Liberty Nickels

I am a big Liberty Nickel fan. I have been putting together a set in FINE or better over the last 3 years. Anyone else out there into Liberty Nickels?

 

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That's one of the sets I'm working on, too. I'm trying to finish the set in MS63-MS64. I have three (3) coins left to go (1885, 1886, and 1912-s). I have the '85 and '86 in PF64, but MS varieties are pricey!

 

I have a set that I've built. I'm working on a Shield set now, and building a second Liberty set for my nephew.

 

I am Halfway through a set of liberty V Nickles. I just need 1883-1896.

 

The Liberty Nickle is kind of a mystery to me always has been. I like the coin though and would readily collect it if I wanted. Also there are many bargins to had in mint state coins within the set.

Things the bother me or should I say confuse me are:

Few have much interest in the series.
I know that many do but compared to Buffalos or even Jeffersons it's never even seen the light of day. The Shield nickle has more interest and it has almost none in comparision to Buffs/Jeffs.

Lack of die varieties.
Now this really makes no sence at all. There are a few but the Shield nickel is chocked full, the Buffs and Jeffs also. Why did the mint have such a die variety free peroid? There is no explanation I have ever heard of that addresses this.

Just think about it, the series/design with one of the top 5 rarest coins in U.S. history, the 1913, probably the #1 rarest most researched coin rarity. Plus during it's regular mintage the 12-S in Mint state is a super rare coin, heck now in any grade.

I just don't understand this series???
Many experts have long said this series is chice ground for bargins but it has never really panned out and they keep saying this as I have here.
I do not "get" this series???

 

I like them a lot. I've been putting together a set of Jefferson's for years and my focus has been the early years. Almost have the first page of the Dansco filled up. But lately I've realized I'd rather start working on a set of Liberty Nickels than complete my Jeffersons. So I might elect to just stop collecting the Jefferson's at at about 1955 so I can follow my heart.
I was also thinking it would be fun to just try to fill the first Dansco page of Buffalos in low grade. I guess I'll end up with an odd looking collection, but I do love those Nickels!

 

I like them and have a dansco album going - 2 pages so 2 sets.

 

I should probably clarify something here, though it probably goes without being said: The set that I have "completed" does not include a 1913! For practicality purposes, I don't consider a "completed" Liberty Set as having to have a 1913.

Sorta almost like not having to have a 1856 FE in order to have a "completed" Small Cents set.

Don't mean to offend anyone, but I sorta look at Buffalos and Jeffersons as sorta hum-drum and boring... but maybe that's because I tend to lean more towards the more obscure coinages (the underdogs!) I also love collecting the 2 cent and 3 cent [silver & nickel] series too... don't hear much chatter on here about those either... Pre-Federals and Colonials even less chatter - but my most absolute favorites!!!

 

Don't forget cheap proof's. I recently saw graded proof 65's of common dates trading in the $250-$300 range... that seems like a heck of a lot of coin for the money.

 

I really like the Proof set of this series...it's easier to collect and looks really nice! It makes collecting the Key dates cheaper (1885, 1886) and gets you around some others (1912-d, 1912-s). The only thing it doesn't address is the 1913 issue (oh well...wha-cha gonna do?).

 

I'm about half way through the set as well.

 

That is because you haven't seen my registry set!

 

And I hadn't either till you posted that.... now that's a monster set!!

 

Feel like I've just been pelted by a gauntlet. My first reaction is, "Oh no he didn't!" I'm here to tell you that the Jefferson Nickel set is the coolest ever set in the world. Filled with modern doubled dies, over dates, over mint marks, then you add to that different alloys. If that isn't hard enough, throw in the step count too. And lastly, did I mention toning? Nickel can take on some really wild toning.

Summing up, if you had all the money you wanted, you'd still find it a challenge to put together a high grade, beautifully toned, full step set of Jeffersons...it would take years if it is even possible. Whats not to love?

Steve

 

Oh my God, sweet! Your collection is something to aspire to. I started my collection because I was at a mall coin show and this vendor had just bought a nickel set that had out of this world toning. Wish I had been able to buy them all, but I cherry picked what I could. My favorite coin is a non-FS 1949D that grades about MS63. By guide, it might be a $4 coin, but I feel it would take $500 to get it out of my hands...it has the most crazy wild toning I've ever seen on a nickel. It has a ton of that electric green that they sometimes get. I salivate when I see it. It now sits in my Dansco Type set, fully representing all its brothers.

Know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see the grading services give a seperate grade for eye appeal. Maybe a 1 to 10 scale or something, also incorporating half grades. I bet if 3 people got together and assigned a number, they could take an average and come up with a reasonable number to quantify the ranking of the beauty as it compares to other coins.


Steve

 

lehigh96 -> That is a very nice set, indeed

A collection indeed that other Jefferson affectionados definitely would aspire to have; A collection that definitely required a lot of patience, perseverance, and funds.

sorry stevereecy... I did try to preamble and qualify my statement so that it was taken solely as being subjective.

Whatever floats peoples' boats, to each their own, and live and let live!

 

Here's a Liberty nickel I picked up today for my Proof set...

 

I'm only missing an 1885 from my set. Someday I'll get around to it.

 

I'm looking for an 1885 MS64, but haven't found one (and probably couldn't afford it if I did!). I lucked out and got a PF65 for $765...it looks really nice and is a reasonable replacement until I can find the MS64 one I really want.

 

Nice 1894 yakpoo.