3 Obscure U.S. Coin Sets That Are Highly Rewarding To Collect

Few could deny the importance and popularity of coin series such as Lincoln Cents, Washington Quarters, and Morgan or Peace Dollars. All of these beloved United States coins have captivated generations of numismatists, and thousands of collectors actively pursue these coins on the PCGS Set Registry. However, there are many series that aren’t as widely chased yet offer collectors multitudes of fun opportunities and exciting challenges. Let’s look at three United States coin series that can be collected on the PCGS Set Registry yet largely remain off the beaten numismatic path.

Shield Two Cents Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1864-1872)

The Two Cents was struck from 1864 through 1873, and it’s perhaps most famous for becoming the first United States coin to bear the now-familiar national motto “In God We Trust.” However, at the time this approximately quarter-sized bronze coin was released, its mission was to help alleviate a shortage of small-denomination coinage during the height of the Civil War. It was one of many newfangled denominations that cropped up during the mid-19th century, including the Nickel and Silver Three Cents coins, 20 Cents, Gold Dollar, and Three Dollar Gold coin. And, like many of those pieces, the Two Cents denomination did not successfully circulate after demand for the coin tapered following the end of the Civil War.

The Two Cents is not widely known by the general public, though many collectors love the coin for its relative obscurity, significant ties to American history, and the relatively short run of the series. Generalists can complete this set without spending exorbitant amounts to complete the date run, with all pieces having been struck at the Philadelphia Mint. The Shield Two Cents Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1864-1872) is achievable by many collectors, with even those on smaller budget able to complete this set without a huge outlay for examples in lower-circulated grades. However, it should be noted that, along with the proof-only 1873 strike there are also many varieties that emerged for this coin and add a dimension of extra challenge beyond what the date run alone offers.

Shield Nickels Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1866-1883)

The Shield Nickel became the first five-cents coin known as a “nickel” when it emerged in the mid-1860s. It was a base-metal alternative when a tiny 90% silver coin known as a half dime was still serving commerce needs as a five-cent denomination. The Shield Nickel, composed of a 75% copper and 25% nickel alloy, was authorized by the Act of May 16, 1866, and kicked off with a strong start; the Philadelphia Mint churned out some 15 million examples. However, striking issues reared their ugly head early on as the pressure required to fully produce the rays surrounding the central “5” on the reverse caused dies to fail – nickel-based alloys are, after all, very tough, and the dies could therefore not fully render these details with softer blows. This prompted Mint officials to eliminate the rays, and this immediately instigated a new subtype for the Shield Nickel in 1867, when the so-called No Rays subtype began.

Collectors building the Shield Nickels Basic Set, Circulation Strikes (1866-1883) will find the 1867 Rays and 1867 No Rays the only “varieties” they will need to procure to complete the set. In reality, the Rays and No Rays are often recognized as two different subtypes, and therefore why even the most basic set would include both kinds of 1867 Shield Nickels. However, the big stopper for many is the 1880 Shield Nickel, the lowest-mintage business strike in the series and a true rarity with its mintage of just 16,000; PCGS estimates only 100 survive across all grades, making this issue a particularly difficult get for many collectors. In fact, a collector building a basic Shield Nickel set may find that the 1880 itself constitutes about half the price of building the entire set. That in itself may compel collectors to complete this intriguing set from the latter decades of the 19th century. The varieties and conditional rarities of these coins might be what persuades specialists to set out on an even more challenging (and expensive) iteration of a PCGS Set Registry Shield Nickel set.

Susan B. Anthony Dollars with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1979-1981, 1999)

The Susan B. Anthony Dollar was one of the shortest-lived coin series in United States Mint history, spanning just three production years from 1979 through 1981 before being retired from use for a generation. The coin was certainly well intentioned as a small-size, cost-effective replacement for the large-sized Eisenhower Dollar of the 1970s, which was the largest clad-based coin the United States Mint ever struck and, perhaps because of its hefty size, scarcely circulated beyond the Nevada casino circuit. However, as the “Susie B.” mini dollar evidenced, it may not have been the coin’s large size alone that caused the demise of the Ike Dollar. The Susan B. Anthony Dollar flopped mainly due to its similarity in size and appearance to the Washington Quarter, with which the Susie B. was often confused. Even though the Susan B. Anthony Dollar was publicly panned into an early retirement in 1981, the coin saw a healthy second life as a pseudo token in various mass transit systems and among postage-stamp vending machines. It was struck one last time in 1999 as a stopgap measure during a shortage of dollar coins just ahead of the Sacagawea Dollar in 2000.

The Susan B. Anthony Dollar makes a terrific modern series for collectors who want an approachable challenge; amazingly, this tiny but mighty coin provides five major varieties: the 1979-P Wide Rim, 1979-S Proof Type 1, 1979-S Proof Type 2, 1981-S Proof Type 1, and 1981-S Proof Type 2. None of these varieties is categorically expensive, though some may argue the 1981-S Proof Type 2 is something of a stopper for those who are working with very small budgets. The real challenge may come in trying to complete this set in the highest grades, which yield few specimens for any of the business-strike issues in the series. Yes, four-figure Susan B. Anthony Dollars exist, and the realm of MS67 and MS68 is where you’re bound to find them! Try collecting the entire set – in any grades – in the PCGS Set Registry assemblage known as Susan B. Anthony Dollars with Major Varieties, Circulation Strikes and Proof (1979-1981, 1999).