Does it bug you when there is an unobtainable piece in a series you collect?

coin22lover · December 2, 2009 11:17PM

Maybe I am OCD, but when it comes to my Capped Busties, the 1823 quarter, 1829 curl base 2 dime, and 1817/4 half "bother" me since I know I'll likely never own one.

Barndog · December 2, 2009 11:24PM

I'm over it. I figure that someday I may own one or two (if lucky) of the four capped bust half dime die marriages and remarriages that I lack (two die marriages and two remarriages), but don't feel bothered or bugged by not having a complete set. There are only so many coins to be had and those are often in strong hands. So I work on upgrading (eye appeal, not necessarily numeric grade) my set pieces, getting them professionally photographed, and keeping up a decent effort at cataloging my collection.

STONE · December 2, 2009 11:28PM

The 1829 curl 2 is a far cry in obtainability from the likes of the 1823 Quarter and 1817/4 Half.
With that said, all are still toughies, but I don't worry about it. I just know that I will cherrypick each one day

notwilight · December 2, 2009 11:31PM

I don't have that problem but many collectors do because most collectors have some amount of OCD and some of them even have CDO (like OCD but they can't stand to have the letters not in alphabetical order). --Jerry

RYK · December 2, 2009 11:37PM

I focus my OCD on other even less productive issues, so, no, it does not bother me.

astrorat · December 2, 2009 11:39PM

<< <i>The 1829 curl 2 is a far cry in obtainability from the likes of the 1823 Quarter and 1817/4 Half.
With that said, all are still toughies, but I don't worry about it. I just know that I will cherrypick each one day

>>

That's the right attitude!

Lane

zeebob · December 2, 2009 11:40PM

Yup - bothers me. Makes me try to save enough to purchase the piece. For example an AU58-MS64 classic head large cent is outside of my comfort zone in terms of price. I think maybe someday I'll have one.

Barndog · December 2, 2009 11:43PM

1829 curl 2 is now "just" an R-5, if that helps.

doh · December 2, 2009 11:58PM

When I started my CBQ registry I thought about the fact that it'll never be "complete" because odds are I'll never get a '23, but just as quickly I thought, "who cares?"

I'm with Barndog, it's fun to upgrade and find very eye appealing pieces.

WaterSport · December 3, 2009 12:26AM

When that added that 58 Double die to the variety Lincoln sets...That got my shorts in a knot.

WS

Millertime · December 3, 2009 12:32AM

Of course I'd really like to complete each set I start but I'm pretty sure that won't happen.

The Mercury set in rattlers (see sig line) is one that might not be a matter of money just availability. Even if I never add another coin to it I think it's still an impressive set but I still have a positive attitude and hope that I'll be in the right place at the right time as these become available.

Millertime

ricko · December 3, 2009 12:33AM

No, but then I tend not to collect series with unobtainable items... 1913 V nickels, 1933 Saints.. (Notice I remain strangely silent about a '64 Peace dollar :censored

Cheers, RickO

saintguru · December 3, 2009 4:54AM

Nope. I knew from day ONE that I'd never own a 1927-D Saint. But I also knew that I could build a great set without that coin.

BillJones · December 3, 2009 5:11AM

I collect the early half dimes from 1792 to 1805 by Red Book variety. After 30+ years of collecting I now have everything except the 1802.

I'd like to have an 1802 half dime, but I can enjoy my collection without it. If I had mucho denero that coin would be third on my list, behind two of the type coins that I need to complete my set.

SilverBaron · December 3, 2009 5:35AM

Well ..... My primary set is the $10 Indian. Without winning the lottery, I will never have the 1907 Rolled Edge or the 1933.

So .... Just like "short" sets of Walkers and Mercs ..... I just tell folks that I have a "short" set of $10 Indians!

MidLifeCrisis · December 3, 2009 5:39AM

My collecting is not about completing a set. The more coins I get, the better. But a collection can still be nice, and fun to put together, without being complete.

TomB · December 3, 2009 5:40AM

The 1817/4 CBH should not bother you at all unless you are attempting to obtain a complete Overton or Red Book variety set or complete overdate set and it is the last coin you need. Otherwise, a date set does not require the coin, nor does an overdate set by overdate year since the 1817/3 will fill the slot nicely.

Garneteye · December 3, 2009 6:14AM

Most of the coins that are missing from my sets are available, its a matter of cost. I solve this by puting aside a certain amount each month.

One set is lacking one coin that is not very expensive, but I have not found it with the "look". I keep looking but it does bother me somewhat.

Finally there is one coin, a modern piece(1995), that only 406 were minted. It's fairly expensive for me but I have never seen one for sale! If it ever shows up, I'm going after it even if I have to sell other coins which I can replace later!!

Dan

jhdfla · December 3, 2009 6:15AM

There are too many in the Seated Quarter series that are unobtainable, at least for me, in higher grades. I knew from the start that I'd never be able to complete the entire set.

Unknown · December 3, 2009 6:17AM

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ambro51 · December 3, 2009 7:14AM

The 1849 C open wreath gold dollar exists as a spectre haunting all GD collectors. NGC has declared it a "non competitive coin" in that you CAN finish the series in their eyes without it.

