What To Collect?

I'd say collect whatever you enjoy most and can afford to collect. But please, don't consider a coin collection an "investment" for your childrens retirement.

If I would have done that, I would have been buying my collections during the mid 1980's, and although I did collect then, I would have lost all potential investment value when the market declined.

Not to be philosophical, but the best investment you can make is in your children themselves. I had a grandparent ask me the same question a few weeks back and I shared my response in my blog.

I'm regularly asked what coins make solid investments. I always ask how much folks want to invest and routinely it's not enough to actually buy the truly investment grade coins and currency.

So have fun! Collect what you like. And teach them a little history in the process.

First, listen to what AtlantaCoin said above. That's a solid foundation whatever direction you go.

Second, learn coins in general. I don't mean spend ten years studying books - you can, if you work at it, come to the understanding I'm talking about in two weeks. Conditional rarities. An overview of grading. Appropriate places and ways to learn what you should pay, and who you should pay to get it. But, generalities only. Specifics differ by series.

You use the tern "hold value." That's important. For every hundred members who ask "What can I leave my kids that will gain in value?" there may be only one who already "gets it" enough to use the term "What will hold value?" The answer to the first question is either speculative, or you gotta spend thousands of dollars. The answer to the second is so darn easy that the only advice is to look around, decide what you like, and collect them the right way.

I believe that today's coin market is about even to slightly depressed in terms of long-term value. Excepting lower-grade gold, bullion coins, and pseudo-collectible Modern mint issues. Pretty much everything else, from 1700 to 1950, copper, silver, nickel, whatever, is something that will "hold value" for a discerning buyer. Over that term, if you buy smart it will not only appreciate but appreciate at a rate that won't leave you regrets against other things you might have done with the money.

Bottom line? You've already got the right attitude. Look about, find something you like, and collect smart. Your long-term goals will take care of themselves. And ask questions. That's what we're here for.

If you are fairly new to collecting, you may want to try a set that is fairly easy to complete. Something like a Walking Liberty half dollar (Short Set), a Franklin set, a 20th Century type set, etc. I like Mercury dimes, but some of the earlier dates can get pretty pricey in MS.

Good Luck to whatever you decide to collect.

PS - I saw that you tried to PM me yesterday, w1a9c8k5. I didn't get the message. I just wanted to let you know that I wasn't ignoring it.

i like the suggestion of Lincoln memorial sets. I really did not think of them as a complete (closed) run. does anyone know if there are holders available with just these years. cool idea.

If you want to collect as an investment, I would suggest high grade, rare coins. Their prices seem to rise consistently. However, they will cost you a lot of money. I don't collect looking at future profit, and I know many if not most don't. There are much better things to invest in out there. If you want to kind of hedge your bets, you can collect gold/silver. While the prices are high and are volatile, you always have the price of the metal behind the coin verse collecting non-precious metal coins. Whatever your decision, my suggestion is to have fun and enjoy your collection

I don;t know how to PM people on here yet. I also do not know how to Quote people.
I think I will start with Peace dollars. I think I could complete an ms64 set in Maybe 2.5 years. Also schnauzer, Thank you for the advice. I do not have children yet (I'm only 25) and when I do have them and have a decent collection I plan on having everything inventoried and put in my will how it is to be sold. I also have seen the greed of children and coin/pawn shops. I will not let my coins be used to make someone rich. I'm still new to all of this and I really appreciate everyones comments.

If you stick around here long enough you'll hear that over and over and over. And not only coins, but almost any hobby is and should be only a hobby.
Way to many things can go wrong with thinking of a hobby as an investment. Not long ago many people tried that with Beanie Babies, Hot Wheel cars, Sporting cards, etc. Some thought USPostage stamps would last forever. True coins have been around for a long, long time but attempting to use as an investment is really not to smart.
If your thinking of your kids future, there are numerous other ways to invest money for that and many are guanteed.
And too as you said you wanted to do this over the next 5 to 10 years. In coin collecting, that is sort of overnight thinking. Your chances of collecting any coins that will be usable for your kids in 10 years is very slim at best.
On what to collect. Your best bet is to purchase a copy of the Red Book by whitman Publishing and run through it looking at all of the coins. Then start thinking of what to collect as a HOBBY.
By the way there are some colleges that have investment for the future programs where you can add some small portions of money today and it will grow for tomorrow tuition for your kids future.
OR MAYBE BEANIE BABIES WILL COME BACK.