How to Collect US small cents ?

How to Collect US small cents ?

How to Collect US small cents ?

Most new collectors get their first introduction to numismatics by building a collection of small cents, particularly those of the Lincoln type made beginning in 1909. Most small cents are affordable, they're easy to find, and you'll meet plenty of other collectors who are eager to buy, sell, or trade with you and share their collecting stories.

By type:

Difficulty rating: Easy. You can find all four major design types of the small cent in any coin shop or at any show.

Cost estimate: In Fine condition, a type set of small cents costs only $50. You can put together a nice set of Uncirculated examples of each type for around $650.

By date and mintmark:

Difficulty rating: Moderate. Rare dates include the 1856, 1858/7, 1864 with L, 1869/9, 1877, 1888/7, 1894/94, 1909-S, 1909-S VBD, 1914- D, and 1931-S. Even so, just about every date is available on the market at any given moment. No date is outrageously expensive. Be careful not to get sidetracked, however: Costs can go up dramatically if you decide to go after some of the major die varieties and overdates (coins that shows two dates, usually one on top of another, the second being a correction of the first) in these series.

Cost estimate: In Fine condition, a date set of Flying Eagle cents costs around $7,500, but you can whittle the cost down to $250 by excluding the 1856 and the 1858/7 overdate. Under the same terms, an Uncirculated date set runs either $17,500 or $3,500. A fine set of Indian-head cents costs roughly $3,500; an Uncirculated set requires an outlay of at least $20,000. A fine set of Lincoln cents (1909-Date) costs approximately $1,200 (and that's figuring in the later dates that come only in proof condition). In Uncirculated condition, a complete date set of Lincoln cents runs at least $6,000. Remember: Major die varieties and overdates can add a lot to each of these sets.

By die variety:

Difficulty rating: Very difficult. There are many die varieties in the small-cent series some that are obvious to the naked eye, and others that are more subtle but equally interesting. New die varieties are being discovered every year, and though some are extremely rare and popular, they aren't necessarily expensive. Other varieties, like the 1873 Indian-head cent with doubled Liberty on the Indian's headband, the 1909-S Lincoln cent with the designer's initials on the back, and the 1955 doubled-die Lincoln cent, have been around for so many years that they have become integral parts of the date and mintmark sets, but it's up to you to decide what to include in 122 Part III: Focusing on U.S. Coins your collection. (A date and mintmark set is a collection of coins that includes one from each date and each of the different mints around the country that produced the coin.)

Cost estimate: Inexpensive to expensive, depending on how involved you get in this area. Many die varieties cost less than $5; others can run into thousands of dollars.

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