100 Greatest Attainable US Coins

MidLifeCrisis · April 13, 2015 6:50AM

I was just looking at the PCGS 100 Greatest US Coins Registry Set. It contains many great rarities that are just not realistically attainable for most collectors, in my opinion.

However, it also contains an 09-S VDB Lincoln Cent, a Fugio, and a few other coins that are at least *possible* to obtain.

If you wanted to put together a collection of 100 Greatest Attainable US Coins, what would it include?

I guess the first task would be to assign some sort of dollar limit per coin, maybe $10K?

What do you think about the dollar limit and the coins to include?

DaveWcoins · April 13, 2015 7:05AM

That's a clever idea.

yosclimber · April 13, 2015 7:08AM

Registry page for 100 Greatest US Coins:
http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/composite.aspx?c=1576

As for "100 Greatest Attainable", I would wonder:
- attainable by who, or how many persons could acquire all the coins simultaneously?
- would many persons be interested, if it's something attainable by many?

Personally, I find a "shopping challenge" to be uninteresting.
But many feel a motivation to acquire and possess, so new games are formed which some people will enjoy.

keyman64 · April 13, 2015 7:12AM

I will provide you with my early blessing for this thread but will have to contribute my list later.

In regards to the dollar limit per coin, I think you are close at $10K but maybe pushing it to $20K would be good in order to get into some greater rarities. I'm not sure but I will look at that tonight as well.

LindeDad · April 13, 2015 7:22AM

100 X 10K I wish.

19Lyds · April 13, 2015 7:27AM

<< Registry page for 100 Greatest US Coins:
http://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/composite.aspx?c=1576

As for "100 Greatest Attainable", I would wonder:
- attainable by who, or how many persons could acquire all the coins simultaneously?
- would many persons be interested, if it's something attainable by many?

Personally, I find a "shopping challenge" to be uninteresting.
But many feel a motivation to acquire and possess, so new games are formed which some people will enjoy. >>

The linked Registry Set should, for all practical purposes, be nicknamed the "Unobtanium Set".

mercurydimeguy · April 13, 2015 7:29AM

I couldn't possibly agree on even 25% of this would be list with someone else so I'm not sure it's a realistic idea, and what's a greatest attainable coin anyway? I know what a greatest coin is, but I don't know what a greatest attainable coin is...for some a high relief saint is attainable, for others it's an 1877 IHC cull, and for some an MS plain ole VDB Lincoln is the paramount of attainability.

Not to be a Debbie Downer but this is unrealistic as an outcome...

dib · April 13, 2015 7:33AM

The Fugio cent is a perfect example of a great attainable coin. That being said, the vast majority of those coins on that list are not what I would consider "attainable".

ColonelJessup · April 13, 2015 7:50AM

Based on budget, a 1916-D 64FB might qualify as attainable, Or a nice AG-3.

How about under $500 or $1000. Not more than or 41-47 WLH or more than two Morgans that are common 64's and no more than 5 in total (completely arbitrary)

VG 89-CC? Lots of ways to go with different levels.

Chain F details might be a thrill for someone, dontcha think? 10 years wait to get one into the 7070? That's a special coin that is about as aspirational as you can get for a lot of people. I know a guy who's thrilled that he finally got a Chain AG corroded. As would many.

BillJones · April 13, 2015 8:02AM

How low are willing to go with respect to grade? Would coin with hole it still qualify if the price was low enough? How about solder on gold coin?

mirabela · April 13, 2015 8:09AM

That's a neat idea. I have a hunch lots of people with an accumulation of "stuff" don't really put it together that a smaller set of really inspiring things is actually within reach. I'd put something like a solid Gem Saint or a problem-free Flowing Hair half on this sort of list -- totally magnificent coins, but not beyond the means of most collectors if they exercised some discipline over a period of time.

ColonelJessup · April 13, 2015 8:17AM

I've owned more than a few FUBAR Stellas. For many who have, and likely quite better, this would be a piece of crap. For many many, more an unattainable dream. 20 years from now, kids gone and school paid for, attainable, and with pride of place in a gold type gold set with all other coins 63 or better. Attainable AND locatable, which is, to me, an integral part of the algorithm, whatever the calculus might be. Or an cleaned High Relief. Or....

astrorat · April 13, 2015 8:25AM

<< I guess the first task would be to assign some sort of dollar limit per coin, maybe $10K? >>

That's roughly $100 per coin. No offense to budget collectors, but a "100 greatest" in the $100 range may not include a lot of "great" coins.

