100% filled or when upgrades are finished?

For several months I had almost had my 32-64 quarter set competed, but I had one open slot- the 1950 D/S. I had been looking for a couple of months before I finally found one that I liked. I probably overpaid at about 85% of FMV, but it was a nice coin in AU53 that fit well with my set. The problem now is my 1950 S/D in VF details became a hole filler.

A couple of months ago I thought I was in the running for a PCGS AU55- it was at $57 dollars with 10 seconds left-I think my max bid was about $220- but hammered at $243 with shipping. It appears a dealer bought it because the same coin is at a buy-it-now on EBay for $329. I hope the dealer gets buried with it --literally- like in his casket! Obviously just out of principal I will never be a buyer of that coin from that guy because I know how much he paid! Anyway a couple of days later another one was ready to close- an ugly NGC AU50 that looked a little over-graded. I made a bid but was actually glad I was outbid at $150 (impatience was starting to take over but I nipped it in the bud just in time) it would not have been a good fit for my set eye- appeal wise- just grade wise ( patience dummy!).

So I now I have the set %100 complete but I am not %100 satisfied with the set. Actually I also want to upgrade the 35D to an MS64 and the 45-S to an MS66. The other upgrades of the toughest dates- 32D and S- and 36D in MS64 are out of my budget at this point, so they are not in my mind as upgradeable.

There are also a few that are not so eye appealing that I may want to swap out but at the same grade. When Gary H was taking pictures of my coins he pointed out some of the nicer coins but also politely pointed out some dogs as he appropriately called them. These were some of my earlier purchases that I made before I had really learned the market and what was a truly nice/eye appealing coin for the grade. As always a good collector can never stop learning in this hobby. As Rich H correctly advised me I could probably replace about 5 of the roughest and be very happy with the total set.

I remember Walkerfan had said he felt a level of completion when he had all but the most common and the most expensive for his Walker set. When do you feel a set is complete?

Thanks for reading and have a great summer- Dave

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