Which coin do you pick to represent each type in your Type Set?

What is the most important factor in deciding which coin you will pick to represent each type in your Type Set?

Likely depends on what the scope of your Type Set is, but do your best. For instance, if you have a set of each type of coin minted at the New Orleans mint, don't pick mint as the key factor - it is self evident.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Grade- it is all about condition.

 

All of the above
The most important thing to me for a type coin is it's overall condition because the coin has to be a good representative of that series. Secondly is the date, I generally like to go with a first year or last year of issue example, but if a key date happens to be affordable in Unc, then I'll go for the rarity.
Which brings into account price! Buy the coin when you see a deal...I may not have the finest coins in the world, but if you can get an MS-64 for $40 or an Ms-65 for $140, I would go with the 64 all day every day, but that's just me.

 

grade.

 

Grade....and value (not price)

 

never cared about grade, i just collect what i like. my favorite coin in my collection is in a details slab, my 2nd favorites is a vf

 

Other: Varities. For seated liberties, I tried to get as many varieties as I could. Arrows, arrows and rays, motto, no motto, mint marks

 

Me it's a combination of grade and eye appeal. I'll sometimes take one that's a grade or 2 lower with amazing strike or color. And sometimes it's a tough call two examples are coronet large cents I have a ms 64 red and a ms 66 brown cac and with motto seated quarters I got a beautiful toned ms 64 and just bought a proof 63 cameo how do you pick between them

 

I usually try to put in the highest grade as the type example as I can reasonably afford. I would rather have a common coin in high condition than a rare one in low condition. I usually consider EF/XF the bare minimum unless it's just an extremely rare type where I can't afford one that high.

Sometimes I'll put in keys if such is reasonable affordable; I do have a 1950-D nickel and a 1996-W dime as types because why not have the keys if they're within a reasonably affordable range?

My Dansco 7070 has only two spots left to fill on the non-gold pages; Seated Liberty Dollars. That's my next goal to work with (I'm trying to find ones of decent enough condition to be good type coins but not so high as to be out of my price range... this will take some searching lol...)

 

Best coin for the value, as long as it is as near mint state as I can afford for the series.

 

Take your time with those. I had to settle for an F graded one but it has good color (not too dark).

 

It's all about condition for me. I want non collectors to see the designs and luster whenever possible. Well, as best as one can see it through the toned ones.

As an example, normal viewing of one of the liberty seated quarters shows a bu and beautiful coin. However if you grab a loupe, you will see some budding artist carved stink lines on the eagle and signed it.

I'll take this...


...over this, any day!

 

I chose "Other" and my reasoning is that I buy for "look".

 

Grade for me depends on the coin too I have everything from poor 1 brown to proof 67 my 20th c coins are woeful too as I have little interest the only ones that are high grade is my st gaudens and I have a couple real nice walkers most of the rest with a couple exceptions are basically junk silver now the early stuff tho!! I try for f-vf or better for most I'll settle happily for a problem free g-vg chain and the small eagle quarter half and 1793 liberty cap cent I'll take in any grade. Most of my bust and seated coins are xf to ms I've still got a lot of upgrading to do especially of the more common stuff as I'm focusing on the harder to get coins and the ones I like best first

 

I try for a grade range. That way I have a uniformity in my collection. Usually xf/au or ms63-65

 

Awesome responses so far...keep em coming.

 

I have built several type sets over the years. Like Tom B, looks was the most important.
I'm finished with them but still buy a nice type coin from time to time.

These are the sets I worked on.
Raw, graded toned proofs, graded MS, and variety. The most fun was the variety set. I used a 7070 album. Most every coin had to be a special variety. At the end, I had to bust it out of the album. I had way too much money in the set and many of the coins needed better protection than just an album.

I hope to create some threads at some point with images. I just can't seem to find the time.

 

I think it depends on your goals and criteria for the set. That said, whenever I buy a coin I look for grade/eye appeal. I know ahead of time what the minimum grade I want for a given coin is and if I find an example that has nice eye appeal at that grade or better...and the price is acceptable, I'm all over it.

 

Grade, but eye appeal is critical for me. I would rather have a beautiful AU 55 coin than a less attractive MS 61 as a type coin.

 

Amen brother!