Thoughts: Settling for Problem Coins to Fill Holes in Albums?

I can't even afford a "hole filler" 1877 IHC. I've been in such a hurry to get one that I accidently bought a quad of 1877 stamps and an 1877 3" cup holder. Since then, I have been very careful to make sure that the item is really an 1877 IHC and still have an empty 1877 IHC hole.

 

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Still looking to fill that hole myself as well as the 1909s ihc... someday I will get those holes filled

 

Best of luck to you.

 

@Bradley Trotter See below. The hole is a bit bigger than I would prefer but beggars can't be choosers!

 

That's a good choice for a hole-filler. Great coin apart from the hole.

 

And just in case you didn't notice the hole, Helvetia is pointing right at it!

 

Such an ongoing dilemma for all reasonably serious coin collectors. I started collecting with English and Canadian coins when I was a child, then during a visit to the CNE in Toronto when I was about 10 or 11, I received an 1858 American quarter in change. I found it to be worth about $2 at the time, and now 70 years later, it is not worth much more. But I still have it and a 1901-O quarter also received in my change years later, but neither is worth a whole lot, and it is not worth my time or money to try to collect a set of either type of those coins today.

 

I would rather see a coin, no matter what condition (but still identifiable), than a hole, so Yes, I would fill them and keep an eye open for a better replacement down the road.

 

Everyone is different. I used to just want to fill the hole, and I always said I liked the history so I didn't mind if it was worn. Now I appreciate them more as art and I've gotten rid of a lot of the poorer condition coins. If I don't want to look at it, it's no good to me.

 

I don't fill album holes, but I do fill "holes" in the oddball coins I'm looking to collect. "Just to have one" is a stronger motivator for me than whether or not it's a problem coin, especially at the right price. As long as the problem is not too horrible, which is a matter of preference. I figure somebody else out there is also looking to just have one, if I ever needed to sell. For example, this most recent purchase is VG Damaged, which I got for G4 price, half of the VG trend. But it's also the "thick ribbon" variety of 1903-S which is rather scarce. I guess it all depends on what your goals are, what's available, and your budget.

 

Sicilian coins, huh? In the words of Don Corleone,

 

I personally try to stay away from problem coins. But then I am not a specialists in anything. My aim is to collect for the fun of it, however I have it in my DNA to want any coin to be MS/ no details like "holed" "scratches" "hairlines" "cleaned".
Clipping/ adjustment marks I will accept on a MS coin. These where mint procedures to adjust weight. Some Indian gold coins have tiny "shroif bankers" marks that I can live with too. There are also poor minting defects/ like bit off center/ planchet crack/ die cracks/ poor strike....all OK too.
First coin was struck on a cracked die planchet/ second struck off center.

 

Also no issue with minting problems. I don't consider this to be a filler, for example: