From highest to lowest in price:

Liberty Head Gold Dollar
Draped Bust Half Cent
Capped Bust Dime
Standing Liberty Quarter v. I
Matron Head - Booby Head Large Cent
Two-Cent Piece
Liberty Seated Half-Dime, v. II
Nickel Three-Cent Piece
Buffalo Nickel - Raised Ground
Standing Liberty Quarter, v. II, recessed date (1925-1930)

These are all going into the type set, so I'm looking for the commonest of all common dates. I'd like the condition to be at least at good (but not too high, I like to spread the wealth) but for the last few, cheaper pieces, especially the SLQ v. II, I might be able to pull for a higher-grade piece.

Thanks for looking!

Jeez, girl. That's quite a list. Go for the old coppers first. You'll find some in great, collectable condition for a good deal. Moreover, I see some of them as undervalued by the market, so get them now before they become popular.

But for a lot of bang for a buck you can get one of the gold dollars like this:



for around $200

Oh, that's pretty... but I think for now I'll stick with the lower grades and upgrade as I get a real job and progress in it. Suppose I gotta do my research before committing, too. Still...

Make the iPod buyer himself get a second job, he caused this whole fiasco anyway.

Actually TG the best advice I can give you is go for quality, not a quick buy. Buy something nice like an attractive nice XF or better large cent. Do not go for quantity, but get one thing or a few things that you will have set your sights high for. Then later on when you reflect on it you will be glad you purchased it.

Here is something that you might find under $100:



Lots of history, being struck during the Civil War, is uncirculated, has a die clash, and is an unusual denomination. Then you can show it off here so we can all ooooohhh and ahhhhh

The problem with waiting to make huge purchases like that, as much as I adore scrutinizing the detail in clothing and hair, how am I ever supposed to get things like Draped Bust - Small Eagle rev. Half Dollars or 18th century gold in anything better than fair? ACH, THIS IS HARD! I AM IN A PICKLE!

That and I'm just plain impatient.

There are also some pieces, though, whose detail I would appreciate more than other pieces. I might put more into the pieces which I would kill to scrutinize every detail but on others I might just get in good condition.

Or, since there are many pieces which have the same design between denominations, I might buy one of the denominations in super-brilliant-happy-time condition and then get the others in grades less than brilliant.

This needs much more thought...

What are your plans if he buys a new car/truck?

Wow, you have your sights set pretty high. Even in PO-1, this is a 5 figure coin! (If you can find one). I used to own a PCGS AG-3 example but I sold it after I discovered it had been tooled. I just couldn't look at it the same way once I found out its history.

Yeah... right now it's on the list since for all I know my husband's band could become famous or something. Wishful thinking, mostly.

More additions after much deliberation:

IHC's between 1900 and 1908 at AU-50 or so
Liberty Head Nickel, no "CENTS" at AU-50 or so
Buffalo Nickel from 1935, 36, or 37 (Philadelphia Mint) at about AU-50
Merc from 1939, 40, or 41 (Philadelphia - or others of approx. same mintage) at AU-50 or better
Walking Liberty Half between 1941-46 (Philadelphia) at about AU-50

Thanks!

No no no, remember you don't wanna regret it later, go for the best. Quality not quantity. MS-60 is the least you want, preferably MS-65.

Photograde says AU-50 is pretty damn good.



Wait, what? Seriously? My sarcasm detector is broken for the night.

Yeah it probably does, but the collector-encourager says MS-60 is pretty damn better.

As - worthy as MS-60 is... I'll have to wait until my husband or I become rock stars... and idolize the MS-60's that SM has acquired. ((lip sticking out))

Just think this way, your worth it.