Can't complete a set?

agfox

Collecting a complete series is a goal I think that most of you aspire to complete. My question is what do you do when they key seems unreachable? For my mint state collection of Morgan's there are a few keys, the '89-cc, the'92-2, and the 93-s, among others. I'm not of the financial standings to purchase those coins in mint state anytime in the foreseeable future, so my set could have some circulated pieces or some blank holes. I think the latest Coins magazine placed a ms65 set at a little over 2 million retail for the set. Ouchie. So what do YOU do in your collections? Any example good enough? Or are you forever haunted by that blasted 1895! Bah!

airplanenut

Agfox,

Buy the date that you need in either the best grade you can afford, or just a nice example- if you like the coins in your set, then your set is perfect- only when you buy a coin you don't like is a set incomplete, as the hole has truly not been filled.

Jeremy

nwcs

Once I get to a point where I cannot afford the coins to complete the set, I go with a different set (20th century type to be precise). Easier to fill. But I can see that I'm transitioning into mainly just collecting coins I like, regardless of sets or any semblance of order/direction.

paigowjohnny

I'm fighting the same battle with Morgans....I have some VFs, some XFs, and some AUs among the MSs....I want a complete and nice looking set, but like you I'm in no position to buy some of the pieces. I expect when I finally get a 93-S, it'll be a VG-F....and I'll still choke while paying for it...

And I KNOW I'll never have a 95...that's a given...someday when I'm a millionaire, maybe I'll upgrade the others...

clw54

I like circulated sets, which makes everything more affordable.

nwcs

clw, I'm starting to like circulated sets, too, except for cheapy BU ones like modern nickels and cents. I can get those real cheap. And they have some charm on their own.

ClausUrch

Get Anaconda to take a really nice true to life size scan of the coin or coins you need to complete your set. Save a few of the cracked slabs you have opened very carefully and type the reqired numbers of the coins you need on the right kind of paper and paste the wonderful scans that Anaconda made for you in the slabs and glue back together. Presto! Collection complete!!!

MadMarty

A while back I saw an 89-CC on E-Bay in a PCGS 02 grade. Problem is they wanted $175 for it. The 93-S has been going up in price every year. For a 40 or 45 expect to shell out a bunch of cash... I have about 10 I still need for my set.

Barry

<< <i>I like circulated sets, which makes everything more affordable. >>


Me too. But even so, some coins get pricey. I'm currently doing Seated Dimes, and you know about the 71-74 CC's.

In some series, as is done in type sets, I make up my own definition as to what's complete. For example, as Mark was talking about 3 cent nickels earlier, I have a set of circulated coins, minus the proof-only issues. I consider that complete, whether or not there are holes in the album.

gmarguli

Buy an nice ACG slabbed coin to fill the hole. They don't charge inflated market prices for their coins, but rather true prices for them.

Or you could save up money for a long time for one. Perhaps start a different (cheap) set while you are saving. That way you can still collect without spending all your money.

Or do what I do and just find an insert on eBay and add it to your registry set.