Coin Types - What to Collect?

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interpols
interpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Everyone knows their Morgan Silver Dollars, their Peace Dollars, and other popular coins, but what are some more Niche pretty looking and fun to collect coins? Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.

Let me know your thoughts on all the cool and unique American Coins that I could also collect

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  • jmlanzaf
    jmlanzaf Posts: 43,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Get a Red Book or peruse online. It's what appeals to you that matters

    All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.

  • interpols
    interpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭
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    @jmlanzaf said:
    Get a Red Book or peruse online. It's what appeals to you that matters

    Whats a red book? (And also just taking suggestions lol it's hard to find all the coin types on like ebay)

  • Goob
    Goob Posts: 576 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    They’re not necessarily niche, but I say go for the trio - Mercury dimes, Standing Liberty quarters, and Walking Liberty halves

    "Another day, another Collectors Universe forum scrolling session."
    - Someone, probably

  • Goob
    Goob Posts: 576 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 28, 2026 6:27PM
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    @interpols said:

    @jmlanzaf said:
    Get a Red Book or peruse online. It's what appeals to you that matters

    Whats a red book? (And also just taking suggestions lol it's hard to find all the coin types on like ebay)

    The biggest guide book of US coins. I have an extra 2023 (aka 2022) copy you can have if you’d like; its a bit outdated but it still works for a decent amount of coins (OR buy the 2027 when it drops in April)

    "Another day, another Collectors Universe forum scrolling session."
    - Someone, probably

  • Peasantry
    Peasantry Posts: 299 ✭✭✭
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    Hop on eBay, enter in a city that is near and dear to you, then select the Coin & Money category. You'll find tokens, coins, medals, defunct bills, stocks, bonds, etc.

  • MidLifeCrisis
    MidLifeCrisis Posts: 10,617 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I've always liked two-cent pieces and three-cent nickels. These odd denominations are interesting, historically significant, and won't break the bank.

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @interpols said:

    @jmlanzaf said:
    Get a Red Book or peruse online. It's what appeals to you that matters

    Whats a red book? (And also just taking suggestions lol it's hard to find all the coin types on like ebay)

    Look it up on the web and get one. It would be much more efficient, informative and educational than trying to find options on eBay or many other sites.

    And as @jmlanzaf said, it’s what appeals to you that matters.

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

  • Rule556
    Rule556 Posts: 324 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I’ve had a blast completing my 20th century type set, and learned a lot about which coins I’m drawn to and others I’m not. Also the ones I’m irrationally drawn to, yet can’t afford. 😆

    Newbie collector of type and circulated Peace dollars, photographer of places and animals, player of instruments and builder of amplifiers, espresso industry professional, and a person distracted by shiny objects.

    CACG Registry

    MyCollect Registry

  • GoldFinger1969
    GoldFinger1969 Posts: 3,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @interpols said:
    Everyone knows their Morgan Silver Dollars, their Peace Dollars, and other popular coins, but what are some more >Niche pretty looking and fun to collect coins? Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody >that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.
    Let me know your thoughts on all the cool and unique American Coins that I could also collect

    If you're making minimum wage (still in school ?) then save your money and build a financial nest egg FIRST.

    When you want to start buying coins, there's tons of choices. Hopefully, you'll have alot of choices when you earn more than minimum wage. :)

    If you want a nice "coin" I like the National Park Foundation commemoratives of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' patterns and coin designs. You'll pay more than bullion -- they're not the cheapest entrance into silver -- but they are nice and evoke a nice piece of American history.

  • interpols
    interpols Posts: 51 ✭✭✭
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    @GoldFinger1969 said:

    @interpols said:
    Everyone knows their Morgan Silver Dollars, their Peace Dollars, and other popular coins, but what are some more >Niche pretty looking and fun to collect coins? Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody >that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.
    Let me know your thoughts on all the cool and unique American Coins that I could also collect

    If you're making minimum wage (still in school ?) then save your money and build a financial nest egg FIRST.

