out there over 150 years old that are still affordable to a high school whippersnapper. For my data, I used NGC's online price guide, so it represents a higher retail value and a savvy collector is going to build a set at a notable discount to these numbers :) Take courage! The totals represent the run of coins generally listed including all mint marks, but I did remove a few specific coins entirely from the data set that are SO expensive (thousands even in G condition) that even more advanced collectors won't even chase after them and I don't think should be a reason to avoid building the rest of the set. So further discounts can be had if only looking for 1 coin per year, and not all the mint marks. I just wanted to post what would most likely be the most one would spend, or "worst case scenario" because it all gets easier from there! (As a side note, some of the present day affordability of 20th silver coins could quickly end if silver returns to the days of $40/ounce. Enjoy it while you can!) Some examples, someone could build a run of 26 Bust dimes from the early 19th Century for about the same spend as a set of 63 Buffaloes. Braided Hair Large Cents and 2Cent Series can be assembled quickly and affordably.  Edited by Collects82
10/31/2015 08:20 am
|
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1307 Posts |
Wow, you put a lot of time and effort into this, but how can you leave out the Lincoln Wheats? That was my first coin set, and I'm sure one of the more popular starter sets?
Edited by thecoinguy1964
10/30/2015 4:22 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4963 Posts |
Wow great job putting this all together. This could be of a lot of use for beginners.
Just one question- for 2 cent keys, since when does 560 x 2 = 900?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1316 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback! Will check with my consultants at Microsoft. Either that, or its new Common Cire math. I'll add the Wheaties tonight. Will update :)
Edited by Collects82
10/30/2015 5:14 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1450 Posts |
The key date coins kind of blow the averages since you can't buy a tenth of a coin unless a dealer would let you put your coin on a monthly payment. I see the humble Buffalo nickels with key dates included will cost you over $4000 for the whole set in the various conditions. I think they are worth every sent along with the Walkers, Mercury dimes and Peace dollars. Because I am a baby boomer the coins like Buffalos, Mercury dimes, Walkers, Peace dollar and even Liberty Standing quarters are special for me since I did see them in the wild. The coins the youngsters of today are seeing are not silver or nickel, but just copper clad in some cheap cover. Are any even silver clad? They are not worth the metal it took to make them. Having non-silver coins that are minted in really enormous quantities takes the fun out of it. The mint should try and create another dollar coin that is not a piece of crap. The thing is what is a dollar really worth these days. You can't buy anything with it and not even a cup of coffee. |
|
Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
I suspect that most actual collectors ( especially with a limited budget) wouldn't chase after a specific high grade of a high-end semi-key if they could have a slightly lower grade for hundreds of dollars less. This is particularly likely to affect your Buffalo nickel set (where the sum allocated for "semi-key" coins seems exceptionally high). Incidentally, are your keys for the 2 cent piece series the 1872 and 1873, or the 1872 and the 1864 Small Motto? In either of these cases, many collectors will probably ignore the second (non-1872) key, again making the set hundreds of dollars cheaper. On the other side, unless there's some extreme price change that I'm not aware of, the Braided Hair set should still be in the same ballpark as the others (as opposed to well below them) even in VF. Incidentally, what your Barber dime date range actually is? I doubt it is "1912-1926". |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Quote:I suspect that most actual collectors (especially with a limited budget) wouldn't chase after a specific high grade of a high-end semi-key if they could have a slightly lower grade for hundreds of dollars less. This is particularly likely to affect your Buffalo nickel set (where the sum allocated for "semi-key" coins seems exceptionally high). Indeed. Specifically for the Buffaloes, a custom could stick with G coins for all of the semi-key and keys as a start and that would total only tally under $1100 high retail for a couple thousand dollar reduced spend, which is notably a HUGE % savings over the originally listed grand total based on a higher grade. One of the the reasons the value seems so high is because these NGC numbers are high retail, and it doesn't take someone long to realize they can usually buy most coins at a discount to this. The decisions to fill holes with G coins is entirely up that individual collector. Quote:
Incidentally, are your keys for the 2 cent piece series the 1872 and 1873, or the 1872 and the 1864 Small Motto? In either of these cases, many collectors will probably ignore the second (non-1872) key, again making the set hundreds of dollars cheaper. For 2cent, it does include the 1864 varieties. I stuck with the general list that NGC as much as possible. The idea was to have a very inclusive list, and a collector could choose as they wished to come down from their based on their own wants. I thought it safer to overshoot than undershoot. Removing the 1864 SMALL would indeed reduce the budget several hundred dollars. Quote:
On the other side, unless there's some extreme price change that I'm not aware of, the Braided Hair set should still be in the same ballpark as the others (as opposed to well below them) even in VF. The first big jump in prices on the Liberties happens at F to VF. In VF, the set is $1800, in XF $3800. So yes, these higher grades could be had or comparable spends to many of these other sets. The great thing about the Braided series is the run can be made affordably. It goes up to around $1700 if bouncing up to F. Quote:Incidentally, what your Barber dime date range actually is? I doubt it is "1912-1926". Meant to enter 1892-1916. Brain must have seen squirrels. It's been corrected. |
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
2362 Posts |
Nice job of gathering and organizing this valuable information. Thanks - it's a keeper  Member ANA and EAC "You got to lose to know how to win". Dream On by Aerosmith |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
H, updated to show an option for Wheaties too. Happy collecting!  |
|
Valued Member
United States
77 Posts |
Would you say that any of the barber varieties are affordable for the beginner?
|
|
Valued Member
United States
467 Posts |
Thanks for sharing the information...I have a lot of sets already completed and have researched what to start-- and I really enjoyed reviewing this. It was especially time saving for a quick view of the series I am not as familiar with, thanks again for sharing
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1911 Posts |
Pretty awesome breakout here. And yes there can be differences based off of each person's collection/grade preference, but this gives a great start to play around with the numbers based off those preferences. Very nice, thanks!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Quote:
Would you say that any of the barber varieties are affordable for the beginner? The budget for the Barber dimes keeps the 1905 0 micro and 1893/2 as these are listed in NGC's standard list and are not SO expensive in lower grades they are unachievable. These are considered semi-key in my numbers, so my values are at VG. There is room to drop down to G to save a little, but it's not huge savings. This budget also assumes a collection that strives for all the dates and mintmarks. If the goal is just one coin / year, and the cheapest of the 3 mints being the choice, this set becomes very affordable. Many of these coins, however, are cheap enough in F that their values are tied to silver prices. So what is affordable today, might not be next year if the silver climbs back to $40. Edited by Collects82
11/02/2015 9:41 pm
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
637 Posts |
Very nice - thanks for sharing!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
Nice information... I appreciate the time you took to compile and share it.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5828 Posts |
Nice! Too bad I impulse buy more than plan... LOL
|
| |
Replies: 16 / Views: 3,365 |
Posted 10/30/2015 3:13 pm