FullStrike · April 13, 2015 8:32AM

Let me be the first to nominate the 2014 Native American Enhanced Uncirculated $1.00 Coin. Oh sure, you say, bring
modern crap into a serious discussion of numismatics?

But why not? We are talking " affordable" aren't we? At a $13.95 issue price and current market selling price of $40 - $50
isn't it still very affordable? The mintage was only 50,000 vs what, 75,000 on that tacky Gold Kennedy?

If put to a vote, the EU $1 would blast that Gold Kennedy.to smithereens. I'm very sure of that.

I think.

msch1man · April 13, 2015 8:35AM

I think going after specific coins will blow the budget or cause you to have to settle for some really low grades. Maybe a compromise would be a set of the 50 (or whatever the number ends up being) greatest attainable types.

MidLifeCrisis · April 13, 2015 8:38AM

<< 

<< I guess the first task would be to assign some sort of dollar limit per coin, maybe $10K? >>

That's roughly $100 per coin. No offense to budget collectors, but a "100 greatest" in the $100 range may not include a lot of "great" coins. >>

My suggestion was a $10K per coin limit...not a grand total of $10K for the collection.

ColonelJessup · April 13, 2015 8:55AM

How about discrete answer categories at different price levels?

vplite99 · April 13, 2015 8:59AM

<< 

<< 

<< I guess the first task would be to assign some sort of dollar limit per coin, maybe $10K? >>

That's roughly $100 per coin. No offense to budget collectors, but a "100 greatest" in the $100 range may not include a lot of "great" coins. >>

My suggestion was a $10K per coin limit...not a grand total of $10K for the collection.

>>

100 coins X $10,000.00? I need a new hobby.

keyman64 · April 13, 2015 9:11AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< I guess the first task would be to assign some sort of dollar limit per coin, maybe $10K? >>

That's roughly $100 per coin. No offense to budget collectors, but a "100 greatest" in the $100 range may not include a lot of "great" coins. >>

My suggestion was a $10K per coin limit...not a grand total of $10K for the collection.

>>

100 coins X $10,000.00? I need a new hobby. >>

His idea is 10K Max, not $10K for every coin. Like a 16-D Merc, that would make the list! You could spend less than $1k for sure or you could choose to spend well over $10k for the coin while getting one in MS67FB. The idea is the make sure the coin can be obtained for less than 10k, not that each coin will cost that much!

bolivarshagnasty · April 13, 2015 9:25AM

Attainable is going to have a thousand different meanings for a thousand collectors.

OldIndianNutKase · April 13, 2015 9:33AM

I like the idea of your best 100, whatever they might be. Then assign the typical points for grade and apply a rarity multiplier. Perhaps limit the quantity for each series to two(?). This way a set of 100 can be your own creation. And you get points for grade, rarity and completion, just as in the other registry sets.

OINK

MidLifeCrisis · April 13, 2015 9:34AM

To further define requirements for the set, I suggest the following -

Must be listed in the latest regular edition of the Redbook - so it can include, for example, foreign coins listed in the colonial era sections.

Must be reasonably expected to be obtainable for $10K or less, in problem-free Good-4 condition or better.

However...

Any grade is acceptable; so you could include a higher grade problem coin, for example, as long as a lower grade, problem free coin could be had for $10K or less.

Now, how do we define what makes a coin fitting these requirements "great"? And how do we narrow the list down to 100?

msch1man · April 13, 2015 10:27AM

<< Now, how do we define what makes a coin fitting these requirements "great"? And how do we narrow the list down to 100? >>

You could spend a lifetime doing this...and for the record, I think you'd have a lot of fun in the process

.

ColonelJessup · April 13, 2015 12:17PM

<< Attainable is going to have a thousand different meanings for a thousand collectors. >>

That seems low....

SmEagle1795 · April 13, 2015 12:46PM

Maybe just post a series of different lists? $10K, $100K, $1M, $10M?

