Are there ANY series that a middle class collector can complete in gem condition?
dan1ecu
Posts: 1,573
It can be discouraging to find that the key to a series that you are trying to complete in gem condition costs as much as a sports car (or a small house, or a really nice boat...). Oh, I suppose one could settle for a lower mint state or even a circulated coin in that case, but for some it wouldn't be the same as completing a gem set.
Can you think of any series that the average collector could complete in gem condition over the course of his life?
Dan
Can you think of any series that the average collector could complete in gem condition over the course of his life?
Dan
0
Comments
U.S. Nickels Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
U.S. Dimes Complete Set with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes
2 Cam-Slams!
1 Russ POTD!
<< <i>Shield Nickels. >>
Not the circulation strikes (1880).
Not the proof strikes either (1867 W/rays).
RELLA
who boasts of twenty years experience in his craft
while in fact he has had only one year of experience...
twenty times.
dates are affordable. I expect PCGS will be starting a non-fullstep registry. There are
also plenty of varieties to help keep things interesting!
Ken
Also somewhat affordable is the flying eagle penny since the 56 is not a coin but a pattern, so only the 57 & 58 are the series. 2 coins will cost you on either side of 6- 7 k total in 65, but a 2 coin series might not be what you had in mind.
Their certainly aren't many classic series afforable in gem grades, but designation coins that don't cut it offer most dates in reasonale price ranges like non split band mercury dimes or as Frank said non full bell line Franklin Halves.
Les
What's also nice is that you can also upgrade to MS67FB coins.....they can start about $50 each and getting about 75% of them in that grade isn't terribly hard.....no more than about $300 or $400 per coin.
If I had it my way, stupidity would be painful!
I have over half of my non-FB set complete in mixed 66/67 grades and I'm into the set for less than $1000.
Total Copper Nutcase - African, British Ships, Channel Islands!!!
'Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup'
Oh well, too late as usual.
Tom
Russ, NCNE
A complete 66FB set should also put you in the top 10 if not very close.
Still
Onlyroosies
Chicolini: Mint? No, no, I no like a mint. Uh - what other flavor you got?
09/07/2006
one can still complete almost all of the modern series in gem simply by buying several mint
sets of each date and selling off the non gem coins. The proof series can be completed the
same way. This will prove more challenging than it sounds because the mint sets are getting
increasingly difficult to find and some issues either don't appear in the sets at all or are usually
not found nice in sets. Those which don't appear in sets can be located but gems can be ex-
tremely difficult to find.
Collectors will find these coins to be increasingly difficult to find raw as time goes on. Indeed,
there are numerous signs that this door is closing. The most dramatic sign is the paucity of
sets available at wholesale prices and the increasing numbers which trade at full retail.
In addition to the affordability of most issues (more than half of them bid at less than $400 in MS65 condition), the set offers a number of great and varied designs which are often both interesting and historical. Personally, I'd much prefer that, to a set where each coin bears the same design.
Edited to add: You did say "Can you think of any series that the average collector could complete in gem condition over the course of his life?" My suggestion presumes that you have a number of good years left.
<< <i>Liberty nickels (Couple of more expensive ones). >>
I guess my perception of "midle class" is different...when I'm paying several hundred dollars for a cull 85 to finish the Lib nickel set
42/92
Mike
Lincoln Wheats (1909 - 1958) Basic Set - Always Interested in Upgrading!
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
<< <i>Collect what you like and don't get too caught up with the plastic and all the stuff that goes along with that. There have been some excellent suggestions but perhaps expanding to your horizons to world coins is worthy of some consideration. >>
World coins present excellent value and most are eadily affordable for middle class collectors,
but there are very few series which are readily attainable in gem condition. World collectors
tend to be a little less concerned with grade and much less concerned with third party grading.
This results in having to find most of your coins raw which means it will be very labor and time
intensive to assemble a collection.
The exception might be British coins because there is more interest in these in higher grades.
Another exception might be modern European because large percentages of the coins made
will grade as gems.
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i think a short and interesting set that can be enjoyable and as difficult as you want it to be is the Eisenhower Dollar Series. there are only eight years, yet there are different metals, die varieties, design types, coins released only for circulation, coins released only in mint sets. though the coins are available rather cheaply as raw examples, finding gems is the challenge. with the proof issues, i think it's interesting that they start just when the Mint is on the cusp of figuring out how to strike nicely contrasted and heavily cameo'd clad coinage and the series ends just prior to some of the best examples of that in the early to mid-80's. all-in-all it's a completableset that can be brilliant or toned.
al h.
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Why do you have to complete a set in Gem condition? Why not complete a date set in Gem BU first?
That is the way collectors used to collect 70 years ago. Mint marks were not important.
Then if you win the lottery you can fill in the missing mint marks but then again why do you need every one? Just a sample of each mm is good enough?
This would put back the enjoyment into the hobby!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't be a slave to the registry set system? You can still have a GREAT date set and still be a part of the registry system without having to be #1.
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