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One more trip downtown, to visit the Farmer's Market, have a good lunch, and stop at the coin shop.
Beautiful spring day yesterday, perfect for a trip downtown. It was the first day of the Farmer's Market. Had a delicious lunch, served by my favorite waiter. And of course, a stop at the coin shop.
Jefferson nickels have been minted since 1938. That's approaching 80 years! A set that covers so many years has a lot to offer a collector.
Great day downtown. Good shopping, delicious lunch, and Macy's Flower Show too. But my first stop of the day was at my favorite coin shop.
The Jefferson nickels struck in Wartime alloy (copper-silver-manganese) form a set-within-a-set that is interesting to the historian, the WWII buff, and the collector. Only eleven coins are in the set, 1942-1945, P-D-S. They can be collected in circulated condition or all in Mint State. And they are a special set, as the coins have a large mintmark on the reverse, above Monticello, including the Philadelphia Mint issues.
Liberty nickels were minted from 1883-1912. Without the special 1913, this series makes an attractive set that can keep a collector searching, but is very doable. Many of the later dates can be found looking through "junk boxes." One of the first coins I bought was a well-worn 1906 Liberty nickel. These coins are not the most popular, something that can work to a collector's advantage.
Back awhile, there was some chat about dateless Buffalo nickels. Collectors mentioned their "finds" this way, including one who found a bunch of 1918 overdates. I mentioned that I had tried this years ago, and my best find was a 1914-D.
I love Buffalo nickels. This is the all-American coin, with so much to offer collectors. Minted from 1913-1938, a collector can pursue a basic date-and-mintmark set in any condition. A set in high grade is a challenge, and a set with well-struck coins can prove more challenging. And then there are the proofs.
After more than fifty years in numismatics, I have found something new and fun to do. I was inspired to do this by Dave Harper, editor of Numismatic News.