(Sorry, got that first post in the wrong area.) I'm also trying to get a full set of Early Commemoratives. Again it won't happen; at a minimum those $50 Panama-Pacific Exposition pieces will see to that. But here's five I've picked up recently. 1921 Alabama 2x2 MS-63 1926 Oregon Trail AU-58 1936 Gettysburg MS-63 1951-D Booker T. Washington MS-65 1952-D Washington-Carver MS-64 (OGH)
Which set are you looking to complete? The 50 or the 144? Are you also going for the gold commems as well? I'm doing the 50 type set, silver only, and I'm at 32 or 33 obtained so far. It's an awfully fun set! Love your Gettysburg!
No question about the two $50 gold pieces being NOT on my list. I've got 89 of the coins. 75 are MS; the other 14 are AU. And the Washington-Carver set is complete. Biggest holes are: -- gold pieces (I only have 1) -- I only have 1 Boone -- I only have 1 Texas -- I only have 2 Oregon -- I only have 6 Arkansas -- missing many of the pricey 50¢ pieces -- missing Cincinnati Not surprisingly most of the expensive items will be bought in AU or even XF. But no DETAILS coins.
Wowsers! Best of luck Kanga. I'm concentrating on the Bookers and Carvers at the moment. '65 or better. Only one more Booker to go. The Carvers, '65 or better, are a little more challenging.
Since I have my fingers in too many pies I go for lower grades. MS-63 or -64 for the less expensive. AU for the more expensive items. And maybe XF for the really expensive pieces. I try to avoid MS-62 but have two in that grade.
I like them. There are some cool designs in the commens, and if you like the designs they are so much more reasonably priced than a few years back. Oregon is my favorite.
I love the early U.S. Commemoratives. It's about the only thing that distracts me from my U.S. Type Set ;-) I'd love to have the 50 someday... I can't even fathom the 144... Good luck, Kanga!
I have been building a set for a customer. He's down to the tough ones..... Hawaii Spanish Trail Hudson And a few others. He's just doing the type, not the mint marks, years or varieties.
I love this set. Finished the 50-coin type set a couple years ago when there were about 15 Hawaiians in the FUN auction. I got a 64 CAC for less than my max bid, and I bid on the nicest one. I really like your Gettysburg. The shields are mark magnets, and yours are respectfully clean for a 63. Small ticks, sure, but no hacks or long scuffs. I am probably a large chunk of change underwater on these since the prices have come down. I might work on the Oregon or Texas sets next since they're on sale. Of course, every time I tell myself to work on a set, I have to step back and count the other sets I'm working on (Morgan Date/mint Set, Cool VAMs I Want Set, $5 Lib Mint Marks Set, British Trade Dollar Set, Prime Number Date Set, 36-42 Proof Sets, Ooh! Shiny! I Want That Set)
Personally, I think most of the early commems are underpriced relative to their scarcity. It's the old song of supply and demand, however, with the demand not being there to maintain the prices. Buy them if you like them b/c they're unlikely to be big winners in the value-gain department. I've quit buying them b/c I've reached the age at which I need to be getting rid of coins, not buying new ones. My heirs will just be interested in what they're worth, not in receiving a complete type set of early U.S. commems.
I know that the above comment sounds like I'm really depressed or something. Actually, I'm just being realistic. I can't remember the last time I bought a new coin for my collection.
I'm going to add the 3 commems that were delivered today, just to keep this thread alive a little bit longer -
