Will never "complete" Draped bust quarters and halves by die variety and major die state; have to be satisfied, someday, with all of the easy ones, most of the tougher ones, and if fortunate, a few of the Stoppers
My nice high grade Large Cents will probably stay incomplete, but I have absolutely no regrets. I still knock one out now and again. Every time I look through them, I think to myself "well done".
I began the Seated Liberty Dime series several years ago. Without counting them, off hand I'd say I'm over two-thirds complete. All of them raw, average circulated (none below vf). Some of the highlights are 1838o in vf20, 1849o in ef20, 1861s vf details, 1880 vf details. These were crack-outs placed in Air-tite holders because they look better than that big hunk of plastic. Anyhow, one I may possibly acquire is the 1874cc. One I will not is the king, the 1873 no arrows cc.
National Commemorative Medals of the US Mint (1940-2011)
It won't ever be close to complete, but it will eventually have TrueView's of what medals are in it and several PCGS top pops even some that were from ex-NGC holders.
I feel it is a really good "modern" set to document for the future as it has many medals most have never seen as they were locally distributed and a lot discarded or melted over the years.
Plenty of very good charities and individual accomplishments were recognized and approved by Congress. I have really been working on this set but it is going to take many years to get about 3/4 of them in decent shape.
@PerryHall said:
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.
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MS or proof? The MS isn't confirmed to exist. The proof isn't necessary for a business strike set. It is included by tradition. It is necessary for a complete proof set.
Yes, most every series for the coins I own. I'll eventually complete one (Bolivia pillar coinage) which only has 20 and none are rare as a generic date though most are rare in a quality acceptable to practically any forum member here. The rest, either a handful or no one can complete.
Yes. I tough I could get a set of type one New Orleans mint double eagles, with the 54 and 56 O being VF. pop for these dates is about 24 coins each in all grades. Some of the easier ones are expensive but poor investments and just getting a 1850,55,59,60 and 61 in au 55 are now my goal. I dumped the more common ones because they are more of a generic date of coin.
I still do my own yard so a 1854 O and 1856 O are out of the question and so is the goal of a full set.
Every collection that I start will never be completed/finished since I am never satisfied with the present results...I always looking for upgrades...although my 1967 SMS Cameo set is just about as good as I can get...within reason.
oih82w8 = Oh I Hate To Wait _defectus patientia_aka...Dr. Defecto - Curator of RMO's
A contemporary counterfeit type set. I doubt examples of some types even exist, and I don't have the money to buy some of them if they do. I still acquire them whenever I can.
You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
My problem & a common problem in many token series is that they are open ended. In the main field that I personally collect I have about 84% of the listed items but even after 70 years of serious cataloging a new item or two is reported each year. Almost everything I need is 1 to 3 known -- when I do add a piece, a new discovery pops up. The main consolation is that new reported items keep my interest up and sometimes I am the party that turns up the new discoveries.
If you obtain an example of every coin required for any collection (you can define for yourself what would constitute a collection) in one sense you could say you completed it.
In another sense you could say that it has not been completed because you are shifting to upgrading the coins in the collection to make it better.
I am currently in upgrade mode for my main area of interest. So my answer to the questioned posed by the OP is Yes.
Upgrading a collection is as much fun and maybe even more fun than building a collection.
I knew going in that I was dreaming, wishing , and hoping. All the while realizing I had nothing to lose except money, for trying.
There is no race against time in this quest. It's a field of enjoyment.
And you can believe I will go out of it dreaming, wishing and hoping.
Are we saying "Complete" as in what? Registry Sets, Albums. It matters. I have never done this with a registry set, but plenty of Albums. I used to have one of every Dansco album there was and would keep adding to them, or updating them, based on what I would get come over the table. I knew very much I would not fill all those books, but that was half the fun.
MLAeBayNumismatics: "The greatest hobby in the world!"
Like tokens, many collections of obsolete currency can never be completed since we don't know all the designs and issuers. Bank issued notes are pretty well documented but the scrip issued by small merchants, companies, towns, counties is an area where new discoveries are common.
The key to enjoyment in collecting this type of material is viewing the challenge as how many different examples can I assemble rather than focusing on completing a set.
Collector and dealer in obsolete currency. Always buying all obsolete bank notes and scrip.
Comments
Will never "complete" Draped bust quarters and halves by die variety and major die state; have to be satisfied, someday, with all of the easy ones, most of the tougher ones, and if fortunate, a few of the Stoppers
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
I just started one after reading this thread
Lincoln Cents: 1980 to Present.
My budget is very small, sadly.
