Anybody working on an "uncompletable" set?
brianc1959
Posts: 299 ✭✭✭✭✭
In my case, its an 1839 mint set with major varieties: https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/mint-sets/1839-mint-set-gold-major-varieties/album/171030 , which I'll likely never finish due to the small letters bust half. I'm not too bothered by the likelihood that I'll never finish. And who knows, maybe a little hoard of this ultra-rarity will turn up someday.
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Very nice.
Awesome!
BHNC Associate member #AN-07 … 88 and counting.
yes - 1868 with gold. It's a hard set with some billionaire mucking it up.
Yep Saints... 18 out of 23 & stuck
Need 1921, 1929, 1930-S, 1931-D or S & 1932
And this is the much easier one/date set.
My Saint Set
No... I do not choose projects like that... Too frustrating
Cheers, RickO
Very nice Brian. I attempted to do the same thing about 10 years ago but soon realized I would probably never complete it. Glad I am able to help you with Head of '38!
I've stopped and started a few times on Barber Dimes and Quarters, but the costs of the key dates in both series kept me from getting serious about either.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I used to. I have a complete set of Barber Dimes, minus you-know-what.
My gold dollar set will never be completed. I don’t have sufficient funds (barring lottery winnings or rich distant relatives deciding they heard of me) for several of the coins. But I’ll be happy getting to about 75% over the next decade or so.
TurtleCat Gold Dollars
Half Dimes, though I don't think the known 1870-S is truly unique.
I like the OP's aim of building a year-specific mint set. Reminds me of an active project I have, which might also be impossible, of photographing each denomination/date/mintmark combo that the mint created.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer, see my portfolio here: (http://www.donahuenumismatics.com/).
I'm thinking a more romantic view might be helpful to counteract the frustration, and call them "Don Quixote" sets.
Check is in the mail! Thanks to you I'll at least be able to complete the first page of my set. I assume your attempt was for the 1839 mint set? I got sucked in because of the cents - with five major varieties, among them the incredibly named Silly Head and Booby Head, who can resist?
You would certainly be famous if you can uncover any additional 1870-s for your set. For your photography project - how do you gain access to the coins? Do you live next door to Hansen?
You've got a really nice set! Perhaps simply re-name it "18 Out of 23 & Stuck" ?
Supposedly there may be one in the cornerstone of the old SF Mint. Accessing that may be difficult!
A friend of mine at one time had what he thought was an 1870-s below bow half dime.
He lent it out to a friend for research, but never got it back. (I never got to see it).
Another friend of mine had a complete set of Seated Half dimes including the known 1870-s for a few minutes in 2019.
The owner lent it to him to complete his set!
"Rent-A-Key"
Yes, it's the set : Barber half dollars circulation strikes and proofs-97 coins total. I'll never complete it, but it's fun to try, and provides a focus.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/half-dollars/barber-half-dollars-major-sets/barber-half-dollars-basic-set-circulation-strikes-proof-1892-1915/imagegallery/220105
The non-gold portion of your set is pretty amazing! At least it appears that said billionaire has completed his set, thus leaving things more quiet for you.
That's why I like Saints actually. You know you aren't going to complete the set but you can get a nice short set of the amazing coins that you want. Can't really do that with the non gold series, there's something about them that begs completion.
So,, you have the 1933? 😜
Personally working on die marriage sets of all the capped bust silver coins. Likely never to complete ANY of the series much less them all.......
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
I've started three PCGS type sets. Two of them I have a chance of completing. The third one (see link below) I will likely never complete.
Edited to add: Very nice set by the way. I did not realize how many varieties existed for 1839.
Donato
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/mysetregistry/set/202554
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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Working at 100 Greatest coins. I have 21. Ultimate goal 33-34. I am often underbidder when they do come available. I have been outbid about 10 times the last year.
Yes, no museum in the world has every ancient coin, ultimately meaning you can choose to buy whatever floats your boat and make what you want of a set.
My $3 is 1868
My YouTube Channel
$5 Liberty half eagles unless I find a 1854-S and 1875 on Alibaba.
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
I don't buy any US but I have never completed even one set for a coin design I collec(ed). I have never attempted to complete a set of only one date. A few sets of the types described here (such as by date) I could have completed but not a date run, unless it was complete "dreck".
Bust quarters, there are 2 or so that I will never have.........
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Early Quarters
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Yes, unfortunately. I will let you know what it is when I complete it....
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
I'll post a link to my photography project to my signature line in a week or so, I've just photographed an 1815 Half that completed the short goal of imaging at least one coin from each year.
Per the 1870-S Half Dime, I did some research into the 1870-S coinage upon seeing the curiosities regarding the half dime, the silver dollar, and the three dollar piece. Not one half dime was known aside from the cornerstone piece until 1978, and six dies were present at the Mint. Mintage records indicate one three dollar piece struck, but at least two are known including the cornerstone piece. And for the silver dollar, there are no mint records for that yet at least a dozen pieces exist.
Custom album maker and numismatic photographer, see my portfolio here: (http://www.donahuenumismatics.com/).
Trying to complete the 20c set by die variety as defined in the doubledimes.com book.
Some of these issues are quite scarce. The 1876-CC has a population of about 20.
The 1875-CC BF-1 has a known population of 17.
The 1875-S Proof has a population of 7-9.
The 1875-CC BF-5 has a known population of 2.
The 1875 BF-3 has a known population of 1.
The average cost of a 1876-CC is a tad north of $500k
The 1875-S proof (or SP) goes for over $100k
Since no issues of the last two have ever been offered for sale, I have no idea what they would cost. It would likely be beyond this electricians budget.
That "Rent-A-Key" concept is genius - it certainly never occurred to me before.
My set is not uncompleteable but it is extremely difficult. Early quarter eagles with major varieties 1796 - 1839 (35 coins). I think that the only one to have done it is Harry Bass. Hansen is 2 coins away. I have 12 remaining but have acquired the most difficult ones except the 1821 which is really hard to find nice. I have a good chance to complete it with a few more years. It has been a great journey and one i really want to complete.
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End Systemic Elitism
As my handle implies, working on a business strike set of Liberty Quarter Eagles 1840 - 1907 in AU - MS (except a few tough ones).
Not uncompletable, but durn tough.
I would like to complete redbook sets of early silver from 1792 to 1839. That's a really, really tall order considering i only own a single bust dollar at the moment. But I think so much of the joy is the chase. And off we go again.
I'm also chasing (slowly) Fugio Cents by die marriage, I think only 8 or so R8, many unique. So not going to go happen in my lifetime. But they really are very cool.
Is the reason it's not completable because you have set the grade and eye appeal so high?
I just started Flying Eagle and Indian Head Cents in a Whitman Album again for the 4th time... I doubt I'll ever have an 1856 Flyer... cool to dream about though...
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Yes, @amwldcoin .....I decided early on, that I wanted very high standards for the set....along the lines of Shireman, Duckor, etc. That will ultimately doom me to never finish it.....Who knows though....In the meantime, its one coin at a time.