For the last few years, I've been collecting Half Cents, Large Cents, Indian Head Cents, Buffalos, and SLQs in XF/AU. I've completed Buffalos and picked all the low hanging fruit elsewhere. The cheapest coin I need to buy is $200. Trouble is, I shouldn't really spend the money given that I'm building a house and have a new baby at home. I'm a young guy with good earning potential, so I don't want to reduce my quality expectations. I have some things I can sell for a little, but don't have a ton of time. I'd love to find something I can collect in a reasonably high grade (>xf) that will be fun and not too expensive. I don' really want to take a hiatus, but I'm afraid I may have to. I have a pretty extensive collection of low grade 20th century US coins I built while I was a kid. I'd love some recommendations for what I should do next. I should probably limit myself to $100 per month.
Franklins, later Walkers (maybe a short set), if you can stomach F- VF then Barber halves are an option at that price for a large chunk of the set, high-grade Jeffersons (way underappreciated and undervalued in my opinion). Mercs too...save the 16d.
Would you make a different suggestion, considering you have an enormous amount of amazing Jeffersons?
I would wait to get the coins that I would be proud of. If you start reducing the quality that you like simply because of cost, you will never be happy with them. We all take a bit of a break at some point for one reason or another. The true coin collectors always return, it is just in the blood.
I'm currently upgrading my lincoln cent, jefferson nickel, and roosevelt dime collections. You can get high grades at rather reasonable prices. It is also fun to get higher grades right out of circulation.
Even more so I'd suggest looking into silver Roosies. MS-66 are easy, and MS-67 should not hurt your wallet. Maybe even common dates in -68. And don't forget the proofs.
If you're young like you say you are, focus on building your house and the new baby. If you're young like you say you are, you have all kinds of years to collect what you want after you get the REAL priorities straightened out and on the right track. Life comes first, precious coins and collections are lower priority.
I like the idea of high-grade Jeffersons as well. Kennedys are also an inexpensive series, and chock-full of interest. As a father of four, I applaud your fiscal prudence. Your family should be your absolute highest priority at all times. There are plenty of collecting avenues that would satisfy your hobbying needs without compromising that priority.
When I was young and needed to be a bit careful, I bought books. The study kept my mind on the hobby till my wallet caught up.
And you don't even have to buy books, take advantage of the public library system. Most don't realize that if they don't have the book your wanting to read, they'll order it or get it transferred from another library.
Or how about opening yourself up to something completely different? Do me a favor. Go to a large coin show, and actually pay attention to EVERYTHING on the tables. Don't just go there and look at the coins you collect now, (I do it too, we all do), but just go there with your wallet closed and LOOK at what is possible to collect. There are whole wide worlds of possibilities, tokens, world coins, ancient coins, exumania, currency. There is simply no need to HAVE to collect another US series if something else catches your eye. Heck, most world coins can be collect very cheaply still. Even ancient coins like higher grade late roman bronzes, some greek copper, or chinese cash, can fit within your budget. Like I said, just STOP and look around. Maybe it will be another US series that catches your eye, but maybe it will be canadian silver 5 centers of 1000 other things you can collect. You never know until you actually open up your mind to the possibilities.
I went on a 27 year hiatus raising a family (1972-1999). Put the collection in the closet and for the most part forgot about it. In 1999 my nephews who were 6 and 8 at the time got some coins for Christmas. I pulled my collection out and showed them and they got the fever. We went to a local coin shop (my first trip to a shop in 27 years) to get them some coin supplies and when we walked in I got the FEVER again, and still have it. Raise your family, coins will always be there...:thumb: Chief
Thanks everyone for the great ideas. Here's a thought - what about getting rolls of higher grade silver from ebay or some reputable source to build a collection of FDR dimes, GW quarters, Franklins, etc? Three questions on this approach: 1) Understanding that I'll get mostly common dates, will this allow me to make much of a dent? 2) How easy is it to sell 90% high grade silver with a condition premium on ebay or some other venue? 3) Am I better off just buying single coins?