I quite like the concept, and it would be worth the effort in my opinion. There is a similar book, the "100 Greatest Ancient Coins" but it's irritating as several are known by only one example in a museum... yes, they might be great, but they are unattainable. A "top 100" in a certain price bracket would be great for any type of collection.

relicsncoins · April 13, 2015 1:03PM

A proof Morgan has always been on my want list.

astrorat · April 13, 2015 1:15PM

<< 

<< 

<< I guess the first task would be to assign some sort of dollar limit per coin, maybe $10K? >>

That's roughly $100 per coin. No offense to budget collectors, but a "100 greatest" in the $100 range may not include a lot of "great" coins. >>

My suggestion was a $10K per coin limit...not a grand total of $10K for the collection.

>>

Well then ... that's quite different!

coinhack · April 13, 2015 1:57PM

There is something "similar" to this idea. The old Dansco 7070 album, here:

.Dansco 7070

[ I know that is not exactly what you mean, but it could be pretty close.

For the "Lincoln Head 1909 VDB", put in the S mint. For the "Mercury 1916-45" include the 1916-D Etc. All key dates if you like.

Or not. You can also complete it with the most common coins from each series. In whatever condition one likes or can afford.

I know lots of Forum members have already done this. I am currently working on mine.

Picked up a nice PCGS MS63 1886 Seated Liberty dime at a show over the weekend. One more hole filled.

The album holds 76 different type coins and 10 more if you include the gold page. 86 total of your 100 greatest

Zoins · April 13, 2015 1:58PM

<< As for "100 Greatest Attainable", I would wonder:
- attainable by who >>

By Everyman of course

keyman64 · April 13, 2015 2:59PM

Okay, since no one has attempted a laundry list for discussion, here is my attempt. I did not look to PROOFS because I do not know them well at all so that is a flaw but I sure do like the look of several. This is partial TOP 100, partial TYPE SET, some are in just because of the design, some are in just because of what the item may have meant to history, some are keys or semi-keys and then some are just cool to me and have nothing to do with value or rarity. There ended up being 47 gold coins in this list which is way too many. I imagine a person knowledgeable in proofs and gold could likely pick out ten gold coins to replace with non-gold proofs etc. I further break with a few norms and include a couple of tokens. I also admit that I created this list by flipping through a standard 2012 Red Book. From this list that I put together, I would love to own at least 70 of these. Some of these listed could be combined into one item(see $1 gold, $2.5 Gold, $5 Gold and $10 Gold... providing people with options and making room for others. An item in the list with a / means "or" to me, giving people the choice for that slot.

Again, presented for the purposes of discussion/revision/why other things would be better/why some of these listed are silly....whatever. So here is the list, in the order that they appear in the Red Book I think.

Oak Tree Coinage
Pine Tree Coinage
Elephant Token
Nova Constellatio Copper
1787 Half Cent Massachusetts
1787 Cent Massachusetts
1786 New Jersey
Circa 1785 Bar Copper
1792-1794 Kentucky Token
Washington Piece 1783-1795
Fugio Copper
1793 Half Cent
1837 Half Cent Worth of Copper HTT ..... note (I admit we may need more half cents included)
1793 Flowing Hair Cent
1793 Liberty Cap Cent
1796 Draped Bust Cent
1804 Cent
1856 Flying Eagle Cent
1877 IHC
1909S IHC
1909S VDB Lincoln Cent
1955 DDO Cent
1864 Small Motto 2c
(I wanted to include a 3CS or 3CN but just couldn't find what I was looking for quickly....maybe a proof or specialist could fill us in here?)
1885 5c
1916 DDO 5c
1937D 3-Legged
1794-1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime
1796 10c
1804 10c
1822 10c
1871cc/1872cc/1873cc/1874cc 10c
1916-D 10c
1942/1 10c
(I wanted a 20c but again nothing jumped out at me)
1804 25c
1860S 25c
1870cc/1871cc/1873cc 25c
1896S 25c
1901S 25c
1913S 25c
1916 25c
1794 50c
1812 2 over 1 Large 8 50c (this is here because I like the history of the 1812 and the fact that the US was at war blah blah blah, not because it is a cool overdate)
1830 Large Letters 50c
1836 Reeded Edge Rev 50 CENTS
1870cc 50c
1795 Flowing Hair $1
1870cc/1871cc/1872cc/1873cc $1
1878cc T$1
1889cc $1
1893S $1
1921 Peace High Relief $1
1849c Close Wreath $1 Gold
1854D $1 Gold
1855D $1 Gold
1856D $1 Gold
1860D $1 Gold
1875 $1 Gold
1796-1807 Quarter Eagle
1838C
1840D
1842D
1854D
1855D
1856D
1864/1865
1875
1911D
1854O $3
1865
1877
1795-1799 $5
1838C
1838D
1847O
1864S
1873CC
1878CC
1909O
1797-1804 $10
1838
1841O
1858
1859O
1863
1864S
1871CC/1872cc/1873cc
1908 No Motto
1850O $20
1861O
1907 Arabic Numerals
1908S
1915S Pan Pacific 50c
1915S Pan Pacific $1
1915S Pan Pacific $2.50
Oregon Trail Memorial 50c
Texas Independence Centennial 50c
1942 Experimental Cent
Bechtler $1
California Small Denomination 1/4
California Small Denomination 1/2
California Small Denomination $1
Feuchtwanger Token