......it is amazing that that teeny little teeny tiny thing can set a collector back "mansion money".

Lakesammman · December 3, 2009 7:24AM

I wouldn't start a series like that if it bothered me.

What IS really exasperating is to start a series that appears obtainable but for various reasons BECOMES unobtainable. Certain patterns, for instance, have risen way beyond their value.

Perhaps I'll complete it some day when the present owner(s) realize they are buried and start bailing out at a loss?

JRocco · December 3, 2009 7:33AM

Doesn't bother me at all

OKbustchaser · December 3, 2009 7:41AM

Nothing is unattainable. I'm just waiting for one of the 3 people who own an 1827 O-149 to bring it to a "Show and Tell" and then turn his back for a second.

DCW · December 3, 2009 9:34AM

<< <i>When that added that 58 Double die to the variety Lincoln sets...That got my shorts in a knot.

WS >>

Man, that is the coin I was thinking of, too. Total showstopper. As if riding a bicycle to work for the next decade to pay for a 69-s DDO wasn't disheartening enough.

BillyKingsley · December 3, 2009 11:04AM

It probably would if I ever got close enough to a series to have it become an issue.

The only series I'm even close on:
Flying Eagle Cent (have one out of two)
Clad Roosevelt Dime (missing three, 1972 D, 2009 P and 2009 D)

None of those are very hard to find, in fact I could probably get all four of them within 5 minutes if I wanted to, (maybe not on the 2009s!) but for the dimes I am trying to find them in circulation/rolls and with the cent I'd prefer to see it in person before purchasing it.

Luckily for me there is nothing I don't collect, I see no good reason to box myself into a corner, so I have literally millions of avenues I COULD pursue at any given time. It means completing series is not likely to happen, but I am happy with the route I have chosen.

pakasmom · December 3, 2009 11:13AM

Looks like I'm in the minority. Yup. It bugs me.

ChrisRx · December 3, 2009 11:13AM

Probably but that's why I don't collect sets that I can't eventually complete (excluding varieties as I could care less.)

coinsarefun · December 3, 2009 11:22AM

NO!
I have OCD so every thing bothers me or.................is it nothing bothers me.
So I just keep collecting

goodmoney4badmoney · December 3, 2009 11:51AM

The "unattainable" is just something to aspire for.

Barndog · December 3, 2009 12:22PM

I used to think that Elin Nordegren was unobtainable, but that may change too.

melvin289 · December 3, 2009 12:34PM

Not really unobtainable but: Six or so years ago I could have bought a nice MS-65 Lafayette Dollar for around $4500. Now look at the price. Goes to show I should have taken the old timers advice, "Buy the key coins first." In my defense, I didn't see the Lafayette doubling in price.

By the way, I collect Classic Commems.

Ron

numobri · December 3, 2009 12:52PM

NO and I agree with of the other posters.

Brian

Baley · December 3, 2009 12:53PM

Rather than bug me, the currently unobtainable pieces are a source of daydreaming.

I collect US type, so the 1808 quarter eagle BillJones posted is a dream, that I may someday be able to make come true, if my business becomes successful enough, or if one of my investments skyrockets, or if a windfall of cash is inherited from a long-lost uncle or won in a lottery. Likewise the 1796 quarter, 1797 half dollar, Chain cent, etc.

Also collecting early quarters and halves, so the 1804, 1823, and 1827 quarters are on my list (along with a lot of R6+ varieties). the 1794 half is a daydream, as is the 1796, and a number of R6+ varieties.

If it never happens, that hasn't and won't reduce my enjoyment of the pieces that I have been able to obtain.

numobri · December 3, 2009 12:59PM

Amen brother

Bri

okracer · December 3, 2009 1:18PM

I collect the Early Large Cents by Sheldon Varieties. I have 109 out of 295 so far. Will never be able to complete the set, too many R7's and R8's, so no point in trying (however, those are called NC's or "Non-collectables", so I could not count those

)

I do have a 1793 S-3,1793 S-13 (appx 150 known),1794 S-48 (57 known), and a 1797 S-121a (I think 8 known), and a few other keys, but doubtful I will ever get close to the 295 total....but it is fun to get out and look at the ones I have so far, so no regrets.....

Elcontador · December 3, 2009 1:43PM

Not at all. There are impossible coins to find in the grade I want in virtually everything I collect. You'll probably die of old age looking for an 1849 Braided Hair Half Cent in PC RB 5, for example. In all of the years I've been collecting, I've never seen one.

rld14 · December 3, 2009 2:14PM

Yes but not that much, only because the coin is unique to my knowledge.

The one coin in the Barber Half series that I truly wish to own is the Micro-o in VF. I am aware of only one in existence in that grade, perhaps there is another, but it's a hideously rare beast. I know of 2 Fs, both are pigs.

It's a coin that's worth as much as, probably less than an 01-S Quarter in the same grade, but it is exponentially rarer.

Overdate · December 3, 2009 2:20PM

My short short set of Buffalo nickels (beginning 1938) is complete!

Does it bug you when there is an unobtainable piece in a series you collect?

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