    When you want to start buying coins, there's tons of choices. Hopefully, you'll have alot of choices when you earn more than minimum wage. :)

    If you want a nice "coin" I like the National Park Foundation commemoratives of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' patterns and coin designs. You'll pay more than bullion -- they're not the cheapest entrance into silver -- but they are nice and evoke a nice piece of American history.

    that looks sick, I will save up a bit of money, but I do want to do ROTC in College so hopefully God is good and that whole affairs doesn't cost a kidney

  • The_Dinosaur_Man
    The_Dinosaur_Man Posts: 1,592 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Along with the Red Book, I'll recommend you find the Krause World Coin catalogs for 1801 to 1900 and 1901 to 2000. They're out of print by five years now, but they are a wealth of information for all world coins for those years. You will surprise yourself with the coins you randomly learn about and then want to collect.

    Custom album maker and numismatic photographer.
    Need a personalized album made? Design it on the website below and I'll build it for you.
    https://www.donahuenumismatics.com/.

  • Cougar1978
    Cougar1978 Posts: 10,067 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 28, 2026 9:52PM
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    I think slabbed Modern World Gold and Silver Eagles.

    Investor
  • COCollector
    COCollector Posts: 1,428 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Successful BST transactions with forum members thebigeng, SPalladino, Zoidmeister, jacrispies, coin22lover, coinsarefun, jwitten, CommemKing.

  • lcutler
    lcutler Posts: 747 ✭✭✭✭
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    Absolutely get a red book, I can remember as a kid wearing one out going through it looking at all the different coins. You can see mintages, history of the coins, rarities in the different series, guaranteed something will jump out at you that piques your interest.

  • dipset512
    dipset512 Posts: 290 ✭✭✭✭
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    @interpols said:
    Everyone knows their Morgan Silver Dollars, their Peace Dollars, and other popular coins, but what are some more Niche pretty looking and fun to collect coins? Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.

    Let me know your thoughts on all the cool and unique American Coins that I could also collect

    If this is the case, don't go with silver. There are plenty of other coins that do not contain silver.

  • johnny9434
    johnny9434 Posts: 34,049 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @interpols said:

    @GoldFinger1969 said:

    @interpols said:
    Everyone knows their Morgan Silver Dollars, their Peace Dollars, and other popular coins, but what are some more >Niche pretty looking and fun to collect coins? Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody >that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.
    Let me know your thoughts on all the cool and unique American Coins that I could also collect

    If you're making minimum wage (still in school ?) then save your money and build a financial nest egg FIRST.

    When you want to start buying coins, there's tons of choices. Hopefully, you'll have alot of choices when you earn more than minimum wage. :)

    If you want a nice "coin" I like the National Park Foundation commemoratives of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' patterns and coin designs. You'll pay more than bullion -- they're not the cheapest entrance into silver -- but they are nice and evoke a nice piece of American history.

    that looks sick, I will save up a bit of money, but I do want to do ROTC in College so hopefully God is good and that whole affairs doesn't cost a kidney

    Theres alot of stuff is like about this one 👍

  • PerryHall
    PerryHall Posts: 47,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @lcutler said:
    Absolutely get a red book, I can remember as a kid wearing one out going through it looking at all the different coins. You can see mintages, history of the coins, rarities in the different series, guaranteed something will jump out at you that piques your interest.

    Totally agree but be warned that the coin prices in the Red Book will be out of date since it goes to press several months before it goes on sale. There are free price guides such as "NumisMedia" available on the internet that are more up to date. Also, "PCGS Coin Facts" site has a wealth of information including a photo grading guide.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • Russell12
    Russell12 Posts: 846 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited January 29, 2026 4:41AM
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    @interpols said:
    Everyone knows their Morgan Silver Dollars, their Peace Dollars, and other popular coins, but what are some more Niche pretty looking and fun to collect coins? Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.

    Let me know your thoughts on all the cool and unique American Coins that I could also collect

    Instead of choosing a single series to collect, how about a Type Set? A single example of each series. There are many way to collect this type of set, check out the following options . . .

    https://whitman.com/coin-albums-folders/type/

    https://www.danscoalbumstore.com/dansco-albums-c-63.html/dansco-albums-type-c-63_108.html/us-type-major-coins-from-1800-dansco-album-7070-p-1994.html

    https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/u-s-coins/type-sets/9

    https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive/united-states/type-sets/

  • MFeld
    MFeld Posts: 17,131 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Cougar1978 said:
    I think slabbed Modern World Gold and Silver Eagles.

    If you’re going to give suggestions, you should at least read what was posted by the person who was asking: “… Just asking as with Silver Prices getting so high it's hard for somebody that makes minimum wage to justify getting expensive coins like those consistently.”

    Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.

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