Best type or series of coin for beginners

lol.

I guess we shouldn't poop on Jefferson nickels or we'll have to answer to Gbroke. No offense to you on the Jeffersons, just not my thing right now. Maybe at some point I'll see them in another light.

 

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Focusing on a year/mint set of a specific type of coin is not the only way to collect. I would personally suggest starting out as a type collector. Track down the nicest single example of each particular type of coin that falls within a price range that you can afford. An inexpensive way to start would be to complete a 20th century set. Or you could complete a small cent and nickel collection, which could consist of:

Small Cents: Flying Eagle (1857-1858), IH No Shield (1959), IH Copper-Nickel (1860-1864), Indian Head (1864-1909), Wheat VDB (1909), Wheat (1909-1958), Wheat Steel (1943), Memorial Copper (1959-1982), Memorial Zinc (1982-2008), 4 Lincoln Boyhoods (2009), Shield (2010-)

Nickels: Shield Rays (1866-1867), Shield (1867-1883), Liberty No Cents (1883), Liberty (1883-1912), Buffalo Mound Reverse (1913), Buffalo (1913-1938), Jefferson (1938-2008), Jefferson War (1942-1945), 4 Jefferson Westwards (2004-2005), New Jefferson (2006-)

As you can see, there is a lot of variety to be had, and variety is what makes coin collecting interesting to me. Or, you may end up with a particular coin design that you tend to appreciate more than the others, at which point you would have discovered the coin for a year/date collection.

 

Just stating my opinion of Jeffersons and I don't like them. I'm sure there are coins I like that you don't like.

 

Jeffersons are boring! :devil:

 

Another good choice would be Franklin halves. There are no expensive key dates in the set, a avg circ set can be put together for not a lot over bullion value. Many pieces can be had in MS for not much over bullion value, and without a lot of stretching you can actually put together the whole set in MS-63 or 64 without breaking the bank. The only time they get stupid expensive is if you insist on having FBL coins. And it is a large silver coin with no piece less than 49 years old.

Another good choice Late date Large cents. 1840 -57. Only one "key" and it won't break the bank. Dirt cheap in lower grade, easily doable in VF, and still doable in XF just not quite as easy. Now I'm not talking about the varieties, just a date set.

 

And actually if you go with late dates there are still only 1 key date(2 varities)- the varieties can be had in low grades at reasonable rates if you look long enough. And then you do not have to do all the varieties. Then you can even do a date set of the middle dates at a reasonable price - throw in some (not all varieties) and you have a really interesting set.

The bottom line has been mentioned - collect what you like. I recommended type sets before - it gives you a little bit of everything and then you can decide if you want to do a complete set.

 

I started with Jefferson Nickels, my friend who introduced me to the hobby collected Wheat Pennies. Collect within your budget and have fun. The history and the hunt is what it's all about IMO.

 

It depends on what you want to pay. From what I read at about.com, Jefferson nickels. You can find almost all of them in circulation. Mercury dimes can once in a great while be found in dime boxes and in junk silver lots but there are expensive key dates. Buffalo nickels might be good if you want to buy them all. I always find some wheat pennies in circulation and can gather many of them from circulation.

 

I picked up some Jefferson nickel and Roosevelt dime folders and went through on of my jars of change and found a good amount of coins for both sets. Best find was a 1939 Jefferson.

 

All good choices.
I'd add Franklin half dollars. You can put together a nice set of circulated Franklins for around melt value.
Over the years I've put together 2 sets from my junk silver purchases.
Silver (and clad) Roosevelt dimes are another area where you can get nice coins for very little money.
And you can still pull Jefferson nickels right out of circulation.
The main thing is your hunt should be a fun pastime to fill your idle hours.
Good luck!

 

Coins in circulation. Especially for young collectors, pieces in use are easily obtainable and highlight differences in value (rarity) passing through your fingers every day. Putting together a Lincoln Memorial Cent set from circulation is super cheap, with thousands of coins available for sifting through for $20.

Start with the Whitman Albums ($4) and fill in the holes for a quick solution, but I would advise making a tiny upgrade and use 2x2 cardboard-mylar flips ($2/100) in a box ($2) or non-vinyl clear pocket sheets ($20/100) in a notebook to establish good habits from the beginning. Additional useful supplies are a flat clinch stapler ($13), a premium 10x hastings/triplet loupe ($12 from http://www.widgetsupply.com), a few coin tubes ($2), three pairs of cotton gloves ($3), and a Whitman Redbook ($12). Add on a small 0.1g precision scale ($20) or build a cheap balance out of a tongue depressor to descriminate copper and zinc 1982 pennies.

Just putting together a complete LMC set will explain just about everything you need to know about collecting for very little time or cost. Grow into Wheat Cents, or start collecting Mint Mark varieties and errors. Add Jefferson Nickels, Roosevelt Dimes, and Washington Quarters as interest grows. And before long, you'll have Indian Head Cents, Buffalo Nickels, and Morgan Dollars!

A good place to start online for supplies is http://www.wizardcoinsupply.com . I'd be curious what other links people here prefer.

 

buffalo nickel and indian cents are exspensive set even in low grade. I did a jefferson set out of circulation, however im still missing 5.

 

It all really depends on what you like. Some people like huge chunky coins and some don't. But before you dislike any coin take a close look at the details, both obverse and reverse. And of course the history of the coin if that matters to you. I find many series fun to collect and if you think a series is too easy. Make it challenging by cherrypicking ones with special attributes.

 

(rolling eyes at those Jefferson nuts)

*clears throat* Roosevelt Dimes! *clears throat again*

 

I would sugest a type set, the Dansco 7070 album is great. Every hole can be filled for under $50 to start, starting with coins so worn you can barely tell what they are for the early 1800's. Then, it can become a long term project as you upgrade each hole, with coins up to thousands of dollars. I love mine that I am working on, especially because a) i get to learn about every coin design ever made and b) because any us coin that I see that i like and can afford, I have a spot for in the album, whether it is a new type or an upgrade.

Possibly one of the hardest parts will be finding the album.

**Whoops. Just read the rest of the thread and realized this has been said, but good advice can't be repeated enough.**