USA Type set question

[Dwaine]

Say you wanted to build a USA type set with as many proofs as possible but you wanted to build this by having coins from the same year. How many year set's would you need to purchase to complete this?

 

For example:

 

If you wanted to start with 2009 coins this year would cover the Presidential dollar, Sacagawea Dollar, Territory quarters, Silver territory quarters, Clad & Silver Kennedy, Clad and Silver Dime, Return to Monticello Nickel, and the Lincoln Cent.

 

Now I realize there will be some slots that can't be filled with a proof coin. The object is to fill the set with the least number of yearly proof sets.

[bsshog40]

Ok, I'm confused!

[Dwaine]

What is the fewest number of proof sets to complete a USA type set?

[bsshog40]

ok

[James_OldeTowne]

Wow, a pretty simple question, but it is probably subtle in complexity! Sounds like one would almost need to set up a computerized matrix and run some magic algorithms.... Sorry I can't help on this one!

[Old Pueblo]

All of them?

[Schatzy]

I come up with 12 proof sets and 1 brown box Ike

Here is the years I selected so it would also be the cheapest!!

1938

1942 Both Nickels

1963

1971 Silver-Clad Ike

1976

1976 3-Piece Silver Set

1978

1979

1992 Silver

2004 Silver

2004 Clad

2009 Silver

2009 Clad

 

That would give slots for 31 Proof Coins (I didn't include any varietys)

Lincoln

09 Lincoln

Buffalo Nickel

Jefferson Nickel

Silver Jefferson Nickel (1942)

Westward Jefferson Nickel

Return Nickel

Mercury Dime

Clad Roosevelt Dime

Silver Roosevelt Dime

1976 Clad Washington Quarter

1976 Silver Washington Quarter

Silver Washington Quarter

Clad Washington Quarter

Clad State Quarter

Silver State Quarter

Clad Territory Quarter

Silver Territory Quarter

Walking Half-Dollar

Franklin Half Dollar

1976 Clad Kennedy Half-Dollar

1976 Silver Kennedy Half-Dollar

Silver Kennedy Half Dollar

Clad Kennedy Half-Dollar

1976 Clad Eisenhower Dollar

1976 Silver Eisenhower Dollar

Clad Eisenhower Dollar

Silver-Clad Eisenhower Dollar

Susan B Anthony

Sacagawea Dollar

Presidential Dollar

 

[Dwaine]

That covers the modern's and some of the early years but what about all the seated coinage, etc.

[Schatzy]

That covers the modern's and some of the early years but what about all the seated coinage, etc.

 

The object is to fill the set with the least number of yearly proof sets.

 

 

They started making proof sets in 1936 so I covered everything you asked about!!

[Dwaine]

True, but what if I put together a set of 1870 coins or 1883 coins. I know most of these were sold as singles but I think they did sell some as complete set's.

 

 

[BillJones]

True, but what if I put together a set of 1870 coins or 1883 coins. I know most of these were sold as singles but I think they did sell some as complete set's.

 

 

No, actually the Proof coins back then (1850s to 1916 or so) were sold as sets, but they were divided up in to groups. The silver coins were sold as a group; the gold coins were sold as a group; and the cents, two cents and three cent nickels were sold as a group.

 

This caused some unusual mintages. For example the 1909 Proof nickel has a high mintage because collectors kept buying that set to get the Proof Indian cent, then the 1909-VDB Lincoln cent and than the 1909 Plain cent. The nickels kept "coming along for the ride."

 

As to the core answer to the lead question, that would take some research and the results would still be controversial. Some people say that there are 1796 quarters in Proof, for example, but others only call them P-L. The remarkable 1793 Chain Cent, which is know among copper collectors as “THE COIN!” has been said to be a presentation piece (“Proof?”). Others say no. Even something as recent as the 1907 High Relief $20 gold is said to exist in Matte Proof by some and not by others.

 

I think you get my drift. If I had the desire, I could go though all of my books and put together an answer, but it probably would not be a definitive one. And even if it were definitive, a lot of these sets have broken up and would have to re-assembled. One core set could be the King of Siam Proof set. Now that would be a wonderful start! Anyone care to throw in with me. I’d supply the information, but you’d have to supply the money. This stuff is way beyond my means.

 

[EZ_E]

Well, Jaime covered the modern so we need to have a set to include the proof Barbers 1892-1909. That will include the IHC and Liberty nickel w/ cents as well.

 

Then, an 1883 proof cent will cover the Seated Liberty w/ motto coins, the shield nickel, the no cents "V" nickel and an extra IHC. Include the proof Morgan with this set.

 

We're going to exclude the w/ arrows coins for the type set for this exercise.

 

The proof Trade $, 20C and Shield w/ rays are wild cards.

 

Now you need the w/o motto Seated Liberty coins and you can get a cuni proof IHC in the process. I recommend the 1863 proof set for these purposes. You'll also get a proof half dime in the process and a proof SL dollar.

 

That's about it for middle class collectors like us. If you want to do better than that then I'd suggest finding out if TDN or Boiler78 has a daughter that you can marry!

[BillJones]

There had been a couple of 1846 Proof sets floating around in the 1970s. I don't know if those sets are still intact, or if they would qualify for NGC or PCGS grading. I saw quite a few Proof graded coins in old (littel) ANACS holders. They were usually very dark and not very attractive. In one of his books Q. David Bowers advised against buying them if they were very dark.

[Dwaine]

Ok, I have started a list and by no means this is complete. Research done by looking at Heritage.

