I have been filling albums for years with coins from circulation and some purchased. I am at a point where I will have to buy ones now. My question is regarding the best way to go about completing and upgrading my modern collection. With my spreadsheet I can tell I need a 1979d nickel and 1979p quarter and could buy them at a show or other source. Now is it better to just buy the mint set and upgrade all the coins at a cost of about 7 bucks or spend the money on the two coins which would be almost half. I have many situations where certain years /coins could be upgraded and finding them is not going to happen in circulation. So I thought I would get some input on this situation and find out what other collectors do. thanks in advance
Many times I have purchased the mint sets with this intention. But then when it comes time to actually cut apart a mint set I stop short and don't do it. So for me it's better to just buy the single coins.
Decision #1: Do you want to upgrade at this time? Or do you want to take the money you didn't spend on upgrading and start a new collection? Remember, even inexpensive coins increase in price as time goes by. (I remember when common date, well circulated IHCs were 40 cents each.) Decision #2: Don't know but it will definitely depend on how you answer #1.
I have most of the albums that I want and even started some Canadian albums. I think I want to upgrade some coins rather then buy some of the keys I need, due to cost. I also agreed that some of the clad coinage is not going to get any cheaper as time goes by. I think I going the route of mint sets to upgrade my collection.
You can also buy mint set coins from people who have already cut them out of the set usually leaving them in the surrounding plastic wrap.
I would start a new collection. I have often thought of doing some dansco albums with mint sets - but first I have to finish of few of my current sets and then we will see.
First of all WELCOME TO THE FORUM. That is something that should be added to the smily things. A big WELCOME sign. To start with you just have to either find a coin show or look for one in your area. If you want my 2 cents, this is what I've always done. I start with a set of something in an Album. I place coins from change, friends, relatives, etc in there. As this Album starts to fill, I continue finding better and better coins for that album. When one is found, it goes into the Album and the one from the Album goes into a 2x2 as a temporary duplicate. Eventually I notice that the 2x2 duplicates have grown substantially so I acquire another Album. I take the best of the duplicates in the 2x2's and place them all in Album #2. As I find additional better coins, they still go into Album #1 and the one from there goes to Album #2 and if one in there, it now goes to a 2x2 as a duplicate. I've been doing this for possibly over 60 years now. As an example, not long ago I received two new Mercury Dime Albums and almost completely fillled them from those so called duplicates. That makes Mercury Dime Albums #11 and #12. Presently have over 100 Albums and almost all filled. No end in sight. The real pain in the xxx is when I get a really great coin that should go into Album #1 of anything. Now picure me moving a Mercury Dime from #1 to #2, #2 to #3, etc, etc, etc. :goofer:
I find myself just like Just "like" Carl. I start an album and start replacing coins with higher grade when I find them. I take the lesser graded coins and place them into a 2x2. If I get enough of them, I will then start another album. I have the most fun finding stuff out of circulation or at local auctions. It is especially nice when I'm at an auction with few coin folks and get stuff at a real bargain. I do fill some slots at coin shows or ebay but you really can't find the great deals at those locations.
Thanks Carl, I have read some of your post and I think that you have that age/wisdom/knowledge thing going. I am going to the Santa Clara show and I hope to get some upgrades there.
