Keeping and filling out an inherited IHC album. Cents from 1857 - 1861.

SkyMan

About 35 years ago I inherited from my paternal grandparents a partially filled IHC Whitman album. Most of the coins were in the lower to mid circulated range. While I have always enjoyed IHC's they were not a series that I collected at that point in time.

Around 10 years ago, I got much more into doing albums, and decided to complete the IHC album. In a few cases I also upgraded a slot or two. Interestingly enough, the earlier dates were all filled in, while the latter more common dates were not. The first empty slot was 1876, and the next one was 1884. After 1884, empty slots became common.

In order to keep the guts of the collection true to my grandparents collecting, I bought a ~ VG 1876 for the hole, and did not upgrade any coin until the year 1880. From that date forward the coins I bought, for the most part, tended to be high grade sliders to MS64. I'LL POST THE WHOLE ALBUM OVER TIME. For those of you who are coin snobs you might want to wait until 1880 and the latter date coins come rolling around. You'll probably have seen some of these coins, as, over time, I've posted some of them as one offs. In all cases the images are by Bob Campbell, and I think he did an excellent job.

The Whitman album had holes for Flying Eagle cents, and the FE's are my grandparents.

291fifth

There is nothing wrong with collecting lower circulated grade Indian cents. I recall my first Indian Cent collection from the early 1960's. The 1869 was just barely passable as a Good but it filled the space for one of the "expensive" dates. That is when collecting was actually fun.

bennybravo

That's awesome brother. Love this project!!!!!

erwindoc

I think the album is fun too! I have been working on a mid-grade album intermittently for a couple of years

bennybravo

This is what collecting coins is all about.

bsshog40

Looking good Sy!

nwcoast

Very cool project!

I have the same thing going from both a IHC and Barber Dime blue Whitman books that were from my Grandfather. Like yours, they are lower grade, and I’ve been slowly adding to them similarly.
Keeping the tradition alive!

Walkerguy21D

Very cool!

15 years ago, I built two Whitman bookshelf albums in mixed grade/problem free condition, both technically only missing the 1877 (the ‘09s coins and stored separately), one for each of my daughters.

It’s my deep desire that someday heirs will take an interest and do what you are doing!

ricko

@SkyMan .. Those are nice old FE's and IHC's... and excellent pictures. I have always preferred that look on old copper. Cheers, RickO

MASSU2

Having recently just completed my IHC's (started out in a Harris folder and once completed moved to a Dansco) I can appreciate the dedication and difficulty in finishing this set with nice original examples whether they are low, mid or high grade. Nice solid looking coins.

lkenefic

I started collecting Lincoln Cents in Whitman folders, but Indian Head Cents really sparked my interest. Awesome set!

jafo50

Great looking coins, keep going.

SanctionII

A great post by Skyman. Love the part about coins collected by his grandparents that ended up in Skyman's possession.

He also mentioned "coin snobs". When I read that I stopped and gave some thought to that term.

I then laughed, because I suppose that many of us here on the forums could/would be viewed as "coin snobs" by others, including those who do not participate in the hobby.

Of course I also suppose that some hobby participants would not be viewed as "coin snobs" but instead would be viewed as "coin slobs" (complete with mustard stains on one's shirt ).