Does anyone here collect type coins (Shield Nickel, Half Dime, 2 and 3 Cent Pieces etc) by date or just by type? I collect by date.
I collect shield nickels and any busties there are. My shield nickels I am doing by date and I am looking for some DDO's - I have about 5 of those. The 1877 proof is the only date I really need. I just think they are cool. 1 two cent piece and no 3 cents. I have 2 or 3 bustie half dimes. Just coins I like no real direction at this time.
I'm new to the board, but.... I collect types in three ways --- by type, by mintmark and by date. By date I am collecting every type of 1876 in Fine condition, I also am building an O and CC type set, again in Fine when possible. Both of these sets are sub-sets of the larger type set. Basically, any coin I purchase (other than Washington Qtrs) has to participate in the overall type set... Good luck
My primary collection is a type set based upon the NGC Registry (1793-1964) definition. Therefore I have one example of each of the coins you mentioned including major varieties. But I'm also putting together a Capped Bust half dime set by date and Red Book listed varieties. That's a 16 coin set and at the moment I have 12 of them. I already have a full 2-cent set (business strike only). I'm looking to upgrade 2 or 3 of them. The other issues you mentioned will have to wait their turn
I've done both -- type and date. I completed a 20th century type collection (XF+). BUT, with it, I made sure I had at least one coin from each decade of the 20th century, AND at least one example of every mint which produced circulating coinage with a mint mark: P,D,S, and O. West Point DID produce some circulating coinage, but not with a W mint mark (and, for those who bring to mention the 1996-W dime, it was intended for inclusion only in mint sets that year). Now, I am on to the challenge of a date-and-mintmark Lincoln cent collection. So, as you see, you don't have to be an either this OR that collector. You might enjoy doing some type projects, but also find yourself enjoying a date-and-mintmark collection, too.
But I DO have my unusual interests. A couple years ago I decided that I wanted to have one example each of a coin struck at Dahlonega (the first "D" mintmark) and Charlotte ("C"). So I got one of each. They don't really fit with anything else in my collection. I just wanted them. Talk about impulses!
I've done most of the smaller denominations (under 10 cents) by date and mint but most of the larger denominations I've only done by type.