keyman64 · April 13, 2015 3:21PM

Maybe an 1873 Proof 2c?

A design I like that I did not include is the 1853 or 1853O Arrows at Date, Rays around Eagle 25c.
Nice cheap type coin for sure and when it is toned just right, it can be amazing.

19Lyds · April 13, 2015 7:37PM

How about if PCGS allowed registry members to define their own "personal" 100 Greatest Coins Registry Set.

Sure, it can be done in the Registry Coin Showcase but why not allow personal definitions since everybody has their own personal "greatest coins"?

DAM · April 14, 2015 1:23AM

<< (I wanted to include a 3CS or 3CN but just couldn't find what I was looking for quickly....maybe a proof or specialist could fill us in here?) >>

Perhaps for 3CS the 1851-O

TomB · April 14, 2015 1:28AM

I read these threads and ideas and think to myself a great goal would be "The Collection That Makes Me Happy".

jayPem · April 14, 2015 1:39AM

I was wondering if anyone was going to take you up on this...even typing a list of 100 coins is more than I'm willing to undertake

I'm not sure there even are 100 different US coins that would float my boat. I find myself rather bored with series that are outside of my particular interests...

johnny9434 · April 14, 2015 5:00AM

a fugio in an old doily, hmmmm. (a good thing)

FullStrike · April 14, 2015 5:08AM

WWLS

What Would Laura Say ?

Us chatroom monkeys might be better off seeking expert advise from an acknowledged expert in the field.
Rather than trust our own judgement.

mr1931S · April 14, 2015 6:16AM

A great attainable coin to me might be worth like $100 or so. $10K coins are not attainable for the vast majority of collectors.100 coins x average $100/coin is $10,000.

I would say spending $50 minimum/coin and up to $500 maximum/coin is attainable for many.

mirabela · April 14, 2015 7:45AM

The trouble is, if any widespread agreement ever coalesced around the list, the prices of the toughest ten or twenty items, at least in the more rarified grades, would be driven sharply upward. I have to think that the 7070 set had some impact on the competition for certain items over the years -- say, the Classic Head cent in grades Fine and up -- that wouldn't have been there without its inclusion in the set.

I'd prefer to have my list and you all have yours ... works out better for all of us, I think!

david3142 · April 14, 2015 7:53AM

Keyman, I think you've got a great list there! I am not familiar with all of the gold series off the top of my head, but I can think of a couple of others from series I do collect:

1922 plain Lincoln cent
1918/7-D Buffalo nickel

david3142 · April 14, 2015 7:56AM

Also, if the cutoff is $10K, you can get a High Relief Saint for less than that.
However, that limit may be high. I consider myself a reasonably advanced collector with a decent budget and I don't have any coins close to $10K.

FullStrike · April 14, 2015 7:57AM

<< a fugio in an old doily, hmmmm. (a good thing) >>

Yeah that would be a rare find. But the price for the plastic would be mind boggling.

coinkat · April 14, 2015 8:06AM

100 is too long of a list. While the concept is interesting, I would suggest reducing the list to 50.

