Has anyone actually completed a series?
ttxp
Posts: 576
It would seem to me that it would be difficult at best to complete a series in as much as closing the book and putting the album away.
Would you not continuously upgrade the coins and find yourself always looking for nicer examples? Obviously newly discovered die marriages, die errors and such would always be a consideration as they come up. Otherwise, has anyone here ever really said, that's it, I'm finished?
Would you not continuously upgrade the coins and find yourself always looking for nicer examples? Obviously newly discovered die marriages, die errors and such would always be a consideration as they come up. Otherwise, has anyone here ever really said, that's it, I'm finished?
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I haven't got to that point yet.......
At one point I completed a Lincoln Cent set, but that did not include all the doubled dies and the like. And so far as I'm concerned pulling Proof cents out of their mint sealed holders works about as well as trying save last winter's snowballs for the 4th of July in your home freezer. In both instances the items will go bad once they are pulled out of their natural environment.
I also have all of the Proof sets from 1950 to date, but I have no interest in laying out big bucks for the sets with the missing mint marks. I just have no interest. And I've got all of the modern commemorative coins that came in wooden boxes.
These are all sets as I define them.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
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TorinoCobra71
I do have a UNC set of Silver Eagles if that counts
<< <i>I got a complete set of MS Frankies >>
Has that series been closed for you? Do you no longer look at Franklin Half Dollars? Would you not seek out and replace that 48D with a better example? Are you happy with each coin to the point that you never look for examples again?
I would think that I would always look for a stronger strike, better lustre, and so forth, and although it would be hard to upgrade coins I am happy with at that moment, I would be unable to stop there?
I myself am unable to stay on focus to that degree with any particular variety, my collection is always changing, I find it amazing that others can remain so focused and see something through to the "end"?
Full dansco albums of jeffersons, buffalo's, liberty nickles. Roosevelt Dimes, Kennedy halves, washington quarters, Franklins, something else, I'm sure....
Some of the early branch mint ones are difficult in grades better than MS-66.
Tom
I have an essentially complete set of clad Roosys though someday I may want to add
the proof varieties.
Everything else still needs quite a bit of work but the 1860-1970 English penny col-
lection just has a few upgrades left.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Years ago I 'completed' a date set of the Capped Bust half dimes - a very short set comprising just nine dates from 1829 - 1837 (there were no branch mints in those days). Upon 'completion', I decided to continue with the series that had brought me so much enjoyment, so I embarked upon a "Red Book" set of fourteen coins, including the 'major varieties'. Once complete, I was once again at a quandry when I discovered Jules Reiver's monograph on the (then) 86 die marriages within that series. That discovery provided me with many additional years of enjoyment in the same series, until I finally reached 'completion' with 91 of 91 die marriages. I was once again faced with the dilemma as to what to collect, so I have continued with upgrades, die states, and remarriages within the series. Very soon I will reach absolute 'completion', having reached all of my goals, and I won't know what to do.
This is very reminiscent of a similar situation my father faced years ago as an avid HO guage model railroader. He spent years creating an elaborately detailed and intricate layout, and when asked by onlookers when it would ever be finished, he would exclaim "Good grief, NEVER, I hope!". As with coins, the goal was the journey, not the destination.
Syl's Washingtons
Syl's Kennedys
Syl's Commemorative Half Dollar
Syl's Franklins
Syl's Ike Dollars
There are more if you chick the registrants other sets link.
So I guess to answer the question. NO series is really complete there is allways one more out there. Better grade, better or just diferent color, and all the other things you mentioned about dies and such.....
But what would I do if I actually completed a series?
Working on Peace Dollars in PCGS MS64, beware the 34-S!
Proof Basic set 65-Present
In the varieties set, I was one designation away from locking the top set forever. My 68 No S was a 68, which was a pop 2/0. However, the 68CAM was also a pop 2/0.
Proof Varieties set 65-Present
Chris
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
Apropos of the coin posse/aka caca: "The longer he spoke of his honor, the tighter I held to my purse."
Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.
My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
<< <i>the goal was the journey, not the destination. >>
That perhaps is what I would have guessed is the norm in a collection. While many folks here have completed a collection I would think that a majority would continue with it to the point that it is never quite finished, but almost?
