Mixed grade best you can afford Type Set or consistent look across all coins?
SiriusBlack
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My question is what are some options for the overall look of a set? I can afford to buy newer modern coins in high quality MS grades, nice toning etc for the sets. With my 7070 album, I put a nice Arrows and Rays quarter in that cost me about $200 in I think XF grade. I'm realizing quickly though that one, if my budget only allows one $200 coin a year, I'm gonna die before I can finish it, and even if I don't, $200 goes a lot further buying at newer quarter vs buying a Trade Dollar which is going to result in a mismatched set that has some MS awesome looking coins and some low grade all I could afford to fill the hole coins.
I'm beginning to think I should stop worrying about dollar value or grade and just start buying coins that have nice eye appeal to me that I enjoy. Yesterday I got a nice Barber quarter. It is only F grade but I liked the look and it was affordable so I bought it. It's going to be lower grade than my Arrows and Rays, but they are both dirty circulated coins that personally I feel have a nice look to them. Is it going to be weird to have really nice MS grade Lincoln and Indian cents on the same page as my FR grade Drapped Bust?
Does this make any sense? I hope you can see what I'm getting at. Does anyone have any advice or opinions for putting a set together when money is very much an object and there will never be a $500 coin in it.
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
Comments
I think there is some appeal in having a set that looks consistent. If I am going to go deep into a series like lincolns, I would want my collection to reflect the series in all of its variations. I would want some MS red cents as well as some toned brown ones. I would want some with weak strikes and some with strong strikes. I would want early die states and late ones. I think there is value in having a range of grades. My set would be a true study of the series while also being a complete set.
I think having a consistent look makes more sense for a type set, comparatively. I personally would still go for the best example I can muster in each type. Is a set that has all F coins worse than a set that has all F coins and 1 MS coin? Yes, I think so.
The vast majority of sets that people put together are never going to be displayed publicly (to my disappointment). From that point of view, does it really matter what it looks like to anyone other than yourself?
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I went in the middle. At the end of the day, as long as I was happy with the look of the coins (my personal criteria was to have details visible on the coins and nothing with too much wear or too many hits/ugly look)
So, to do that, my moderns are all mid/high mint state (no proofs in album #1).
My classic coins are more worn (aside from the morgan/peace and some of the latter ones (merc, early Jefferson/lincolns...not really classic but definitely older).
Some have toning, but nothing wild. Anything like that would have stayed in the holder. I only cracked 2-3 coins to put in the album.
My way is not the way for everyone though. Some buy the absolute best they can get, for each coins, and crack and put them in there. Others go for the straight across look. I still pull mine out a few times a year to look at it, so, for me, mine works.
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This is the most important point, its your hobby and set so you get to make the decision. Do what makes YOU happy. The one thing I would emphasize is don't feel like you need to drop a ton of money on a seated dollar or a trade dollar just to have a consistent looking set. Were not all OCD collectors. I would avoid buying damaged coins just to later upgrade it. Slow and steady wins the race!
I think it makes sense to find the best grade for each coin that enables you to appreciate the type and fits into your budget. With a 7070, there are at least a dozen coins that will cost about the same in MS or circulated condition. Why settle for a VF Lincoln cent? Also, because the coins are all different (design, metal) even if the grades match, the set doesn’t have a consistent look and you’ll be wondering why you tried so hard to find a worn steel cent when a beautiful MS65 really highlights the different material and costs $5.
My lowest graded type coin is the classic head large cent at F15. Most of my coins are AU or MS but for that type I am not prepared to put a $3000 raw coin in an album. It fits in just fine.
I'm discovering that not all grades are equal. An F in one type of coin may look far nicer and show off the design better than another. I guess that's just how the coins are designed and how they wear.
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
This is a hobby, and as such, it should be enjoyed.... Therefore, buy coins you like that you can afford. Much like art and human companionship...what appeals to one, may not be attractive to another....Please yourself...and have fun!! Cheers, RickO
I think a consistent look might make sense for a set of Lincoln cents, or similar later date series...
But for a type set, there is just too much disparity in price and availability between types.
What makes sense to ME is to pick a price/grade you would be happy with for any particular coin type. Then make sure the coin you pick is appealing, and consistent with "what a coin in that grade should look like". A flashy white Mercury in MS-65 is "right", but a flashy white Bust Half in VF is....wrong!
And don't get too fixated on the same price for each coin, either. Some series might really appeal to me, so it's OK if I want to splurge on that coin type. While others are less appealing, (but still important to achieving a full type set!), but I might drop my desired grade down to something more comfortable and affordable...
