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 Replies: 16 / Views: 2,712 |
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Valued Member
United States
327 Posts |
I mean, I could probably pick one but I'm a realist and I know some conditions must exist. For example, I would probably want to start with a set that has a fair chance of collecting at least one of each without going bankrupt.
Do any of you have a consensus on a good classic coin to start with?
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Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
It all depends on your interests. silver or copper. What grades , All series have their key dates and can get spendy. My self I'm looking for a 16-d Mercury dime that wont keep my daughter from going to collage. Find a series you like and go for it. Coggie |
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Valued Member
United States
266 Posts |
You could be a "type collector" where you try to assemble a collection of one example of each type of U.S. currency. That way you can concentrate on finding the nicest example of each that's within your price range. Otherwise, I feel that Peace dollars are very doable, only three expensive key dates (1921, 1928, and 1934 S) and if you decide to go for a lower grade, the only one you should end up paying $100 or more for is the 28. Plus, they are widely available and have a good amount of silver in them. Liberty nickels might be another option. Expensive keys are the 1885, 1886, and 1912 S with five somewhat pricey semi keys ($40-60). A slightly more upscale goal would be Walking Liberty halves. The 16 S, 17 S obv, 19 D, 21, 21 D, and 21 S are all going to run you over $100 in F or better, with the 1921 dates being particularly expensive. But there's nothing that's going to cost you over $1000 if you limit yourself to VF range. The common dates are available for super cheap even in MS grades. Plus they are very pretty coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1304 Posts |
Franklins would also be a good choice. I have less than $600.00 in my set,grades are MS-60 or above including the Dansco.  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1081 Posts |
Almost any set is doable, and the price will largely depend on the grade you want. If you do a g-vg set, than you won't be spending much for almost any set. I prefer IHC and am basically going for the best quality I can afford for most coins. Although I've decided for the 1880s and 1890s, I will probably just do VF/XF to quickly fill them in. There are only 4-5 that will really be more expensive, but I can wait and save up for those. I like the IHC b/c it's relatively easy to complete the set, there are a descent amount of dates, but not too many and there are lots of really neat varieties. In the end, I would just pick a coin you really like and go for it. |
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Valued Member
United States
254 Posts |
I would recommend Mercury dimes and as coggie59 mentioned, only the 1916-d is an expensive date. Should run you about $600 in AG-3 and goes up significantly from there. The other dates are very reasonable, the next most expensive being the 1921 and 1921-d and those are about $50 to $75 for an AG to G. Also, if you decide to collect this series please buy the 16-d certified by PCGS or NGC. It is rumored that there are more fakes than real ones out there. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8904 Posts |
Quote:
Franklins would also be a good choice.  |
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Valued Member
United States
149 Posts |
I'll chime in with my personal favorite, the Buffalo Nickel-it will be a real challenge to find them all in decent circulated grades; also, they will cost you quite a bit more more than a Mercury dime or Liberty nickel series will. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3278 Posts |
I agree that Franklins are a fairly unexpensive set to put together and when your done you have a nice hunk of silver, which is nice. For some reason I'm drawn to IHC's although I know I'll never finish them, but I can live with that. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
It is also going to depend on what your budget is like. What would be the highest amount you felt you could comfortably spend on a coin? If you want an older classic that is doable even in better condition consider the Capped bust Half Dimes It's a short series only 9 coin, 11 if you want the large and small 5 varieties in 1836 and 37. There are no rare dates in the set so they all cost about the same. XF-40's are around $160, 45's are $175, and AU's are $215. If those are too high, in VF they drop to about $100, Fines are $75. (I've help two people put this set together in AU. That was years ago though and at that time they were paying about $100 per coin. Another good choice, if you stick to the business stikes is the Two Cent Piece Except for the 1872 and possibly the 1871 they can be found close to Unc for under $100 each. The 1871 wouldn't be much worse. The killer would be the 1872 though, it will be a few hundred in a lower grade. Braided hair large cents are a good choice. !840 - 1857 there are no "rare" dates. The rarest is the 1857 and an AU might cost around $200. Most of the rest are around $75 in XF or $120 in AU. Pieces from the early 1840's may be a little more and they will be tougher to find. Can't afford XF's? VF's are about $30, and they are still very nice looking coins. The 1857 in VF would probably be less than $100. In VF the whole set will cost you about $600 for 18 coins. In AU, about $2200. Build an AU set over four years and it will cost about $50 a month. |
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Valued Member
United States
455 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1510 Posts |
I started with pennies-- alot of them around-- then went up in denomination. now I'm working on Barbers
Retired USAF 1983-2003
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Valued Member
United States
244 Posts |
How about large cents? Depending on budget, you can start with an earlier head, but I suggest starting with the "braided hair" design of 1839. No "keys" as such that will cost you a fortune, every coin is reasonably affordable in decent grade. And in my opinion a very nice design. They also have the advantage of being reasonably available, so it shouldn't take you years and years to finish your set.
If you've got a bit more green, how about capped bust halves? Again no unaffordable keys, assuming you don't worry about the overdate variants, and you're not too insistent on high grades.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The capped bust halves by date wouldn't be bad, but as far as an unobtainable key, the 1815 is going to make a darn good try at being one. On the plus side though it is the only one and it can be acquired if one want it bad enough.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4849 Posts |
Personally, I am mostly a type set kind of guy, but as far as a series goes, the Standing Liberty quarter is definitely my favorite. Such a beautiful design. You can start with the incuse podium dates from 1925 to 1930, all are relatively cheap in lower grades, though the 27-s will get expensive really fast in higher grades. Completing the series from 1916-1924 will represent a challenge regardless of the grade. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4989 Posts |
I would recommend (1) The Morgan silver dollar in Choice BU, (2) Standing Liberty quarter in strong AU, (3) Walking Liberty half dollar in Choice BU, (4) Red Lincoln Wheat pennies in BU to Choice BU. For all those, be ready to drop down to VG-8 to VF-30 for some nice affordable key date coins. At $40-$100 per coin, from those choices, you can assemble a collection with great eye appeal and numismatic potential. Edited by fenton
12/02/2010 3:31 pm
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Replies: 16 / Views: 2,712 |
Posted 11/30/2010 04:57 am
