Coin Collecting, Patience, and Frustration

I've loved this hobby. Summer months lend more to outdoor activity, but I'm still always looking for those elusive pieces. Despite understanding the hobby requires (and teaches) patience... it still doesn't make it any less frustrating sometimes!

I've been working on a PCGS set of low to mid-grade MS Peace dollars - 60 to 63. Part of my self imposed challenge was to have it 'affordable'. Even after learning that a nice AU-58 can be more desirable than a low MS piece, I started with the goal of having MS coins. That is where I want to stay. These last three coins are proving very difficult. I've spent the last 7-8 months searching for a 24-S, 27-S and a 35-S. Could the common mint mark be a clue to my order? I've found ebay to have companies listing the SAME coins *over and over*... It's nuts! I've watched the same coins re-listed for literally months on end!! Does it really boil down to just waiting for THAT coin?

 

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Use your brain buy them raw, ....then figure what you what to do.

 

Yes, it can take a while to find those last few items, even if they're not RARE, just uncommon. There may be a 100 of them out there all meh strikes and they just don't talk to you. So keep looking. Look in unconventional places. It's all in fun.

Or start another / different set, while you keep looking for your last few coins.

 

That's why I have 15 unfinished collections [emoji14]

 

Calm down .....

 

Nice to see you again @Kevinfred, haven't seen your mug in a good while.

I agree, a nice AU-58 is more times than not a nicer coin than a lowball MS. Really it would be tough to get some of the more common dates like 22, 23 and 24 slabbed low MS. Who would spend the bucks to put that in a slab when MS-66 can be easily obtained. Learn to grade and pick up some raw pieces.

 

you could try sending e-mails to those Ebay sellers and tell them a price you are comfortable paying without insulting them. I have bought 4 coins off ebay by talking down the price. I was happy and they were happy to finally sell the coin.

 

I would say be patient. the longer time you wait for the better coin the happier you will be with your coin set. I can remember someone in here posting a 2 cent complete set that really blew me totally away.... it was a 40-50 year undertaking. the results amazing. I had never ever seen such a high end high grade collection that great before for 2 cent pieces and it even had the 2 last years that are even harder to find in high grade. i told him he must be rich. he laughed and said no.., but it was a long hard search for the best... in the end well worth it. i agreed quickly.

 

I have often said that this hobby of ours will teach you patience, whether you wanted to learn it or not.

 

All my collections are unfinished, and i will probably never finish them, because i cant find the coins anywhere

 

Why not try connecting to some dealers? Most probably see a lot more coins than you do and they can keep an eye open.

 

7 or 8 months - is that all? I have been looking for years for some of the right coins to fit in my album. And I search a lot of sites - from dealers, to ebay, to heritage, plus I went thru geeks list to see if I might find something. No luck so far. And yes I have watched the same coins be put on ebay month after month - some are over priced, some are just plain old problem coins in non-details holders.

 

This is why I don't collect sets any more.

I'm rather OCD so it was hard to break out of that mindset, but now I just collect what I like and I'm a happier camper.

 

These are all GREAT posts/thoughts! I've learned to grade pretty well... However, buying raw coins online frightens me. A while back I started a thread on buying raw coins. I can't speak for the coasts or the south, but here in the midwest it seems dealers have lower grade examples in raw. Most higher stuff is slabbed one way or another. Could it get to a point where most coins are just flat-out slabbed?!?