A type set is a coin collection based on coin design or type. Traditional collections consist of all dates within a series such as state quarters or Lincoln cent.
Type sets are more popular for practicality and therefore are more common among younger or less wealthy coin collectors. Date sets are more common with more experienced and wealthy collectors, who focus on getting every year and minting of a series of coins.
Description and varieties A Type Set may contain the designs of only one denomination. For example, the dime has had 12 - 14 distinct designs. The definition of what constitutes a design is subjective but collectors generally follow those listed in the authoritative Red Book (A Guide Book of United States Coins), which says: "A series of coins defined by a shared distinguishing design, composition, denomination, and other elements. For example, Barber dimes or Franklin half dollars.". Professional numismatic associations such as PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Corporation) list around 140 entries in a complete set that includes copper, nickel, silver and gold.
A complete Type Set consists of every design of every denomination authorized by Congress that was struck for public usage. This excludes such items as pattern coins or coins struck for particular occasions. It includes denominations that are no longer in existence - half cent, the two-cent piece, the three-cent piece, the twenty-cent piece and all gold coins. Designs were changed for a variety of reasons - historical, political, cultural, and as a reaction to public opinion. The Standing Liberty Quarter first minted in 1916 was immediately redesigned when it was noted that Liberty's breast was visible. This change created a separate design. The Indian Head nickel (Buffalo) appeared in 1913 but the FIVE CENTS began wearing away. The coin was immediately changed to lower the buffalo mound. In 1837, the dime was minted without stars drawing outrage and the offending stars were immediately returned. The denomination "FIVE CENTS" was initially omitted on the V Nickel (the reverse carried a large V). Before the words could be added, enterprising tricksters gold-plated the coin and declared it a $5.00 gold piece. The Indian head cent has 3 varieties: (1) No shield (1859), (2) Copper and nickel (1860–1863) and (3) Bronze (1864–1909). A list of all members of a Type Set are listed below.
A complete type set of paper currency within a given scope of collecting includes a representative sample of each major design and change, but excludes lesser variations (e.g., signature combinations, Treasury seal, overprints, etc.).
Collectors build variations of the ultimate set. For example, many do not include gold due to the prohibitive cost; other now omit designs before the year 1800. These are the most expensive due to several factors: Poor quality of material, primitive machinery and working conditions, minuscule production numbers and general wear and loss after 200 years. Most designs cover decades but some were minted for only one or two years making these the rarest of the entire set. It is not a coincidence that many of these were also struck prior to 1800 when the Mint altered designs in response to unfavorable public opinion. The most famous of these short-lived designs are the half cent (1793), a quarter (1796), Draped Bust, Small Eagle half dollar (1796–1797) and the three large cent designs minted in 1793 - Wreath cent, Chain cent and Liberty Cap Cent. The Haig Koshkarian Type Set , one of the finest ever assembled, was auctioned in 2004.
Examples - copper, nickel, silver, gold
Complete Type Sets - Silver / Copper / Bronze / Steel / Clad coins
Half Cent Liberty Cap - Head Facing Left Liberty Cap - Head Facing Right Draped Bust Classic Head Braided Hair 1793 1794–1797 1800–1808 1809–1836 1840–1857 Large Cent Flowing Hair - Chain Reverse Flowing Hair - Wreath Reverse Liberty Cap Draped Bust Classic Head Liberty Head - Matron HeadLiberty Head - Matron Head ModifiedBraided Hair 1793 1793 1793–1796 1796–1807 1808–1814 1816–1835 1835 - 1839 1839 - 1857 Small Cent Flying Eagle Indian Head - Laurel Wreath Indian Head - Oak Wreath / Shield
Copper/NickelIndian Head - Oak Wreath / Shield
Bronze Lincoln - Wheat Bronze Lincoln - Wheat Steel Lincoln - Memorial Copper Alloy Lincoln - Memorial Copper-Plated ZincLincoln - Bicentennial Series
(4 Designs)Lincoln - Shield 1856 -1858 1859 1860 - 1864 1864 - 1909 1909 - 1942; 1944 - 1958 1943 1959 - 1982 1982 - 2008 20092010 - Date
Two Cents 1864 - 1873 Three Cents Silver Type 1Silver Type 2 Silver Type 3 Nickel 1851–1853 1854–1858 1859–1873 1865–1889 Nickel Shield - Rays Shield - No Rays Liberty Head - Type 1 Without "CENTS"Liberty Head - Type 2 With "CENTS" Buffalo - Type 1 Raised Ground Buffalo - Type 2 Recessed Ground Jefferson - Without InitialsJefferson - Wartime Silver AlloyJefferson - With InitialsJefferson - Westward Journey
