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 Replies: 24 / Views: 1,565 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1108 Posts |
So it appears to me that many of the coin sets I have been collecting have expensive key date coins included in them. Unfortunately, some of these coins I will never be able to afford. With the Lincoln Cent series.. We all know the top 5 coins that are the most expensive. I have been working on a Buffalo nickel set for awhile, and I will never be able to afford those oddball die variety coins like the 3 legged Buffalo or 1918/7 over D. There might be a few others I can't afford. Not sure. I've been working on a small set of Liberty nickels, and the 1885 and 1886 key date coins are out of my reach. That said, for others, would you start sets like this that you cannot technically complete due to missing key dates? I like my Jefferson series set, since there are no expensive stopper coins. There are expensive ones, however, are not necessarily required to complete the set I would think. The 1950-D and 1939-D cost me 20 bucks or under. I've been trying to find coin series that are more easily collectable to people on a budget like me. Obviously, the State Quarter and national park quarters are very easy to complete. But, not terribly interesting IMO. I've also been such a fan of the Lincoln series, as you know. However, I am not sure I will be obtaining any of the key date coins. I'd like to eventually get all the semi key date coins. That might be close enough for me. The 1909-S and 31-S are probably the only key date coins I would be able to purchase, if any. I mean, I can easily fill these spots in with other coins or leave them blank. However, it seems a bit... incomplete Any thoughts? I know many people here are completionists, and I definitely commend you! I wish I had this kind of money lol |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19110 Posts |
Long, long ago I accepted the fact that I'd have a few 'open holes' in my set collections. I am at peace...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2951 Posts |
Yes, we all have different approaches to collecting on a budget, myself included  Quote:
...many people here are completionists... Yes, I am one! One surefire way I deal with the key dates is both extreme patience and trading. Meaning I collect small but valuable coins and slowly work up to the approximate value of the key date I want, then I go shopping around for the key date coin I want. I admit I sometimes use all cash for some of the lesser key dates in really low grade if I save up for it (example was a pair of 1885-1886 Liberty V nickels in AG-3) I traded for my 1909-S-VDB cent earlier this year with over $1,500 in trade I had for it at my Local Coin Store who had a PCGS XF-45 and I took it for $1,400 in that trade. For the Buffalo nickels, I don't count those specific errors in the official set, but yet I still look for both. On the Standing Liberty quarter set aka SLQ's, to me, that is one set that I feel as it is one of the hardest sets to complete as there are four key dates (1916, 1921, 1923-S, and 1927-S) and many semi-keys like the mint marked teens and twenties quarters. I lack only three to complete this set, of course I am looking for the extremely valuable 1916 (those are easily $2,000 and higher in a PO-1, the lowest grade in the books, the 1919-S, and the 1923-S to complete). So yeah, patience is what I do when seeking the better dates in the series I am wanting to complete. There are even times I will buy a damaged key date coin hole-filler for cheap until I find a better example, like when I had a damaged 1877 Indian cent for the longest while (I paid $200 for it) till I found a nice VG-8 example this year (and had about $750 in trade for that upgrade). I hope this from another fellow collector helps |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
613 Posts |
You could consider the Walker "short set" (1941-1947D) and or Franklin halves (MS and/or Proof). Both are "affordable" as long as you avoid high grades. |
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Moderator
 United States
94636 Posts |
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That said, for others, would you start sets like this that you cannot technically complete due to missing key dates? Yes, in a heartbeat.  Quote:
I know many people here are completionists, and I definitely commend you! I wish I had this kind of money lol I and a complete 'completest', but I'm also a 'realist' too. I strive to 'get every one' I can, but I don't let it become a showstopper. |
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Moderator
United States
187478 Posts |
Of all my sets, I only have two with unfilled key date holes. You know what they are.  I will fill them eventually. I have money "set aside" for them, it is just a matter of finding the right examples being sold for that money.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
671 Posts |
Humanist1287, I try to focus on one collection at a time. In my case that goal is a complete collection of Lincoln cents. I am down to 6 spots left to fill. Having said that I also have collections of inadvertent finds. One set is flying eagle and Indian Head cents. I also have a Canadian cent collection, but I do not focus on trying to complete these sets presently. Everyone is different. You may not think you will ever complete a collection you start today, but in years to come who knows where you may end up and what you might be able to do. Edited by FsdWarp10
12/10/2025 12:11 am
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
1555 Posts |
I think that if your goal is to finish the set, there are a few things you can do that can help save money.