 

HALF CENTS

LIBERTY CAP, HEAD LEFT 1793

Liberty Cap 1794-1797

Draped Bust 1800-1808

Classic Head 1809-1836 1834

Coronet 1840-1857 1857

CENTS

Flowing Hair 1793 Chain

Flowing Hair 1793 Wreath

Liberty Cap 1794-1796

Draped Bust 1796-1807

Classic Head 1808-1814

Coronet 1816-1839 1834

Braided Hair 1840-1857 1857

Flying Eagle 1856-1858 1857

Indian 1859 1859

Indian CN 1860-1864 1864

Indian Bronze 1864-1909 1883

Lincoln 1909-VDB 1909

Lincoln Wheat 1909-1958 1942

Lincoln Steel 1943

Lincoln CU Memorial 1959-1982 1979

Lincoln Zinc Memorial 1982-2004 2004

TWO CENTS

Shield 1864-1973 1864

THREE CENTS

Silver Type I 1851-1853

Silver Type II 1854-1858 1857

Silver Type III 1859-1873 1859

Copper-Nickel 1865-1889 1883

FIVE CENTS

Shield W/Rays 1866-1867 1866

Shield No Rays 1867-1883 1883

Liberty No Cents 1883 1883

Liberty W/Cents 1883-1912 1883

Buffalo Type I 1913 1913

Buffalo Type II 1913-1938 1913

JEFFERSON, COPPER-NICKEL 1938-2003 1964

Jefferson Silver 1942-1945 1942

JEFFERSON, WESTWARD JOURNEY 2004-2005 2004

JEFFERSON, , 2006- 2009

HALF DIME

HALF DISME 1792

Flowing Hair 1794-5

Draped Bust, Small Eagle 1796-1797

Draped Bust, Heraldic Eagle 1800-1805

Capped Bust 1829-1837

Seated Liberty No Stars 1837-1838

Seated Liberty No Drapery 1838-1840 1840

Seated Liberty Drapery 1840-1853, 1856-1860 1857

Seated Liberty W/Arr 1853-1855

Seated Liberty Legend 1860-1873 1864

TEN CENTS

DRAPED BUST, SMALL EAGLE 1796-97

DRAPED BUST, LARGE EAGLE 1798-1807

CAPPED BUST, LARGE SIZE 1809-28

CAPPED BUST, SMALL SIZE 1828-37

Seated Liberty No Stars 1837-1838

Seated Liberty No Drapery 1838-1840 1840

Seated Liberty Drapery 1840-1853, 1856-1860 1857

Seated Liberty W/Arr. 1853-1855, 1873-1874

Seated Liberty Legend 1860-1873, 1875-1891 1883

SEATED LIBERTY, WITH ARROWS 1873-74

Barber 1892-1916 1909

Mercury 1916-1945 1942

Roosevelt Silver 1946-1964 1964

Roosevelt Clad 1965-2004 2009

Roosevelt Silver 1992- 2009

TWENTY CENTS

Seated Liberty 1875-1878

TWENTY-FIVE CENTS

DRAPED BUST, SMALL EAGLE 1796

DRAPED BUST, LARGE EAGLE 1804-07

CAPPED BUST, LARGE SIZE 1815-28

CAPPED BUST, SMALL SIZE 1831-38 1834

Seated Liberty No Drapery 1838-1840 1840

Seated Liberty Drapery 1840-1853, 1856-1865 1857

Seated Liberty W/Arr & Rays 1853

Seated Liberty W/Arr 1854-1855

Seated Liberty W/Motto 1866-1891 1883

Seated Liberty W/Arr 1873-1874

Barber 1892-1916 1909

Standing Liberty Type I 1916-1917

Standing Liberty Type II 1917-1924

Standing Liberty Type III 1924-1930

Washington Silver 1932-1964 1964

Washington Clad 1965-1974, 1977-1998 1979

Washington Silver 1992-98 1992

Washington Bicentennial 1976 1976

Washington Bicentennial Silver 1976 1976

Washington 50 States 1999-2008 2004

25C D.C. AND U.S. TERRITORY QUARTERS 2009

FIFTY CENTS

Flowing Hair 1794-1795

DRAPED BUST, SMALL EAGLE 1796-97

DRAPED BUST, LARGE EAGLE 1801-07

CAPPED BUST, LETTERED EDGE 1807-36 1834

CAPPED BUST, REEDED, 50 CENTS 1836-37

CAPPED BUST, REEDED, HALF DOL 1838-39

Seated Liberty No Drapery 1839

Seated Liberty Drapery 1839-1853, 1856-1866 1857

Seated Liberty W/Arr & Rays 1853

Seated Liberty W/Arr 1854-1855

Seated Liberty W/Motto 1866-1891 1883

Seated Liberty W/Arr 1873-1874

Barber 1892-1916 1909

Walking Liberty 1916-1947 1942

Franklin 1948-1963 1963

Kennedy 90% Silver 1964 1964

Kennedy 40% Silver 1965-1970 1970

Kennedy Clad 1971- 2009

Kennedy Silver 1992- 2009

Kennedy Bicentennial 1976 1976

Kennedy Bicentennial Silver 1976 1976

DOLLAR

FLOWING HAIR 1794-95

DRAPED BUST, SMALL EAGLE 1795-98

DRAPED BUST, LARGE EAGLE 1798-1804

Gobrecht 1836

Seated Liberty No Motto 1840-1866 1857

Seated Liberty W/Motto 1866-1873 1866

Trade 1873-1885 1883

Morgan 1878-1921 1883

PEACE LIBERTY, HIGH RELIEF 1921

Peace 1921-1935

Eisenhower 40% Silver 1971-1974 1971

Eisenhower Clad 1971-1974, 1977-1978 1978

Esienhower Bicentennial 1976 1976

Esienhower Bicentennial Silver 1976 1976

Susan B Anthony 1979-1981, 1999 1979

Sacagawea 2000 2009

PRESIDENTIAL 2007- 2009