Teddy R

My area of interest would not change but my targeted grades of VG/F/VF would shift to Top Pop's . I could also fill those 2 or 3 unobtanium holes. I would then have to figure out what to do next because completion would take about 2 weeks instead of the rest of my life.

Great thread Hoghead515, thanks for starting it. I started like many. My Dad collected coins and bought me a 1909 - 1940 Lincoln Cent Blue Whitman Folder. At the time you could find the commons in circulation. Over the years I saved coins from my paper route, an Uncle and my Grandparents gave me some, I bought Kennedy's and Ike's from the bank, and I would stop by a local Coin Shop in my neighborhood. As I got older I occasionally attended some local shows. I purchased some coins I didn't even want, from a friend who was down on his luck. I received some Mint and Proof sets as gifts. Fast forward to about five years ago. I had a ton of low grade and common coins. Wheat pennies, unc rolls from the 60's, common low grade silver, most of the 60's through the 90's Mint and Proof Sets, and even some Gas Station Tokens. I saved it all. I had a lot of coins but nothing worth much other than a few mid grade semi keys. That's when I came across an article in a coin publication titled "Do you have Ballast or a Collection". My "ballast" had no goal or direction. I have been downsizing ever since. I've traded/sold a large volume of coins and used the money to help finance my journey to own one Key and one MS example of each 20th Century Type and I now have a Registry Set. The MS coins are pleasing to the eye and I find the history behind the Key Coins interesting. I plan to start a journal documenting my journey in more detail when I have more time (winter).

I appreciate all the responses, thanks to all. I went to a local show last week. Found a 14-D in F but it had a black discoloration all around Abe. Found a 31-S in 63 RB but it had a black spot on the reverse. My conclusion, I will see what comes along and when I find the right coin, that's the one that will fill the slot. Might eventually end up with both. If anyone is interested, I converted a custom set I already had into my new Type Set. You can see it here https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=31550

I've decided to go quality over quantity with my collection. It will probably be a custom set as looking over the 20th Century Type in the Registry shows at least 16 of the 39 slots have no key coin. Some of the coins in the set will be mid grade but I will work towards continuing improvement. I plan on outlining how I got to this point in a journal when I have more time (winter).

Great info, thanks for sharing. I doubt my humble collection of key coins will create a Hunt Brothers type shift in values. I'm no Maurice Scharlack, one of each is good for me.

I'm working on a US 20th Century Type set with Key Coins. I've been going back and forth between the 14-D and the 31-S lincoln cent for the "Wheat Penny" slot. The 31-S has that desirable sub one million mintage. The 31-S can be purchased in 63 R for the same money as a F/VF 14-D. The 31-S has appreciated more over the last 20/25 years. So...let's hear your thoughts and opinions.

Swing by the folks from Heritage Auctions. They will be at Long Beach.

My bubble is intact. As a 40 plus year veteran of other types of collectibles shows I'm well aware of dealer to dealer transactions. As I stated in an earlier post, no PNG day and a reasonably priced early bird pass at FUN may not stack the deck in my favor but it can't hurt. The big time dealers had way too much time to clean the place out at CSNS and that was confirmed by dealer's I spoke to and posts on social media.

Interesting. Thanks for considering the collector, your efforts are appreciated.

After further review, I will not attend this show again. This was my first big show. I thought I would be taking my collecting to the next level, lesson learned. I can only afford to travel to one big show a year. I'm thinking I may do the FUN show next year. No PNG day and early bird is only $100 as compared to $385 at CSNS.

You didn't miss anything. I did buy one coin but the upstairs was cleaned out also.

Yep, I went to buy but I sure ended up learning. Yes and after reading your post and doing some homework it appears PNG day is what cleaned the show out before the general public was allowed in. It appears the dealer that posted their purchases spent 50 - 100k. If several dealers did the same, we have our answer about the lack of inventory as mentioned by the OP

A Dealer has posted their CSNS experience in another section of the Forums. The post confirms my suspicions. This is a Tuesday/Wednesday wholesale event and some dealers hang around Thursday/Friday/Saturday to offer slow moving inventory and double markups. Looks like my first CSNS will be my last. I'll be money ahead just giving a dealer my want list.

I would still like to hear from those that attended Friday and or Saturday

I didn't count but I'm going to say a dozen give or take

We saw unoccupied tables Thursday with showcases and lights on them. Can anyone that was there on Friday or Saturday say if they were occupied on those days? Wondering if they just sold to other dealers on Wednesday, then bailed?

I was a little disappointed. Granted, the items I am looking for are tough pieces, not impossible but not on every table either. I was told by more than one Dealer that the items I inquired about went fast to other Dealers. I was there Thursday but I guess you need to do the early bird thing. That being said, I'll go again next year. I did pick up 5 coins.

After reading an article in a coin publication, I realized I had ballast instead of a collection. I decided to go quality over quantity. I rolled a lot of common items into a few key coins that I really wanted. It was difficult, some of the coins were gifts and inheritances. For example, I traded 30 years of (mid 60's to mid 90's) mint and proof sets for an MS 62 RB,1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent. I did add a few bucks to make the deal. It's so much more pleasing to own this coin than have a suit case full of $5 mint sets I never looked at. Some of the sets were gifts from my late Father but I feel good knowing he played a major role in me having a coin I never thought I would own. My selling and some buying has been with a local Dealer and Coin Shows. I have made some online auction purchases and they are fun to search for deals. When I check out, I'll leave a legacy, not a burden.

Thanks Ali, worked great!

Hello, Is there a way to add a named slot in Custom Sets for a coin that is not yet owned? It would make the set more interesting if everyone could see the goal. Thanks!

Thanks to all for the responses.

Sure. I recently sent 12 coins to NGC for grading. Most I thought were fairly nice or I wouldn't have submitted them. Five came back as cleaned. I could see someone of my skill level missing something on the UNC/AU coins but it's beyond me what to look for on the 13-S T-1 XF Nickel I sent in. First off, why would someone clean such a coin???

Can anyone suggest a resource that will educate me about how to tell if coins have been cleaned? I would also like to learn more about grading mint state coins.