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 Replies: 32 / Views: 3,935 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
Has anyone ever thought about completing this? I know it would take probably your whole life, but if you aimed for G-VG in every one, it just might. I know you would have a tough time with the 1893-S Morgan, 1856 FEC, and the Gobrecht dollars might be impossible, but if you start at 1792 and end at present day excluding gold coins you might be able to complete it.  Of course, you really could go MS on the common ones, but one key dates just go G or VG. Leave out the big three: 1894S Dime, 1804 Dollar, and 1913 Nickel  Thoughts? Edited by rachums107
07/05/2011 5:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
You'd have to have a lot of dough, not to mention friends in high places. 1884 and 1885 Trade dollars, 10 and 5 minted respectively. 1853O half--3 known. 1873S half no arrows--5,000 minted, unknown in any collection. I could go on with other similar examples, but I think you'd have to curtail some of your goals. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7840 Posts |
An example of each and every coin minted? Whoa! I like my major type set (7070). But good luck with the BIG ONE! My pockets don't even come close to being that deep.
Edited by oih82w8
07/05/2011 09:27 am
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3345 Posts |
Quote:
My pockets don't even come close to being that deep. Mine don't either, but if some of you have a close friend or relative who collects you could pass on the collection to them to complete, so that after several generations of buying and upgrading, you would have the entire set. I know its a long shot but I may just try it. Being 15 I have a long way to go before I need to pass it on.  |
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Valued Member
United States
270 Posts |
anything is possible...I know there a some "very few known" pieces but all is not lost. I know of a person that inherted a morgan collection that was complete and the family did not know the grandpa even had it. The depression aera time people kept things to them selves...
I plan on trying to get as many as I can--- I'll race you :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7187 Posts |
The best I could do at this is visit the national coin collection at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Louis Eliasberg did it back in the 1940's and kept the collection up to date until his death in 1976 or 77. His wantlist was Wayte Raymond's catalog of United States coins. The reason he was able to complete it was because he bought the entire Clapp collection which was built over two generations during the 19th century. Once he bought it he had a collection that was already close to 90% complete and already had a great many of the uber rarities. He just had to acquire the last 10%. (Didn't hurt that he was also a wealthy man.) |
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Valued Member
United States
333 Posts |
The Smithsonian is a good idea. I suppose you already own a complete collection if you pay your taxes.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
It won't ever happen, logistically and economically impossible now. Louis Eliasberg owned what will probably be the last great complete collection and as Conder pointed out, he didn't even assemble most of it himself. Too many of the uber-rarities are now locked up in collections(many anonymous) and may not come to market for another 25-50 years. Also keep in mind that there was no such thing as a $100,000 coin when Eliasberg completed his collection, now there are hundreds of them and many over $1 million. Even if it was possible to acquire the needed coins, the costs involved would more than likely exceed $250 million and could even approach $500 million.
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Valued Member
United States
230 Posts |
what about just one of each type coin including the gold coins. IE: One Morgan, one V nickel, one buffalo, one Mercury dime, etc etc. Would still be difficult and expensive, but it would be much more feasible to do it this way. |
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Valued Member
United States
270 Posts |
If you have the right backing it is possible(multi-millionare family)...I recall that there were only "very few 1933 gold pieces" next thing there is 10 more so there are coins out there...My goal is if dansco has a hole for it I'm going to fill it...BTY we can discuss what is a complete collection all day...Is a 1922 no "D" a coin to count? and the 1955 DDO? how about the 1913 nickel(it was not a true minted coin). If you just go with "normal strike issues" I think that you stand a better chance of getting close. Now if you want them in MS ---I agree that will never happen. But hole filling with what you can find is the way it will be for 99.99% of the people. |
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Valued Member
United States
309 Posts |
I think as a 15 year old collector it would be more prudent to focus on a set of coins, even if that "set" was a type set. Then you can build your collection on more higher grade coins instead of collecting G-VG coins of everything else that you manage to put together. I've seen many type sets on this very site that make beautiful family heirlooms that anyone would love to have and even continue building on or upgrading if that family member that got them was also interested in acquiring beautiful coins.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
14454 Posts |
I think the 7070 is as close as I will ever come to completing a set like mentioned above. Some of the first Cents even in G-VG can be very pricey, and worth more than most of the gold coins that the US has minted if they were in that same grade
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3345 Posts |
I already have a good start from what my grandparents left, most of the Mercs, WLHs, Ben halves, and I also have a lot of Buffalo nickels and Barber dimes. A good amount of Jeff's, roosies, lincolns, some Indian Head cents and a few random ones of each type so I'm off to a good start. But think if you don't count all the DDs and the WAMs and such, and are left with only the business strikes, or proofs if you can afford, and pass it on so your family can continue the tradition, it is possible in a few generations. Just think, if my son or daughter or wife or nephew or niece was to love coin collecting as much as I do, they would add! Maybe buy a key date every year, and a super key every 10 years, etc. Eventually I think I could do it. By the way, mrh757... READY, SET, GO! It's on. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2424 Posts |
too bad tiger woods isn't a coin collector. man if I were him I would be collecting coins! he would have a pretty easy time collecting most of them
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2200 Posts |
So, rachums, now that you've begun the hunt, we're dying to know what you're starting with!
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Replies: 32 / Views: 3,935 |
Posted 07/05/2011 08:42 am
