Need help with making a decision

Okay I have been collecting coins for a long time now and I would like to get started on making complete coin sets. Now I have 4 coins in mind for my starter set and I would like to get some opinions on which one I should complete first and the choices are the Ike dollar, The Washington quarter, The Ben Franklin half dollar, and the Jefferson nickel.

 

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Jefferson Nickel would be the easiest and least expensive, IMHO.

 

Franklin halves

 

Are you including proofs in your complete sets?

 

The Washington quarter set (eagle reverse) was the most fun

 

Ikes. Big, easy to find, and not too expensive for a complete set. (Including proofs) JMO.

 

I think you will get responses favoring all four. Personally I would start with Jeffersons as you could find many in circulation, and the ones that aren't in circulation are easily obtained without a second mortgage on your home (unless you are going for ultra-high-grade examples). My second choice would be Franklins. Those are the first two series I completed when I was a decade younger than you are now; still have the Franklins almost forty years later.
Steve

 

No I'm not including proofs in my sets I'll get around to doing that at a later time when I can afford to do so. Now I appreciate all the opinions so far and the reason why I'm focusing pictularly on these 4 coins atm is cause I have enough to really get started on and I know they aren't expensive to complete

 

If you don't mind lower grade coins, check out the Barber dime series.

A great set and not a lot of money, aside from the 1895 O

 

While I do have some Barber dimes in fact I did post one of em on here a long time ago I'm trying to get a complete set of coins that doesn't cost to much to fully complete which is why I didn't include the Barber dime or the wheat penny in my initial 4 choices now mind you I will eventually get around to complete those sets along with a great many others I just don't have the money to do so right now

 

I've completed three of the four - Ike, Franklin & Jefferson, and every January 1, my Jefferson is no longer complete. The Washington Quarter is the toughest one, and I didn't stop that one in 1964 or 1998 - still going. I only collect BU and Proof. No circulated examples on these newer series. Page 1 in a BU Washington Quarter Dansco album gets a little salty. 5 to go.

 

Ike's are really easy as you could probably pick up the whole M.S. set for under $200.00 from a major dealer and a lot of them will include a nice album. If you are looking at B.U. the Washington's are going to be tough, especially higher M.S. examples. The Franklins are still affordable in M.S., just not a set of full bell lines. Jefferson's are a go reasonably as long as you are not looking for a pristine set of full steppers.

 

Jeffs would be the most reasonably priced followed by Ikes, Franks and Washingtons.

 

Well thanks to everyone on here I have safely eliminated 2 of the 4 choices and I'm very grateful to everyone's opinion in here

 

I guess my old "used to be complete" set of Ike dollars now needs a 1972 Type II, come to think of it. Welp, add that to the ol' want list.

 

In the past few years I have completed a book of Franklin halves and Walking Liberty halves and a book of Peace dollars. My next project will be my Roosevelt dimes.

 

Ikes are ugly. Franklins are the most distinguished looking of your stated options and have the most intrinsic value, what with the silver content and all. Washington Quarters and Jefferson Nickels, while interesting, are loaded with relatively insignificant dates/mint marks, whereas every Franklin half is by nature collectible, plus, they ain't makin' em anymore.
Bill
SilverWilliesCoins.com

 

I have the same experience. I think the eagle reverse Washingtons are the most fun to collect out of those series. I'm love looking through my Washington Dansco with proofs.

 

Working on my third set of Franklins....all bright BU and full bell line except for a couple of the MONSTERS. Also the full set of CAM PF has a couple of MONSTERS as well....this set is a lifelong undertaking to find all in high grades, but I have the rest of my life to work on it. Also love my Ike set....all are highest grade and eye appeal that I can afford....always searching for a nicer replacement coin....both of these sets are satisfying and challenging as moderns go.

 

The only complete set I've collected is a BU Franklin set. 1. Moderate prices even in BU. 2. Easy to complete because there are only 35 dates and mint marks, (unless you want varieties and proofs as well).