Should you ever begin a series that you will never be able to complete--Of Course!
TahoeDale
Posts: 1,785 ✭✭✭
A recent thread on Saints in the US Coin Forum has raised this question for the set Registry participants. When you know that there will never be an 1817/4 bust half, 1933 $10 Indian, or 1913 lib nickel obtained, do you still believe a collection can be assembled that is complete, as far as you personally are concerned.
I think the answer is definitely and resounding YES.
Multiple possibilities and they are all fine ways to collect, and along the way, knowledge of the series is gained.
1. A date only set, with one coin of each date, regardless of mintmark or variety.
2. Keys and semi-keys of the series
3. S mint only, or other mints exclusively
4. Proofs only
5. Mint state and Proof, not including varieties
6. The whole ballgame.
I truly believe that John Hugon put together a marvelous set of Barbers. But it wasn't "Complete". No 1894-S dime, no 1907 s/s half, no 1898-micro-O half(if it exists). But it looked pretty nice without the nigh impossible coins above.
Why not just collect the keys? They seem to be the coins that rise in value more than the generics. Several reasons.
1. Your final resting place on the Registry-for all to see and respect, in most cases.
2. A top pop generic will bring big dollars too, if it is an awesome appealing coin. Check out the 1892-O half in MS 68 NGC star in the Hugon collection. While rarer than the 1892 or 1908-O, it is still only $4000 in 65, and beat out the true keys--all of them, and those keys were tied for finest known.
3. Some purported keys are too plentiful to be considered rare. See the lincolns in MS for pricing for dates that far exceed the 1909-S VDB, 14-D and 22 no D.
4. You will Really know the series when you have seen the quality (or not ) of all the dates. Try to find an 1807 small stars half in MS 62 or better.
Good hunting
I think the answer is definitely and resounding YES.
Multiple possibilities and they are all fine ways to collect, and along the way, knowledge of the series is gained.
1. A date only set, with one coin of each date, regardless of mintmark or variety.
2. Keys and semi-keys of the series
3. S mint only, or other mints exclusively
4. Proofs only
5. Mint state and Proof, not including varieties
6. The whole ballgame.
I truly believe that John Hugon put together a marvelous set of Barbers. But it wasn't "Complete". No 1894-S dime, no 1907 s/s half, no 1898-micro-O half(if it exists). But it looked pretty nice without the nigh impossible coins above.
Why not just collect the keys? They seem to be the coins that rise in value more than the generics. Several reasons.
1. Your final resting place on the Registry-for all to see and respect, in most cases.
2. A top pop generic will bring big dollars too, if it is an awesome appealing coin. Check out the 1892-O half in MS 68 NGC star in the Hugon collection. While rarer than the 1892 or 1908-O, it is still only $4000 in 65, and beat out the true keys--all of them, and those keys were tied for finest known.
3. Some purported keys are too plentiful to be considered rare. See the lincolns in MS for pricing for dates that far exceed the 1909-S VDB, 14-D and 22 no D.
4. You will Really know the series when you have seen the quality (or not ) of all the dates. Try to find an 1807 small stars half in MS 62 or better.
Good hunting
TahoeDale
0
Comments
Why not just DO THE MOST YOU CAN, THE BEST YOU CAN?? That seems to be a real problem with some collectors. The most challenging sets probably cannot be completed.