Years in the making, and pretty much done now - my US Gold Type Set

Well, I can now proudly proclaim myself pretty much done with my US gold type set.

I probably do not need to tell you what a challenge- in fact, what a near impossibility- it would have been to complete this set on my modest earnings as a low-ranking hotel clerk. In fact, had it not been for some inheritance in early 2022, I never would have been able to acquire most of these coins. Prior to 2022, I couldn't even afford the melt value of any US gold coin larger than a quarter-eagle!

After 2022, and after paying off my debts with the inheritance money, I decided to put most of what was left into my coin collection. Maybe coins are not the smartest "investment" vehicle, but the enjoyment I get from owning them makes up for that. Not all of the dividends of this investment are tangible and monetary- some are more intellectual.

This is only a basic design type set of the post-1834 gold coins. I did not bother myself with the subtypes (No Motto, With Motto, etc.) I did add an additional pair of classic gold commemoratives- because I could.

As of this posting (February 2026), I've got everything in Mint State except for the Type 1 and Type 2 gold dollars (which are both AU58), and the Classic Heads and $3 (which are XF40, XF40, and AU58, respectively). I might try to upgrade those gold dollars to MS examples, but I'm not so sure I feel the need to upgrade the Classic Heads or the $3. Because this is a mixed PCGS and NGC collection, I do not have it on the PCGS Registry, though I've tinkered around a bit on the NGC Registry and MyCollect.

Since I've pretty much spent up all the "mad money" from my inheritance now (though I did save some in the bank for a rainy day), I'm back to having only my regular salary to shop with, so there won't likely be any more big gold purchases unless I sell something else. It is now time to turn back and focus on the minor denominations for my US type coins, though I remain an avid Ancient & World collector foremost, so my budget and attention are divided amongst the different categories of my very eclectic collection.

Since I bought most of these coins in 2022-2023, before gold prices doubled, it looks like I had fortuitous timing.

Here they are. I welcome your comments.

Gold Dollar, Type 1 (1849-1854)


Gold Dollar, Type 2 (1854-1856)


Gold Dollar, Type 3 (1856-1889)


Classic Head $2-1/2 (1834-1839)


Liberty $2-1/2 (1840-1907)


Indian $2-1/2 (1908-1929)


Indian Princess $3 (1854-1889)


Classic Head $5 (1834-1838)


Liberty $5 (1839-1908)


Indian Head $5 (1908-1929)

 

Liberty $10 (1838-1907)


Indian $10 (1907-1933)


Liberty $20 (1850-1907)


St. Gaudens $20 (1907-1933)


Commemorative Gold Dollar


Commemorative Gold $2-12

 

Yes, I understand that dilemma. This is another reason I don't have much intention of pursuing the subtypes in the double eagles. That money could be better spent in my Ancients collection, or for some minor-denomination US types I need. I focused on this gold so exclusively that I neglected and even sold some of my lower-denomination type coins. It's now time to turn back and focus on some of those.

 

That’s certainly on the “to-do” list, albeit not a top immediate priority.

I have the feeling that Type 2 G$ is gonna be a booger in MS.

 

I chose 1911 for my $10 Indian because that was my paternal grandmother’s birthyear.

 

Nice collection with a nice story. Well done on your completion.

I think I like your 1836 Classic Head $5 the best from your Gold Type set. I like those mid grade worn coins a ton.

I'm not much of a gold guy, but I would absolutely like to own a $10 Indian before I die. I prefer that design over the St. Gaudens, even though most others would think I'm crazy.

 

Thanks. I like it when folks “play favorites” and mention which coins they like the most, and why. It’s valuable feedback.

 

Nice pickup! That one looks a smidge sharper than my XF40 example above! Did you submit it, or keep it raw? I reckon that’s a 45 at least, if not a 50?

 

Thanks. I used to have sucky photos of that $10 Lib above because I didn’t want to resubmit it for TrueView imaging and lose the CAC sticker. So I was forced to photograph it myself, and I’m a very mediocre coin photographer. Finally I took that coin with me to the FUN show last month and had @messydesk shoot new photos of it (through the slab). Needless to say, his pics are better than mine were.

Im guessing that was gun jargon in your post (I’m not a gun guy). So you swapped a Classic Head $5 for a nice gun, huh? Well, back in the early 2000s I swapped an ANACS XF40 Classic Head $5 (not nearly as nice as the XF40 above), for a Sony Mavica camera, which became obsolete not long afterwards. Not my best swap over the long term, I guess.