Here's my collection so far. The blank spots are coins which I don't have or are worth little very little and need an upgrade. TYPE, DATE, GRADE, COST, SLAB Indian Head Cent, 1906, VF25, $1, n/a Wheat Cent, 1939, MS66RD, $24, NGC Steel Wheat Cent, 1943-S, MS66, $32, NGC Memorial Cent, 1969-S, PF68RD, $13, NGC Liberty Nickel, 1904, MS63, $125, PCGS Buffalo Nickel, 1938-D, MS66, $41, PCGS Ag. Jefferson Nickel, 1945-P, MS64, $6, n/a Jefferson Nickel, 1973-S, PR69DCAM, $8, PCGS Barber Dime Mercury Dime, 1943-D, MS66, $26, NGC Ag. Roosevelt Dime Roosevelt Dime, 1969-S, PF69, $10, NGC Barber Quarter Standing Liberty Quarter, 1930, F-15, $8, n/a Ag. Washington Quarter, 1941, MS65, $20, PCGS Washington Quarter State Quarter Barber Half Dollar Walking Lib. Half Dollar Franklin Half Dollar, 1958-D, MS64, $22, PCGS Ag. Kennedy Half Dollar Kennedy Half Dollar Morgan Dollar, 1921, AU55, $12, n/a Peace Dollar, 1922, AU58, $17, n/a Ag. Eisenhower Dollar, 1972-S, MS66, $6, n/a Eisenhower Dollar SBA Dollar, 1980-S, PR69DCAM, $13 PCGS
I LOVE the 20th century set. In fact, maintaining one has been perhaps the only stable goal I've had in my 17 years of coin collecting. Are you aiming for a certain grade level or another particular sub-goal for your 20th century set? Good luck!
Nice Set! I've been thinking of getting into Type Sets myself . . . sometimes it's fun to look at a complete series, but sometimes it's boring as, often each coin looks the same. So, a question for you (and/or anyone else who's into modern Type Sets). If you are continuing and will include 21st Century Type sets . . . how many Lincoln cents do you plan on? Six so far? Also . . . would/should a 21st Cent type set include one each of each Presidential Dollar? Or, just one President as representative? (What did you do with State Quarters)? Just curious, exploring options, etc. . .
the ideal 20th Century If it's still in print, you can get a nice monograph Assembling the Ideal 20th-Century Type Set by David Lang from the ANA. I believe it was $5.95. It gives recommendations as to the best years and mintmarks for the most attractive/well struck samples.
Thanks for all your comments! Here's a few pics! 1904 MS 63 Liberty Nickel 1945-P Jefferson Nickel (raw) MS 64. It has the most beautiful golden toning ever! 1943-S Cent MS 66 beauty!
My first thought was that you've put together a very affordable type set, not that very different from my own start in type collecting. My second thought was that there's a lot of money tied up in plastic, and I wonder how much nicer of coins you could have if they were raw -- but then again buying slabbed does help limit one's downside and foster safekeeping and learning about TPG grading. Looks like a nice start to a complete type set after you're done -- FWIW, I first got started as a 20th centurty type guy as well. My advice to someone considering moving to earlier type, be sure to learn how to grade circulated coins very well before venturing into the 19th and 18th century.
I put mine in the Capital 23-coin 20th century set -- I began mine in the late 90s, before the State quarters. I've often considered going about building a larger 20th century set, which would include clads as well as silver coins, the steel cent, the wartime nickel, and Type I versions of the SLQ and Buffalo nickel. But the Capital holder I have mine in has become quite sentimental; my now-late mother bought it for me and was always asking how my "white [Capital] frame" was "coming along." I spent 10 years upgrading the coins in it....They were originally all Good-Fine, and now I've worked up to a minimum Choice XF set (most coins are BU), and everything has luster. I may someday sell my the rest of my collection for financial help, but THAT 20th century set is STAYING PUT in my hands!!!! By the way, are you shooting for at least one coin of each decade and at least one mintmark from all that operated during the 20th century? That's how I assembled my set. I wasn't sure about including a coin from West Point because, technically, there is no "W" mintmark on circulating coinage.....The 1996-W dime was sold as a numismatic specimen. West Point did strike circulating coinage, but never stamped a mintmark on those coins.
20th century proof My younger son, for Coin Collecting merit badge, tried to get as many proofs as he could afford for the (at that time) required 20th century type set. It ended up as a mixture of 2/3 brilliant proofs, some nice UNCs and really worn barbers (10¢, 25¢, 50¢) and a liberty 5¢. Since he's now in college, when I run across a mission proof (and I can afford it), I'll add it to his collection. Unfortunately, no proof standing lib quarters or peace dollars.
I do have a lot in plastic but I want to make sure what I get is genuine, correct grade, and uncleaned. Also if it comes time to sell I know I won't get ripped off and there is a fair market price which will be payed for the grade displayed. I also like the look of plastic and it keeps my coins protected and in order. Since I'm in Canada, there are hardly any shops that have a nice stock of MS US coins. Whatever they have is way overpriced and/or altered/cleaned. Buying raw coins with photos off the internet is too risky, so slabbed coins (in my case) are the way to go. But, local coin shops' lack of knowledge also works to my advantage since I've gotten large cents (VG 1813, VF+ 1846) for about $10, and VG+ flying eagles, and 1909-VDB's for a few bucks a pop! I've made 500% profit at times with flipping coins I bought from a shop and selling them on eBay Some more eye candy: MS 66 Buff. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110467685274&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT Franklin half. Bought from fretboard !
