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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TypeCoin971793, post: 2409126, member: 78244&quot;]Have you ever wondered by you fill a book of the same-looking round hunk of metal whose only discernible difference is a slight difference in how the metal was moved during striking (eg, date, mintmark)?</p><p><br /></p><p>Perhaps this is a cynical view of set collecting, but this is precisely the reason why I pursue a type set and not a series set. I did try it for a few years, and I got a good ways into my modern designs, Mercs, and Barber dimes. However, this got really boring for the reason above, and I was not impressed with my work. The only thing keeping me from selling these sets is that silver has yet to go back up.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, the main reason why I have abandoned series collecting altogether are the key date coins. I think that they are overrated and overpriced for what they are, and they are NOT as rare as many people make them out to be. I can find a 1909 S VDB or 1893 S Morgan with less than 30 seconds of searching. Truly rare coins are those that show up only a few times a year, such as the hollow-handle spades I collect. But I digress...</p><p><br /></p><p>Now for an example of the folly of key dates: Why is the 1893 S Morgan priced at many multiples of the 1894 Morgan, even though the original mintages are only 10,000 coins apart? One is not rarer than the other, as PCGS and NGC population reports are are nearly equal at about 7,000 to 8,000 total certified of each. (As stated, this is not rare. By normal rarity standards, this is R1). I know that many of you will probably scream &quot;SUPPLY AND DEMAND&quot; at me, but that does not explain that why a coin with just a few less minted is &quot;worth&quot; so much more.</p><p><br /></p><p>Or how about the 1885 nickel with well over a million struck? Or the 1909 S VDB with almost half a million struck? I know that these figures do not reflect total survivors, but if even only 0.01% survived, these &quot;rare&quot; and valuable key dates would still be common.</p><p><br /></p><p>The emphasis on the importance of the key dates has really gone through the roof with the introduction of the <a href="http://www.coincommunity.com/dictionary/coins_t.asp?define=TPG" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.coincommunity.com/dictionary/coins_t.asp?define=TPG" rel="nofollow">TPG</a>. And now people are asking, and paying (!), moon money for these coins. With this mindset, I am starting to get the vibe that your collection is junk if you cannot fill that key date hole with a nice example. For this reason, I have abandoned series collecting altogether. My collecting life is so much happier without having to worry about those pesky overrated key dates.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also, who wants to fill a boring album of the design over and over where the only difference is a slight difference in how the metal was moved during the strike? Not me. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am not saying you are wrong for collecting by series. Do whatever you want. I don&#039;t care. I just don&#039;t understand its appeal. The US coin market confuses me greatly, so I am going to stick with my Ancient Chinese and US type and have a rewarding collection of coins that are actually rare and visually appealing.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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