In the alternative, have separate lists perhaps as follows:

25 greatest obtainable US Copper and Nickel coins;
25 greatest obtainable US Silver coins; and
20 greatest obtainable US Gold coins

Maybe it could even be separated by denomination- the more I think about it, I like the last option best

MidLifeCrisis · April 14, 2015 1:12PM

My thanks to keyman64 for providing his list. As I told him via PM, I would have a few different choices but he provided a great starting point for discussion.

I would never expect all of us to agree on one list, but I would try to make a list that included every major collectable area, again as defined by the Redbook.

When I first thought of this, I was using the PCGS Registry as context, i.e., what if a PCGS Registry set were created for this?

And to recap my earlier post:
- Must be listed in the latest regular edition of the Redbook - so it can include, for example, foreign coins listed in the colonial era sections.
- Must be reasonably expected to be obtainable for $10K or less, in problem-free Good-4 condition or better.
- However...Any grade is acceptable; so you could include a higher grade problem coin, for example, as long as a lower grade, problem free coin could be had for $10K or less.

I haven’t put a full list together yet, but my list will include:
Pine Tree Shilling, Large Planchet
St. Patrick Farthing or Halfpenny
Virginia Halfpenny
Massachusetts Cent
Connecticut Copper
Machin’s Mills Copper
Nova Eborac Copper (New York)
New Jersey Copper
Vermont Copper
(I believe the state coinage of the US colonial era should be well represented.)
Bar Copper
Washington Piece (Any, 1783-1795)
Fugio Copper
Hard Times Token
Civil War Token
Feuchtwanger Token
1793 Half Cent
1793 Flowing Hair Cent (preferably a Chain Cent, but I realize this would stretch the $10K per coin limit)
1793 Liberty Cap Cent
1796 Draped Bust Cent
1856 Flying Eagle Cent
1877 Indian Head Cent
1909S VDB Lincoln Cent
1943 Steel Lincoln Cent
1955 DDO Lincoln Cent
1864 Small Motto Two Cent Piece
Three Cent Piece (Any)
1937D 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel
Wartime Silver Alloy Jefferson Nickel
1794-1795 Flowing Hair Half Dime
1916-D Mercury Dime
Twenty Cent Piece
1916 Standing Liberty Quarter
1932D Washington Quarter
1794 Half Dollar
1812 2 over 1 Large 8 Half Dollar
1795 Flowing Hair Dollar
Trade Dollar
Morgan Dollar from Carson City Mint
1921 Peace High Relief $1
1907 Arabic Numerals St. Gaudens Twenty Dollar Gold Piece
Texas Independence Centennial 50c
California Small Denomination $1

keyman64 · April 14, 2015 1:16PM

<< Keyman, I think you've got a great list there! I am not familiar with all of the gold series off the top of my head, but I can think of a couple of others from series I do collect:

1922 plain Lincoln cent
1918/7-D Buffalo nickel >>

I did think about those. Good suggestions.

keyman64 · April 14, 2015 1:22PM

<< 100 is too long of a list. While the concept is interesting, I would suggest reducing the list to 50.

In the alternative, have separate lists perhaps as follows:

25 greatest obtainable US Copper and Nickel coins;
25 greatest obtainable US Silver coins; and
20 greatest obtainable US Gold coins

Maybe it could even be separated by denomination- the more I think about it, I like the last option best >>

The 1st 50 of my list are NON-GOLD, ending with the 1921 High Relief Peace. My fault for not numbering the list. I had similar thoughts as yourself. Diving into the GOLD gets freaky expensive, as several have alluded to, just because of the base metal.

keyman64 · April 14, 2015 1:22PM

Any assistance for PROOF coins to include?

keyman64 · April 14, 2015 2:55PM

As for MLC's recommendations, here are my thoughts.

For the pre-1793 stuff, he knows a lot more than I do but I will provide a few thoughts there. As for the majority of his list, I was pleased that I covered most of what he had envisioned so we seem to be thinking very close to the same thing.

Specific thoughts with regards to the list I supplied compared to MLC's.

