Where Do you Rank Them and Why?

As my interests in US coinage branch off in to some of the earlier stuff I started to wonder about the different eras of US coinage and where I thought they ranked in the way of pure asthetics.

I wonder what everyone here thinks too. We have such a wide base of collectors here on CoinTalk that I figured it'd be interesting and worthwhile to ask you all for your opinions regarding the different eras of US coinage.

For the sake of making it more uniform, I will put the question to the group as this:

How do you rank the following eras of US coinage?

- 1800-1849
- 1850-1899
- 1900-1949
- 1950-1999

I purposely left out the current era because I feel it would not rank, but if you have a convincing argument for that... go for it! I also left out the era of 1792-1799 as I think that the fledgling US Mint era coins would fit best within the 1800-1849 group but I wanted to be uniform and consistent.

Which era do you like best, where do you rank the rest and why?

 

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I like the older designs better - but I do like certain designs in the other time periods.

 

For me I love 1850-1899. The main reason is my 2 favorite coins originated in that time period...the Morgan Dollar and the Indian Head Cent. I also really like the Barber Design and it began in this period.

Next, 1900-1949...and this is a very close second. There are some awesome coins here, in my opinion it had the greatest variety of beautiful coins. If not for my deep love of the Morgan and IHC...this is a hands down winner. It had the Lincoln, Buffalo Nickel, Mercury Dime, SLQ, Peace Dollar, Walking Liberty Half...and if you really get down to the truth...the Morgan and the IHC did spend some time here as well as the majority of the Barber run. So, I'm changing my opinion...1900-1949 was the best! Unfortunately, I don't think I can actually change my vote in the poll, but I changed it in my heart.

1800-1849 just because I love the Draped Bust design. Seated Liberty or Capped Bust Half never really did it for me.

1950-1999: Just not much doing it for me. I like the Kennedy Half, but that's really it.

 

Yep!

 

Richie - don't forget the gold coinage too of this era. Along with the series mentioned by you during these years and adding the gold, the 1900-1949 wins hands down for me!

 

That's true. Since I own all of 2 gold coins (although, I guess 3 now with the YN contest) I didn't really think of that. Your right, the old from this era is amazing. It definitely wins.

 

1900-1949 for me. Specifically, 1920-1950. Lots of good coins. The peace dollar, the standing liberty quarter and half dollar, buffalo head nickle, and the mercury dime. I have yet to get a peace dollar, but I'm going to get one as soon as I can. It's a beautiful coin, starting in amazing era (the roaring twenties).

 

I love EVERYTHING from 1900-1949 that doesn't have dead person on it! St. Gaudens, Bela Lyon Pratt's Indian Head gold, buffaloes, walkers, standers, mercs, Indian Head cents, Peace dollars, Morgans, Lib nickels, even the Barber series... numismatically, this is the place to be IMHO!

2nd is the early 19th century for me. Turban Heads, capped and draped busts... mmmmm.

then I'd take the late 1800s and the late 1900s lastly. Heck, I love them all! I am just a coin nut, I guess!

 

I'm a big fan of obsolete denominations... and 1850 to 1899 has the 2 cents, 3 cents, 20 cents, the last of the half cents...

Add to that the flying eagle and Indian head cents... Shield and Liberty nickels, Morgan dollars, seated Liberty dimes, quarters, half dollars... yep I'd have to go with this as my favorite.

1900 to 1949 would be a close second though... love the Peace dollars, buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Franklin halves, Walking Liberty halves... Lincoln cents will always have a special place for me, as that's what got me into coin collecting in the first place... and the last of the circulating gold (can't afford to own much lol but am still a fan!). Standing liberty quarters and even early Washington quarters I'm kind of fond of also.

Most exciting thing that happened 1950 to 1999 imo is the Kennedy half, also something I got excited about in my early coin collecting days. Kind of like the huge Ike dollars too.

 

Tough selection, I would have said:
1892 to 1916.

Guess why?

Hint: Barber designs.

 

Are you blond?

 

I went with 1850-99 primarily because of the Morgan dollar.

 

this was a very hard pick since I collect from 1804-2008
My first love in coins is the bust & seated 1/2 Dimes
2nd Bust&seated Dimes
3rd Morgan&Peace dollar & 1971-1978 Ikes
4th 1892 & 2008 Barber of all type but not the liberty nickel
I do collect Walker Franklin & Kennedy's

 

I like the 1850-1899 period best IMHO. I just started to collect type coins and there are some awesome looking designs on coins for this period. I really like the seated liberty design.

 

I like 'em all. 1800-1849 is my favorite. The Draped Bust can't be ignored. Capped Bust / Seated Libbie is also strong.

Easy to see why the 1900-1949 category gets lots of votes. Great stuff.

You should have a category for pre-1800 ! I'm sure I'm not alone in that opinion.

 

I like the time frame of 1850-1899. It covers the transition of using precious metals in small denomination coins to the cheaper copper-nickel alloy. With the Mints' lack of experience minting coins using this new alloy, the Mint has provided me with many coins with interesting die breaks and cuds.

 

somebody should vote for 1800-1849. Those coins are getting lonely and are all graded 70+ with great toning

 

In my opinion the best coin designs where from the 1900 - 1949 era.

Lou

 

I had to go with the 1850-1899 period. Took a lot of thought as so many wonderful coins are included in the poll.

Love my odd denomintions and type coins so I look at it this way.

In that period we had 1/2 cents, large cents, 2 cents, 3 cent nickels, 3 cent silvers. half dimes, 20 cents still in production.

Add all Liberty Seated designs, Trade Dollars, Morgan Dollars all Barber series'. Want more? Indian cents, Flying Eagles, Shield Nickels, V nickels. Lots of gold and early commems.

Man, there was a lot going on back then wasn't there? Not stuck with high technology dead Presidents that's for sure.

As a footnote the paper money kicked butt back then too.