Ever started a collection you can't possibly complete?

brianc1959 · July 9, 2019 2:48PM

I started an 1839 mint set including the major varieties a while back - mainly because of all the weird and wonderful cents from that year. But completing the set may be impossible due to this: https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/6180 .

Just curious what similar predicaments others may have got themselves into. . . .

KindaNewish · July 9, 2019 3:03PM

Keep at it, dude.

Knowledge is power. If you are able to identify the oddball die varieties, you are well poised to find one in the wild.

in the meantime, I'm saving my lunch money to get a 1876-CC 20c to finish my double dime set. This may take a while.

amwldcoin · July 9, 2019 3:04PM

I'll say one I didn't! Barber Quarters because I would not pay what it takes to buy an 01-S in the condition I would want!

TommyType · July 9, 2019 3:04PM

Oh, yeah.

Full US type set....and I know there are more than one I won't ever own.
3-Cent Nickels....and I know I won't shell out the money for 1884 or 1885 coins.
Set of Bust Halves....and I'll never have either your noted example, or an 1815.

The sets are what I define them to be.

oldabeintx · July 9, 2019 3:10PM

I collect certain 18th century European medals. They are scarce to very rare. Demand is low so cost is not an impediment. Finding decent examples is. I can't say it is impossible for me to collect them all, but likelihood is almost zero. To me it's mainly about the journey, the learning experience, the hunt, and there are some sub-series less rare that I have a shot to complete to partly satisfy the completion gene.

LindeDad · July 9, 2019 3:12PM

Mercury dimes and US typeset.

ctf_error_coins · July 9, 2019 3:12PM

Error coin type set.

That is, a type set of all of the different types of errors possible at the mint in all denominations.

ironmanl63 · July 9, 2019 3:12PM

Yes I started an 1876 mint set which includes the 1876 cc .20 cent piece. Chances are I will never own one. This set is coming along nicely and I am having fun building it.

KindaNewish · July 9, 2019 3:23PM

A couple of years ago I started a similar thread on this board
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/990832/1936-1964-rattler-proof-set

I was at about 50% done with this set and hitting a wall. Patience, a healthy wallet, and the help of some nice fellows on this board has pushed to to almost 90%.

Dave99B · July 9, 2019 3:27PM

No. Never. Can't do it. Nope.

I analyze what that it will take, money-wise and time-wise (both are important) to complete the set. If I can't compete the set in the grade I'm interested in, I won't even begin. Seeing an empty hole or two would drive me absolutely insane. Sadly, this 'mental issue' keeps me out of some very interesting sets.

Dave

GoBust · July 9, 2019 3:36PM

Trying to collect a complete date set of proof bust dimes, quarters and halves is a dream too far. One set (quarters) is called the Mission Impossible Set for clarity. Truly impossible in almost every rational way. But shoot for Jupiter and land on Mars!

DIMEMAN · July 9, 2019 5:03PM

@LindeDad said:
Mercury dimes and US typeset.

There really isn't a stopper in the Mercury Dime set.

Walkerfan · July 9, 2019 5:07PM

No, that would be too frustrating.

I make my goals very challenging, yet attainable.

privatecoin · July 9, 2019 5:16PM

Yes. Barber quarters, morgan dollars, liberty seated dimes, and on and on...

Coin Finder · July 9, 2019 5:27PM

Every day...

JBN · July 9, 2019 5:29PM

Certainly. Liberty Seated Dollars and Half Dollars. Only billionaires can complete these sets.

seanq · July 9, 2019 5:50PM

I started a type set of 1853 coins with clips, I found everything up through the half and even one gold dollar, but the rest of the set is impossible.

Sean Reynolds

tommy44 · July 9, 2019 5:58PM

$5 Liberty half-eagles. Bad news is I'll never own the 1854-S or the 1875, good news is I'll always have something on my want list when I go shopping.

RogerB · July 9, 2019 5:59PM

Constantly - compulsively - perpetually.

PerryHall · July 9, 2019 6:00PM

I put together a complete set of Indian half eagles with the exception of the 1929 which I knew I would never get due to its high cost. I'm sure there are many "complete" sets of Morgan dollars that are missing the 1895.