I understand the significance of the halfpenny and penny stuff but I kept it out of my list from a strange purity stand point...The US MINT has only produced CENTS, never pennies, at least as far as I am aware. I just associate them with foreign coinage etc. I know many foreign coins circulated and were legal tender in the US well into the 1800s. I know the US needed coinage to have a functioning economy and foreign coins were part of that...and state coinage that used words/terms of foreign countries were a part of that. So it is due to my immature drawing of a line in the sand that I did not include a couple that he RIGHTFULLY did.

As for the Massachusetts Cent and Half Cent, I was more specific about the date of 1787 being required since these were the first coins bearing the denomination of CENT, as established by congress.

I included a very popular and specific HTT which is listed in the Red Book along with the Half Cents just a personal preference. I thought about also including any CWT but did not. It's a good idea....personal preference will play a big role for ANYONE'S LIST as others have talked about in this thread already.

I thought about the 1943 Steel Lincoln Cent that MLC included. I passed on it. I think he is correct to include it based on what it means to this country's history and what was going on at that time, leading to the production of it. It is "GREAT" from that standpoint, not value for sure. It is also a very cool type coin that is on my personal list to obtain one day in MS67 or MS68.

Any THREE CENT, I can get behind that easily. Gotta have one.

Silver Alloy Jefferson Nickel...here again important. I did not include it but from a Type perspective it's gotta be there.

MLC is light on dimes but I may have gone a little deep.

I am also leaning towards the idea of ANY 20c. It's important.

MLC is light on quarters but I may have gone a little deep. At least he included a key Washington Quarter where I did not. I thought about it though. I also thought my list was getting very long so that is why I probably left it out.

I'm happy MLC was specific about including a CC Morgan.

MLC seems a little light on Barber coinage. Just an observation.

A lot of this comes down to personal preference as MANY have said. However, I am a firm believer that if you wanted to build a really nice quality collection that is not likely to lose you money over a long period of time but you did not necessarily want to build a FULL type set then this might be the right balance....going with approx 50-ish coins and leaving out gold due to the expense. There are plenty of tough coins listed while also representing our history quite well.

I enjoyed the thread and exercise that I put myself through. I even learned a couple of things in doing so. Thanks to MLC for the idea and inspiration.

rec78 · April 14, 2015 10:34PM

Everyone will be all over the board with this one. A 1793 liberty cap cent is not too attainable anymore unless you want a beat up ugly coin.

A partial list of my choices.

1. 1793 half cent

2. 1793 wreath cent

3. 1793 Chain cent

4. 1794 half dime

5. 1796 dime

6. 1794 half dollar

7. 1796 quarter

8. 1796 dime

9. 1815 half dollar

10. 1839-O half dollar

11. 1799 Large cent

12. 1804 large cent

13. 1804 bust quarter

14. 1795 Bust dollar

15. 1851-O three cent silver

16. 1877 Indian cent

17. 1909-SVDB lincoln cent

18. 1916-D mercury dime

19.1885 V-nickel

20. 1916 Standing liberty quarter

21. 1918/7-S Standing liberty quarter

22. 1918/17-D buffalo nickel

23. 1893-S Morgan

24. 1889-CC Morgan

25. 1877 Twenty cent piece (proof)

26. 1873 Two cent piece (proof)

27. 1942/1 Mercury dime

28. 1901-S barber quarter

29. Any three dollar gold coin.

30. 1955 double die Lincoln cent

31. Any gold type coin Pre-1834

32. 1911-D two and 1/2 dollar Indian

33. 1921-D WL half

34. 1817/13 bust half

35. Any C-mint gold coin

36. Any D-mint gold coin

37. 1870-CC half

38. 1870-CC quarter

39. 1870-CC dollar

40. A CC trade dollar

This list is my opinion only.

I think that OP meant that they are attainable for under $10,000 each, but not that one person would try to get them all. I have 27 of the coins on my list but will most likely not be able to obtain any more as the prices are now way too high.

Bob

MidLifeCrisis · April 15, 2015 5:14AM

Thanks for your list rec78!

I think it's interesting to see the similarities and the differences between the lists posted.

johnny9434 · April 15, 2015 5:17AM

<< 

<< a fugio in an old doily, hmmmm. (a good thing) >>

Yeah that would be a rare find. But the price for the plastic would be mind boggling.

>>

yes it would be. i totally agree.

100 Greatest Attainable US Coins

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