As I have mentioned on another posting, I am trying to start collecting a set of lincoln memorial cents. I thought it would be good idea to work on a collection of Jefferson head 5 cent pieces at the same time. Would I be able to take the same appraoch as I am taking with the Lincoln Memorial cents? That is , collect all dates and just the P and D mintmarks, or should I take a different approach with the 5 cent pieces? Were they minted at the same locations? George O'Brien
You need to get yourself a Red Book so that you can see what is available. It doesn't have to be a new copy. You just want info about the set, not prices (Red Book prices are terrible). You could probably photocopy the few pages you need at the library. Most libraries have the Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins by R.S. Yeoman). A Jefferson nickel set is good because it's inexpensive. You can collect many right out of circulation OR if you want uncirculated coins, they still don't cost a lot.
I recently completed my Jefferson 5 cent set. Great set. Especially some of the recent ones. Don't forget the S series. S from 1938 - 1954 (with the exception of 1950), and then again from 1968 to the present (with the opportunity to collect proof versions).
I enjoy collecting the uncirculated/proof Jeffersons. I had to do something with them after breaking out the others from Proof/Mint sets.
Don't forget the '68-S to '70-S uncs as well. You mighht want to try to collect both these and the memorials from mint sets. Most of the finest examples of '65 and later coins went into these sets. Many of them are dogs so be selective.
One of the things I was wondering about is as follows. I was told by a professional numismatist, that a good way to collect Lincoln Memorial cents when starting out in coin collecting is to collect all dates in just the P and D mintmarks. The question is: Is this a good way to collect Jefferson head nickols as well, when starting out? George
collect whatever makes you happy. personally i would collect the "S" mints as well. i am doing a set of jeffersons and to me a set wouldn't be a set without all the different mm's. i am excluding proofs because i am doing a found in circulation set.
Excellent, found in circulation, now that is what coin collecting is all about. Of coarse you can't do that with obsolete coinage, but sometimes we get lucky. I'm still finding Jeff's from the 40's & 50's in pocket change, its a fun collection to be part of...
I recommend buying a Dansco Album for the coins you wish to start collecting. The slots are labeled so that you know what coins you will need.
I agree; however, look at the albums before you buy, as there are several types. Some albums will include holes for proofs, others will not. Personally I don't collect proofs. I'm more interested in "business strike" coins - i.e. coins that were intended to be used and not made specifically for collectors. Therefore, I buy Dansco albums that include all the years and mint marks EXCEPT proofs. Collect what interests you. The Jefferson set is fairly easy to collect and there isn't any coin in the set that is cost prohibitive for the average collector. I have them all from the beginning through 2008...one of these days I should catch up, but I'm not worried about the '09s and '10s going the way of the do-do bird anytime soon.
If you're like me and want to collect all the business strike coins, there are some "S" mint marks you need, too. In a few years there were some "S" mint marks that were released to circulation. There are also some varieties -- coins of one date and mint mark that were issued with a smaller date than others, etc. It took me over 25 years to assemble this collection because a few of them just can't be found in circulation. I paid a small premium to get those coins from dealers, but they rounded out my set quite nicely. When I say "small premium," I mean small. There is nothing cost prohibitive in this set; however, if you go backwards in time and collect all the Lincoln Wheat cents, there are a few you will pay bookoo bucks for (read up on the 1909 S VDB if you don't already know about it).
I would try for all of the circulation issues. There have been no San Francisco coins minted for circulation since 1970, but I have obtained many 'S' mint coins from circulation. You'll be surprised how often you find 68S, 69S and 70S nickels. I know I could build a set by purchasing the coins I need, but the challenge for me is trying to do it for face value and getting lucky. I am only missing 14 coins, and ironically two of them are 2009 P and D. I bought 5 mint sets for that year but I don't want to break any open just to fill a slot in my book. Other than that I just need 39S, 43D and S, 44D and S, 45P and S, 46S, 50D, 51S, 52D and 55. Keep us updated and happy hunting!
Matt, you can get all these very easily from any dealer. The most you'd ever pay is $5 for MS coins. It took me over 20 years to complete my set, but I bought most of the early coins. I collected the last 40 years' worth from circulation.
