Coin novice needs help!

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by xmaswife, Dec 16, 2015.

  1. xmaswife

    xmaswife New Member

    Hello everyone,

    I am a complete coin novice, but my new husband is a rather avid collector. He collects US currency only, and mostly historic items, not commemorative. He has several individual coins from the 19th and 20th century, as well as a couple Lincoln Cents folders that were passed down from his grandfather and father.

    I would like to start a new tradition with him starting with this Christmas. What I am thinking involves buying a coin folder or album that would hold about 20ish coins, with each coin ranging in price from $30-$150. This year he would get the folder with one coin, and then each year for Christmas he would get another coin as a gift. By the time we are done with the folder we will most likely have a kid old enough that he could pass it on to.

    Here is where I'm at - I have looked into a couple different types of folders/albums and I am somewhat overwhelmed. I have looked at 19th century type coin albums because I like the idea of having different denominations, but I am afraid of buying a folder that would overlap too much with his current collection. Is there any line of coins or a type of collection (forgive my ignorance in terminology) that might be rare enough that he wont have many of them, but not so rare that they would be too far out of my price range year to year?

    I really appreciate your guys' help. Eventually, I hope to be more well-versed so I don't have to bug everyone for their expertise.
     
    Whipps, Kentucky and NSP like this.
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  3. Sean5150

    Sean5150 Well-Known Member

    Can't go wrong with Franklins
     
  4. dlhill132

    dlhill132 Member

    Xmas,
    You cant go wrong with a 19th century type set. Something different every xmas.
    Doug H.
     
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  5. BooksB4Coins

    BooksB4Coins Newbieus Sempiterna

    I'll second the type set suggestion. While certain coins may (will) end up costing top of your max, if you're going to do this over many years, plan ahead. Even if it somewhat overlaps his present collections, it doesn't matter... the thoughtfulness and gesture will mean so much more.
     
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  6. DUNK 2

    DUNK 2 Well-Known Member

    Peace Dollars. Only minted from 1921 - 1928 and again in 1934 - 1935.

    Check out a nice Capital holder and create a year set of 10 coins.

    Would be an awesome gift. In my humble opinion, of course.:happy:
     
  7. DUNK 2

    DUNK 2 Well-Known Member

    Capital holder. 41tXlYa4rwL._SY400_.jpg
     
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  8. Sean5150

    Sean5150 Well-Known Member

    +1
     
  9. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    Or you could just throw in 'modern' and really Diss him off... devil.gif

    You can't go wrong with a classic 'type set' album, Christmaswife. He'll love you for it. Welcome to the forum dear Lady........
     
  10. Santinidollar

    Santinidollar Supporter! Supporter

    Peace dollars seem to fill your bill if you want to concentrate on one issue. But different 19th centuries also would be awesome.
     
  11. Santinidollar

    Santinidollar Supporter! Supporter

    Oh, I forgot my manners! Welcone to the site.
     
  12. DUNK 2

    DUNK 2 Well-Known Member

    Me too.:blackeye:
     
  13. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    We allow discretionary immunity for Cartman....... devil.gif
     
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  14. green18

    green18 Unknown member Sweet on Commemorative Coins Supporter

    And I have no idea what that means.....that's the bourbon talkin'.........:)
     
    Santinidollar likes this.
  15. Traz

    Traz Card counter

    Buy something else from the heart.
     
  16. Omegaraptor

    Omegaraptor Gobrecht/Longacre Enthusiast

    If you want a short series, I would recommend Draped Bust LCs (w/o 1799 or 1804). Each coin is over 200 years old and most of them under $100. Might be a bit hard to find the 1796 under $100 though.
     
  17. cooper

    cooper Active Member

    You guys are probably speaking French to her...
     
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  18. desertgem

    desertgem Senior Errer Collecktor

    The pre 1960 commemorative half dollars, maybe starting with a 1892 Columbus half, as they are nice and not too expensive even in nice condition. Welcome to the forum. Jim
     
  19. Paddy54

    Paddy54 Well-Known Member

    Welcome to the forum!
    I will suggest US half dimes , starting with the Capped Bust series .
    It's a short set ,with a few varieties , a very historical time of our country 1829-1837 Xf coins range in the $100-200 range . It's a collection that is easy complete able .
    I also feel that US half dimes is a series that is a sleeper.
    Meaning that it may not be as popular at present as other US coin series , but is starting to be noticed by more collectors as a fun series to collect.
    Just my 2 cents..... but again you are the best judge as you know your spouse way better then any other option
    in this forum.
     
  20. cpm9ball

    cpm9ball CANNOT RE-MEMBER

    First, welcome to the neighborhood @xmaswife !

    This sort of subject comes up from time to time. It always receives a bunch of different suggestions, and your thread is no different. I was already thinking of the Classic Commemorative set when I saw Jim's, aka desertgem, post. The Classic Commems are half dollar, legal tender coins that were produced from year to year to offset the cost of the celebrations in a particular state, area or for a person. They were struck from 1892 to 1954. You can collect a short set by year which is about 54 coins or you can collect a complete set of date/mintmark which is 144 coins. (Someone correct me if my numbers are wrong.)

    Chris
     
  21. JPeace$

    JPeace$ Coinaholic

    Welcome to the site @xmaswife.

    The recommendations you receive will likely be skewed towards the posters collecting preference. Picking out coins for a collector is like picking out clothes. Unless you know their tastes, picking something they would really enjoy will be difficult.

    That's why I would recommend a Type Set. The most popular was defined by Dansco. A well thought of maker of coin albums. It's called a Dansco 7070 type set. You don't have to collect the gold coins if you don't want to.

    Might I suggest that you purchase TPG (Third Party Graded) coins vs. raw coins for an album. I like the idea of purchasing a type set for your husband, but instead of buying the "raw" (ungraded) then putting them in an album, you could buy them already graded and use a spreadsheet to keep track of what you already own. Buying them graded by either PCGS or NGC (possibly ANACS) is the safest way to collect these coins. First, the TPG has authenticated the coin. Secondly, they've looked at it with trained eyes and determined whether it has any damage or has been cleaned, thus maintaining the value of the coin. And lastly, they assign a grade to the coin. The grade is subjective, but typically is within a point or two of the ANA standards. You can buy storage boxes to hold the graded coins. You see, believe it or not, there are many shady coin sellers out there and if you don't know what you are doing, you can get severely burned. BTW, I'm doing this very thing in building a type set.

    Here are examples of coins graded by the top two TPG's.
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    If this idea interests you at all, PM me. I can send you the spreadsheet I've already put together to track a Type Set.
     
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