Thinking About a New Set

So, I have been wanting to find a new set to work on. My problem is, most of the years I collected I didn't have hardly any money (that is still true) but I had big dreams. So, I collected low grade everything. I look back at much of my collection and I see an accumulation of coins...rather than a hand picked collection. Once I get through school, I going to go back and really focus on certain areas and create a collection I can be proud of.

For now, I want to find a set I can put together now that would will always be happy with. So, that pretty much limits me to moderns. I started to think about what I wanted and here were the criteria: I like bigger coins, I'd prefer a smaller series (so I can't complete it in a year or two), some variety would be nice, affordable but MS, nice albums exist.

The couple coins that came to mind were Franklin Halves, Eisenhower Dollars, Kennedy Halves, and SBAs. I think Ike's best fit my idea. They are huge, they came in several "flavors" (clad, silver, proof clad, proof silver, varieties, ect.), most are affordable, and albums exist.

Does anyone have some advice about collecting Ike's? I want to put together a nice raw set including proofs. I think I would probably want to get most coins out of mint sets (although if memory serves, the first few years weren't available in mint sets). I want a MS set.

As for varieties, I think all 3 1972 types are important as well as both 1976 types. I don't know if any albums have slots for all of those. I know Dansco has slots for 1976 type 1 and 2...but does not account for the three 1972 types. I could live with the Dansco and maybe get 2 types slabbed (Type 2 for sure, and maybe type 1).

Does anyone have any suggestions about collecting Ike's? The only coins I have are from circulation and wouldn't fit with this set.

 

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I don't have much to say about Ike's. I have a few but I don't really collect them. Franklins were the first thing that came to mind when I started reading your post. But I am partial to silver halves.

 

You could always get a blank album and make your own labels.

 

I would suggest starting with the King of all Ike's: the 1972 Type 2. This coin is somewhat pricey but is still quite reasonable. I think the Ike's are undervalued now as people are focusing on bullion and pre-64 silver. TC

 

I don't think I have the budget to start there. I could afford to start with the rest of the set and then work towards the Type 2.

 

Your time will come. My dentist has two cars...a Lexus and a Mercedes. TC

 

I know. I was just think of starting out with the easier and more affordable coins now. Then, once I start to have some income (I'll be graduating in a year)...I can pick up the more expensive Type 2.

As far as the Eisenhower Dollar. Does anyone here have any advice about collecting it?

 

The Ike dollar is one of my favorites. The Dansco does not have slots for the 3 1972 types, but does have slots for the 1976 types.
They are a great coin to collect on a low budget. I completed my Ike collection by purchasing the mint sets and breaking them out. The only thing I can say is, even though they were straight from a mint set (the ones that have an Ike), the Ikes sometimes are pretty beat up.
The Ike group is a great place to learn more about the ikes: http://www.ikegroup.org/
There are some more popular varieties among Ike collectors (ie: FEV). I was also able to find a type 2 1972 from the bank.

Are you including the Silver Ikes in your quest?

 

All I know is they are pretty easy to find and most varieties with exception to that type 2 can be had in MS condition for pretty close to face. Think of the novelty of owning a nice and chunky coin like a Morgan or peace but for a fraction of the money. You'll have fun with this series.

 

OK, my plan was to start with mint sets but I will take a close look at them before I buy. I think that is how to build the set. As for the album...I had an idea but I think it might be a little more of an investment than I want to spend. I might just buy new blank pages and label them myself.

OK, from what I have seen, the Dansco Ike with proofs album has 4 open unmarked slots and 4 pages. I can just relabel them each slot and add slots for all 3 types of 1972. I think that will leave me with 2 open slots. With those 2 unused slots...maybe I can fill with other varieties, put the blue disc from the silver BU sets in them, or (the one I like) get the Ike commemorative in BU and proof and put them at the end.

 

I have found something confusing as I start to read about this set. Just looking in the Red Book...it lists a coin I am unfamiliar with. It lists the 1976, 1976-D, and 1976-S proofs as both type 1 and 2 (just as I have seen before). It also lists the 1976 40% silver issues as type 1. Then, it lists a 1976 40% Type 2 and gives a proof price. This listing is odd because it is silver but doesn't have a mint mark (so Philadelphia), there is no mintage listed, and it's a proof (again, P). Is this correct?

 

I am not aware of a Philly proof for 76. These are the proofs for 76 that I know of:
76 S clad proof T1
76 S clad proof T2
76 S clad proof T3
76 S silver business strike
76 S silver Proof

 

I know they had a 1971 and 1972 proofs sold seperately in what was called the " Brown Box" because it came in a faux wood grain box. I managed to get mine for about $12 each in teh box at my local coin dealer.

 

This is correct, the 'brown box' Silver Ike proofs are for 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974. '73 and '74 also have clad proofs, but '71 and '72 do not.
edit: Just wanted to say, that even though the Ike was a short run in terms of years, a full set w/proofs is still over 30 coins.

 

So, here is the "set" as I see it:

1971
1971-D
1971-S 40% Silver
1971-S Proof 40% Silver

1972 Type 1
1972 Type 2
1972 Type 3
1972-D
1972-S 40% Silver
1972-S Proof 40% Silver

1973
1973-D
1973-S Proof
1973-S 40% Silver
1973-S Proof 40% Silver

1974
1974-D
1974-S Proof
1974-S 40% Silver
1974-S Proof 40% Silver

1776-1976 Type 1
1776-1976 Type 2
1776-1976-D Type 1
1776-1976-D Type 2
1776-1976-S Proof Type 1
1776-1976-S Proof Type 2
1776-1976-S 40% Silver
1776-1976-S Proof 40% Silver

1977
1977-D
1977-S Proof

1978
1978-D
1978-S Proof

So, 34 coins in the set. As for that "1776-1976, Silver Clad, Variety 2" (directly quoted from 2011 Red Book)...who knows? If I have 4 personally labeled pages in a Dansco album...that would leave me with 2 open slots at the end. I think I will use those for 1990 Eisenhower Centennial Commemorative Dollar - both BU and proof.

 

Yep, you nailed it.
Here is a complete set with both the commems you mentioned.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Eisenhower-Dollars-COMPLETE-SET-1971-1978-hucky-/220787089813?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item3367efa195#ht_1128wt_1139

 

Use one of the empty holes for the 1971-D FEV (friendly eagle variety)

 

I am not familiar with this. Do you have a photo?

 

This is directly from the Ike Group:

http://ikegroup.org/FEV.htm

It's pretty interesting and the Ike group feels some day the TPG's will recognize it.

 

A complete set including MS and Proofs, retails for $229.00. This is the best price I've seen. The same company offering it was asking $199.95 just a few weeks ago. One suggestion even though it's not a large coin, but I'm putting together a War Nickel set. 11 coins, MS and toned. Been having alot of fun doing that and almost finished. It's a great hunt. Will cost me about $300 to do. But, you need to collect what you like. If it's Ikes, it's very doable. Have fun, that's all that matters.