I know it has been discussed before about "What makes a collection - is what you wish it to be" but I was curious about a general consensus on finishing a set. With some series, there seems to be a never ending amount of varieties.. etc. What would you consider a "finished set"? Many of the retail coin books (Whitman, Dansco) seem not to have spaces for EVERY variety. Thoughts?
My opinion, a date mint set covers it. If you want to push it a little, if it's in the Red Book it counts. But even the RB lists some varieties, just not very many.
I have to agree with Doug I believe the date and mint series would be in my opinion a complete set some might think that proofs should also count however I do not.
As Doung said, a date & Mint set. But, I also realize that I will never finish my Barber dimes, quarters and half dollars. I am always upgrading them, and finding varieties, both listed and unlisted. That is the fun of this hobby, there is no real end in sight. A couple of weekends ago I was able to get a Barber half: an 1897 O, in XF that was a real upgrade for my set. When I studied it later I realized that it had a clear repunched mintmark (RPM) that is unlisted. In addition, when Flynn was asking for contributions to his books on dimes quarters and half dollars, I was able to get quite a few listed. (Not that he was grateful, nice guy that he is.) Also, I was the discoverer of the 1909 s (inverted S) half dollar, that was written up in Coin World (and is now listed in Cherrypickers, without credit, ). Oh well, that is the down side of the hobby, but I am still looking and writing and accumulating. Love the hobby, could live without some of the writers.
Well there are a few short lived sets like Susy B's. and if you apply your self and bank account and educate your self too all varieties. It would not be to hard a set too complete. But you need to have boundaries or you could spend a large amount of money. Proofs, clads, mints, grades,varieties, it could kill a bank account purdy easy. You have too have a budget and stick too it or you will have too sell your stuff too pay the rent. So your set is some thing that you work on all the time and it does seem that it will never be complete. Sadly I have no real sets too work on if I see a coin I want I try and find a way too get it. So I have what I called an eclectic mess, but I have a good time with it and that is all that matters in the end. Joe
Thanks all! I am going to work on a type set (7070) and a few circulated sets (enjoy the roll searching). Maybe go farther a field later.
