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The new guy would like a little help and advise...
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Posts: 395
Hello! I joined up to ask for a little help and advice. I'm 16 and I've been coin collecting since I was 4. My Grandpa gave me a Bufflo Nickel folder with about 20 nickels in it to start me off. I then started to collect pennies, nickels, dimes, etc.. for modern coinage. For pennies I was seriously helped out by 15 or so rolls of pennies my mom found that she had wrapped and lost in the Mid 1960's. The rest I pulled out of change. Also, I had a lot of help from parts of old coin collections from my Grandfathers and my Dad, like silver half dollers and dollars. When I was 9 and had collected most of the modern coinage that I could, my mom and I found a little coin shop around where I lived so I could work on older coinage. Well, after my first visit the nice owners had given me a book to learn all about collecting, prices, etc..., a United States Type Dansco Album, and a brand new 1996 Silver Eagle to start the book off, all for the cost of the Dansco album. They also give me a 5%-10% discount at the store. Well I've been working on the Dansco Type Set for over 7 years now, with maybe a total budget of 3500$ since I was 4, about 2000$ of of that had gone into this collection. I was wondering how you guys could rate my progress. And give me some advice.
The book is 7 years old, and I don't have the gold type page. With the new state quarters and the sacagawea dollars, I know I need to either get a new page or just replace the book entirely. But, I was wondering if I should wait because of the New Nickel designs for 2004 and 2005.
I only have about a $700 budget or so a year(alot more that my $200 at 9), so how should I go around collecting the gold coins for the gold type page? Start with the lower denominations? Buy lower grades? Just some advise please. I also plan on "upgrading" many of the good and very good pieces in my collection and what ever else I can. Which coins or types do you think I should start at? And finnaly, how do you think I'm doing so far? Don't spare my feelings, go all out if you want to.
Half Cents
Draped Bust (1804) Fine/Very Fine
Classic Head- 13 Stars (1828) Extra Fine +
Coronet (1851) Very Fine ++
Large Cents
Draped Bust (1805) Good
Classic Head (1814) Good
Coronet (1838) Fine
Coronet- Braided Hair (1854) Very Fine - Rim Damage
Small Cents
Flying Eagle (1857) Very Fine
Indian Head- Laurel Wreath (1859) Good
Indian Head- Copper-Nickel- Oak Wreath (1861) Fine
Indian Head- Bronze- Oak Wreath (1891) About Uncirculated - Nick
Lincoln Head- 1909 VBD (1909 VBD) About Uncirculated
Lincoln Head- Bronze- Wheat Heads (1958-D) About Uncirculated
Lincoln Head- Steel (1943-S) Very Good
Lincoln Head- Memorial (1999-D) Uncirculated
Two Cents- Bronze (1866) Extra Fine
Three Cents- Sliver (1851) Good
Three Cents Nickel (1866) Very Fine
Half Dimes
Capped Bust (1832) Fine +
Liberty Seated (1841) Very Fine - Rim Nick
Liberty Seated- Arrows (1854) Fine
Liberty Seated- Legend (1871) Very Good
Nickels
Shield- With Rays (1867) Good
-I plan on replacing this one, it was the only one that they had for 2 years, and at the time I wan't too picky.
Shield- No Rays (1867) Uncirculated
-This one is truly magnificent, and for a bargan too, only 80$.
Liberty Head- No Cents (1883) Very Fine
Liberty Head- With Cents (1883) Extra Fine
Buffalo- Variety I (1913) Uncirculated
Buffalo- Variety II (1937-S) Extra Fine
Jefferson (2000-D) Uncirculated
Jefferson- 35% Silver (1944-P) Uncirculated
Dimes
Capped Bust- Variety II (1835) Fine
Liberty Seated- Stars (1843) Fine
Liberty Seated- Arrows
Liberty Seated- Legend (1887-S) Very Fine
Liberty Head (1911) Very Fine
Mercury (1940) Very Fine/Extra Fine
Roosevelt- Sliver (1946-D) MS 60
Roosevelt- Clad (2003-D) Uncirculated
Twenty Cent Piece
Liberty Seated (1875-S) Very Good
Quarters
Capped Bust (1838) Very Fine/Extra Fine
Liberty Seated- No Motto (1858) Very Fine
Liberty Seated- Arrows (1854) Very Fine
Liberty Seated- Motto
Liberty Head (1909) Fine
Liberty Standing- Variety I (1917-S) Good
Liberty Standing- Variety II (1928-S) Very Good
Washington- Sliver (1941) Fine
Washington- Clad (1995-D) About Uncirculated
Half Dollars
Capped Bust- Lettered Edge (1810) Good
-The front had a very weak strike, but the reverse is magnificent.
Capped Bust- Reeded Edge
Liberty Seated- No Motto (1847-O) Extra Fine
Liberty Seated- Arrows (1854) Extra Fine
Liberty Seated- Motto
Liberty Head (1910-S) Very Fine
Liberty Walking (1942-S) Very Fine
Franklin (1963) Uncirculated
Kennedy- Sliver (1964-D) Uncirculated
Kennedy- Clad (1981-S) Proof
-I pulled this one out of circulation, despite that, it's beautiful.
