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My Box of 21: 1888 Mint Set
brianc1959
Posts: 342 ✭✭✭✭✭
A few years ago I saw a nice 1888 gold dollar and 1888 MS65 red IHC that fit in my type set. I think it was a Heritage auction, and back in those days a normal person could still win auctions - so I did! At the time it occurred to me that 1888 would make a good mint set (year set?) candidate because all 21 of the coins were obtainable in mint state for a reasonable price. Some other plusses:
- Lots of gold (10 coins, $86.50 face value)
- Lots of denominations (13)
- Lots of type coins (in my case currently 1c, 25c, gold 1$, 3$)
- A number of low-mintage coins (25c, 50c, $2.5, $3, $5)
- One pseudo-rarity ($5)
- Did I mention, lots of gold?
On the minus side:
- No CC mintmarked coins
- Does not fit into a box of 20
This past fall I completed the set with a 3 dollar gold piece, which I also needed for my type set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/mint-sets/1888-mint-set-gold/album/171209
29
Comments
That is pretty awesome!!
P.S.: I notice that a member here (santinidollar) posted a really cool 1888 proof set just a month ago: https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1067710/1888-proof-set
Great looking set. I am finding it difficult to find a nice $3 piece for my type set. Congrats. Now you can move on to a new year. It will get expensive if you pick a year with CC coins. Those have become very expensive.
Successful BST with BustDMs , Pnies20, lkeigwin, pursuitofliberty, Bullsitter, felinfoel, SPalladino (CBH's - 35 Die Marriage's)
$5 Type Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/half-eagle-type-set-circulation-strikes-1795-1929/album/344192
CBH Set https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/everyman-collections/everyman-half-dollars/everyman-capped-bust-half-dollars-1807-1839/album/345572
Beautiful set, congrats!
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
Always wanted to collect Gold, but never committed myself.
Just Silver. Fits my pocketbook better.
Beautiful coins, dude!
"Jesus died for you and for me, Thank you,Jesus"!!!
--- If it should happen I die and leave this world and you want to remember me. Please only remember my opening Sig Line.That is a very nice set.... and a good year.... 8 is an Asian good luck number..... Cheers, RickO
Good point - I had forgotten that.
I used to feel the same way about gold, but I may have got in far enough to be trapped!
$3 gold is tough, and they've always seemed overpriced to me. But I regret not buying a few years ago when they were a lot less expensive than they are now.
“back in those days a normal person could still win auctions - so I did!”
I hear ya….very true, too.
What a sweet set! Congrats. ⭐️
Well done!
GREAT Set! From a mint set lover...
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Neat! There was a nice logic to your selection of the year 1888. I'm beginning to work on a year set to honor my grandparents. It's so tempting to mix proofs and mint states.
Beautiful set you have there. I always liked that year too.
Congrats @brianc1959 , that's a nice accomplishment
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I bet that was fun to put together. Congrats!
SUPER LOOKING SET.(AWESOME)
Great set!! I have always been partial to the 1888-S Morgan. Your gem is very impressive!!
“I may not believe in myself but I believe in what I’m doing” ~Jimmy Page~
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947)
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
What a fun project. Sometimes it's nice to do something unconventional instead of following the herd. Not many people try to complete "mint sets" in this fashion. You chose nice coins, too!
On a less serious note, I have a 1988 mint set right here. Wanna trade? Mine is 100 years better.
Very nice and I love the presentation. I did something similar with 1900 but didn’t include all mint marks. I need to up my game
. Thanks for sharing.
Well done.
Amazing set and journey! Congrats on a wonderful accomplishment!
Thanks for all the kind comments! I really enjoy using mint sets as a way of building up my type set, and I'm working on several others. If other collectors can get some inspiration from this then so much the better.
That is a great looking set. Congrats on completing it. I've thought about doing a year set, but I have a long way to go on my type sets that it would just be a distraction at this time. Once I complete some of the other type sets I'm working on, I may give it a go.
Thanks for sharing.
Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
I like bending type with year (mint or proof) sets, adds to the challenge and gives one an excuse to buy more coins.
Just ran across this, very nice!
Awesome set! You've got some beautiful coins there!!!!!
Great set!
Collector, occasional seller
Surprised to see this old thread resurrected - thanks for the kind comments. One of these days I'll try to upgrade a few of the coins, such as the half dollar.
Yeah, me to brother!
I bought my first DE raw, just a generic date. But there was just something about holding a coin roughly the size of a 50 cent piece, and it weighing approximately the same as a silver dollar, that I really liked. I was hooked!😂
Beautiful set you put together. Definitely something to be proud of.
Congrats!
Super neat, congratulations!
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...