A different way to collect a series

Gazes

I have always enjoyed collecting a series rather than a type set. I have found that I like the challenge of finding that date I need. Also, when you collect a series you really do become an expert and often you know more than 90% of the dealers because you have immersed yourself.

The biggest drawback I hear from collectors is they dont like having to buy common uninteresting coins to complete their set. I emphasize with that sentiment. For instance when I collected lib quarter eagles I had no desire to spend money on the 1900-1907 dates. I knew they were always available and I rather use my money on a dahlonega coin or a rare philly date.

My new philosophy collecting a series is simply to ignore the most common dates. No one can tell me that if I have 3/4 of all dates in the lib quarter eagle series and am missing the most common dates that my set is any less desirable (ie I doubt you will hear "I love your 1845-O, 1850-D , etc but where are the 1900 -1907 qes). One could pick any series and eliminate 10% or 20% or even 50% of the most common dates and complete the rest. This is not a box of 20 philosophy---it is collecting a series but not wasting your money on the easiest coins to find. And at the end if you want to "complete" your set then the easiest dates by definition will always be available.

I'm not suggesting this is the "right" way but it is an option for a collector who wants to collect a series but not be burdened by coins he doesnt really want. Completing almost any series without 20% (or any other number) of the easiest dates will be challenging, educational and leave you with a very desirable set.

coinbuf

As I am also a series collector looking at a set and calling it complete at 70% would bug me. I get what your saying but my OCD would kick in, besides I enjoy finding that "last" coin so that the set is full and complete. If that works for you then it sure does save time, money, and space by not getting the clutter dates.

Walkerfan

I have always practiced and advocated collecting the key dates first. They will only get tougher and more expensive to find. Also, the nice examples will be cracked and upgraded, leaving them either unobtainable or three or four times the original cost. This is the approach that I took to building my Walker set. After all of the 'heavy lifting' was done with the early dates (1916-1933), it was fun and effortless to add the 'easier' coins from the 1930s (mostly Philly examples) and 1940s (P/D/S examples).

earlyAurum

I like the general approach. I have always thought that the harder coins to obtain should be prioritized from an opportunity aspect. Collecting a series is interesting to me because it narrows my focus and I gain greater knowledge and make better decisions hopefully. I guess I’m just agreeing with @Gazes .

koynekwest

To make the common dates more desirable I look for high color coins. That makes it a challenge.

yspsales

It is a deterrent for me as well.

The financial aspect can be daunting in a series like the Morgan Dollar.

I find type sets more liberating for much of the above reasoning in the OP.

Walkerfan

@koynekwest said:
To make the common dates more desirable I look for high color coins. That makes it a challenge.

Me too. And I also look for higher grades, such as premium and superb gems.

TurtleCat

I’m too completionist to do something like that. But a series, ultimately, is whatever you decide. You could write up a list of what you want and that’s the completion point. Doesn’t have to match a registry or raw album slot. That’s where the showcase feature of the registry is kinda nice.

Gazes

@TurtleCat said:
I’m too completionist to do something like that. But a series, ultimately, is whatever you decide. You could write up a list of what you want and that’s the completion point. Doesn’t have to match a registry or raw album slot. That’s where the showcase feature of the registry is kinda nice.

If completing the series is important then another idea is to collect those "easy" coins in a grade that is less expensive. For instance if I was going to get a 1907 lib quarter eagle I would get a nice looking example in pcgs 64 for $500 instead of MS-67 for 2000. I would stretch for the tough dates.

Zoins

This may be a good approach if one is a series collector to begin with as the series knowledge is needed to know and appreciate the dates.

I tend to be a type collector, so if one comes from that approach, one may focus on eye appeal over dates like I do. I do like generally significant dates like 1776, 1861, 1865, 1876, etc.

Smudge

Liberty Quarter Eagles is a very ambitious goal.

pursuitofliberty

I tend to agree with your thoughts ... as I think completion, as it were, is overrated to an extent. Neither obtaining the impossible coins, nor the most common ones should be a requirement for an enjoyable and fulfilling journey in a specific series.

I tend to want the more difficult ones, overlooked by the "key date" aficionado's and too scarce for the strictly best for type (and/or grade) hunters.

But then sometimes the completion of a set (whether type or series) is very important to certain people, and I am glad we are all different that way.

david3142

I have collected a number of series and always strived for completion. My Morgan set is only 4 coins away and I will be very excited to finish it. With that series, you can get exceptional eye appeal from DMPL or toned coins so the common dates are more fun for me than the keys (none of which is really all that hard to find). I am unwilling to pay 6 figures for the key coins in MS but I can buy some pretty amazing common dates for way less money. I like my 89-CC and 93-S but they are nice mid-VF coins and cost less than my 81-S. I wouldn’t call these super-common dates fillers:

trueblood

I don't believe in having to or being compelled to do anything, so for I don't care of I complete something or not. I am however ruled by eye appeal and detail, I need that so I can see and appreciate what I do collect
To each his/her own

Mr_Spud

I always liked collecting common date coins in a series raw and in an album along with collecting the key and semi-key dates slabbed to complete the series.

And so then I ended up with a bunch of slabbed key date coins of many different series and they turned into a slabbed type set.

But then I started buying slabbed common coins of older type coins because the key date ones were too expensive and the series would be out of reach for me to complete.

So now I have a slabbed type set where I have a bunch of keys mixed with common coins and a bunch of raw series in albums with substitute coins in the slots in the albums because the keys are slabbed.

I couldn’t imagine doing it any other way at this point, and it’s still fun 🌞

ricko

I stopped series collecting years ago.. Now I collect coins that I think are special - design, condition, rarity etc. I find it more enjoyable.... Coin collecting is a hobby... do it the way you enjoy - mainly, have fun. If it is a business, well, work hard, make money, enjoy life. Cheers, RickO

asheland

I’m more of a type collector, but you have some good points. 👍