I've been planning to start this for a while, and was wondering what comments I could get on the idea. I bought a Capital Plastics type set holder, and was thinking to fill it with one of the lowest mintage coins in each slot, as follows. Indian Cent: 1909-S Lincoln Wheat: 1909-S VDB Lincoln Memorial: 1960-P SD Liberty Nickel: 1912-S Buffalo Nickel: 1926-S Jefferson Nickel: 1950-D Barber Dime: 1901-S Mercury Dime: 1916-D Roosevelt Dime: 1949-S Barber Quarter: 1913-S Standing Liberty Quarter: 1927-S Washtington Quarter: 1932-S Barber Half: 1914 Walker Half: 1921-D Franklin Half: 1948 Kennedy Half: 1970-D Morgan Dollar: 1903-S Peace Dollar: 1928-P Eisenhower Dollar: 1973-D SBA Dollar: 1981-P I've fudged on a few items, for example the Roosevelt Dime, the 1955 is actually a lower mintage but the 1949-S seems like a more interesting mintage. The 1901S Barber Quarter and the 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter and a couple others, seems a bit pricey for me too, lol. I'm also tempted to switch a few other dates. The 1916-D Merc, for example. If I stick to a under $500 per coin limit I might find one but it would be in poor condition. If I went for the 1921-D, that $500 would buy something in a much nicer condition. I'm already not strictly going with the lowest mintage by not going for the super-expensive ones. So, I guess I'm looking for comments on how to make the nicest type set of low-mintage coins not letting any one coin cost over $500.
You might want to consider a few in higher mintages, in order get AU or better examples at your target price.
Well, this is your typeset, right? I would build it any way I liked, if it were me. You can always target purchasing the lowest minted AU+ coins from a series that were under $500. Even at that level, this is still a giant typeset. Good luck!
A great approach to the type set. Were it me, I might consider limiting the search to key or semi-key dates in the highest possible condition that could be acquired for under $500 each. In other words, do as you suggested with the acquisition of the 21-D Merc instead of the 16-D. Moving to the semi-key dates also limits the possibility of fakes, unless you plan on purchasing slabbed coins and breaking them out. As I am sure you are aware, there are more fake 1916-D Mercs on the market than real ones. Should be a nice set when you're done. Nothing like a nice type set, especially in the Capital Plastics holder. Personally, I went the route of a BU example for each for my personal collection.
I think you might end up changing more than a few unless you are willing to settle for several low grade coins. I understand the point of the type set - but i think it would just "look" much more presentable if the coins were all close to each other in regard to grade. JMO
Yea, I think I will change some more. What cdcda posted gave me an idea, try to get all uncirculated for the set, which would mean more semi-keys but might make a nicer looking set. It would look odd with mostly uncircs, and just a couple heavily circulated.