Also a set of circulated Mercury dimes including a 1942/1 Philadelphia, but not the one from Denver. The one from Denver doesn't excite me.
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I also have completed a Roosevelt dime album. Mostly circulated. Mostly filled from rolls and some luck with the silver dates.
SBA & SAC's combined in one album, all BU.
I'm working on Jefferson Nickels but started upgrading the circs to gems before completing.
No proofs for me in album collecting.
collections: Maryland related coins & exonumia, 7070 Type set, and Video Arcade Tokens.
The Low Budget Y2K Registry Set
SBA's and Sacawagea's
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since 8/1/6
barber dime
mercury dime
Roosevelt dime
I like dimes, the smaller the coins cost less
Buying top quality Seated Dimes in Gem BU and Proof.
Buying great coins - monster eye appeal only.
Ask me again in 5 years. My answer will be "Yes".
<< <i>My set of Indian head cents is up to a minimum of AG-3...raw >>
that's what i'm working on now and it's been a lot of fun
A few of the easy ones I've completed and are now in "maintenance phase" including Jefferson Nickels, Roosevelt Dimes, and Kennedy Halves, and a complete Eisenhower dollar collection (actually 3). I have no intent on upgrading any of these pieces. For the most part, these were coins I started collecting out of pocket change as a child and have completed recently after my reintroduction to the hobby.
The other circulated sets including Lincoln Cents and Washington Quarters still lack a few key dates that I am in no hurry to complete until the right coin comes along, but once I do complete them I will likely just put them away rather than upgrading them.
There are other collecting interests, including type and large cents, that I expect will be an everlasting pursuit including quite a bit of coin turnover, but there is also a segment of my collecting interests that I have no problem "closing the album" on.....Mike
Since then, I have filled all the holes and upgraded coins in two Barber Dime albums, plus one each of Barber Halves, Walking Liberty Halves, Mercury Dimes (except for the overdates), and Dansco 7070 type, but I still spend much time upgrading these.
<< <i>I'm still working on my complete mint state half eagles by die marriage and die state. The 1822 is tough, having to find the right thieves to steal the other two that are locked away in well-guarded museums.
Some of the early branch mint ones are difficult in grades better than MS-66.
Tom >>
.......That would be a labor of love!!!!!!!!!!!
...but it won't be complete until 2008.
Am working seriously on US Type (Dansco 7070 without the gold) and expect to complete
this within 2-3 years or so.
While working on the Dansco, Bust coinage has grabbed my attention, and my eye, so the
temptation is to stop the type set before it is done and get right into Bust Halves, Quarters,
Dimes, varities, etc.
John
SFC, US Army (Ret.) 1974-1994
I also finished a complete set of Irish predecimal coins in three Dansco albums. This included every date and denomination but the album had a plug for the "optional" 1943 florin, of which only 25-35 pieces are known. I filled all the slots in the albums, including the 1943 halfcrown, of which only around 500 were struck.
MrEureka, I believe it was you who bought that set from me, wasn't it?
So in the mean time, I'm playing with early commems and AU58 Peace Dollars. Bust half dimes are intriguing as well as 3 cent silvers. Before early proofs took off, I was considering putting togther an 1867 Proof set.
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My icon IS my coin. It is a gem 1949 FBL Franklin.
<< <i>I think Eliasberg did.
Did he actually sit back at one point and say, that's it? I obviously have no idea, its my understanding he didn't cover proof issues? I am probably wrong. In that case, as someone said prior, they completed what their goal was and I guess that is complete. Eliasberg probably felt the same?
I have set my goals on owning particular coins, I tend to be less selective on the first one found because I feel like I finally own it, its then I seek out the better grade one and use the prior to help finance it. With that thinking, I doubt I will ever be satisfied?
There are very few coins that I haven't felt the need to continue to seek out better examples. Those that have completed a set and are happy with it, wow that's impressive.
I sold most of my incomplete sets including type sets to finish off my Indian Half Eagle set. It is complete but not finished. It is becoming more and more difficult to find ones that I like but I am in no hurry since I can ignore 99% of the ones with poor eye appeal and wait for that perfect speciman.
Otherwise I am trying very hard not to start another series. I was thinking about Buffalo Nickels but it looks like there are a few show stoppers even in lower grades. Now I am contemplating 3 cent silvers in AU58. Of course there is always the $50 buffalo.