How to start a US collection

Hello... I'm from India and would like to start a collection of US coins.. The thing is that I dont know where to start..(I must admit, I like the oldies more than the moderns).. I do have some latest state quarters and a couple of dollars.. I know that I'd need a Red Book.. and I'd like to have some low cost coins to start with (less than $10 per coin).. Please advice.. I know that I'll have to buy some costly coins.. But I think, being a novice, I should not attempt to buy them now.. what do you think? And let me know a good source..

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Fact: Get a Dansco 7070 and learn how expensive it can be!

That will push you away for quite some time but I believe buying a Red Book is HIGHLY recommanded as you can get a rough idea of how much putting a set up can cost. Alternatively taking a look at ebay site may give you a rough idea although I don't recommand buying there since there would be so many problematic coins.

Can anyone who have recently completed such set or anyone attempting to finish one tell the approximate cost of how much such sets can cost? F grades or so for most of them will do.

 

Just let you know, I'm not interested in medal coins..

 

I checked the 7070 Dansco and it seems a good idea.. I'll buy one..

 

Do I have to go for the slabbed coins? what do you think.. ?

 

No, you don't. You can if you want of course.

I just started a Type Set & I'm going to try doing it with raw coins when possible. I'm sure some of the coins I get for it will end up being slabbed, but I'll probably break them out of the slabs.

 

The new Red Book comes out very soon

 

I agree with the Dansco 7070 idea, too. I have one, and it will keep you occupied. Make sure to buy the best grade of each type coin you can afford, and also make sure to read about and learn about each coin. That's most of the fun. After the 7070 is full, you can expand and add additional coins, or even add the gold page that they offer. You may want to start with just a 20th Century Type set and then work your way backwards. Here are two great websites. The first is a US Type collecting website. Go here http://typesets.wikidot.com/start And, here's a site withing that first site that has great lists and photos of the coins needed for different type sets. Go here http://typesets.wikidot.com/20th-century Enjoy, and ask questions, the people here are very knowledgeable and very generous with their time and information.

 

Thats very nice site.. and I'm sure I'd enjoy it..

 

I would recommend getting a redbook before getting the type set album. No sense wasting money until you decide exactly what to collect. The book should be the first purchase. There shouldn't be a second purchase until you have looked pretty closely at the book and made some decisions.

 

Sorry Spiraltree my offer to you is now recinded as I have been told by a Moderator that I am not allowed to offer free things to another member, even though I clearly stated I wanted nothing for them & I see that the post itself has been removed.

Actually you were advised that such offers to individual members (not contests) should be made by PM or email, and not be publicly posted outside the advertising forums.

 

thank you for your good heart..:smile

 

My heart says that I should go for a large lot at first..

 

De Orc,

You can make such offers, just not publicly. As the moderator put in his edit of your post you can do so by PM or email.

Spiraltreet,

I don't know how much condition means to you but since you like the older coins, you might consider a date set of late date large cents. In low to mid grade you (maybe Fine) you can get put together the whole set pretty cheaply. The most expensive piece will be the 1857 and it won't break you. If you finish that push back to the middle dates. You may have to go down a little more in grade but it is still a very easy date set to put together. In that set the key will be the 1823, but it isn't really a stopper either.

The only problem with his suggestion is that once you get those finished you may want to go back and do the Classic Heads. Again doable but it will cost you 30 to 40 dollars per coni in Good for the commons. Thi short series has one key the 1809, and two semi keys, the 1811 and 1813. The 11 and 13 will cost about twice the level of the commons, and the 1809 about triple.

Then there are the Draped bust cents. These are TOUGH! And expensive. (The 1799 and 1804 wil cost as much as the rest of the set put together.)

 

And what offers would that be condor?

 

Biju,if you do buy a slabbed coin,please remember the old adage - 'Buy the coin,not the slab'.

Personally,I reckon that raw coins are better,as holding a piece of plastic isn't the same as holding a real coin.

Aidan.

 

I agree with the Dansco 7070 idea, a type set is a wonderful place to start.

I know you mentioned that your main interest isn't moderns...but when I first started collecting I found it a really expensive hobby...and until you really read into it and learn it can be scary to start spending money...this is why reading the Red Book is such a good idea. Moderns are typically inexpensive and a good place to start.

 

Hello guys... thanx for all the help... But, I've got a doubt (may be stupid).. I got a 1948 Lincoln cent in good condition.. Please let me know how can I determine its mint...

 

Mint Marks is just one of many things that a Redbook will help with. It is a great place to start learning about U.S. coins.

Dave