My nice high grade Large Cents will probably stay incomplete, but I have absolutely no regrets. I still knock one out now and again. Every time I look through them, I think to myself "well done".
I began the Seated Liberty Dime series several years ago. Without counting them, off hand I'd say I'm over two-thirds complete. All of them raw, average circulated (none below vf). Some of the highlights are 1838o in vf20, 1849o in ef20, 1861s vf details, 1880 vf details. These were crack-outs placed in Air-tite holders because they look better than that big hunk of plastic. Anyhow, one I may possibly acquire is the 1874cc. One I will not is the king, the 1873 no arrows cc.
Liberty Seated Dollars! Good grief!!!
If you ask nicely, PCGS might give you a slabbed 1933 $20 with a 100% Planchet Clip. Not O/C, but a nice consolation prize.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Lowball 3-Piece Norse Medal set and Lowball 13- piece classic gold Commem set
Lafayette Grading Set
National Commemorative Medals of the US Mint (1940-2011)
It won't ever be close to complete, but it will eventually have TrueView's of what medals are in it and several PCGS top pops even some that were from ex-NGC holders.
I feel it is a really good "modern" set to document for the future as it has many medals most have never seen as they were locally distributed and a lot discarded or melted over the years.
Plenty of very good charities and individual accomplishments were recognized and approved by Congress. I have really been working on this set but it is going to take many years to get about 3/4 of them in decent shape.
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
>
MS or proof? The MS isn't confirmed to exist. The proof isn't necessary for a business strike set. It is included by tradition. It is necessary for a complete proof set.
Yes, most every series for the coins I own. I'll eventually complete one (Bolivia pillar coinage) which only has 20 and none are rare as a generic date though most are rare in a quality acceptable to practically any forum member here. The rest, either a handful or no one can complete.
Yes. I tough I could get a set of type one New Orleans mint double eagles, with the 54 and 56 O being VF. pop for these dates is about 24 coins each in all grades. Some of the easier ones are expensive but poor investments and just getting a 1850,55,59,60 and 61 in au 55 are now my goal. I dumped the more common ones because they are more of a generic date of coin.
I still do my own yard so a 1854 O and 1856 O are out of the question and so is the goal of a full set.
Yeah. Half dimes. I didn't last long.
Link to 1950 - 1964 Proof Registry Set
1938 - 1964 Proof Jeffersons w/ Varieties
I’m attempting to complete a few sets with no PCGS examples, so I’m going to have to do it the old fashioned way and make them.
Every collection that I start will never be completed/finished since I am never satisfied with the present results...I always looking for upgrades...although my 1967 SMS Cameo set is just about as good as I can get...within reason.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
A contemporary counterfeit type set. I doubt examples of some types even exist, and I don't have the money to buy some of them if they do. I still acquire them whenever I can.
Seated quarters. I guess it is possible to complete. I just didn't want to.
My problem & a common problem in many token series is that they are open ended. In the main field that I personally collect I have about 84% of the listed items but even after 70 years of serious cataloging a new item or two is reported each year. Almost everything I need is 1 to 3 known -- when I do add a piece, a new discovery pops up. The main consolation is that new reported items keep my interest up and sometimes I am the party that turns up the new discoveries.
If you obtain an example of every coin required for any collection (you can define for yourself what would constitute a collection) in one sense you could say you completed it.
In another sense you could say that it has not been completed because you are shifting to upgrading the coins in the collection to make it better.
I am currently in upgrade mode for my main area of interest. So my answer to the questioned posed by the OP is Yes.
Upgrading a collection is as much fun and maybe even more fun than building a collection.
I knew going in that I was dreaming, wishing , and hoping. All the while realizing I had nothing to lose except money, for trying.
There is no race against time in this quest. It's a field of enjoyment.
And you can believe I will go out of it dreaming, wishing and hoping.
Seated liberty half dollars. So many coins to the set and some can get expensive.
If I ever do finish it, I’d guess it’ll take 50 years or so
Are we saying "Complete" as in what? Registry Sets, Albums. It matters. I have never done this with a registry set, but plenty of Albums. I used to have one of every Dansco album there was and would keep adding to them, or updating them, based on what I would get come over the table. I knew very much I would not fill all those books, but that was half the fun.
Like tokens, many collections of obsolete currency can never be completed since we don't know all the designs and issuers. Bank issued notes are pretty well documented but the scrip issued by small merchants, companies, towns, counties is an area where new discoveries are common.
The key to enjoyment in collecting this type of material is viewing the challenge as how many different examples can I assemble rather than focusing on completing a set.
The 1915 Pan-Pacific set. Those $50 Gold slugs are gonna be tough.