What series would you prefer collecting early dimes or early half dollars?

TheGoonies1985

1796-1837
1794-1837

Manifest_Destiny

1796-1807 dimes and quarter eagles.

OKbustchaser

Guess

BustDMs

By date, Redbook variety or die marriages?

WCC

I wouldn't collect either proposed option due to the cost.

The 1796 or 1797 half dollars probably cost somewhere in the vicinity of $20K each (or more) in AG-3. The 1794 will also cost thousands in similar quality.

Collecting early dimes isn't like buying low grade Mexican or Peru pillar coinage. A full set in very low quality is still expensive for most collectors.

I'd either buy these designs I could afford by type or collect the later dates in better quality. The Capped Bust H10C by date is affordable.

jacrispies

@OKbustchaser said:
Guess

Oooo ooo guess mine too!!

Half dimes are too small for me to enjoy. I like BIG coins!

Nysoto

Yes!

I collect both early dimes and half dollars, but if I had to choose it would be the .50 mainly because of the flowing hair type, along with more coins in the date range (and die marriages), as more coins is better to me.

The draped bust dimes are extremely challenging in mid-circulated grades, a matched grade set such as VF30 is impossible as I have the only 1801 dime in PCGS VF30 . I like the challenge of absolute rarity.

TheGoonies1985

@BustDMs said:
By date, Redbook variety or die marriages?

Date and variety.

TheGoonies1985

This is not some rush collecting goal it is to make sure I remain a collector all my life. With coins I find interesting. I love the pirate era and the US cowboy era so these fall into that with my early Latin American coins.

And if I get bored because I am getting close to completing the series say in 15-20 years from now then I will continue 1838-1891.

semikeycollector

I like the early dimes, because there are many challenging dates and not all of them have to be acquired or in high grade to make a very interesting set.

I see a lot of Bust Halves and as such they don't excite me as much as a wholesome 1802, 1809 or 1811 dime. These dimes are very scarce, but still collectible by many.

Don't get me wrong. I think Bust Halves are aesthetically pleasing and have interesting varieties. It seems that the early halves are either relatively common as a date or very expensive, partially due to the type coin interest, with very little middle ground.

This is not surprising to hear from a Seated Dime collector.

Nysoto

The nice thing about the 1796-1837 dimes is that a set can be completed, even though the early dates are a challenge. I finally have a full date set of DB dimes, with the 1803 still raw from 25 years ago.

TheGoonies1985

My goal is AG-03 up to F-12. All PCGS & NGC.

TheGoonies1985

WCC:

I know but I am getting close to were things will get boring soon enough at least with my Peru (maybe 6 more easy enough dates to go then will be all very tough after that as you know) and Bolivia 1 real collection. I will be lucky to add a few per year pretty soon. Coins will not show up much so I am preparing for that in advance. And as for my Mexico 1 real series it is moving along but still able to buy nice enough coins every year (5-6 coins per year). That will keep me busy for the next 5-10 years. But at some point it will slow down a lot as well.

I just do not want to collect another Latin American series. I want to buy books on US history & US coins and learn over the next decade. I love learning I need to learn that is just the way I am. I am in no way giving up on my Latin American coins just making sure I will be busy the rest of my life over the next 30+ years ahead.

I will likely collect the US dimes 1796-1837 since I like the size and that I can over time afford most of them in low grades. I will be happy if it takes me 20+ years to complete it then I will upgrade.

I have no interest in getting into 1/2, 2, 4 or 8 reales I am happy with the 3 1 real series I collect already.

I am still young enough that I have to have a goal that will last me my entire life or close to it. And adding the US dimes will do that.

If I had chose the half dollars I would not buy the 1796 and 1797 I simply could not afford them. Eventually my mortgage will be paid off and then will have a lot more financial freedom.

BustDMs

Dimes are more challenging to find in upper grades.

You would also, likely, have to exclude the 17/14 half.

As said before, the dimes are more compleatable.

The halves more visually impressive and more available in higher grades.

I’ve collected both in VF-XF grades. Both are fun!

coinbuf

If these were my only two choices I would not be a coin collector. Ok that may sound harsh but both are tiny coins and would be very difficult for me to enjoy at my age and beyond. For a young collector with great eyesight these are a great design with a lot of interesting coins.

alaura22

Life is short, why limit yourself..............collect it all

alaura22

@coinbuf said:
If these were my only two choices I would not be a coin collector. Ok that may sound harsh but both are tiny coins and would be very difficult for me to enjoy at my age and beyond. For a young collector with great eyesight these are a great design with a lot of interesting coins.

Glasses and a loupe would solve that problem

lkenefic

If it's just a preference, I prefer larger coins so the choice is simple... early halves.

That, and every early dime is super pricey in VF or better... used more, and used up in circulation I suppose??

TomB

I prefer the half dollars and am an enormous fan of the half dollar denomination overall. This even extends to Canadian and Newfoundland coinage.

However, unless you chose 1837 as the end date for a specific reason, it would appear to me that you would either take 1836 (last year of the traditional Capped Bust half series) or 1839 (last year of the Reeded Edge half series).

johnny9434

I like the big uns cause I can see most of it

HillbillyCollector

Oh that’s a tough one, let me think on that a while………..ok I did, Half Dollars of course! If those pesky gold coins didn’t keep getting in the way, I would devote all my time to em!👍

krueger

Size matters, large is good!

Walkerfan

Halves

EastonCollection

Dimes - The Dimes will be challenging and dont surrender to less quality coins. Focus on your grade range and acquire originally attractive dimes. It might take a few years to complete but think about all the history you are holding.

Estil

As that song from my generation would say, I like big coins and I cannot lie! I still haven't even gotten started on Franklin halves yet though...

pursuitofliberty

Oh man ... just remember @Estil asked for it

I like big bust’s and I cannot lie
I like ‘em cracked or from a very rare die
Give me something clashed or a nice overdate
Grey dirt luster and you’ve sealed my fate

The_Dinosaur_Man

I started collecting early dimes a while back along with my Seated Dime collection. I appreciate the half dollars but I also like getting more coins on the single page.

Estil

@pursuitofliberty said:
Oh man ... just remember @Estil asked for it

I like big bust’s and I cannot lie
I like ‘em cracked or from a very rare die
Give me something clashed or a nice overdate
Grey dirt luster and you’ve sealed my fate

OTOH...

Well if I had money, I tell ya what I do...
I'd go downtown buy a Mercury Dime roll or two...
I heard she had Mercury Dimes...
Lord she's crazy about Mercury Dimes...
I'm gonna buy me some Mercury Dimes and put 'em in my album!