Minding the budget while enjoying coin collecting can sometimes be a challenge.
However, it’s possible to still enjoy the hobby of coin collecting while paying careful attention to how much money you’re spending.
Building a short set is a common way of rounding out a coin collection while not spending a fortune to complete an entire date-and-mintmark run of coins.
Let’s look at 10 popular coin collecting short sets for collectors on a budget…
Short Set #1: Lincoln Cents From 1941 To 1974
The Lincoln cent is the longest-running coin design in American history.
There are also several rare and semi-key dates in the Lincoln cent series.
However, collecting Lincoln cents doesn’t need to be an expensive endeavor. One of the most common Lincoln cent short sets involves filling up a common Lincoln cent album date range: 1941 to 1974.
What do you get with the 1941 to 1974 collection?
You’re going to include the three 1943 steel cents. You’ll also have lots of examples of both the Lincoln wheat cent (1909 to 1958) and the Lincoln Memorial cent (1959 to 2008).
It’s actually possible (with lots of searching!) to complete this coin collection from circulation — but you’re going to have to be patient to find all the coins.
You could also buy all of the necessary coins from a coin dealer for less than $40 total.
Piecing together a mid-century Lincoln cent album spanning 1941 to 1974 is an incredibly affordable hobby, with typical circulated pennies trading for a pocket-change price of just 15 to 50 cents apiece. Amassing the entire 90-coin collection will only set you back about $25 to $40 total — just a tiny fraction of the $250 to $1,000+ required to track down a complete set with the rare, early key dates of the 1910s and 1920s.
Short Set #2: Lincoln Cents From 1959 To The Present
If collecting Lincoln cents is your thing but you only want to include Lincoln pennies made up to recent times, then you may be interested in working on a 1959-to-present Lincoln short set.
A 1959-to-date Lincoln penny coin collection includes all the Lincoln Memorial cents as well as the 2009 Lincoln bicentennial pennies and the Union shield design of 2010 to the present day.
Building such a collection from circulation is definitely possible, though a bit of searching may be in order when looking for the copper Lincoln cents made before 1982.
Assembling a modern Lincoln Memorial and Shield cent collection from 1959 to the present is the ultimate budget-friendly hobby, with most circulated dates costing just 5 to 25 cents each. You can easily pull together this massive, multi-decade set for a modest $15 to $30 total. This would be much less than the $1,500 to $3,000+ investment required to buy a complete 1909 to the present collection of Lincoln cents.
Short Set #3: Wartime Jefferson Nickels From 1942 To 1945
The 35% silver Jefferson 5-cent coins of 1942 to 1945 make a terrific and historic short set.
Wartime nickels actually have no nickel in them — because the U.S. government needed to save nickel for the war effort at the time.
War nickel values vary based on grade and the current price of silver. Generally, a wartime nickel can be bought for under $4 in circulated grades, though uncirculated examples can cost $10 to $15 or more.
It’s possible to find wartime nickels in circulation, though such findings are usually few and far between. It’s easier to simply buy Wartime nickels from a coin dealer… unless you’re up for a challenge!
Assembling a Jefferson war nickel short set from 1942 to 1945 is one of the most exciting and affordable ways to own genuine U.S. silver history. Since these 11 coins were struck with 35% silver to save nickel for the war effort, they’re easily identified by the large, prominent mintmarks over the dome of Monticello. You can complete this entire, historic wartime run in circulated condition for just $50 to $75 total. That’s much less than the $3,000 to $5,000+ you would need to buy a fully complete Buffalo nickel collection packed with rare, high-premium vintage key dates.
Short Set #4: Mercury Dimes From 1934 To 1945
Mercury dimes may appear to have some Greek inspiration, but they’re truly all American.
The head on the front is not that of Mercury (as is commonly thought, thanks to the winged cap). It is none other than Miss Liberty.
Some Mercury dimes (such as the 1916-D Mercury dime) are rare and expensive. But a short set of Mercury dimes from 1934 to 1945 offers a nice range of dates while avoiding the high-priced specimens of the earlier years in the series.
Completing a late-date Mercury dime short set from 1934 to 1945 offers a thrilling, budget-friendly entry into classic American coin design. This 12-year run features Adolph A. Weinman’s iconic, beautiful Winged Liberty design struck in 90% pure silver. You can easily piece together this stunning, historic subset in circulated condition for $45 to $80 total. That’s a massive bargain compared to the $4,000 to $6,000+ required to secure a complete, date-and-mintmark collection of Mercury dimes.
Short Set #5: Roosevelt Dimes From 1965 To The Present
Roosevelt dimes have been made since 1946.
But because those made before 1965 contain silver, the early pieces cost dozens of times more than face value and are nearly impossible to find in circulation these days.
However, you can build a complete date-and-mintmark set of business strike Roosevelt dimes right from circulation! Such a collection represents the majority of the Roosevelt dime series.
