When is a Collection Complete? (To upgrade or not to upgrade, that is the question!)

I finished a Standing Liberty Quarter collection recently - though I don't have the 1917/1918 overstrike (I do have the 1916!) - but now I'm STILL buying SLQs - I'm upgrading particular coins in the collection. Why I feel compelled to do this, I couldn't tell you - I do feel great satisfaction that the collection is complete, but now I just want it to be better? How do you folks feel about your collections? When one is complete do you move onto another? I'm trying to motivate myself to move onto collecting Capped Bust quarters and Barbers - both of which I have a very good start on.

 

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My collection is complete when I run out of money, and when I get some more the cycle continues...

 

It's only complete when you decide it is complete.

Some are satisfied when every spot is filled and move on to something else. Others keep upgrading indefinitely. My main collection is a box of 20, so it's never truly complete. I switch out coins whenever I find something that is more pleasing (or expand beyond twenty when there is nothing that I want to remove). On the other hand, my type set album was basically completed once I filled all the spots. I have replaced two coins but am not actively looking to do so (one of the replacements was a gift and I liked it better than what I currently had, so it was easy to make the change).

 

Do you want a challenge . Collect all the Shield Nickels including the Varieties and Errors.

 

well in the case of my $20 LC set... never anytime I can get a better LC then the one I have for $20 I'll grab it other sets... I don't worry about so much as I'm usualy buying the best my wallet can afford AU is almost always "good enough" but sometimes you just need 69-70 Dcam because the price is right lol

 

Would you share what currently holds a place in your box of 20 and what most recently moved out?

 

Come over to the dark side and start collecting world coins!

Congrats on finding a 1916 SLQ, though. Sounds like you already have a pretty remarkable collection. I guess it depends on whether you enjoy chasing a few more and more elusive items or would enjoy a more varied collection. I'd hate to feel stalled, with nothing left to collect in my price range.

 

I have a start on Rhodesian (Zimbabwe), South African and Sierra Leone coins (Africa), I do fear I've been eyeing the ancients that are posted here, they seem very tempting. I have some lovely pennies and half-pennies that have giraffes and elephants on them.

 

This is my latest update (still current):
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ddddd’s-box-of-20-updated-version-3-0.369217/

 

Wow that's an amazing collection! The toning and diverse nature of the set are fantastic!

 

I never upgraded much. Just moved on to something new to collect before I completed the set. Over time I found the right coin to complete the older sets.

 

As long as the fire is burning it's never complete. Sometimes I'll put a particular set aside for a while because there's a new kid on the block that has my attention. But eventually I'll get a renewed interest in the set and either fill incomplete slots or upgrade.

 

Your collection is complete. Varieties are not necessary to complete a collection. They are nice to have and a bonus to the collection. You can upgrade a coin in your collection at any time. You can even build another collection of SQL's. One in a high grade and another in a lower or medium grade. As you replace or upgrade in the first collection the coin you're replacing goes into the lower grade set.

 

I have a complete set when I have all the varieties in an acceptable or better condition.
"Acceptable or better condition" is a balance between grade (generally VF or better) and what I can afford.
For instance I've got all of the Cohen varieties (24) of the Classic Head Half Cent set ranging from VF-20 to MS-63 including one VF-Details coin.
For me that is complete.
(But when I hit the lottery I'll do some upgrading )

 

Wow kanga, that's an impressive half-cent set! You all provide interesting perspectives, thank you. I've "collected" interesting coins for years, since I was a kid, but I didn't really have any focus - I'd buy some Morgans or a Trade Dollar or some Capped Bust halves just because they were interesting and to have them. One of the reasons I thought collecting Standing Liberties was a good idea was because I had a good start from random purchases over the years (of course mostly poor quality high mintage years) - and they were cheap - and only 36 to finish the set (or 37 with the 1916) plus my youngest son showed some interest and I was in no rush, so I thought I could finish the collection up inexpensively with diligence and some luck. That didn't quite work out - the 1921, 1923S and the 1919S & 1919D at the end all came pretty dear, and I wasn't even buying really nice ones, though I did get really lucky on the 1916. Now that it's "done" I find myself spending on higher grade common SLQs to improve the set. The lesson I've learned is that it's rather addictive and fun, and it ain't cheap.

 

Move on to what interest you the most. You're next series will give acceptance to the last, in my opinion. Good luck and be safe

 

No matter which type of coin series you decide to collect there's always one that's very expensive and two or three others that are more costly. We call them the key and semi-keys.

 

That depends somewhat on your definition of a "set".

For instance, I don't collect proofs (except for my birth year set).
Therefore if I were collecting Morgans I would not have to be concerned about the 1895.
That makes that set a bit easier to complete.

I also don't collect error coins.
That makes a set like LWC's a bit easier.
No 1955 DDO.
No 1922 Plain.
No 1943 copper cents.
No 1944 steel cents.

In general my definitions apply across the board, i.e., what I apply to one set applies to all sets.

 

Happy coin collecting. Since you continue to buy SLQ's, Collecting Nut has a good idea. Buy another coin folder or whatever you collect complete sets in and as you upgrade your best set, place your second best coin in the second folder. If you buy a third coin, place the best coin in your first set, your second best coin in your second set and start a third set. Keep doing that and you might become obsessive compulsive and find a 4th better coin and keep upgrading each set with the coin from the previous set. I did that with Morgan dollars without the 1895 Proof, 12 sets later. I now have a 13th 1893-S and many extra Morgan dollars. Time to start a 13th set. Keep making SLQ sets until you are satisfied with the best upgraded one you have. What other coins interest you and your desire to complete a set? Do the same for that set and continue to upgrade and make more sets. Coin collecting is fun hobby. I applaud you for your 1916. That is the last one I need for my set. Enjoy coin collecting. It's a lifetime hobby.

 

ive never completed a complete set. I am working on a Lincoln set right now. when will this set be complete for me? thats hard to answer for me. I don't have a lot of money so buying coins for my set will be hard. I wont be including Varieties and Errors, they are all just two expensive plus varieties are not necessary to complete a collection. I mean thats what i think anyway. good luck to everybody in getting their own collections completed..........