What should I collect?

NBSQLGeek

Ok here I am. Newbie, just starting out and want to get into coin collecting. Right now I buy
US Silver eagles on Ebay usuaully the cheap un slabbed.
$25 fed brick of pennies and just cherrypick to relax me.

What else should I do? I absolutely love searching coins for rare or errors.

Should I find bags/rolls of coins from banks ( nickles, dimes, golden dollars)?

KlectorKid

collect what u like but if u like looking for varieties i would recommend wheat cents

NBSQLGeek

Someone posted a comment on this site last friday about thwta kind of person is a newbie collector.

Yeah they got me ont he nose.

Im 24 not 25 .
Im a SQL Database Administrator.
I dress very conservative though (at work and away).
I drive a BMW Z3.
I examine my pocket with a loupe (not all the time)

Cant remember the rest though.

UncleJoe

Whatever you want.

I realize that probably isn't the answer you were looking for but I think it is the right answer.

Just keep looking, read, start small until something catches your fancy or you figure out what it is that you enjoy looking for and/or owning.

Joe.

DCAMFranklin

Personally, I found that coins with eye appeal provide me with the greatest enjoyment. Some of those coins are classic and some are modern. As you can tell from my "handle", I am obviously a lover of the Deep Cameo Franklin. Actually, any of the Cameo coins. However, you should take the time to review the many coins available and see what coins you really enjoy looking at. Good luck to you!

BNE

I'd recommend a 20th Century Type Set and a lot of reading. A type set is a great way to dip your toe in the water, learn about the history of U.S coinage, and see if any design appeals to you. Also, this kind of a set is very flexible in terms of money -- you can do it in low grades of common dates, put together a BU set of keys, or anywhere in between.

If you have no current direction, except knowing that you want to start buying, that's what I would do.

EDITED TO ADD: . . . . and welcome aboard!

NBSQLGeek

20th Century set sounds very interesting. I really admire coins in circulation since I can get my hands on them very easily.
This would be either the nickle , half dollar , or US Silver eagle ( DROOOOOL )

I just love the design of the eagle and weight of it. Oh yeah and the purity of it. I think I have my objective now made for me.

KlectorKid

I dont think SAE's and GAE's are in a type set because they are bullion and not a coin or atleast not made to circulate.

cladking

Always collect what you find interesting, but recognize that peoples interests tend
to evolve in this hobby. Everyone who pays more than face value for a coin should
sell some once in a while so they know how they are doing.

You're looking in the right place for raw errors. They are much harder to find than in
the past but the best varieties and errors are often pulled out of rolls of new coin.
Errors in mint sets are extremely rare and varieties are few and far between. Ask
any question you have and someone here can answer it. There are dealers who
specialize in error coins and have some spectacular examples.

NBSQLGeek

In my first week of searching threw rolls of pennies ( this past weekend) I found a 100% unplated penny.

Its a 1986 and is very odd not having the copper look. I think next month it will be on its way to PCGS.

Are unplated harder to find than double strikes?

cladking

Double struck coins are most unusual but they appear in most all series
for a long time. Unplated zinc cents are unusual. Most are dated in the
early years and 1984. The plating is sometimes removed after it leaves
the mint so these usually have to have the mint luster to command a
premium.

greghansen

An excellent first set to complete would be a Franklin AU album set. Get a nice album to house your coins and for less than $250 you can do the whole series from 1948 through 1963. I like this is one of the first sets for a few reasons:

1. The coins are nice and BIG. When you get done, your album will be heavy. You'll love the weight of all that silver (just like your ASE's)
2. The coins are inexpensive. There is no super key coin in the set. All of them can be had for $20 and under in AU and most for under $5.
3. The coins are relatively available. Any coin show/shop whould have lots of XF/AU Frankies lying around.
4. The set is long enough to give you a challange (therefore a sense of accomplishment when done) but short enough to keep a new collector from getting bored before completing it.

I also like the idea of a 20th Century Type set. Until/unless your interests develop to mint state/key date coins, I wouldn't get too worried about all the slabbed materials. Have some fun...complete some album sets first.

If you like eagles (Ben Franklin sure didn't but thats a story for another day) you may want to do an album set of F/VF Walking Liberty Halves after the Franklin set. There are a couple of pricey key dates in the Walker series, but the eagle reverse of the Walking Liberty half is a beautiful design...and again their nice, big, heavy coins, that 'feel good' when your album is full. Good luck. Buy a quality album at your local collectors shop. You want something you will be proud to show your friends once your set is done.

Greg Hansen
Melbourne, FL

BNE

I like Greg's ideas, especially a "short set" (either 1934-47 or 1941-47) of Walking Liberties, since you like heavy silver coins. The same obverse as the ASEs, and truly a beautiful coin.

I am biased against the ASE's myself, because they are not intended to circulate, so I don't consider them "coins" (he said, ducking).

I also agree with Greg as to taking it slow with slabbed material -- learn your coins first, so you get a sense of what is a good value. If you like the novelty of slabs, look for some cheap ones on Teletrade, or through advertisers in coin publications, but make sure you know what you are doing. (We are always here for advice on that score.)

Good luck!

NBSQLGeek

I bought a packet of silver coins and there was a Walking Liberty 1942. It took my breath and also been a big fan of the style/art of that era the coin is from. I keep that coin in my pocket always just as reminder.

This coin isnt all that good shape, just so everyone doesnt panic and want to kick me int he head for having a MS walking liberty in my pocket. HEHEH

LucyBop

One of my coin collecting buddies, whom also is a BMW person collects the old Silver Commems..... the Franklin halves are very ugly though, can't recomend them....

agentjim007

Don't mess with them Franklins...They're LucyBop's ( I got your back Lucy)

NBSQLGeek

<shivers and hides>

Placid

Early Half dollars are neat and not too expensive for most dates in circulated condition.

coinrookie

I too would recommend the Walkers. You can collect the short set in MS- 64 for a reasonable price. But I would buy atleast one in say MS-67 so you can truly appreciate the beauty of this coin.