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.