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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,255 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
I have been trying to complete a decent Indian Head cent Dansco album in at least a F-12, no problem condition. I have decided it is next to impossible. I am missing all the dates from 1866 to 1872, 1864-L, 1876 and 1877, and 1909-S. All I can find on ebay are absolute junk - damaged, corroded and gouged AG or worse coins and they want several hundred dollars for the dates I am missing. I have come to the realization that I will never complete this set in a grade that I can stand to look at. I am thinking about keeping the three Flying Eagles I have, the 1908-S in VF-20 and a couple of others in XF and selling the rest along with the album. Anyone want to talk me out of it?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1291 Posts |
Don't do it!! I need someone to provide inspiration to me! All I have are the common dates and can't get motivated to get after the rest. If you throw in the towel, what hope is there for me...?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4085 Posts |
This is why I find trying to collect entire sets frustrating. You can find a vast majority of the coins at reasonable prices, but there are always a few "keys" that are just plain too expensive.
At least with my 7070, the expensive coins are somewhat unique and different from all the others. But when you get into set collecting, that key date ends up being exactly like all the other coins except for a date or mint mark. I just have a hard time getting excited about those.
So, all my sets are destined to have holes...
Ken
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1083 Posts |
Good point Ken. It is hard to get excited about spending $1000 on an 1877 that looks just like all the rest of your Indians except it is more worn. I had a lot more fun with the 7070.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
581 Posts |
It is frustrating because in many cases those "keys" aren't really rare or scarce. It's just that people hoard them as "investments". I supoose that behaviour has always existed, but it's just a lot more obvious nowadays with E-Bay, coin forums and the Internet in general.
I've conditioned myself to ignore those really expensive additions and just focus on getting higher quality common dates.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2540 Posts |
DON'T do it! Just because ebay stinks, that can't be your only source of coins. Have you checked out dealers in the area? How about coin shows? What grades are you shooting for? Good luck. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
I know what you're going through, OC. I am also working on a set of IHCs. It's fun to assemble, but whenever I come across ones from the 1870s en route to more affordable ones I get temporarily depressed. I just imagine my book with a few glaring holes in it and no hope of ever completing it. Unless I win the lottery there is just no way I can justify dropping that much coin on...well...a coin! But TreasHunt has a good point. Do you ever hit coin shows? I went to one last week locally and looked through a dealer's group of Indians. I ended up getting an 1874 in solid Fine condition for $13 and an 1864 CN in F+ for $18. I thought this was a really good deal, and that led me to believe I can fill more of these spots than I originally had thought. If I keep seeking this gentleman out at existing coin shows I am sure he would help me continue the collection with some solid fair prices and a few good deals thrown in here and there. But yeah...had I bought those two on ebay I probably would've paid twice as much for less quality. I just tell myself that when it comes time for those keys, I may have to suck it up and go with AGs and hope that I can trade up over time. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
I just can't stand to pay over a hundred bucks for an AG coin. The 1874 and the 1864 CN are not that tough to find in F-12 or better condition. It is the late 60's and several dates in the 70's that I can't find in decent condition. I just don't want to pay $150 for a corroded barely discernable features 1866 or 72, and than just fill a hole with it until I can find a decent one for $400 or more. If Indian Head cents were one of my primary collecting interests I would bite the bullet and buy some decent examples, but it isn't. My completed Lincoln Wheat Cents and my Type set have been my main focus. I still need three coins for my Walking Liberty set, and that seems possible to finish. Maybe I am a snob, but I just don't want to look at a completed set where it looks like most of the tough dates were found with a metal detector. |
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Moderator
 United States
188213 Posts |
I was contemplating filling some of the 21 holes in my Indian Head cent collection at the next coin show. Now you have me worried!  I say do not give up, you might regret it later. You know that if you did liquidate your set, the ones you were missing would start popping up all over! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2602 Posts |
Stay with it and keep looking. The higher grade dates are out there. Just keep looking. I worked for years on my set. Mine's complete, all F or better (many EF) except the 72 and 76, but I haven't been looking that hard for those last two lately.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
Quote:
The 1874 and the 1864 CN are not that tough to find in F-12 or better condition. Right, they ARE easy to find in F+ condition but I was just using that as an example on getting pretty good prices without having to resort to ebay. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1083 Posts |
Sounds like you got pretty good prices on those MLPatrick. Better than I paid on ebay. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
580 Posts |
I'm headed to another show tomorrow with my "need" list in hand. I'll let you know how it turns out!
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,255 |
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Posted 06/04/2009 9:50 pm
