I'm bored with Morgan's.......

cacheman

so who collects 1954 and earlier U.S. commems here on the board? Please let me know and add any advice you feel would be warranted. Appreciate it!

Clankeye

I do. Just off the top of my head I would say that I like the Bowers book Commemorative Coins of the United States better than, say the Swiatek/Breen one. And books always seem to be a good place to start.
I would also say the designs in the series you have an aversion to right off the bat... go back and reconsider them later. Those seem to become my favorites.
I went from Morgans to commeratives too. Will always have a soft spot for them (Morgans) but I've never looked back.

LanLord

I have a fairly complete set of early commemoratives, including gold dollars and quarter eagles. But, I don't really consider myself a collector of this series and I have no real plan. Just kind of hap-hazzard accumulation.

They are very beautiful to look at and interesting to read about. Why they were created and the "skullduggery" in the commemorative programs of years ago is very interesting reading.

There are several that I can't pass by without wanting to buy, everytime. The Oregon Trail comm is perhaps the most beautiful half dollar ever created (my humble opinion).

cacheman

Just ordered Bowers and Swiatek/Breen this morning....along with Iacovo, Comprehensive Guide to United States Commemorative Coins, Laibstain, Certified Commemoratives, Slabaugh, United States Commemorative Coinage and, Taxay, Illustrated History of US Commemorative Coinage. This should keep me busy for a little while

Edited to add: Oregon is my favorite too, with Texas coming in second.

Lotsatrout

Cacheman.... so soon? Aren't ya gonna finish your registry set? You had a pretty nice collection going there! Are you going to unload them? I pretty much just stick with Washington quarters but good luck in your new endeavors!

Mike

Clankeye

Wow, you are all ready well ahead of the game then. Happy reading!

LanLord

Those will be good additions to your library. I'd be interested in your reviews on those books.

CommemDude

All good advice so far: read everything you can about the coins before you start buying. Next step: LOOK AT as many coins as you can at shows, online, etc, as each issue has its own perculiarities of strike, toning, and luster. For example, you will never find a Spanish Trail or Bridgeport or Lynchburg or Huguenot with the kind of vibrant rainbow colors sometimes found on an Oregon or Boone. Grants almost always have die polishing lines that make even MS 67's look lifeless and nasty, and some coins like Long Islands come satiny while Elgins are known for their intense luster. Once you have seen enough coins you are ready to buy and I would suggest buying coins slowly in the highest grades you can afford rather than putting together a low-grade set. Most of us put together MS 64 sets, then graduated to 65's, etc, and as you know it's not easy to upgrade without taking a financial loss. Registry coins are another bizarro world altogether, if you need any information on what to expect there, please PM me.