Starting my Dansco 7070 Set (+gift for 7070 collectors)

obversity · December 25, 2005 6:21AM

Well...after literally months of internal debate (and much reading of this forum) I've decided that its not a sin to crack coins out of their slabs and will start working on a Dansco 7070 album. As I've read from a number of you its pretty important to have a strategy in building one of these so I've set some ground rules for myself:

1. No proofs. Business strikes only.
2. Total set cost under $7,070 [get it?

]. (averages $93/coin).
3. Find the nicest (eye appeal) coin for the grade/cost I can.
4. Don't rush.

Since I'll be heading to FUN in Orlando in a week or I needed some help organizing what I had and what I wanted to look for. To help me with this I made a spreasheet with a bunch of info about the coins in the 7070 and my inventory/collection so far. I thought someone else might find it useful so I put it up on the net.

You can see a sample of it here: 7070 spreadsheet example.

And you can find the actual XLS file here: 7070 Spreadsheet File

It should be pretty self-explanatory but post here if you have any questions.

A general "thank you" to all of you who have posted your thoughts and pictures about your 7070 sets. They've been very helpful to this newb.

Obversity

RYK · December 25, 2005 6:26AM

Good luck on this fun quest!

lordmarcovan · December 25, 2005 6:33AM

Good luck! I like your spreadsheet. If I ever do the 7070 again I will likely do something similar.

Have fun at FUN. I won't be making it this year.

Barry · December 25, 2005 6:34AM

If you're open to suggestions...

I would try to match grades better within a series, rather than trying to equalize prices. For example, in the Large Cents, do you really want to mix a couple of 12's with a 50 and 60? Wouldn't it look better if they were all 15's or 20's?

Similar in the Dollars. Do you really want a couple of 12's in Seated Dollars next to a 65 Peace Dollar? I would shoot for fewer MS coins, substitute more AU58's in their place, and pick up better examples of the handful of pricey coins in the set.

Whatever you decide, good luck and have fun!

RYK · December 25, 2005 6:38AM

Neat spreadsheet...great idea! I wonder how closely you will be able to get to these targets. I think that you have significantly underestimated the costs for the classic head cent and twenty cent piece in the desired condition, and you will probably not find visually acceptable seated dollars for under $300. These are probably the four most challenging coins in the set.

1907Quarter · December 25, 2005 6:50AM

that's pretty cool! I don't mind mixing the grades(I do it myself!) because your aim is to get the best possible, for that grade. Excellent! Neat spreadsheet, which keeps the project intact!

paigowjohnny · December 25, 2005 6:52AM

Good luck...it's a lot of fun

AuldFartte · December 25, 2005 9:03AM

Enjoy the 7070 quest ... It is a lot of fun

I just started my second round on a 7070, looking for better "matched" coins within a series. That oughta take a while.

cmanbb · December 25, 2005 10:03AM

If I may...................................I agree with Barry in his analysis of trying to maintain a consistent "look" within a series.

My 2 cents..........................any selected MS60 pieces would most likely be more appealing as a choice AU58.
Like the spreadsheet

lordmarcovan · December 25, 2005 10:07AM

You inspired me.

cullenbryant · December 25, 2005 10:23AM

Very nice spreadsheet.

cullenbryant · December 25, 2005 10:27AM

<< <i>I think that you have significantly underestimated the costs for the classic head cent >>

same here, i never thought that one would cost so much and i've been looking and it's a
2-300 hundred dollar coin to get in there at vf.

66Tbird · December 25, 2005 10:30AM

Well that spredsheet was inspiring. I'll just save that right over-------------------here.

tmot99 · December 25, 2005 12:35PM

I have to agree with Barry. That's the first thing I said to myself when I opened your spreadsheet. You will probably be happier with coins closer matched in grade within a series.

DorkGirl · December 25, 2005 12:47PM

I've taken a different approach for my 7070 then most here. I put the coolest example I can find in it, especially for the cheaper coins. I love the way the DCAM Jeff looks next to the green/gold Buffalo with the BU silver Jeff on the other side of it. I love the DCAM purple Roosie next to the BU silver, the AH proof Kennedy next to the BU Franklin. The whole last page of my album is DCAM proofs with the exception of the ASE which is a 96. I can't make every coin in the album special, I couldn't afford to, but the ones I can afford I try and put the best possible example in the book. I also actively seek brown, golden or yellow toned coins for the set. I just like the way they look.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, it's your book, your rules, do whatever it takes to make your heart happy when you open it up

Bikingnut · December 25, 2005 1:15PM

That spread sheet is a great idea. I may try something like that.

obversity · December 25, 2005 11:38PM

Thanks for all the great replies, everyone and glad I could help inspire lord's giveaway.

Barry [and others]: Well, its pretty hard for me to disagree with one of the masters of type set collecting

I've been struggling with this for as long as I've been thinking about doing it. I understand the asthetics of having a nice even quality throughout a series but its going to be very hard for me to resist the urge to by the absolute best I can afford (kinda like Becky and 1907quarter said). I think it'll be one of those things that will play out as I assemble the set. I'm sure this will be a many-year process with a lot of upgrades (and perhaps downgrades) through its creation. In the end I'm sure I'll say "Hmmm, Barry was right. This looks ugly." and redo my approach. The other problem I have is that I've only seen well matched sets from people's sets here. I've never seen one with very wide grade differences to know how it looks. By the way, will your photos of your type set be coming online again soon? It seems you're over quota on Earthlink. I'll be glad to host for you if you need more bandwidth.

RYK [and others]: Thanks for the thoughts on the target prices. The truth is that right now those targets are WAG's (wild-ass guesses) based on prices noted in Greysheet and the Red Book. Part of the reason for the spreadsheet is to help with my recon to the FUN show next week. I'll adjust after I see what's more realistic. Also, thanks for all of your posts on your 7070 collecting. They've been very useful.

Thanks again for everyone's responses.

Barry · December 26, 2005 2:30AM

Yes, my pics should be back online on Jan 1 according to Earthlink. This is the first time this has happened to me, exceeding my 1 GB monthly download allowance.

I gave a (non-coin) talk with a Powerpoint presentation a few weeks ago and posted the presentation online for anyone who wanted to see it later. It was more popular than expected and the downloads pushed me over the limit.

Getting back to the type set... I've put together a number of sets over the years, all with upgrades over time. In my Seated Dime set, I probably replaced almost every coin at least once!

For this set, I decided to wait for the "right" coin the first time. As it turned out, I still replaced 3 or 4 coins (to date) and am thinking about another couple, if the right coins come along.

Baley · December 26, 2005 5:31AM

Thank you very much, Obversity, for the spreadsheet

Sounds like you have a good plan for your collection

SDCollector · December 26, 2005 6:18AM

You're going to have a lot of fun putting the set together. My 7070 is my primary collecting focus and it will be for many years. The possibilities are endless. I'm trying to match the grades and look of each row and I'm constantly upgrading and downgrading coins.

Congrats on deciding to cracking out your coins. I've done it several times now with no regrets. The coins look great in the album.

Post some pics as you progress.

Barry · December 31, 2005 2:45AM

Obversity - FYI, my web pages have been released from being taken hostage, for over-usage, by my ISP

CLick on the links below and the pics should appear. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Starting my Dansco 7070 Set (+gift for 7070 collectors)

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