Coin Collecting Rut

Of course! I have all of the current modern series (expect Lincoln Cents) complete and up-to-date.

The bulk of these are easily completed from circulation and/or roll hunting (the exceptions being proof, NIFC issues, and pre-1965 silver coinage; although some do leak out into the wild). I would say the business strike Jefferson nickel series is the easiest set to complete this way.

Me... babbling on about Lord knows what in another thread.

Hi there.

I recently decided to stop trying to collect US coins by date and mintmark. I decided to finish the Lincoln Cents (except 22 plain), Jefferson nickels, and Washington quarters (only need 32D and 32S). I don't collect State Quarters or Presidential dollars, and do not plan on collecting National Park Quarters or $1 Native Americans. I bought blank dansco pages for the older series, such as Indian Head cents, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Walking Liberty halves, and Morgan/Peace Dollars. Since the pages are blank, I can arrange them however I like. Currently, they are arranged by date only. This will make the sets, as I've defined them, easier to complete. If I had to collect those series by date and mint mark, I'd probably not even bother starting.

I've been able to put my money and learning towards other numismatic interests.

Paper Money: I've started a small collection of common and cheap US currency. A district set of 1976 $2 bills, and a set of 1928 - 1957 $1 silver certificates. I've also acquired foreign currency when they are cheap (often less than a dollar per bill) and I find the design interesting. I will probably expand into other types of US and world currency in 2009.

World Coins: I've bought a few 'bulk lots' of world coins, and have received coins from probably 125-150 countries. Many of these countries no longer exist, such as Yugoslavia, East Germany, CCCP, Czechoslovakia, and so on. I find it interesting to learn about a country via its coins. I've spent many hours reading Wikipedia entries for countries, their history, their monarchs, and other devices they choose to show on coins. Think of Germany, whose recent coins would include: Independent German States, German Empire, Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, East and West Germany, Unified Germany, German Euro. France has transitioned from: 3rd Republic, Vichy (WWII German Controlled), 4th Republic, 5th Republic, and French Euro. Many colonial territories recently attained their independence, such as British India, French IndoChina, Belgian Congo, etc. There are many other examples, many of them educational. The USA is actually a rare example of a country existing for 200+ years.

Ancient: I think 2009 will be the year I buy my first ancient coins. Talk about history! I didn't realize until recently how affordable nice, detailed specimens of 1500-2500 year old coins were. Most coin collectors know that the first coins were minted around 700BC, but what I didn't know is that you can buy coins from 300-500BC relatively inexpensively.

US Type Set: I'd rather have three unique, different, old $50 coins, than an album with 150 almost identical $1 coins. I can't afford to spend much on type coins, but every once in a while I'll be able to fill another hole.


Ultimately, I'm happy to have explored all these other collecting options. If I'd stuck with sticking US coins into pre-determined slots, I wouldn't have been as happy as a collector.

Maybe you should ask yourself what you like best about collecting. I think, for me, it may be learning about history by relatively cheap artifacts that I can hold in my hands.

just my humble opinion,
wheatiefan

I'm just a middle class guy, without a lot of money to spend on coins. However I have completed the JFK Half Dollars, Franklin half dollars, Roosevelt dimes, Jefferson nickels, Statehood Quarters, Silver Eagles, and Sacagawea dollars.

Then, I went Australian, and currently have complete sets of all Aussie circulating coins. Also, I have completed the silver one ounce Lunar Series.

I also have completed and maintain Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins.

Point is, there are lots of sets that can be completed without a huge outlay of money.

What halfabustisbetter said is a real true story and what a shame. However, there is always goods with the bads. I go to alot of coin shows. I get to know the standard, regular dealers. Some time back I asked a few where they get most of their coins. Most said from purchasing sets from the average person that is tired of them, from a relative, inheritance, etc. And too, they take all the coins out and place in those flips. Usually not the 2x2's, the next smaller sizes 1-1/2"x1-1/2". They then throw out the albums or folders. So I asked them instead of throwing them out could you bring them to me? A few said OK and brought a few albums. HOWEVER, one dealer brought me two large boxes of albums. Dansco, Whitman, Littleton and many others. And all free. Being a Whitman person I kept those and gave the rest to other collectors I know. Since then that same dealer always brings me a few and recently told me he now has about 40 more albums for me and again free.
Since I've been collecting for over 60 years I have numerous completed sets of many coins. I take the best and put it in set #1 and the one from there to set #2 and then to set #3, etc. At the end of this process the last one goes into a 2x2 and into a box. Recently that dealer gave me two Whitman Classic Albums for Mercury dimes and I almost filled them both from duplicates. Still missing the 16D, 30S and the 42D/41 in both.
Doing this, going to coin shows 2 to 4 times a month keeps one occupied. Sure is a shame when I think of someday all my sets, over 100, being taken apart for just separate coins.

Just Carl,

I read that post and was like... I wonder if he has an extra Mercury dime Dansco, but then I remembered you are a Mercury dime guy too. :)


-SWUSC

Completing a Peace dollar set in AU-MS is doable in a fairly short time...but they seem to be getting pretty pricey for the key dates.This is the first set I have completed,and it IS kinda a let down when your done....I think I would just like to have 1 of each as in a 7070,but know I can't afford the gold page....Oh well,the older the better to me,so I am going to concentrate on early U.S. coinage for now,and figure out where to go from there...
Cheers,Brewzz

One more thing is to be a little more like wheatiefan.
Blank pages and album covers are available from Whitman also. They also make sheets of Gold presson letters/numbers so you can lable them yourself if you want to make them look professional. Another thing I've done is purchase a dark blue permanent Sharpie Marker pen and blue out the info in a Whitman Album. Then you can make one the way you want. Some of the Album covers are large enough to make some really odd collections. For example I've got a Liberty Head/Buffalo/Jefferson Nickel Album all in one. Of course I had to leave out mint errors and proofs and no holes for them either.
I've made complete all proof albums also. If your bored, lots of fun making your own thing.