Hey everyone, Just wondering what you think are some of the best coins for making complete sets with? My first (and only) complete set is Franklins, they are pretty inexpensive, not too many years, and easy to come across. I just started to assemble a walking liberty half dollar set. How do you go about collecting a whole set, coin by coin over a matter of months or years, the whole set at once, or somewhere in between? Just curious on everyones means and methods! Thanks!
I have several sets. Many of which were collected primarily through pocket-change over the years. A few I've put together in recent years, where I add a coin every month or three. As an aside, I find it more interesting if I can have two collecting interests going at once -- one that I can purchase more freely (i.e. cheaper and more common) and one that I add too less often (i.e. more expensive and rarer).
most of my sets are from pocket change. I have a lot of incomplete sets that i need to finish by either purchasing or searching rolls to find them. The most incomplete set i have is wheat cents. These are the easiest set to finish, but i want to finish it by finding them in my change.
Good luck on getting those coins in your change Ryan. That will truly be an accomplishment if you can do it that way. It was so easy just a few years ago but they have seemed to have dried up. It reminds me of silver coins which back in the seventies were pretty easy to find but since many people now understand that just about anything prior to 1964 is silver have tucked them away. Today people see the wheat design on the back of a penny and probably see it as something unusual. As for my set I have started out even easier than the Franklin and gone for Kennedy half dollars. I have bought about 12 proofs, three of which have come with proof sets from the mint. I have purchased the others from Apmex. I probably got hammered relatively speaking but they are so cheap that it really doesn't matter.
I buy 1 or 2 pieces at a time, and I take my time to find the coin that I want. If you buy someone elses collection, technically its yours, but its the other persons collection...
collect them a coin at a time. Start a set of IKE's now and who knows, maybe you'll find some interesting varieties?
Jefferson Nickels is a great set to complete since high grade examples of every coin in the series all the way back to 1938 can still be found in pocket change and/or searching rolls. I'm not sure there is another series that can be completed like that for face value other than maybe Kennedy Halves, or modern dollar coins after 1971.
Jefferson Nickels, as already stated, is rather easily made from just what is considered change. Haven't tried this for a long time but many years ago I went to banks and purchased a bag, not rolls, of Nickels. Those are usually just laying around in vaults for many years. Going through a bag I was able to almost fill an Album. Eventually I was able to make several full Albums doing that. Used to be easy to do that with Pennies (cents) too but this Lincoln Cent craze due to the 100th anniversary of that coin has made that a little tuff lately. I've found my greatest finds in coins over the years at places like Flea markets, garage/yard/estate sales too. And note I said Estate Sales not estate auctions. Those are the ones where someone just posts a note on a pole saying Estate Sale. Usually from a death in the family. Those are a little on the knowing side about such sales. People just look what is shown and don't ASK. I always ASK about coins. Occationally some will say they have some in the house and if there are more than one person selling, they will go get them. No one ever places coins out on a table at a garage/yard/estate sale. Same with guns, knives, swords, etc. If you ASK you may find a small fortune in coins. At one such garage sale I ASKED and was shown a jar of pennies. I estimated about $35 dollars worth. The bottom was all Indian head Cents. I offered $50 for it and got it. At home I found the nestest coins were only in the 1950's. Lots of really great coins. Just remember to ASK.
Common coins make coon coin sets, it's easy but what have you got in Common coins make common coin sets, it's easy but what have you got in the end. If you like it go for it. I do not collect coins by sets at all because I like rare coins and the coins I could build a set of would be to way to expensive. I think the "set thing" is just like the "album thing" very old school. I do not let others tell me how or what to collect. I would much rather have 1 $1000 coin than a complete set of anything after 1940 worth the same. If you want a challenge do a type set from 1809 to date in AU-58. This would be a beautuful 200 year set. Also take your time - take 10 years, 15 years what the heck, wheres the fire???
As noted by 3hp3rd there are those that collect miscellaneous coins. Similar to those that prefer just one expensive stamp, car, plane, etc. However, as you indicated YOUR interested in sets. Most people are too. One of each date, each Mint, makes a thing sort of complete. Nice feeling for the majority of collectors to show off one entire set, type or all of one date that has meaning to the individual that does the collecting. For those that just prefer a feeling of completing something, a set, Album or plaque with all one item is kind of something to show, discuss, display, etc. This is why I suggest Jefferson Nickels or even Mercury Dimes. Naturally your choice of the Walking Halves is an outstanding decission but some sure can be expensive. But there too, a complete or even nearly complete set of those is an outstanding display item. And a completed set is something to brag about also.
I went to a coin shop that I did not know was in the area , 5 miles from the house. went to buy a some coin supplies , looked over and he had 6 bags of wheats 400 per bag , for $18.00, . When I paid him I gave him a large bill, he said ddo you want some ikes in change, he reached under the counter and handed me six of them in change. I think I have a new coin dealer.
