Focusing on a series.

atarian

Well after doing alot of reading on material sent to me by fellow members. i have come to the conclusion that i should spend money one 1 set i really like and want the higher grade( bareing i can wait and let the coins come to me in the grades i want. ) and a secondary set, should be a coin that will help me learn on grading. the 1st series i feel should be large cents since they are so much more interesting for me. now for my secondary learning set i have been looking at a number of sets. Indian heads, Liberty Quarters, or nickels. from the v back series 1883-1913. i dont know which would give me the greatest lesson. which do you all recommend. i am thinking either indian head or lib . quarters

JrGMan2004

Pick a set you REALLY REALLY like. In this case, it seems to be Large Cents. Work on that, and work on that only for a while. Keep learning about other series, and you just might stumble on another series that you REALLY REALLY LOVE!!

That's what happened to me... though I've had my bouts with "Scatterbrained Collector Disease" I've fought past it. I started out working on Mercs. I learned about other series, and I stumbled upon Capped Bust Half-Dimes which I just LOVE!! You'll be better off that way, rather than just collecting a series because it will teach you a lesson. The lesson you learn might just bite you in the ass...

atarian

well i want to make sure i do this right and not rush thats the key. but large cents ill be buying slabbed already. but i would like to start a set that is nice and soemthing where i can learn the difference from grades and really start cookin. i wonder which would be the best from what i listed.

mirabela

Seems to me you could do the low-grade cheapie thing with large cents too -- you have the serious good coin collection going alongside maybe a low-dollar 'grading set' or something like that. I have to agree about focusing, though. I suffer badly from being pulled in a bunch of directions -- mercs, morgans, classic commems, 19th century type -- as I'm not made of money I need to slap myself and put on some blinders for a while. BTW, which sort of 'liberty quarters' do you have in mind? Seated? Standing? I'd think both tough series to start out on. But then, what series isn't that's worth doing?

anablep

In order to concentrate on one series, you may have to sell off some of your other coins to raise money to purchase new coins for the series you are collecting. That can be difficult if you are attached to your coins. Prepare yourself to make these kinds of decisions... Good luck in your choice!!

WaterSport

Gosh: I like standing Liberty Quarters too, And they are challenging to grade, But the V nickels are equally as tough, and not as impacting financially. Something to think about...

Ws

oreville

atarian: Do a 20th century series set first. This way you can learn the grading nuances of both circ and mint state grades.

SLQ too expensive for a first set.

Stick with the lincoln cents, washies or the merc dimes. I believe they are the best in ramping up grading expertise. Only the 16-D dime is a killer stopper.

Also, they benefit from ample supplies yet great popularity.

coinguy89

I agree with George, focus on those coppers, and eventually something will come up. In my experience i've kept with capped bust half dimes for awhile now, and looked at other series checking out what I want, and I still don't know what I want, but I am getting pretty close to something, not really a series though.

MacCoin

the ihc are nice and there are only two real pricey keys in that series