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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,098 |
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Valued Member
United States
420 Posts |
Hello, I had a question about collecting sets. My question is do you prefer to collect a set a piece at a time or all at once? I saw a complete Sacagawea dollar set with all the Proof Coins for $190 advertised in Coin World. First off I don't have $190 laying around and second personally I prefer collecting slowly a piece at a time. Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks, Rich Rich M. - Collector since 2008
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
I've sometimes bought a partial set to jump start a collection. Sometimes, you want to get a high percentage of the common date coins and it is cheaper to buy a set and backfill. I did this recently with both a 1909-1940 and 1941-59 Lincoln Cent set. I had a number of coins from way back when I was a kid but wanted to re-focus on these. I found it was easier to go buy a partial collection and then merge them. I was able to buy a 1909 set for around $40 and a 1941-59 set for around $10. Then I merged my collection into them and ended up with 79/89 1909-1940 and all 1941-59. I can fill now fill them out as I get $$$. Because I am not likely to find semi-keys like teen 'S' cents in a roll of wheats. For currently circulating coins, it might be more fun to go through rolls since you can get them at face. For the Sacs, you will still need to buy the proof coins, so you have to weigh $190 vs. what it will cost you to obtain separately. Ken |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1179 Posts |
You could put a good really nice set of Sac's together for almost half that. I put mine together with Satin coins and proofs all the way up to 2009 for $113. These are cherry picked from shows etc.
I'm more of a 1 by 1 type person. I like to buy the nicest coins possible for each year/mintmark. Seems like buying a set usually is full of low end coins that you will upgrade later anyways. Takes more time my way, but saves money in t he long run.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I've seen partial and complete sets of almost all coins at coins shows. Many dealers buy those from people and rather than going through the trouble of taking them all out and putting in 2x2's, they just attempt to sell all at once. Some do, many don't. From what they have told me most people would just rather get one coin at a time. I once purchased a Lincoln Set 41 to present in MS grades only because the prices was really, really cheap. Otherwise over the years I would rather just find one coin at a time. One coin at a time is a real pain at times. If you are collecting Mercury dimes, for instance, and you put one or two coins in that set every few months you really start getting irritated after several years seeing empty slots. At least those bother me. My solution is to collect as many different types of coins at the same time. This makes it so I seldom see those empty slots in some of the albums. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1571 Posts |
I like the "thrill of the hunt"! I buy lots of wheat rollso and also lots that include tuype sets of coins included. I realize that they will be low-grade, but after a while, I get quite a few, and then go for the rolls, to fill holes. I dion't go for the best of the best, because being on a fixed income, many of the coins are just plainly out of my budget, so why the bother? I have everything from proof sets to zincoln varieties. I also collect Canadian cents. I biought three partial sets on ebay, and finally filled one, completely. I have since purchased more, and have five partials. I only have the quarter series "up to date, except the Hawaii "P" & :"D". All from roll searching. This set is a roll det, and there are several folders, and albums with them. I have never sold a coin, and just like the prospecting for gold, it is the thrill of the hunt! The gold, etc is nice, and while it never could pay for the expenses of the prospecting, the gold obtained is nice. the same thing with coins. Dick |
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Rest in Peace
 United States
1380 Posts |
I too keep seeing full sets of almost everything advertised in Coin World or CoinAge and have often wondered who buys an already completed collection? Where is the fun of finding those last few coins? The fun of that first big bulk buy and sorting out what's needed and good enough? The fun of filling in the albums yourself? I'm currently helping an 8 year old and a twelve year old (they are brothers) start heir collections and bought some partial sets to jump start their collections, but even then I took all the coins out of the old albums, got them new albums and gave them the coins loose for them to sort back out. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
615 Posts |
Yea if you are doing Mercury dimes, then finding some of them in AU+ is hard :) Heck... The two 1921s will cost around $2k together to get them in AU..if you can find them. I have never seen a 1916d in AU. I am wondering what an AU Mercury dime set would sell for ? You can find filler grades of almost the whole set for just a little over melt. -SWUSC |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:Yea if you are doing Mercury dimes, then finding some of them in AU+ is hard :) Heck... The two 1921s will cost around $2k together to get them in AU..if you can find them. I have never seen a 1916d in AU. I am wondering what an AU Mercury dime set would sell for ? You can find filler grades of almost the whole set for just a little over melt. -SWUSC Odd thing is at a coin show a few weeks ago a dealer I know told me he just purchased a completed set of Mercury dimes and all MS grades. Naturally he took them all apart and now has them in flips so he can sell as individuals. And of course he would not say what he paid. The thing about those purchases are that they are usually from someone that just inherited the entire mess and just wants to get rid of them all. Just one price for everything. Amazing what some people will take for a collection of anything. That has always been one of my most irritating stories. A neighbor of mine some time ago was a small arms instructor in the service. His basement had more guns than most gun stores. Mostly all old such as Mausers and Lugers and with all matching part numbers. He died. His relatives called a gun store, they looked everything over, offered $1,000, they took that. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
And as to why someone would buy the entire set rather than looking for each coin. When I was a kid we used to get a car, buy all kinds of things to make them go faster. Today kids just buy them that way. We used to use sticks and newspapers to make a kite. Today kids just buy them. As computers first came out many made their own programs. Today people just buy them.
Same with coins. People are just getting away from the fun of doing things little by little.
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Valued Member
United States
290 Posts |
I've bought whole sets for bullion value... and you get what you pay for: coins in very poor condition. For me, it satisfies my interest in bullion while letting me upgrade at my own pace.
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Valued Member
United States
429 Posts |
I think that most coin collectors will say to buy them one at a time but on some sets I would say to buy what you can. You are talking about a short set that is on going and not having the first coins is most likely getting to you. If you are using this as a spring board into getting up to date and going with it, then I see no problem. Now, if you went and bought an entire Mercury, Buffalo, etc. then I would say no, where is the fun in that. But if you do what just carl and KenKat say then I think you will enjoy it more. It is easy to find a 'starter' set and upgrade and fill in holes, and is always fun to do. I have done this with my Lincolns about a dozen times and will buy an entire set for the one coin that stands out. For most of us it is the thrill of the hunt, price haggling and finally placing it into your set.
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
Buy them one at a time, five at a time, or all at one time. Whatever makes you happy!  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
650 Posts |
I have bought most coins as singles but my best buys have always been partial sets or groups.I collect Canadian primarily once got a set of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth almost complete except for 4 coins for a little over the price of 2 of the keys. The only tough one missing, and still is, was the 47curved ML.Most of my sets are near complete so it is a harder decision now.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,098 |
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Posted 02/20/2009 12:35 pm
