How To Assemble A Birth Year Coin Set
A neat project is to assemble a birth year type coin set.
What is that?
Essentially, it's a collection of coins that were struck during the year of one's birth.
Birth year type sets can range in size and scope. You could pick out of pocket change an example of each coin you find that was struck the year you were born. Let's say you arrived in 1974. In that case, you would pick out one penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, and dollar coin from that year.
Of course, you could elaborate on the birth year collection even further.
For example, you could purchase a mint set, a proof set, and any other coin item from the year of your birth and put this together as a birth year coin set.
Proof sets, mint sets, commemorative coins, and any other pieces you may need for your birth year collection can be found at most coin dealers' stores.
My Birth Year Set
I was born in 1981. In that case, I purchased a 1981 proof set and 1981 mint set.
However, because I wanted a complete representation of the kinds of coins "made" in 1981, I included an example of the 1982 George Washington half dollar. Why is that coin included in my 1981 birth year set? Because Public Law 97-104, which authorized the coin's production, was passed in 1981. Therefore, the George Washington half dollar has certain "roots" to 1981 and I thought that would make it an interesting and appropriate addition to my birth year collection.
Some may argue against that particular approach. At any rate, it suits me. And that's one of the great things about coin collecting -- YOU decide what you want to collect!
Something else I include in my 1981 birth year set is a copy of the 1981 edition of A Guide Book of United States Coins by R.S. Yeoman. A vintage copy of "A Guide Book of United States Coins" from the year of your birth is a neat addition to such a collection, because it gives you a chance to see what coin prices were like way back when.
Many coin dealers stock old copies of "A Guide Book of United States Coins". Old copies of this publication famously called "The Red Book" can also be found on eBay.
Here is a video tour of my 1981 birth year set:
As Lynnette says, birth year coin sets are simply a collection of coins from the year of one's birth.
And don't forget about "special touches" when assembling birth year coin sets. For example, for a person born outside of the United States, why not build a birth year type set of coins made in that person's country of origin....You could touch the recipient's heart if you give a person born in Germany a set of German coins struck during the year of his or her birth.
Topical interests are another way to go. For the bird lover, buy bird coins from the year of the recipient's birth. While the U.S. has the eagle on its coins, don't forget the many nations in the world which display birds on their coins--any coin dealer will be able to help you with that shopping task.
Again, think about expanding on the birth year coin set idea with "custom" touches that may mean something special to the person for whom you are buying the coins!
Bonnie -
Birth year coin sets are unique to each individual. There is not just one (1) "birth year coin set" for each year.
Instead, you choose the exact coins that you (or the recipient) are interested in from that particular year.
Since you are interested in compiling a 2009 birth year coin set, you can see when the U.S. Mint is releasing new coins for that year here.
Or, as mentioned in the article above, you could visit any coin dealer and assemble a 2009 coin set from the 2009 coins they have available.
Hope that helps...
I have a niece just born in 2009 - wanted to get her a US coin set for baptism. Are these sets not out yet?