Are you a "set" collector???

RB1026 · February 6, 2010 9:18AM

I've been reading a lot of posts here lately on the topic of collecting themes and am currently re-evaluating my own collection. So....my question is:

Are you a set builder? (if so, what sets have you completed and what are you working on and why)

If not, what do you collect??

I'll start, I am currently working on Buffalo Nickels VF+ and Sac $'s in MS67+. I love both designs and the varieties in the series. I am also putting together an "American History Type Set" which is basically a catch-all of fav designs/historical dates because I like a LOT of different types of US coins

Roger

TomB · February 6, 2010 9:27AM

I spent about a half-decade each building an original VF set of Barber half dollars and a high grade, MS set of silver Washington quarters. Additionally, I had a year set of Draped Bust half dollars (Large Eagle only) and Flowing Hair half dollars. These have all been sold. I consider myself a type set collector and builder.

lkeigwin · February 6, 2010 9:29AM

I think a lot of us are set collectors. For me it's early Lincolns, Peace dollars (both complete), and I'm working on a year set of AU CBH's (75% there).

I think a lot of us wander too. I lust for early dollars, EAC, and SLQ's. Even WLH's. So I have some keys and examples.
Lance.

anablep · February 6, 2010 9:36AM

Need 9 more Morgans for a complete business strike date/mm set.

Need 2 more Lincolns for a complete business strike date/mm set.

Finished Jefferson Nickels 1938-1960. Have no desire to go further.

I could get into Peace Dollars after these sets, but that's way down the road.

nutmeg · February 6, 2010 9:41AM

I am working on a set of Barber half dollars. Just need14 more.
After completing everal sets of different US coins I am considering a different strategy.
Many collectors have told me building sets is not the way to go. And it is a real time /money consuming task.
I am more interested now in obtaining slabbed/graded singles that have some value.

Frozenink · February 6, 2010 9:49AM

I have only been collecting for 6 months, but I have many sets started and none finished. I should have just worked on one at a time.

$5 Proof Gold Commens
Franklin fbl and proof sets
Peace dollar
ASE Proofs
Classic Silver Commens

For some reason I cant concentrate on one set at a time, plus I buy others that catch my eye.

Gary

STONE · February 6, 2010 9:49AM

<< <i>Are you a "set" collector? >>

Yes

mozin · February 6, 2010 9:50AM

I had the blue books on pennies, both Lincoln and Flying Eagles, mostly complete. Had the Buffalo Nickels blue book nearly complete, and even the Liberty Nickels about complete. I had an extensive, very circulated, group of Barber Dimes, Quarters, and Half Dollars. All these coins were taken from current circulation when I was a kid, never bought a single one of them. My mother collected the Morgans, a set I inherited, all taken from circulation.

First set I put together as an adult was a set of US $2.50 gold pieces in AU58 or better. Had lots of duplicates, but not a dup of the 1911-D. Now, 99% of the time I work on the Bust Series coins. I would say 98% if my time goes to collecting the Capped Bust Half Dollars, and I have lots of dups.

Justacommeman · February 6, 2010 9:55AM

I will finish my toned MS+ Walker Long-Short set hopefully this century. My toned commem set.........probably not.......In the meantime it's tokens and type coins................MJ

grip · February 6, 2010 10:08AM

The best I did for a set was Mercurys,FSB and was at one time third in the registry.
Now I just like to buy anything that has eye appeal,and prefere toned.

No pressure to compete is what I like,and find I make better decisions in buying.

rhedden · February 6, 2010 10:20AM

I am an obsessive-compulsive set builder, personally. There is nothing in numismatics I love more than a well-matched complete set that is properly displayed. I have several sets of early US coins that are only missing the unobtainable rarities (e.g. 1870-s half dime). My current project is XF-AU Seated halves. I have a long way to go on that one, but it is keeping me happy while I slowly and painfully search for a very small handful of coins I need to complete other sets.

Moldnut · February 6, 2010 10:49AM

Yes, I have an album for IHC, Barber 10c,25c ,Liberty 5c , Buffalo 5c, SLQs ,Seated 10c,25c, Bust 10c, Mercury 10c. I like to add to them here and there when Im at my local B&M. One day Ill complete them all.

LindeDad · February 6, 2010 10:51AM

Washingtons, Kennedys, Franklins, Peace, Ikes, Sac's, Presidents in SF, Mint coins 1968 to present, Walkers, and Memorial Cents.
Retired a few of them but having fun with Everyman sets now.

lcoopie · February 6, 2010 10:57AM

Yes, I find that it gives me some direction,
otherwise I would want everything.

I am 86% into a silver commem set,
and finished a Franklin set.
My reason, is affordability
otherwise, I would prefer early high grade gold.

of course, I have other odds and ends.

bluelobster · February 6, 2010 11:15AM

I understand the allure of completing a set for many people and I very much agree, there is great merit in being a student of a series and becoming a specialist. I am probably in the minority of "coin collectors" but I am definitely am not a "set" collector, I enjoy collecting AU to MS coins and most series would be ridiculously futile for me to come close to completing, I much prefer collecting what my eye sees as attractive type coins.

