“Type” Coins Rate High With Collectors

The term “Type Coin” is used to distinguish any individual design in any series of coins. As an example, a single Buffalo nickel of any date or mint can be considered a Type coin. It represents what that basic design looks like on all other coins in that series. Many collectors attempt to assemble sets of type coins to show the designs used on all United States coins.

Any variation of a basic type is called a ‘variety’ or ‘variation.’ In the case of the Buffalo nickel, the first design used early in 1913 was slightly different than that used later in the year (the words FIVE CENTS were on a raised mound), so there are two Varieties of the Buffalo nickel Type coin. Avid collectors usually save examples of all types and major varieties of each U.S. series of designs. In the nickels, for instance, they would have the Shield, Liberty Head, Buffalo and Jefferson designs, as well as the variations for each of them.

Collecting Type coins is growing in popularity because it is an inexpensive way to own examples of all the different designs of U.S. coins. And the demand is having an effect on the availability of those coins. Older coins like the Indian cent, Buffalo nickel or Mercury dime, can no longer be found in circulation, although all of them can still be purchased at reasonable prices.

A beginning Type set can be formed by saving one each of all the different coin designs found in change. A Lincoln cent, Jefferson nickel, Roosevelt dime, Washington quarter and Kennedy half dollar will be easy to find. If you are lucky you may be able to get a Susan B. Anthony dollar, or even an old Eisenhower dollar coin at the bank. With persistence you may also locate an old Wheat Back Lincoln cent or the Bicentennial quarter and dollar that were made in 1976. Keep your eyes open for other designs and join in the fun of building a Type set of U.S. coins.