For example, reject errors. You don't need "3-legged Buffalo" or "1918/7 over D"—these are mint errors that shouldn't have appeared in the first place. Buy missing coins with lower grades or defects. You can replace them with better coins when you have the money.
I think this is a good idea. In any case, the day will come when all the coins are collected, only the rarest and most valuable ones remain, and you won't notice how your replenishments become less frequent and the search takes longer.
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
9352 Posts |
I look at my sets, usually as circulation coins only, so I don't need proofs etc. I also don't need errors or varieties.
Hence, I consider my Lincoln set as complete, as I have every year and every mint. I have a 1909-S, just not he VDB variety.
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Moderator
United States
187478 Posts |
Quote:
For example, reject errors. You don't need "3-legged Buffalo" or "1918/7 over D"—these are mint errors that shouldn't have appeared in the first place. That is what I did for three sets by using blank pages in a custom album. My only needed key that should be rejected is the 1922 "plain" LWC. However, that hole is there in the Dansco, so it must be filled.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1108 Posts |
Quote:
I look at my sets, usually as circulation coins only, so I don't need proofs etc. I also don't need errors or varieties. I usually prefer to do business strikes only as well most of the time. That is how my Lincoln Cent set is. With my Jefferson set, I opted to do business strike coins only initially. However, sometime later, since I already had some proofs, I decided to complete the circle and add all the additional proofs. It's a very good set and I'm glad decided to do the proofs. I have all the proof nickels from 1956-2005, and I am in the process of obtaining all the modern ones from 2006 and newer, as well as whatever I can manage to purchase from 1950-1955. Though I do have some other proofs, I generally don't consider them personally a must. |
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Moderator
United States
187478 Posts |
It is difficult to stop collecting proofs once you start. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1759 Posts |
 Sad, but so very true. I am now mainly into proof & specimen Canadian coins and mint sets. Can't escape!  PS: also this year, silver Canadian Maple Leaf bullion. (without Privy marks) I have the 1867-1967 Royal Canadian Mint set missing the $20.00 gold coin (for now), my example of a set without a key coin. Edited by Sharks
12/10/2025 3:21 pm
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Moderator
United States
187478 Posts |
Quote:I have the 1867-1967 Royal Canadian Mint set missing the $20.00 gold coin (for now), my example of a set without a key coin. For now.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
My philosophy has changed since I was a 10 year old kid plugging holes in those Whitman folders in the 1970's. Back then I was focused on filling as many of those holes that I could afford...and through roll searching. Then life happened, wife, kids, unaffordability. Now older, I focus on bargains. Some people here know I spend most of my time on ebay and it pays out. About 10 years ago I bought a Whitman folder (only missing 1909SVDB) for $107.32. Kept the 1914D (good) and 1931S (fine) and swapped out 5 other AU for my lower grade and resold the folder for $200. (so essentially I was paid about $85 to take two key dates off this guys hands). Another deal about 5 years ago, a Seller sold a complete date/mm Indian Head cent folder, and a complete date/mm Buffalo nickel folder (no acid dates). I ended up paying $85.50 for both after he refunded some postage. (1877 Indian has a slight bend but the 1909S should straight grade). I guess what I'm getting to, is do the best that you can now, you never know what lies in the future. You may stumble into a deal that you weren't expecting and be able to fill some of those keys. Don't lose any sleep over a hole in your Dansco. |
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Moderator
United States
187478 Posts |
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I guess what I'm getting to, is do the best that you can now, you never know what lies in the future. You may stumble into a deal that you weren't expecting and be able to fill some of those keys. |
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Replies: 24 / Views: 1,565 |
Posted 12/09/2025 08:13 am
