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 Replies: 16 / Views: 3,223 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4867 Posts |
So I am considering building a Jefferson nickel set 1938 through the Westward Journey nickels. I am kinda torn on how I want to proceed. On one hand, BU examples are just fantastic looking. But the circulated variety are more worn and much cheaper. I do like the look of both options however. Anyways I was looking at some BU examples of 1939-D on ebay. Been kinda comparing to what sellers are asking to what my 2012 RedBook says. I don't know if the prices have changed much but the prices on ebay seem a bit higher than the RedBook for the most part. |
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Moderator
 United States
188110 Posts |
A very good idea. I wish you luck.  Mine was built from circulation and I am biased towards that method. However, I think a higher end AU-BU set would be beautiful. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4867 Posts |
Jbuck, could you post some pictures of your circulated nickel set? What I may do is go the circulated route then gradually upgrade to BU examples as I am able to do so.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
634 Posts |
At least do a little from circulation, you can find some good bu examples in the wild.
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Valued Member
United States
344 Posts |
They way I look at it. BU and circulated are the same coin, one just hasn't been used for its original purpose. I personally use worn problem free coins for my sets... but that's also because of my wallet's influence  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
BU vs. circulated? My opinion is that if you want all BU, then that's a different thing that simply filling up holes. You're not just collecting dates, you're collecting condition.
All the coins in my Lincoln and Jefferson folders came from circulation, and I like it that way. Part of me considers buying a coin not true "collecting"--I guess because when I started (in 1972), it was indeed possible to find most of those coins in circulation. But these days, it'd be near impossible. I agree with Alex, worn coins are just as good as BU, even better since they've been around the block a few times and have stories to tell.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
You can take a look at the set I'm putting together 1938-2003: http://goccf.com/t/277663&whichpage=1I filled a substantial amount from rolls and also got a little help from other members filling in holes with circulated coins. Eventually, I started making purchases to upgrade to BU here and there and to add proofs. Now it's complete except for upgrades and the earlier proofs I want to get. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
20 years ago I can find 1938 - 40's in circulation, today I can't find any of it in circulation, silver nickels are even harder, you're blessed to find one in circulation.
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Why not do both? Have one strictly for BU examples, top of the line for your budget...may be one that will take a while At the same time do a circulated set. I've done that with my Lincolns, Have my one Best of Batch set any coin I upgrade in this one the old one moves down the line(at one point had #1-5 sets...TOO much!) Have just Set up my Best of Batch Nickels and am doing the same.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
It depends on your patience as well as your wallet. If you stay with AU-BU it will take considerably longer to build such a set. If you are patient enough the higher grade set will always give you a better since of accomplishment. You can look on ebay to see lots of sets in all types of grades. Looking at the sold prices will give you a much better idea about what such sets garner. That information may help in your decision making. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Many dealers with good reputations sell the complete set in almost any grade you might like.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Awesome coin choice for a set~! I have put together a few sets myself. BU sets and circulated sets. Someday I will even post some pictures.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1085 Posts |
Excellent choice I have a complete BU Jefferson set. So I would only recommend doing it that way, as it is both beautiful to look at and a fun challenge to find each date. The set is relatively easy to build in AU/BU, just takes a little patience for nicely toned, or nice blast white coins to pop up, that's part of the fun. It took me a few year's, only because I was too picky on the last few pieces, the 39D and 42D I remember being some of the toughest dates for me to find in unc and reasonable prices. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
703 Posts |
Do it! Some would probably laugh at this, but the pride of my collection is a set of wartime Jefferson nickels (nearly all are graded MS66 or higher though). Since making this set, I've really been exploring nickels and have thought about making Jefferson's my big project. I would say either way, go for it! BU or circulated will be very fun to collect! |
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Moderator
United States
188110 Posts |
Quote:
Jbuck, could you post some pictures of your circulated nickel set? It might be a while before I get a chance to do that and when I did, they might not be helpful. One thing I can say is that the are all AU+ starting around 1980 when I began collecting and was able to get coins as they were released. I think a more immediate sense of satisfaction will come from this... Quote:You can take a look at the set I'm putting together 1938-2003: http://goccf.com/t/277663 Quote:
What I may do is go the circulated route then gradually upgrade to BU examples as I am able to do so. I do not like to upgrade, I fill a hole for keeps, but many collectors do this and I see it as a valid option. Quote:
Why not do both? Have one strictly for BU examples, top of the line for your budget...may be one that will take a while At the same time do a circulated set. This is what I did for my Ikes. I recently started a higher-end slabbed set to compliment my Dansco which has many lower grade coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
655 Posts |
Quote:
20 years ago I can find 1938 - 40's in circulation, today I can't find any of it in circulation, silver nickels are even harder, you're blessed to find one in circulation macmercury, I'm in the process of trying to assemble as complete a set of Jeffs as I can from coin roll hunting. I'm in the middle of my 10th box (over the last year or so) and I have found the following: 1938 1939 1940 1941 1941D 1941S 1942 1942P (silver) 1943P (silver) 1944P (silver) 1944D (silver) 1945P (silver) The rarest so far is a 1950. I've also found a couple of Buffs (with dates no less) and a 1993S proof. They're still out there. |
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Replies: 16 / Views: 3,223 |
Posted 07/13/2017 5:34 pm
