Recommendations for
Collecting
General Introduction
Now that I have covered the topics of buying and selling
strategies, grading, market information, and other elements entering into
commercial transactions, I devote the next several sections to specific
recommendations. Some of the historical and background information concerning
the various series is similar to that elsewhere on this guide, in the
discussions of individual denominations and major design type. However, by
including related information in the present section, this will eliminate the
need for cross-referencing.
What should I collect or invest in? American numismatics
covers a wonderfully diverse panorama of denominations and designs. In following
sections I give brief sketches of most of the standard issues, beginning with
what used to be called "minor" coins years ago; pieces struck in
copper and various related alloys, including bronze and nickel.
Subsequent sections treat silver (and later clad issues)
and gold series as well as other disciplines. What I have to say is just the tip
of the iceberg. Books have been written on many series, and I refer you to those
if a particular denomination or type is of special interest.
Recommended Purchases
After each series I give three sets of purchase
recommendations. These represent my own ideas for three types of coin buyers.
These are not investment recommendations, but are suggestions to aid in
formulating a collecting plan. I suggest that you study my ideas carefully, then
refer to the appropriate listings in A Guide Book of U.S. Coins to determine the
place of each series in numismatics, mintage figures of various coins, and the
varieties included in each series.
Where you buy the coins I recommend, or even if you buy
them at all, is up to you. I am not trying to sell you anything. However,
today's market offers what I consider to be some truly exceptional values, and
you may wish to take advantage of them.
