How many to complete the "set"?

As I peruse CT threads I see so many U.S. collectors with so many interests and it makes me think. How many coins does it require to complete "your set"?

As a self proffessed Two Cent Junkie my "set(s) consist of ten coins. I am interested only in business strikes and include the Small Motto. This makes it a ten coin set that is actually difficult to obtain for many. It's the only "set" I've actually finished. Of course I'm not that much into sets.

What about y'all? What sets are you working on? Does it include proofs and varieties in your case?

How many total do you need to complete your "set"?

 

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For my uncirculated set, I am missing the S VDB and 14-D or you can add the 22- and 55- DD. Just to have the coins, I am just missing the S VDB (and the 55- DD)

 

I have a number of sets that are not even close, so I will only speak about the one that is close. Actually it is considered a subset, Jefferson War Nickels. I need only the 1942-P and the 1943/2-P and of course they must be rainbow toned. Here is a current photo of the set with my new images.



When I finish the set, I will probably be 2nd or 3rd in the NGC registry. I have no shot at 1st and currently my set is ranked 10th.

BTW, the 1942-P in the photo is just a plain white MS66 and is not really in the set.

 

My personal XF/AU set is complete 09-33, and BU from 34-58

I am missing the 22 NoD and 55 DDO , thats about it.

 

Depends on the set...

Walkers in F-15: Need to upgrade 5 or 6 coins from F-12, need a bunch of early stuff, pre-23. Mainly because they are VERY tough to find raw and the way I like them (Actually F-15, not F-15 in a PCGS VF30 holder).

F Set of SLQs: Need a truly F 1916, they're usually in VF30+ holders. Need a 20-D (PITA to find) and need to pay attention and get a 26-D. Haven't even started on other sets of circ SLQs, eventually I want grading sets, and a screwball set (Every coin must be off center, die clash, struck through, RPM, cud, die crack, etc)

It's been done actually. The 1916 exists broadstruck

Lincolns: Ahh.. need many of the good ones. On the back burner

Liberty Nickels: Need to upgrade a bunch of them, but it's complete.

Mercury Dimes: This is a VG+ Circ set, need a 1916-D. Same problem as the others, they are all overholdered and overpriced. VG Coins in F-15 holders.

Roosevelt Dimes: Got em all, that was REAL hard

Washington Quarters: Need a few dates, nothing tough, just haven't been working on em lately.

Buffalo Nickels: Haven't given it much thought, will work on it when others are done. Probably 40-50% complete.

Indian Head Cents: I have a bunch but I'm reading up on them, a future goal.

A fair number of the coins I need are often found grossly overgraded, and on some of these coins, there's a big spread between the grades, the 21 Walkers that I need to upgrade and the 16-D dime are great examples. I'm not paying $1,000 for a $500 coin, especially when the market is going down. It doesn't bother me if a VF S-VDB is in an XF holder, it's not a huge premium between the grades, but some of these coins are frustrating.

 

Lincolns, Jeffersons, Roosevelts, Washingtons.....ran out of fingers and money. Still fun though

 

You really have to take it easy on us old guys .... posting colors this bright early in the morning compounds my slight hangover and causes my eyes to tear up.

 

I'm working on complete sets of barber dimes, minus the 94-S as its not really a part of the set. I'm only 10 short from completion, 1892-s 1893 1893-o 1897-o 1897-s 1898-o 1898-s 1900-s 1906-s 1908-o and only three of those would I consider to be semi key so I am rapidly getting close. As soon as that set is done, I'll start to build a second one where all the coins including the keys and semi keys are F-12 or better.

 

I'm an Indian $2.5 collector, and need one - The Big One.

I'm a type collector, and need many. So I approach it by denomination. I have completed several denominations.

Nor am I ! It shifts everything from "pressure" to "pleasure". I never see my cabinet as having holes ! Just good stuff to enjoy.

It also changes my Want List from a long rambling mess to one simple statement. Here is my want list :

"A great coin is a great coin."

It's that simple. Upgrading with a great coin is much better than filling a hole with a mediocre coin.

These days, a coin has to jump out at me. It's gotta make me react like I did when I first saw the girl I married (well, not exactly the same... you know what I mean !)

Hmmm.... come to think of it, I had a variety of reactions when I met her ! They went something like this :

:whistle: ... :bigeyes: ... :thumb: ... ... ... :goofer: ... ...

heh heh heh

 

To me a full set is business strikes, same design/comp, no errors.