Barberian · July 9, 2019 6:09PM

@JBN said:
Certainly. Liberty Seated Dollars and Half Dollars. Only billionaires can complete these sets.

The Long and winding road... Not quite as steep as LS quarters, though.

DCW · July 9, 2019 6:37PM

I had big plans with Lesher dollars a while back. Bought three of them fairly quickly, and as I fell in love with the design my desire to "collect 'em all" grew to a fever pitch.
But, alas these things do not appear often enough to sustain a man's interest. And when they do, you better have the money.

savitale · July 9, 2019 6:50PM

Yes, a coin collection.

kbbpll · July 9, 2019 7:00PM

“I’m not hung up on this ‘completion’ thing.” - Nick, The Big Chill

divecchia · July 9, 2019 7:13PM

Yes, I started a modified US Type set including gold and I will likely die before I finish it as the grades or eye appeal that I desire in my set requires more money than I will be able to set aside for it. If the set you are doing makes you happy, then I would keep at it. That's what I'm doing.

Good luck. Donato

BustDMs · July 9, 2019 7:20PM

Many, let me count the ways without means:
Capped Bust Halves by die marriage
Draped Bust Halves
Capped Bust half dimes
Capped Bust dimes
Bust quarters all by die marriage also and,
Spanish colonial coins from Mexico City and Potosi
Numismatic books with embossed tinted plates

BillJones · July 9, 2019 7:33PM

Yes, the Twenty Cent Pieces. I will never get an 1876-CC. I was thinking to today about how neat it would have been if those 10,000, 1876-CC coins had survived, not because of the value but simply because completing the would have been great.

Ditto for the early half dimes. I could have purchased an 1802 if I had not bought something else, like an 1808 $2.50 gold. I would have better off financially if I had bought an 1802 half Dime. But a complete type set is more admired than the early half Dime set.

I thought of one other, the early dollars by date. I will never get a 1794. Once more I could have gotten one years ago if I had given up on a tough type coin, but I made a choice.

jedm · July 9, 2019 7:50PM

Yes my large cent redbook varieties set will not get completed in my lifetime; however, I'm enjoying the journey.

ReadyFireAim · July 10, 2019 4:31AM

Made it to 78%
I have accepted failure

ricko · July 10, 2019 6:08AM

No... the CC Morgan set, I completed... a couple other series I assembled up to the point where I lost interest (i.e. the ASE's when they skipped a year)...Never started a set I knew I could not complete - for whatever reason...Cheers, RickO

OKbustchaser · July 10, 2019 7:32AM

Yes, I will never complete my half dollar year set. I lack only the 1796 and the 1797, but either one would cost more than I would be willing to pay.

Of course, this also means that I will never complete my half dollar type set.

Cougar1978 · July 10, 2019 7:34AM

All the time - run out of money

asheland · July 10, 2019 10:39AM

I once was attempting a complete Morgan dollar set, (not the proofs) but gave up as it started to seem like work rather than fun.

BryceM · July 10, 2019 11:09AM

Finishing a set isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure it's fun, for a couple of days, but then your thoughts turn to other things. The thrill is in the chase.

TradesWithChops · July 10, 2019 12:14PM

Yes

I decided to start Trade Dollars with chopmarks by minor variety. I fully expected to never be able to achieve getting the 76-s DDO, and have a very hard time finding a 75-P and 78-CC (among plenty others).

But I've made substantial progress, and it's a fun chase.

Barndog · July 10, 2019 12:20PM

started capped bust half dimes in 2003-2004 to complete a year set. Discovered varieties. 123 of those. Impossible to complete, that was my conclusion.