I still focus on some series, and learn as much as I can, but instead of completion I really am only looking to refine my type set box of twenty/thirty concept. I really don't know where that will take my collecting in the future, but that is what gives me enjoyment and for me, actual set completion while giving a sense of accomplishment at least for a while, would end the quest which really doesn't work for me.

Mercury10c · February 6, 2010 11:27AM

Set builder.
Complete: Mercs, Franklins (3 sets), Liberty nickels, Barber dimes and halves, Indian cents, Peace dollars,
State quarters ( with proof, silver proof, and business strikes), State quarters (business strikes).
Working on: 1840 large cent by Newcomb variety, Washington quarters (1 to go

), another set of Mercs,
Barber quarters, another set of Peace dollars, and a set of PCGS PR64 Liberty Nickels.

ambro51 · February 6, 2010 11:38AM

I started "really" collecting more on the box of 20 premise but moved away from that and now it's a total focus on gold dollars. I will add though that I do have a secret collection, which is working on a high grade RED Lincoln memorial 1975 to date Whitman folder from circulation. The folder cost more than the coins but it's been a lot of fun. Putting the gold dollar collection up on the web has been a lot of fun and I'll work and develop that as time goes on. Have you guys seen my last page yet?

Shamika · February 6, 2010 11:49AM

I am currently working on a Buffalo Nickel set in MS63 or better. Although I've collected Buffalo's since I was 17 (26 years ago), only since 2001 have I consciously made this a goal.

As far as completed sets, I have none unless you count short sets (which I don't).

coinnut86 · February 6, 2010 12:24PM

I'm trying to build complete sets of all circulating US coins.. working backwards from current circulating coins to past...

clw54 · February 6, 2010 12:35PM

I've completed circulated sets of wheat cents and Mercury dimes. The cents include the 1922 and 1955 DDO. The dime set has the 1942/1. Right now I'm slowly building a set of Carson City halves, if that can be considered a set.

Mowgli · February 6, 2010 1:53PM

I have been a set collector for twenty years. It's something about the hunt and sense of accomplishment when something is completed. I have completed at least 18 different sets, I have two more almost complete save for two coins each and two that I started recently. I'm pretty sure that this will be it for me unless I venture into proofs.

golfer72 · February 6, 2010 8:34PM

Completed Lincoln wheat MS date set, War Nickles, Jefferson Proofs 38-64. Working on Franklin Proofs ( one left) and just started AU-MS Liberty nickles. Oh and I forgot working on a toned Morgan date set also. I have about 15 Commens also but wont do the whole set as I only like maybe half of the designs.

jakeblue · February 6, 2010 9:57PM

I am inline with the OCD set collectors. Registry sets have always provided structure. Otherwise, I would be in the crowd of buying anything that looked "Ohhh, gotta have it". I much prefer being in the "Ohhh, gotta have it" formally structured set format.

CharlotteDude · February 6, 2010 10:41PM

I've been slowly closing in on a complete set of Charlotte gold, represented by date, major type, and denomination. While a complete set will probably take a very long time, as the 1849-C Open Wreath $1 is prohibitively rare and will always bring a high price tag, it is offered every few years (recent Heritage sale NGC XF-45 @ $218K). The 1842-C Small Date HE is also a costly member of the set. These will probably be some of the last coins I acquire. Until then the hunt and acquisition of quality representatives of each date and denom makes it all worthwhile.

'dude

pennyholic · February 7, 2010 1:35AM

Yes I am a set collector but of coin albums. I was given many Library of coin albums when my grandfather passed away that were partially filled with coins. I am always on the hunt for these albums. I do buy coins for the albums and continue to fill holes from the original set of albums. I just like the look and feel of these old albums with plain circulated coins in them making up a set.

MidLifeCrisis · February 7, 2010 2:08AM

I am a type set collector - of colonial era coins with known provenance.

BillJones · February 7, 2010 2:26AM

The only set that I've been working on for the past 15 years has been my type set of United States coins. Within that I lump all of the commemorative coins, which some people might call sets by themselves (e.g. the "old" commemorative silver, the "old" gold commemoratives, the new commemoratives). Among that large group I’m within eight coins to completion, but most of those eight carry 5-figure price tags. And some of the eight, like the Pan Pac $50 gold slugs, cost more than I want to spend on them. I also keep up with the modern Proof sets from 1950 to date.

Beyond that I have not collected coins by date and mint for a long time. I've been a collector for 50 years, and over that time I've collected all of the modern coins except the Washington quarter, which never did much for me. I also collected Indian cents and the $2.50 Indian date and mint set. Among those the only significant sets that I still have are the Lincoln cents, from childhood, and the $2.50 Indian gold pieces. All of the others fell by the wayside.

Today I collect 19th century presidential campaign tokens and medals using the Sulliavan - DeWitt book as a guide, but that collection is really very open ended and lacks an endpoint. I also collect selected Civil War tokens, but I would not call that a set either because I define what goes into it.

I left the date and mint set collecting thing because I found it boring. I like almost every coin to be different, and I have a strong interest in the historical aspects of numismatics.

I'd say collect what you enjoy. Forget about registry sets, and forget about what others think you ought to do. Be yourself.

Are you a "set" collector???

Comments

Leave a Comment

Are you a &quot;set&quot; collector???

Comments

Leave a Comment

Are you a "set" collector???