World Class Collection

What US coins would you want if you were trying to put together an affordable World Class Collection?

I'd pick:

1909s VDB
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter
1856 Flying Eagle Cent
1908s Indian Cent
1932d and 1932s Washington Quarter
1937d 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel
1928 Hawaii Commemorative Half

 

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i guess that depends on your definition of affordable and grade of coin you want. i know the "S-vdb" is not considered affordable by many.

i would definitely include a st.gaudens, trade dollar, and some "O" and "CC" mms.

should be a fun post to read, i will update mine with my list in a little bit.

 

Why an 08S Indian not a 09 or a 77?
I also would change that list as it's more of a key date set your listing.

 

What I mean by affordable is $10,000 +/-.

 

Number one and two on my list: 1915s Panama Comm. Octagonal and Heraldic Eagle Reverse (1798-1804). Those are second to none in my opinion.

 

I could go for an 09 and 77 too.

Maybe a key date set is what I'm looking for? :thumb:

 

An AU/MS 1793 copper set. 1793 Chain, Liberty and wreath cent. Then the 1793 half cent liberty cap.

 

Affordable would be a relative term, while World Class may not be. When I hear the term world class collection, I think of collections that are full of $10k+ coins. You might be looking for a Type set of keys in medium grades, but even that could run in multiples of $10k.

 

This is an oxymoron. If it's affordable, it can't be world class and if it's a world class collection, there is no way it would be affordable.

What you have done is simply picked your top 7 coins. That collection is not affordable to the common collector and there is nothing world class about it. Just a list...oh well.

world-class
adj. 1. Ranking among the foremost in the world; of an international standard of excellence; of the highest order: a world-class figure skater.
2. Great, as in importance, concern, or notoriety.

 

Let's not get too side tracked by everyone's personal definition of "world class" and "affordable." I think we all understand that I'm just asking for ideas for a list of nice coins that would be fun to collect.

How about this, let's assume you are not Bill Gates, but you do have some disposable income. Maybe you have an extra $10,000 to $20,000 a year to invest in your collection. Over the next 20 years, what would you like to see in that collection?

By World Class I merely mean a collection you can be proud of. A collection that contains coins that might even be worthy of us here saying, "wow, that's a nice collection he has there."

 

Ah now were're talking..10 to 20k a year for 20 years eh?
I'll be back with a list

 

That's what I like to hear. :thumb:

 

total or per coin?

 

Total. If there is a great coin that costs $400, then even better. Using my list, here are some examples from eBay:

1909s VDB
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...49438&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2592wt_1113

1916 Standing Liberty Quarter
http://cgi.ebay.com/1916-Standing-L...Individual&hash=item3a5c3b6f36#ht_3277wt_1113

1856 Flying Eagle Cent
http://cgi.ebay.com/1856-Flying-Eag...s=63&clkid=7605132647070676407#ht_3209wt_1113

1909s Indian Cent
http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-1909-S-Ind..._Individual&hash=item19bd1a96ac#ht_1222wt_887

1932d and 1932s Washington Quarter

http://cgi.ebay.com/1932-D-Washingt..._Individual&hash=item53e2149fa9#ht_500wt_1128

http://cgi.ebay.com/1932-S-PCGS-MS6...em&pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item5ad9ec89df

1937d 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel
http://cgi.ebay.com/1937-BUFFALO-NI..._Individual&hash=item23080b274e#ht_3641wt_951

1928 Hawaii Commemorative Half
http://cgi.ebay.com/1928-HAWAII-COM...S_Individual&hash=item439e8279a2#ht_870wt_887

 

Originally Posted by Cringely
total or per coin?

Alternatively, for twice the $10,000, you could get all but 3 (1793 chain cent, 1796 quarter, 1796/7 half dollar) type coins in G-4 condition listed in the Red Book. Slightly under three times the $10,000 would get you them in VG.

While I like 18th century type coins, you can't go wrong with the key Indian (1877, 1909-S) and wheat (1909-SVDB, 1922 no D, 1955 DD) cents, 3-legged buffalo, 1916-D dime, 1901-S quarter, etc.
While none of them are particularly rare (compared to say a chain cent), they are always in demand and extremely liquid.

 

Not sure this would exactly be world class, but it sure would be world class beauty to me. I'd create a mini type set of sorts.

Not sure how accurate my prices are though...

PF Indian Head Cent RD ($900)
MS Flying Eagle ($400)
MS Buffalo Nickel ($20)
MS Mercury Dime ($15)
MS Seated Liberty Quarter ($350)
MS Standing Liberty Quarter ($200)
MS DMPL Morgan Dollar ($200)
MS Peace Dollar ($30)
MS G$1 Liberty Head ($400)
MS G$1 Indian Princess ($400)
AU G$2.5 Classic Head ($2,000)
MS G$2.5 Liberty Head ($500)
MS G$2.5 Indian ($500)
MS G$10 Indian ($1,000)
MS G$20 Liberty Head ($1,500)
MS G$20 St. Gaudens ($1,500)

I don't mean to leave out early copper, but it's expensive to find nice superior gems for the earlier copper types. Rarity doesn't mean world class to me, I'd be much happier having beautiful coins even if they aren't rare types.

 

:kewl: I like it. Very nice selection. :thumb:

 

I agree with the others, why would anyone buy a 1908-S IHC????

Sure, if you're trying to build a type set of key dates, the 1909-S or the 1877 would be the choice for your for the Indian Head Cent, though I would argue the 1908-S is more historically significant and just cooler than others, it's not seen as a key date.

I like to buy key dates, as well as just other coins that are plain old cool.

Some examples would be:

1864 2c Small Motto
1851-O 3c Silver
1853 Arrows & Rays Quarter or Half
Twenty Cent Piece
1937-D Three Legged Buffalo Nickel
1804 Spiked Chin Half Cent
1839-O Bust Half Dollar

That's all I can think of w/o looking at my lists Also might want to get nice examples of your favorite Classic Commemorative Halves or some gold type coins if you like gold.

 

That is a great list, although since you are including the Buffalo nickel
and Mercury dime, I would also include a Lincoln cent, V and/or Shield nickel, Barber dime, Barber and Washington quarter and Barber and Walking Liberty Half dollar.

 

A " world class" collection would be every single coin mm in the highest grade in the world. Good Luck!