First Coin Type To Start Collecting As A Newbie.

Hello again, Just had a quick question. For me being new to collecting I was wondering what would be the best coin type to start collecting. What I mean is maybe the ease of finding the coin, having smaller budgets etc... Thank You all for the help.

 

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Well, that really depends on many things. What you like, how you want to hunt for the coins (ie. pocket change, roll searching, going to dealers, coin shows), budget. If it's change that you like searching through, then a nice set of Lincoln cents would be neat or nickels since they have had a few changes in recent years. You could also go to the quarters if you like so many different types of quarters from each year like we've seen recently. If you'd like to go through dealers and put together an older set, Ike dollars, Franklin Halves, Susan B. Anthony dollars, or any other short set. Or do like I've done in the past. Research the coins and buy what you find interesting. Keep us posted on your decision!

 

You can easily start a good collection of Lincoln Wheat Cents. If you get rolls of pennies from the bank, look through them, and bring back the ones you don't want, you can get yourself a pretty decent collection. I average on a box of $25 with 13-15 wheaties, sometimes more, sometimes less. Essentially, you're buying them at face value

 

Agree with Lehigh Jefferson's

The following 3 you can still pick some out of pocket change.
Though depends upon your average grade that you prefer.

Jefferson's have no real hard expensive dates unless you go into varieties or condition census. where as the 50d will cost the most though readily available.

Roosevelt's again no Big key to the series to speak of.

Washington quarters in real doable in AU with the 32 d at 130ish in Good to $400+ in au and 32s in Good 150+ and 250+ in au along with the 36d in xf should be about $50 but in AU it would be about 250.

 

Yeah, Roosies don't cost too much, also maybe try Jeffersons.

 

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ABSOLUTELY stunning Lehigh!

 

Thanks, in my experience, visual options work great in this situation.

 

Right, and no prob!

 

I would recommend a 20th century type set; customized to fit your budget.

Remember it's your collection, so you can customize it any way you want.

-LTB

 

I agree with Lincoln Cents. Getting them at banks at face value is cheap. Also talk to people you know. Many people I know don't like loose change, especially cents, so you may be able to find yourself a few steady supplies of cents. There are alot of varieties so it can become overwhelming but you can narrow it down by focusing on Wheats as stated previously. Plus I think Wheats are just cool.

 

I would start collecting contemporary cents, nickels, dimes, and quarters. You get them all the time in changes and keep filling holes and replacing ones with higher quality ones from circulation. Buy a good reference book and learn how to grade them as you get them.

 

I started with Lincoln Wheat Cents, starting with 100 rolls to search through. It was fun, I filled a lot of spots in my albums and upgraded as I found nicer examples, etc. I never finished the set, though. I'm not just missing the rarest and most expensive ones, but a lot of other years and mint marks as well.

I wanted something more exciting and different, but still reasonably affordable. I wanted something older. I found Indian Head Cents, which I slowly collected until only two slots remained in my album (the expensive ones). Some of the more expensive ones are in very low grades, and some of the cheaper ones are in very high grades. If you're looking for something older, I recommend IHCs.

Copper is good right now, with silver prices so high. Of course, silver might just skyrocket more for all we know.

 

Depends on the budget and what grade you would be happiest with. With me I like high grade indian head cents, but for my large cent album it is po-1 to au depending on the date. And if I had to give up one it would be the IHC's. Some people put together albums of Jeffs or Roosies in MS and they look nice. I like the idea of a 20th century AU to MS type set. From there you might try a limited 19th century type set or decide on a series you would like a complete set of.

 

All great suggestions for you. If you have a little bit of a budget, I would suggest Franklins. I just started my brother on Franklins this year and it has a lot of advantages (if you think Precious Metals won't tank in the short-term - I don't think they will).

Advantages:
- short set and no key date that is going to keep you from finishing...so you have that feeling of accomplishment.
- BU examples can be found for almost all years for at or less than $20...even with Silver high right now.
- difference between BU prices and junk prices are negligible in some years.
- you are acquiring a position in precious metals while collecting coins - can't beat that.
- easy to learn to grade
- don't believe they have been copied to the mass extent as some other coins so you can probably feel safe buying online.
- my opinion - a neglected series that has alot of room to appreciate over next 50 years.
- they look awesome as shown above by Lehigh.

So, if you want to spend $10-$25 per coin - I would recommend Franklins.

If something less of a budget - I would recommend Roosies (pre-1964). Some of the same advantages above apply.

I am just glad you are coming into the hobby - THANKS and WELCOME! It is a great hobby!

 

Lehigh nailed it with his first post. Jefferson Nickel for the win.

 

You may want to try collecting the Kennedy half dollars. You can get rolls at banks and if they don't have any they usually will order them for you. I also have several places of business save all half dollar and dollar coins for me. I visit each of these businesses a few times a month to get the coins that they have saved for me. Also, the new Presidential dollars are readily available at banks and at stores for your consideration. Purchasing a few coin folders to place your coins into would be a great way to start out. You can buy them at coin shops and at some of the larger bookstores i.e. Borders. I would also get a Guide Book of United States Coins, 2011 for coin identification and values. You can get that at the coin shops and bookstores also. Good luck on your new found hobby. I guarantee that you will be challenged and rewarded at the same time. I love this hobby!

 

Lehigh has it pegged. Those were my first three sets too. Jeffersons, Franklins then Roosies. Moved on to Ikes after that. After getting some experience and some upgrades, I've moved on to some of the older ones like Barber Halves.

 

That's Fantastic ! My last 60 rolls yielded 5 Wheat Cents, 2 Canadians and a limited smaller number of pre 82s. 13-15 per box is greater than I have found in the past 6 months going through 1+ boxes each week.

gary