Commemorative Half Dollars
San Diego (1935-S) Uncirculated
Bay Bridge (1836-S) MS 63
California Diamond Jubilee (1925-S) MS 63
Oregon Trail (1926-S) Uncirculated
Silver Dollars
Liberty Seated- No Motto
Liberty Seated- Motto
Trade (1876-S) Very Good/Fine
Morgan (1921) About Uncirculated
Peace (1922) Extra Fine
Eisenhower (1971-D) About Uncirculated
Bicentennial
Quarter (1976-D) Very Fine
Half Dollar (1976-D) About Uncirculated
Dollar- Variety I- Clad (1976) Uncirculated
Modern U.S. Dollars
Susan B. Anthony (1979-D) Uncirculated
Constitution Bicentennial (1987-S) Proof
Silver American Eagle (1996) Uncirculated
Missing: 6 and gold type
The book is 7 years old, and I don't have the gold type page. With the new state quarters and the sacagawea dollars, I know I need to either get a new page or just replace the book entirely. But, I was wondering if I should wait because of the New Nickel designs for 2004 and 2005.
I only have about a $700 budget or so a year(alot more that my $200 at 9), so how should I go around collecting the gold coins for the gold type page? Start with the lower denominations? Buy lower grades? Just some advise please. I also plan on "upgrading" many of the good and very good pieces in my collection and what ever else I can. Which coins or types do you think I should start at? And finnaly, how do you think I'm doing so far? Don't spare my feelings, go all out if you want to.
Half Cents
Draped Bust (1804) Fine/Very Fine
Classic Head- 13 Stars (1828) Extra Fine +
Coronet (1851) Very Fine ++
Large Cents
Draped Bust (1805) Good
Classic Head (1814) Good
Coronet (1838) Fine
Coronet- Braided Hair (1854) Very Fine - Rim Damage
Small Cents
Flying Eagle (1857) Very Fine
Indian Head- Laurel Wreath (1859) Good
Indian Head- Copper-Nickel- Oak Wreath (1861) Fine
Indian Head- Bronze- Oak Wreath (1891) About Uncirculated - Nick
Lincoln Head- 1909 VBD (1909 VBD) About Uncirculated
Lincoln Head- Bronze- Wheat Heads (1958-D) About Uncirculated
Lincoln Head- Steel (1943-S) Very Good
Lincoln Head- Memorial (1999-D) Uncirculated
Two Cents- Bronze (1866) Extra Fine
Three Cents- Sliver (1851) Good
Three Cents Nickel (1866) Very Fine
Half Dimes
Capped Bust (1832) Fine +
Liberty Seated (1841) Very Fine - Rim Nick
Liberty Seated- Arrows (1854) Fine
Liberty Seated- Legend (1871) Very Good
Nickels
Shield- With Rays (1867) Good
-I plan on replacing this one, it was the only one that they had for 2 years, and at the time I wan't too picky.
Shield- No Rays (1867) Uncirculated
-This one is truly magnificent, and for a bargan too, only 80$.
Liberty Head- No Cents (1883) Very Fine
Liberty Head- With Cents (1883) Extra Fine
Buffalo- Variety I (1913) Uncirculated
Buffalo- Variety II (1937-S) Extra Fine
Jefferson (2000-D) Uncirculated
Jefferson- 35% Silver (1944-P) Uncirculated
Dimes
Capped Bust- Variety II (1835) Fine
Liberty Seated- Stars (1843) Fine
Liberty Seated- Arrows
Liberty Seated- Legend (1887-S) Very Fine
Liberty Head (1911) Very Fine
Mercury (1940) Very Fine/Extra Fine
Roosevelt- Sliver (1946-D) MS 60
Roosevelt- Clad (2003-D) Uncirculated
Twenty Cent Piece
Liberty Seated (1875-S) Very Good
Quarters
Capped Bust (1838) Very Fine/Extra Fine
Liberty Seated- No Motto (1858) Very Fine
Liberty Seated- Arrows (1854) Very Fine
Liberty Seated- Motto
Liberty Head (1909) Fine
Liberty Standing- Variety I (1917-S) Good
Liberty Standing- Variety II (1928-S) Very Good
Washington- Sliver (1941) Fine
Washington- Clad (1995-D) About Uncirculated
Half Dollars
Capped Bust- Lettered Edge (1810) Good
-The front had a very weak strike, but the reverse is magnificent.
Capped Bust- Reeded Edge
Liberty Seated- No Motto (1847-O) Extra Fine
Liberty Seated- Arrows (1854) Extra Fine
Liberty Seated- Motto
Liberty Head (1910-S) Very Fine
Liberty Walking (1942-S) Very Fine
Franklin (1963) Uncirculated
Kennedy- Sliver (1964-D) Uncirculated
Kennedy- Clad (1981-S) Proof
-I pulled this one out of circulation, despite that, it's beautiful.
