I really enjoy doing collections, it's just a great feeling when you put the last coin in. Anyway I am starting to finish up some of my lower level collections and I want to know what the "next level" is based off of overall cost and how hard the collection is to do, (I.e. Will most lcs and coin shows have most or all of the coins?) Here's a list of the collections I am already doing or have done to give you a sense of scale. Tier I Jefferson Nickels 1938-1964: Finished Roosevelt Dimes 1946-1964: Missing 1949-S Trying to get all coins from CRH 19th Century Type Set: Missing a Barber Quarter, Half and, Morgan Dollar Trying to get MS examples of everything Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938: I have about 15 left sor far everything has been from CRH but I'll probably end up buying the key dates. Tier II Wheat Pennies 1909-1958: Only have 11 left and spent $32.50 on coins and the album. IH Pennies: I won the album and some coins in a giveaway and so far I've spent $23.75 and still have 24 coins to go. Liberty Nickels: Just started this set, I am 8 coins in and I've spent $3 Mercury Dimes: 13 coins left and I've spent $6.25 so far, most coins are from CRH. Please let me know any additional information you may need. Thanks for the help!
Morgan Dollar If I were looking for one for a Type Set, I would choose the 1881-S, about MS64. The 1881-S has one of the nicest strikes in the entire series and can be found with booming luster. Chris
Hone in on one area and try to buy the best coins you can afford for that area. Focus on your wheat cents and the next level of Jefferson nickles.
Good question. I actually don't know what the next level is. I suppose that depends much on you. Regardless, I like you pursuits. Maybe, the next lever based on what you said should/could be silver proof state quarters, or Ike $.
Sully, It sounds to me like you go for lower grade material to fill holes "on the cheap" rather than go for the best you can find. That's one approach, the opposite of the one I prefer, but entirely okay if that's your thing. To answer your query, it's a big set, but perhaps the next tier is Washington Quarters 1932-1998 (note I didn't stop at 1964). I find no valid reason to stop at 1964, but that's just me.
Yes sir, but even the 1880-S can be found in just "smokin'" condition, too. I have monster PL's from both years.
I agree that 81-S is a good year for a Morgan dollar type coin. Also look at 80-S. The luster characteristic is a little different in that the portrait is often a little frostier than the typical "headlight" 81-S. It'll come down to your personal tastes. For Barber quarters, there are a lot of 1892 graded AU58. You should be able to find a really nice one for much less than a 63.
Nice idea. However I may end up going with a 63 to save a little money. Are their books for those coins? Ike $ I'm pretty sure their are but how about the quarters? Two things, first, your completely right, I do sacrifice grade for cost. It just because I feel better if I have the whole book filled with G4 stuff rather then a lot of missing spots but a few nice coins. Second I really only feel it's a challenge collecting the silver editions just because everything else is pretty easy. Thanks for everything so far!
There are the hard cover books available for both Ike $ and state quarters. I have actually bought some from Barnes & Noble.
Fully agree that post-64 is no challenge if lower grades are your focus. If you are into MS65 and up, like I am, some post-64 are far harder than the silver pieces.
Don't know what grade you are looking at, or how much money you have to spend, but any of those sets could provide you a greater challenge if you begin to move up the scale of quality. If you are an album of circulated coins now, perhaps consider pursuing a nice set of high grade circulated coins (AUs for some sets). Or, consider a nice set of UNC coins (the sets you listed are readily available in 63, 64, or 65, depending on your budget). If you are looking for a completely new set to work on, the Walking Liberty Half is incredibly popular, incredibly beautiful, and widely available.
As a Morgan collector, I urge you to consider a 64 over the 63 in an 81-S. The devices will be much cleaner. The difference in price, IMO, is small compared to the overall improvement in quality.