Barndog · July 10, 2019 12:21PM

https://pcgs.com/setregistry/half-dimes/early-half-dimes-specialty-sets/capped-bust-half-dimes-die-variety-set-by-logan-mccloskey-circulation-strikes-1829-1837/alltimeset/78799

NorCalJack · July 10, 2019 12:41PM

I have a Washington Quarter Variety Set that I will not finish. The 1935-P DDO is an elusive coin. Nobody has graded one and I am not sure anyone has seen one. In the CPG they have a photo of the IGWT Doubled. So I begin to think they must be out there. Then I look at the James Wiles book for Washington Quarters and it has the exact same photo of the IGWT, but his has a note stating that the photo is from a 1934 Quarter and the 1935 looks the same (we think)? If you find a 1935-P Mr. Wiles would like you to send it in so he can study it. So it sounds like the 1935-P has never been seen, but it is in the PCGS Registry Set. So nobody has completed the set.

SiriusBlack · July 10, 2019 12:50PM

Basically all of my sets. My budget is extremely low. I used to struggle with not knowing what to collect because 1, I loved a lot of different designs, and two I wanted to be a completist and there are very few complete sets/albums that I can actually afford to finish. I basically did a very low budget type set that still has a bunch of holes.

Lately though I've realized that this is stupid. I love filling albums and now own 10 or so different albums for various sets. I will never ever complete or even get remotely close to completing my Liberty Seated Quarters album. I will probably spend my whole life trying to complete my 7070 album with higher grade examples. That's ok. Having all these albums and no longer worrying about filing every hole has been sorta exhilarating for me. It means if I find a coin I like that is within my budget, I no longer worry if it will fit my very narrow selection of sets. I can buy it, plug it into which ever hole it fits regardless of completion, and I can enjoy it.

At the end of the day, I get the most enjoyment out of looking at my coins in an album. I'd rather have coins I really like in several albums than turn a bunch of them down because they only fit that one album that needs the chain cent that I'll never own. Who cares if the chain cent stays empty. It doesn't make the nice looking common date Large Cent worse some how.

By owning a bunch of albums and no longer caring about completion or empty holes, I've opened up a lot more possibilities of coins to buy and have increased my enjoyment in collecting which at the end of the day is the whole point.

Nap · July 10, 2019 12:56PM

Yes. In the series of British coins I collect, there are several issues that are literally unknown outside of museums. Didn’t stop me from starting, and yes I would still try to get them if one became available.

NSP · July 10, 2019 1:01PM

Yes, Capped Bust quarters. Barring a lottery win, I doubt that I’ll ever own an 1823/2 or an 1827/3/2. At least the 1824/2 is a reasonably attainable date to try to get.

Mdcoincollector2003 · July 10, 2019 1:13PM

Mercury, wheat cents, and walking liberty halves; I just don’t see spending 100+ dollars on a key date that will sit in an old folder on a shelf. Maybe I will complete them but first I will put them in Dansco albums.

rawmorgan · July 10, 2019 1:38PM

"Ever started a collection you can't possibly complete?"
Is there any other kind?

lkeigwin · July 10, 2019 1:59PM

I' collect capped bust half dollars by die marriage. And I know I won't be able to complete the set.

There are 450 die marriages, 1807 - 1836. I have around 340, mostly AU & MS. Some very scarce ones are lower grade.

I'm pretty sure I can get to 440-445. But the last half dozen are just too rare and may not be offered in my lifetime. Put aside affording them. The 1817/4 is only an R7- and one has been offered to me a couple of times. Because it's a Redbook variety even a low grade example is well into six digits.

Nonetheless, I'm having fun with it. It gives me focus. I've learned a lot and made a ton of great friends.
Lance.

FredWeinberg · July 10, 2019 2:17PM

I was thinking decades ago of starting
an Off Center $20 St. Gaudens Collection.

Still waiting' for my first acquisition.

OldEastside · July 10, 2019 2:18PM

Yes and I'm still working on the "Every Coin Ever Made Collection" if in the event that I ever finish it, Y'all wouldn't have any coins at all.

Steve

Eric_Babula · July 10, 2019 2:41PM

@OldEastside said:
Yes and I'm still working on the "Every Coin Ever Made Collection" if in the event that I ever finish it, Y'all wouldn't have any coins at all.

Steve

I only want to have ONE of every US coin ever minted - year, mint mark, die variety. Is that obtainable, before @OldEastside gathers EVERY coin ever made???