(4 Designs)Jefferson - Forward Facing 1866–1867 1867–1883 1883 1883–1913 1913 1913–1938 1938 - 1942; 1946 - 1965 1942–1945 1966 - 20032004 - 20052006 - DATE Half Dime Flowing Hair Draped Bust - Small Eagle Draped Bust - Heraldic Eagle Capped Bust Seated Liberty - No StarsSeated Liberty - Stars Seated Liberty - Arrows at Date Seated Liberty - Legend On Obverse 1794–1795 1796–1797 1800–1805 1829–1837 1837 - 1838 1838 - 1853; 1856 - 1859 1853 - 1855 1860 - 1873 Dime Draped Bust - Small Eagle Draped Bust - Heraldic Eagle Capped Bust - Wide Border Capped Bust - Modified DesignSeated Liberty - No StarsSeated Liberty - Stars / No DraperySeated Liberty - Stars / Drapery Seated Liberty - Arrows At Date Seated Liberty - Legend On ObverseSeated Liberty - Arrows At Date #2 1796–1797 1798–1807 1808–1828 1828–1837 1837 - 1838 1838 - 18401840 - 1853; 1856 - 1860 1853 - 1855 1860 - 1873; 1875 - 1891 1873 - 1874 Barber Mercury Roosevelt - Silver Roosevelt - Copper-Nickel Clad 1892–1916 1916–1945 1946 - 1964 1965 - DATE Twenty Cents 1875–1878 Quarter Draped Bust - Small Eagle Draped Bust - Heraldic Eagle Capped Bust - Large Diameter Capped Bust - Reduced DiameterSeated Liberty - Type 1: No Motto - No Drapery Seated Liberty - Type 1: No Motto w/DraperySeated Liberty - Type 2: Arrows / RaysSeated Liberty - Type 3: Arrows / No RaysSeated Liberty - Type 4: Motto 1796 1804–1807 1815–1828 1831–1838 1838 - 1840; 1856 - 1866 1840 - 1853 1853 1854–1855 1866 - 1873; 1875 - 1891 Seated Liberty - Type 5: Arrows Barber Standing Liberty - Type 1 No Stars Standing Liberty - Type 2 Stars / Pedestal Date Standing Liberty - Type 2 Stars / Recessed DateWashington - SilverWashington - Copper/Nickel CladWashington - BicentennialWashington - States
(50 Designs) 1873–1874 1892–1916 1916–1917 1917–1924 1925 - 1930 1932 - 19641965 - 1974; 1977 - 199819761999 - 2008Washington - Territories
(6 Designs)Washington - America The Beautiful
(56 Designs)Washington - Crossing The DelawareWashington - American Women
(20 Designs)20092010 - 202120212022 - 2025 Half Dollar Flowing HairDraped Bust - Small Eagle Draped Bust - Heraldic EagleCapped Bust - Lettered Edge
First StyleCapped Bust - Lettered Edge
Remodeled Portrait & Eagle Capped Bust - Reeded Edge
"50 Cents" On ReverseCapped Bust - Reeded Edge "Half Dol" On Reverse 1794–1795 1796–1797 1801–1807 1807 - 1808 1809 - 1836 1836–1837 1838–1839 Seated Liberty - Type 1: No Motto Seated Liberty - Type 2: Arrows / RaysSeated Liberty - Type 3: Arrows / No Rays Seated Liberty - Type 4: MottoSeated Liberty - Type 5: Motto / Arrows 1839 - 1853; 1856 - 1866 1853 1854–1855 1866–1873; 1875 - 1891 1873–1874 BarberWalking LibertyFranklinKennedy Silver - 90%Kennedy Silver Clad - 40%Kennedy Copper/Nickel CladKennedy - Bicentennial1892–19151916–19471948–196319641965 - 19701971 - 1974; 1977 - DATE1976 Dollar Flowing HairDraped Bust - Small Eagle Draped Bust - Heraldic EagleGobrechtSeated - No MottoSeated - With Motto Trade Dollar Morgan 1794–1795 1795–1798 1798–1804 1836 - 1839 1840–1865 1866–1873 1873–1885 1878–1921 Peace Eisenhower Eisenhower - BicentennialSusan B. AnthonySacagawea / Native AmericanPresidentialAmerican Innovation 1921–1935 1971 - 1974; 1977 - 1978 1976 1979 - 1981; 19992000 - 2008 / 2009 - Date2007 - 2016; 20202018 - DATE
Complete Type Sets - Gold coins
Dollar (Gold) Liberty Head - Open WreathLiberty Head - Closed WreathIndian Princess - SmallIndian Princess - Large 1849 1849 - 1854 1854 - 1856 1856 - 1889 Quarter Eagle ($2.50 - Gold) Capped Bust - Facing Right No StarsCapped Bust - Facing Right With StarsCappted Bust - Facing Left Capped Head - Facing Left Large DiameterCapped Head - Facing Left Reduced Diameter Classic Head Liberty Head Indian Head 1796 1796–1807 1808 1821–1827 1829–1834 1834–1839 1840–1907 1908–1929 Indian Princess Head ($3.00 - Gold) 1854–1889 Stella ($4.00 - Gold) 1879–1880 Half Eagle ($5.00 - Gold) Capped Bust - Facing Right Small EagleCapped Bust - Facing Right Heraldic EagleDraped Bust - Facing Left Capped Head - Facing Left Large DiameterCapped Head - Facing Left Reduced DiameterClassic Head Liberty Head - No Motto Liberty Head - With Motto Indian Head 1795–1798 1795–1807 1807 - 1809 1813 - 1829 1829 - 1834 1834–1838 1839–1866 1866–1908 1908–1929 Eagle ($10.00 - Gold) Capped Bust - Small EagleCapped Bust - Heraldic EagleLiberty Head - No Motto Liberty Head - With Motto Indian Head - No Motto Indian Head - With Motto 1795–1797 1797–1804 1838–1866 1866–1907 1907–1908 1908–1933 Double Eagle ($20.00 - Gold) Liberty Head - No Motto Liberty Head - With Motto / "Twenty D." Liberty Head - With Motto / "TWENTY DOLLARS" St. Gaudens - No Motto
Roman Numerals St. Gaudens - No Motto
Arabic NumeralsSt. Gaudens - With Motto 1849–1866 1866–1876 1877–1907 1907 - 1908 1907–1908 1908–1933
Footnotes
References