I have some sets that need completion. I hear, "Buy the best grade you can afford." When completing a set built from circulation coins, and the coins in the set are in the F to XF range, should I purchase the coins graded in that range instead of purchasing a higher grade like MS6x? I don't plan on upgrading all of the coins in these sets. I may upgrade a few of the lowest graded coins if they are affordable. I do want to complete all of the sets if possible. Some sets need 2 coins and some need as many as 14. Some are key dates and will be expensive, but most are not key dates. Thanks for any insight or advice you can give me.
Well, jperry, it's certainly true that you should attempt to but "the best grade you can afford" but I feel there are exceptions to that rule. The satisfaction of completing a set is something I have just recently acquired, as I finished my Lincoln Memorial cent collection and my Jefferson Nickel collection. My view is that if you will be happy with simply finishing the set, and you don't care whether the coins are MS70 or VG-8, I would buy the best looking coin you can afford to complete the set. I've seen coins in F-15 that (at least to me) looked more appealing then their higher-priced AU counterparts. The key to numismatics is to do what will please you with your set. If you were planning to upgrade your set in the future, or at least attempt to upgrade it as you go, I would buy the highest graded coin you would like to upgrade to. If not, and you will be happy with finishing the set without 100% MS-grade coins, then buy a coin YOU THINK LOOKS NICE. And that's all there is to it! Good luck, and happy hunting! ~AJ
Thanks to both of you for the advice. I think I will try and purchase at the top range of the existing coins in the sets (say XF) if affordable otherwise I will move down to a lower grade. I like to look at the sets and enjoy them, but a coin or coins at a much different grade draws my eye and distracts from the enjoyment.
If it were me--and I'm always trying to find ways to rationalize spending more--I'd buy them to match the set, then figure out how much more I WOULD HAVE spent if I had gotten top-grade. After I figure out how much I "saved" by buying in a lower grade, I'd spend that extra on something else coin-related! Bwah-hah-hah! It's easy for me to talk, with a $0.00 monthly coin budget. (edited to add: I know I mention that in almost all of my posts. But I figure I can get more sympathy here than at home...)
I agree with the advice to buy coins that match the rest of the set. Buying much higher grades will look out of place, particularly for the key dates. Once the sets are completed, if you have the funds you can buy a few of the key dates you like best in the highest grade you can afford and hold them outside of the set.
Thanks Cloudsweeper. I have a number of sets to complete . Then I will think about upgrading. I am catching the bug. I just rationalized the purchase of a new camera (arriving tomorrow) so I could post some pictures. I am trying to fill in: 14 Indian Head Cents 2 Liberty Head Nickels 4 Barber Dimes 5 Barber Quarters 8 Barber Half Dollars So that should keep me busy and out of extra cash for a while. Thanks to everyone here for there help. Jim Perry
You're finishing, Im starting Lets see. I have 2 Indian Head cents 1 Liberty head nickel 1 barber dime 1 barber quarter 1 barber half
To tell the truth I am just finishing what my Dad started in the 1930s. He built up a fairly extensive collection missing some items. Based on how much time this is taking, and what I have learned in a short amount of time I don't know if you ever finish. The most important thing I have learned so far is that I don't know very much and there is a lot left to learn. Jim Perry