Bottom line: A type set is what you make it. Chances are, you'll never sell a type set AS a set, so adhering to some ideal seems kind of silly. Making sure each coin is appealing on its own makes more sense, to me.
Lots of great advice so far, thank you everyone! Several of you have made a good point about it's my collection, not someone else and I should do what I like. I tend to lose track of that trying to do things the "correct" way, whatever that is. I also need to remind myself that even if I had the budget for higher end coins, I don't yet have the knowledge to be spending it wisely which is another tick for buy what I can afford and like. I shouldn't be stretching for more expensive coins that could be financial disasters due to my knowledge either.
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
When I set out and seriously considered a US type set, I decided to more-or-less spend about the same dollar amount on each coin in the set. Mostly I stayed true to that. For moderns, that meant nice BU examples and for early type, I go as low as F12. A few holes like the chain and wreath cents (and almost all of the early gold) are still empty. Mostly I'm consistent in my inconsistency and it seems to work out. New coins look new and old coins look old - sort of like you'd naturally expect.
When I did a set of Peace dollars I had common date coins in 66-67, semi-keys at MS65, and key dates at MS64. It didn't bother me any. Matching everything is overrated. Buy coins that speak to you and don't just pick up random stuff to fill holes. For every single coin in my collection I can tell you at least a few reasons that I like that particular coin.
You can participate in this hobby any way that suits you and on almost any budget.
I guess there is nothing wrong with buying a coin that you like, and upgrading it later if you find one you like even more. I can think of at least one coin I didn’t buy after looking at it multiple times because I thought I should hold out for a higher grade. Well I haven’t found a higher grade and I feel like I really would have enjoyed looking at it this past year. Instead I have an empty hole still.
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
Low grade?
UGH !!
@topstuf boy that’s terrible, I’m sorry you have to settle for such a low grade. Feel free to donate it to my set if you get tired of looking at it
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
My type set goes from AU58 to MS66, they aren't a perfect match, but I am happy with the overall look:
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@asheland Now that is a nice set! I think as long as they flow well, having exact matching grades maybe isn't as important. Again back to eye appeal I guess.
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
Because of cost, principally, my type set starts with high-end MS coins for the more recent types and gradually moves into nicer circulated coins at lower and lower grades as the 18th century is approached. I do try to keep each generation consistent and attractive for the grade. To me it looks right, newer coins look new and fresh, the oldest coins look well aged - seems appropriate.
Sirius, buy coins that you like.
I feel different designs/coins look better in different grades.... I hate high grade Morgan’s, but love the look of vf30. I love the look of ms65 mercury dimes but dislike vf 30...also, some coins you will never like, and it is a shame to stretch for essentially a placeholder ( for me the seated dime and shield nickel and nickel 3 cent were fillers) so don’t use as much money on those if you really want other coins in higher grades.
So if you are on a budget, look for coins that make you smile regardless of grade.
Good thread and there is a lot of good thoughts posted already!
I'm a type collector myself and try to focus on nice, eye appealing circulated examples. Some people like a consistent look in their collection but I personally find that a bit boring. I like a little variability like a few MS coins here and there or some bullseye toners, along with, cameo circulated silver. As long as the coin has eye appeal and, most importantly, appeals to me! I do focus on trying to get only coins that I think have original surfaces.
Two different, but wonderful nuggets of wisdom, Bryce!
The other part I'll add, and maybe it's just me, but by the time I get to the 'moderns' when looking at my set, they barely get a glance. I could less that my MS Ike and Susie B dollars don't match my XF seated and Trade dollars.
My advice is “..stop worrying about dollar value or grade and just start buying coins that have nice eye appeal to you that you enjoy.” Do (most of) those words sound familiar?😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Since I'm not in a position where I can complete a full type set in MS 65, I buy coins that I think are nice for the grade and reflect my priorities at the time. If I change my priorities later, I can always sell the coin.
Anything from AG3 to PF70 is in play. For whatever I buy, I try to choose something that is nice for the grade and that I like the look of - it's not always easy to satisfy these simple conditions.
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Thanks again everyone, I'm glad others are finding this a useful thread. The advice here is really helping me refocus. Sometimes you lose sight with all the shiny widgets around!
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
Would not care about initial look set of set would fill hole with what I can afford G04-MS65 then upgrade later as situation allows.
I don't want to waste money, but I kind of had the mindset that you have to buy the perfect coin that will be there forever the first try so you don't waste. Now I'm thinking buy a coin you like that you are happy with, and if you find an even nicer coin in the future to replace it with, that's ok too!
Collector of randomness. Photographer at PCGS. Lover of Harry Potter.
i think it was my scoutmaster, but he was talking about pocket knives.