Peace Dollar-23/24
Franklin Half-35/35
Roosevelt Dime Silver-48/48
Wheat Cent-131/142 (this also included the steel)
Walking Liberty Half-56/65
Barber Half-10/65
Washington Clad-63/63
Washington Silver 81/84
State Quarters-100/100
Jefferson War Nickel 11/11
Mercury Dime 76/80
Morgan Dollar 24/98
Buffalo Nickel 41/70
Indian Cents 35/55
Westward Journey 8/8
Jefferson Nickel 2006- 6/6
Silver Eagle-23/25

 

as of now. only 7,000 or less sets can be completed for american eagle gold proof and unc combined. and only 30,000 or less sets can be completed for american eagle silver proof and unc combined. but for platinum proof and unc combined. right now is about 3,000 set or less. but that number is considered huge as compare to silver and gold. because the later have large mintages and less collectors.

 

Although generally not to the same degree as a type set, a set can be whatever you want.
Your coins; your interest; your money. You make the rules.

For instance I would suspect not many Morgan collectors would find it necessary to have an 1895 to consider their set complete.
Most would want all the business strike date/mm combinations.
Not many would get down to the the VAM level.

 

Most of the sets I'm working on with overdates and DDs I dont include. With one exception, my Half Dimes. With these I'm buying the overdates but I'm not worrying at this time about the many varieties in this set. As for the sets I'm working on:

U.S. Large Cents: I just started these not long ago so I only have 2. Its got a long way to go.
Indian Head Cents: I have most of this collecton and probably have about 9 to go.
Lincoln Cents: I need 4 to complete this set 1912-s, 1913-s, 1914-s and 1915-s.
Bust and Seated Liberty Half Dimes: I have 12 of these all together. Current center of attention.
Liberty "V" Nickels: I need five of these to complete the set.
Buffalo Nickels: I have a long way to go on these also. I have some but need most.
Jefferson Nickels: Complete to date
Barber Dimes: Just started these also. I only have 4.
Mercury Dimes: Complete minus the overdates.
Roosevelt Dimes: Complete to date.
Barber Quarters: Just started. I only have 5 of these.
Standing Liberty Quarters: Need 6 to complete this set.
Washington Quarters: Complete to date.
Statehood Quarters: Complete. Not interested in collection the U.S. Territory Quarters.
Walking Liberty Halves: I have 6 of these. Working on the complete set. 1916-1947.
Franklin Halves: Complete. All AU-BU.
Kennedy Halves: Complete BU
Morgan Dollars: I have about 1/3 of this set. I havent been concentrating on this set for about a year.
Peace Dollars: I need 4 of these to complete the set.
Eisenhower Dollars: Complete
Prez Dollars: Complete to date.

I think thats all.

 

With Ancients there is almost no hope of putting together a complete "set", (unless it is a set consisting of less than 10 coins, like the cordius rufus', or the Fel Temps).

Phoenix

 

With only a few exceptions, I notice you don't mention grades.
That's okay. As I said before you define a "set" however you wish.

For instance, my business strike silver Roosevelt dime set is complete minus one.
The Definition: MS-66 slabbed by either PCGS or NGS (I want a matched set).

My business strike Walking Liberty set is complete.
The Definition: One of each date/mm combo; the best available for less than $100 (a few cost more).

Considerably different rules for each of those sets.

 

Sorry about that, how about my duplicates set which has just a little less color.

 

I've decided to try to collect every morgan that's in The Official Red Book: Guide to Morgan Dollars. 105 total, preferably in MS condition including the 1895. Should take me a few years :bigeyes:.

 

If you find a Mint State 1895-P then you found the holy grail

All known 1895-Ps are proofs.

It's the 93-S that's the toughie of the business strikes.

 

Lets see -

(1) Large Cents - probably never will get completed. 39 to complete the Dansco album. I only need about 5 to have a date set, but several are in holders so with the dansco I am trying to get duplicates of the dates, but different varieties. So of course there are a few very key dates left.
(2) Indian Head cents - complete date set. But I need to upgrade 1870,1882,1885,1889,1894 and 1904. Then some of these will move to a dansco album. You will not believe how hard it is to find a decent 1904 IHC in 64/65 bn/rb. Then some in the dansco will move into the low grade whitfolder. When all is said and done I should end up with 3 date sets.
(3) Shield Nickels - for a date set I need one 1877. This is a mixture of proof/business strikes and includes all grades and a few varieties.
(4) Liberty Nickels - 2 sets and I probably need 20 - 25 coins to have 2 full pages of Liberty Nickels in a dansco Album.
(5) Bust Halves - I need 3 for the DBH. For the CBH I need 2 and reeded edge I need maybe 3. Now this does not count for all the varieties I have. I need to post my new one.
(6) Other coinage - just playing with Buffaloes, smaller denomination bust coins so no real goal yet. Same with my Lincolns.

Now I have a batch of whitman folders - very few complete. But all of these so far are being filled only by my pocket change.

And clembo - I have exactly one 2 cent coin.

 

Yes I know I should have said the proof, not a regular strike (I dont wan't to be looking forever.) Funny you say holy grail because as I read your post I was watching The Da Vinci Code. Maybe that's a sign and I should go digging on the beach looking for those lost coins. I'll let you know if I find them.