The 9 Types of Coin Collectors

Zohar

https://coinsweekly.com/the-nine-types-of-coin-collectors/

asheland

Interesting article. Many of those apply to me.

Namvet69

I confess, I am #3,7 and 9 and proud of it. Peace Roy

harasha

Too poor to be an aesthete, but the description of historian fits me just fine!

Bob13

That was surprisingly funny, though seemed to reflect the perspective of the coin dealers who deal with the different collector types!

pruebas

Since it was from a German perspective, I think they missed two additional types we have in the USA.

10) The Registry Set collector.
11) The precious metal stacker (complete with gun collection).

Who can write up the best descriptions of these two? Any others they missed?

Yorkshireman

I am a historian

bidask

The ratio of serious male to female coin collectors seems large .

WCC

@bidask said:
The ratio of serious male to female coin collectors seems large .

Presumably an exaggeration but directionally accurate. I also expect it to stay that way, contrary to the fervent hopes of the industry. The article didn't comment on it, but they could have made a similar comment for other demographic groups. No reason to believe this is going to change significantly either.

WCC

The article's description of speculator fits the vast majority of South African "collectors" I have encountered on their message board to a "T".

Overwhelmingly, they posted about the TPG population counts, the TPG grade, how much a coin was worth, how much they thought or hoped their "investment" would increase in value...everything except about the coin itself.

I read that....and then I also see a few posters starting threads wondering why the price level crashed and more people from the non-collecting public aren't interested in collecting.

That's a real mystery, isn't it?

Yorkshireman

@bidask said:
The ratio of serious male to female coin collectors seems large .

Really?
I would not dispute that given population at most coin shows.

Stella

I would be a combination of #3 (although minus the big budget) and #9, the historian.

JohnnyCache

50/50 #3 & #9

With respect to #3, I don't need the highest graded, most exquisitely toned, absolute rarity or any other extremes to find and enjoy the beauty of a given coin. As far as #9, while I can certainly appreciate coins with interesting provenance, for me, my own imagination of how a coin may have been used/preserved is sufficient enough to enjoy the historical aspect.

coinkat

Let 's not loose sight of the intended purpose of coins. History and beauty exist even at various stages of a coin's preservation.

Stork

How about "The Dragon" with his/her hoard.

S/he loves the hunt and once a quarry is acquired the hunter's gaze moves on to the next prey. Wants to have glorious examples of whatever type finds its way into her hoard. Loves the art and aesthetics and is frequently drawn to many diverse themes and types. The hoard must grow and it is painful to ever sell or otherwise 'shrink' the hoard. Precious metal is, well, precious and even the the stackable coins are treasured. History is fascinating and there is always more to learn. Learning and researching is a reward as well. And perhaps, just perhaps, one might play the registry game a bit (under an assumed name) in order to share and perhaps show off a tad.

And never underestimate a dragon's ability to branch out to related items (like, oh say, an old counterfeit detector, or various peripheral exonumia and collectibles).

EVillageProwler

@Stork, ahem, Smaug — remember that Æthelred II penny?

SYRACUSIAN

It is amusing to see that most of the members that replied see themselves between 3 (the aesthete) and 9 (the historian). I’ve personally met loads of 1 and 2 , as well as 4,5,(a lot of rubbish chutes!) 6,7, and several 8s too. I refuse to be defined as a collector, by a quizz posted by Zohar.

I liked Stork’s reply. Cathy you bought an Aethelred II penny?

bidask

@Stork said:
How about "The Dragon" with his/her hoard.

S/he loves the hunt and once a quarry is acquired the hunter's gaze moves on to the next prey. Wants to have glorious examples of whatever type finds its way into her hoard. Loves the art and aesthetics and is frequently drawn to many diverse themes and types. The hoard must grow and it is painful to ever sell or otherwise 'shrink' the hoard. Precious metal is, well, precious and even the the stackable coins are treasured. History is fascinating and there is always more to learn. Learning and researching is a reward as well. And perhaps, just perhaps, one might play the registry game a bit (under an assumed name) in order to share and perhaps show off a tad.

And never underestimate a dragon's ability to branch out to related items (like, oh say, an old counterfeit detector, or various peripheral exonumia and collectibles).

You could be a author of novels !

Insider2

In his 1990 book, Classical Numismatics and common Sense, David Van Meter identified five types of buyers of ancient coins:

1."Elegant" Collector: Nothing but the finest, famous, rarest, or a fundamental type
2. Numismatist
3. Specialist
4. Investor
5. Dealer

WildIdea

I enjoyed reading them all and can relate to several or know others that apply. I did notice an overall negativity or condescending slant to the writing that had me kinda wondering if the piece was pro or con to collecting.

GarrettO

Good read. Have to say I fall under the perfectionist category. Lol.

TwoKopeiki

I think I'm the type where the hunter and the researcher are closely linked. I enjoy the hunt for completeness, but also fascinated by major / minor varieties and die attribution in my area of collecting. Over time i also notice the perfectionist coming out more and more.

EVillageProwler

I think I am a combo of 1 (classic), 3 (aesthete) and 9 (historian) with a little bit of 7 (researcher). I'd be lying if I said I don't care about money, so I guess I am also a bit of 2 (speculator).

syl

I'm a 7 & 9, but also like to help other people with research and assist. newbies.

bidask

If I had to pick two it would be 3 and 4