Best Of

No matter how big or small a collector you are, always check your pocket change and appreciate the history and beauty of individual coins. Yesterday I found an RB 1965 cent - it was sort of ugly but 60 years old and uncirculated.
Earlier this year I was sorting my change jar and found a luster bomb quarter that I assumed was a 2024, but was actually a 1999-D Delaware quarter. Not worth grading (it had some hits) but it lit up a room and looks great in a 2x2. Even it is over 25 years old. Appreciate and enjoy the small stuff.

Interesting item, and fairly well made in terms of replicating the Draped Bust Dollar design.
I suspect that it is the front half of a "shell card". The other half would have had a commercial advertisement on it.

I also picked up two more coins for the set. They both clear the bar nicely to fill collection slots, but they're not as special as other recent purchases. This 1847-O VF25 supplants lower grade examples in my collection.

This 1871 in VF35 replaces my well struck but ugly, scratched up XF45 off eBay that PCGS surprisingly straight graded.

An ugly TrueView of an ugly coin. PCGS XF45

@Cladiator said:

@Barberian said:
I just won this 1877-S WB-40 "Weird F" in PCGS MS61...

61, really? How do you feel about that grade?

I'm OK with it; the above photo was a Stacks Bowers glamour shot. Here's the TrueView. Remember when TrueViews were glamour shots? Now they bring out the flaws in your coins.

Make more 6 7s.

My advice would be to not to make this hobby a solitary pursuit. It’s really fun to meet others to share collecting interests and step out of one’s box.

Seek out opportunities to socialize at clubs, shows, and social media platforms. This helps build your knowledge, gives access to purchase or trade opportunities, and provides perspectives one might not have considered.

Specialize. Building a seated quarter set, and not collecting anything else, was one of the most rewarding experiences. You can learn a lot.

Researching details about the coins in one’s own collection or wishlist. Design, varieties, composition, surface condition.
Trying different types of collecting like raw coins, different TPG brands, in albums, or even numismatic literature.
A dissecting binocular style microscope and give a whole new appreciation to viewing coins close up to see design elements, varieties, surface conditions.
Trying different series of coins to widen appreciation of the hobby.

When I find myself losing that fun feeling with coins it usually means my focus has shifted elsewhere, or on rare occasion it can mean depression. If collecting stops providing enjoyment, take a break, that can make the eventual return even more pleasant.

Come up with some crazy rules about a set you want to build and see where it takes you.