Jace H. writes:Â I’m just starting to get interested in US coin collecting. I have read many books on coin collecting, grading, buying and selling. I even started keeping all my pocket change dated earlier than 1970. My problem is that I want to start collecting US coins that are not expensive yet have some value. Which set of US coins would you suggest I start off with? (I have been allowed to spend about $20.00 a month.) Would you suggest pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters or half-dollars? Combinations of these or for example buying all pennies starting with a certain date?
There’s no limit about how to collect. For instance, you could start a 20th Century “type” set of U.S. silver, nickel and copper coins. Some coins are very inexpensive in average circulated condition and some even are reasonable in uncirculated grades. For instance, the last few years of the Buffalo Nickel were heavily saved. You can probably buy an uncirculated example for less that $20.
Most coin dealers sell bullion related items such as silver dimes, quarters and half dollars. These date prior to 1965 and can be had for between 14 and 16 times face value. That means you can buy silver dimes for less than $1.60. These are not going to be uncirculated gems but it’s a great way to put together an historic collection inexpensively.