Commemorative Half Dollars
San Diego (1935-S) Uncirculated
Bay Bridge (1836-S) MS 63
California Diamond Jubilee (1925-S) MS 63
Oregon Trail (1926-S) Uncirculated
Silver Dollars
Liberty Seated- No Motto
Liberty Seated- Motto
Trade (1876-S) Very Good/Fine
Morgan (1921) About Uncirculated
Peace (1922) Extra Fine
Eisenhower (1971-D) About Uncirculated
Bicentennial
Quarter (1976-D) Very Fine
Half Dollar (1976-D) About Uncirculated
Dollar- Variety I- Clad (1976) Uncirculated
Modern U.S. Dollars
Susan B. Anthony (1979-D) Uncirculated
Constitution Bicentennial (1987-S) Proof
Silver American Eagle (1996) Uncirculated
Missing: 6 and gold type
~Richard Dorrance
0
Comments
President, Racine Numismatic Society 2013-2014; Variety Resource Dimes; See 6/8/12 CDN for my article on Winged Liberty Dimes; Ebay
Russ, NCNE
gold is expensive - if you want to fill that page - I would suggest getting holed/damaged/ex-jewelry
the disadvantage is the do not have the value (but also an advantage for filling spots)
if you look hard enough (eBay/yahoo/...) you can get a gold dollar with a hole for $50 or lower
are you collecting for enjoyment - future profit from investment - something to look at?
It looks like you're off to a great start. You've certainly got more different types of coins than I did at that age, or than I do even now!
I don't know what to tell you about the gold. God coins are pricey. On your budget, it'll take a while. So I would say...Pick a type you like in a grade that won't take you super long to save for. I would recommend a $10 Indian. It's my personal favorite, a fabulous design, and you wouldn't have to blow your whole year's budget on it.
Take it easy, and Happy New Year!
But, about getting a new album or page. Should I wait to get new pages or replace the old album because of the new commemerative nickels? Or will they not be added to the Dansco US Type album?
Your upgrade plan sounds very sound. As for the gold, my dansco contains choice AU gold coins, because they don't cost too much more than well-circulated ones, yet have all the details of Uncirculated pieces, for a fraction of the cost (my motto: all the detail, for not all the money)
As for the new mint issues, I'd stick with your current album, add the gold page when you're ready, and as far as new nickels and any other new modern coins they start making, by all means collect them if you wish, but there is no reason that one album must contain your entire collection, nor any reason to keep buying a new album (and move your coins around) to try to keep it all in one book. For example, you will someday be ready to buy draped bust silver coins, with either the just the heraldic or both heraldic and small eagles, and the Dansco album doesn't have spaces for those either...
Lastly, welcome, my fellow Type Set fan
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
Sets are fun I guess (I never was into them) but just consider some keys sometimes in highest slabbed grade your budget would allow. Dont stop your sets building but periodically come back to key issues collecting.
Get hold of Jeremy "airplaneut" on this forum - he's a YN too, and your age to boot - he'll most likely be your best contact over here etc.
Good luck, and welcome aboard.
Marc
I like the looks of that set... sounds just like my type set
I would expect that you could pick up the missing pieces this year on your budget. You might still have enough to upgrade some.
I would especially think about upgrading the trime and the 20¢. They are such unusual coins. The cost differences are so little on the trime in circulated grades that I would shoot for an AU/BU.
I especially like the raised "LIBERTY" on the sheild of the 20¢. You won't find that in less than fine. Some fines will not have it either. So I had to shop around on that one.
I would strongly suggest dealing with the gold as a separate collection and buy them slabbed. There's a lot of fake gold out there and many of the fakes are quite deceptive. I consider an ANACS, PCGS, or NGC slab to be reliable authentication.
Have fun collecting this new year.
you mean this?
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
I recall buying it when my budget was much smaller... Oh how I wish I had an unlimited budget. When I bought my 1810 Half to fill the space their was also a beauty of an Uncirculated Half there that could have filled the very same spot... But atlas, it was way out of my league...
K S
<< <i>Oh how I wish I had an unlimited budget. >>
Well, that makes two of us!
I use to have a book with the grading standards (somethimes skipmy and vague), very few pictures (mostly to give you an idea of what the coin looks like), none in color (and heck, the pictures were even a bit fuzzy at times). But I lost it awhile ago, and anyways I was probibly undergrading everthing I tried to grade myself...
I was thinking of getting a new one, one that has examples of coins in diffrent grades and atleast a picture of a nice uncirculated piece to be able to compair details.
Is their any website that is like this that I could use until I get a book, or instead of a book?
2) "Photograde-Official Photographic Grading Guide For U.S. Coins"by Ruddy
3) " Official ANA Grading Standards for United States Coins " 5th Edition released by the American Numismatic Association ( ANA for short )
These are considered the general standard reference books for grading and good ones to boot.
This a good place for books and supplies:
http://www.stantonbooks.com/
Oddly enough, for now at least, I can`t find these books on this site. I did get my book suggestion #1 and #3 from this site a few months ago. The books and this site are worth checking into.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...