Assembling a modern copper-nickel Roosevelt dime short set from 1965 to the present day is the perfect high-volume, low-cost treasure hunt! You can find most of them in pocket change for face value, or buy a complete set of the circulation-issue clad dates from a coin dealer for just $100 to $250 total. This makes for a highly satisfying, friction-free collection. Compare that to the $1,500 to $2,500+ investment required to buy a complete set of vintage silver Barber dimes — which demands a massive financial layout for century-old key dates and scarce mintmarks.
Short Set #6: Washington Quarters From 1965 To 1998
Washington quarters made from 1965 to 1998 have become a popular short set.
This collection avoids the higher-priced silver issues of 1932 through 1964 and the numerous yearly installments made since 1999 — which include the 50 States quarters, District of Columbia & U.S Territories quarters, and the America the Beautiful quarters.
A collection of Washington quarters from 1965 to 1998 is easily achievable through circulation finds!
Building a clad Washington quarter short set from 1965 to 1998 is an incredibly fun and low-cost journey through modern American coinage. This specific era captures the entire, uniform run of John Flanagan’s classic eagle-reverse design struck in copper-nickel before the 50 State quarters changed the landscape forever. Because these coins were minted by the hundreds of millions, you can easily pull this multi-decade set together out of pocket change, or buy a complete set of the circulating clad strikes in Mint State for a mere $150 to $350 total. That is an absolute steal compared to the $1,200 to $2,500+ you would have to spend on a complete, early-date silver Washington quarters set.
Short Set #7: Washington Quarters With 50 States Quarters Reverse
If the 50 States quarters are your game, then it’s a game you can easily play simply by looking through circulation for the coins you need!
Made from 1999 to 2008, this landmark U.S. quarters program honored each of our nation’s 50 states in the order of their admission to the Union — with 5 unique reverse designs released every year.
Each of the 50 different quarter designs is still circulating today, making this short set perfect for collectors on a budget, as it can be compiled for face value from pocket change alone.
Assembling a 50 State quarters short set is one of the most culturally engaging and budget-friendly numismatic adventures in American history. Since these clad coins were produced in massive quantities, you can easily pull a complete 50-coin collection straight out of pocket change for face value or purchase a complete set for a modest $75 to $150 total.
Short Set #8: Walking Liberty Half Dollars From 1941 To 1947
The Walking Liberty half dollar is often considered one of the most beautiful coins in the world.
While some of the dates from the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s are expensive, a date run from 1941 to 1947 is a common and popular short set for the Walking Liberty half dollar.
Amassing a late-date Walking Liberty Half Dollar short set from 1941 to 1947 is arguably the most affordable way to own America’s most beautiful silver design. This brief, seven-year WWII-era run features Adolph A. Weinman’s breathtaking, iconic masterpiece struck in 90% fine silver. You can comfortably put together this entire 20-coin, multi-mint subset in circulated condition for around $500 to $1,000. This is a huge bargain compared to the $15,000 to $35,000+ required to lock down a fully complete, date-and-mintmark collection of Walking Liberty halves.
Short Set #9: Peace Dollars From 1922 To 1926
The Peace dollar was struck from 1921 to 1935.
While some dates are quite cheap, others are more expensive. For example, the 1921 Peace dollar can cost $200 or more to pick up. Some of the latter dates also cost $50 to $100 or more to buy in worn grades.
However, Peace dollars made from 1922 through 1926 are plentiful and don’t cost much more than their silver value to purchase!
Gathering a mid-1920s Peace dollar short set from 1922 to 1926 is the ultimate way to own vintage American silver dollars without breaking the bank. This specific 5-year stretch captures Anthony de Francisci’s beautiful design celebrating post-WWI global harmony — with each coin struck in over three-quarters of an ounce of pure silver! You can easily lock down this short set of classic dollars in nice circulated condition for a very reasonable $650 to $1,000 total. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the $2,500 to $5,000+ investment required to buy a complete, date-and-mintmark collection of Peace dollars.
Short Set #10: Silver Eisenhower Dollars 1971 to 1976
Eisenhower dollars made from 1971 through 1978 could easily be found at banks a couple decades ago. However, in the last several years, they’ve become difficult to obtain at face value through circulation or bank transactions.
While a copper-nickel clad set can be assembled for under $50, for just slightly more you can put together a handsome set of the 5 different 40% silver San Francisco Eisenhower dollars dated 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1976 (none were dated 1975).
Have your pick… either silver or proof (though the proof specimens can cost a tad more). Or, if you’d like, assemble a set of both silver and proof Eisenhower dollars. But either way you have it, a run of 40% silver Eisenhower dollars makes an attractive and affordable way to collect the last of the large-size dollar coins!
Completing a silver Eisenhower dollar short set from 1971 to 1976 is an exceptional, low-risk entry into large-size U.S. silver coinage. Struck in 40% fine silver specifically for collectors, these substantial, hefty coins feature Frank Gasparro’s bold portrait of Ike paired with the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing reverse. You can assemble this entire, short multi-mint run of uncirculated and proof issues for an incredibly reasonable $250 to $350.
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