The Potter Stewart Collection Method

Gazes

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously defined obscene material in a supreme court decision as "I know when I see it."

This could be a good method to build a collection. Similar to a box of 20 but not limited to 20 coins on the plus or minus sign. Simply collecting coins you know you want when you see it and passing on any you have any doubt. I suppose the other idea behind this type of collection is not hunting for a particular coin but just reviewing coins in auction and dealer inventories. Waiting for one to call out to you. I know many already do this but thought I would give it a name. I am getting closer to this style. I generally am only interested in older gold and proof gold. I have realized after collecting this many years, the coins I want I almost know immediatly when I see them.

TomB

That's how I have been collecting for years. I think of it as if the coin sings to me then it's meant for me, otherwise I can pass and wait for another.

ms71

Pretty much my method for 20+ years. Earlier on, I tended to be somewhat a hole-filler. At some point I must have had an epiphany and asked myself "why am I buying coins I really don't want, just to fill spaces (not in albums, but in type sets, mintmark sets, etc. etc.). What a pleasure to be free of the "I'm looking for a (fill in the blank) approach. There is no striving for "completion" driving me. I keep the collection very small and really enjoy every coin in it (about 30, all PCGS CAC). I scan every dealer's cases at a bourse and look for something that calls out to me. I seldom find anything at a show, my occasional additions come mostly from from the well-known online dealers. Usually when I add a new one, I decide which one in the collection is the least appealing & can be parted with. An added benefit is that since least-appealing coin is still very nice, it reduces the urge to find something new; the next prospective new addition has to be a solid upgrade satisfaction-wise over the one which will be parted with. Over many years, the result is very satisfying. The only part of collecting I don't like is having to keep everything in the safe deposit box & having only the photos to enjoy.

moursund

@TomB said:
That's how I have been collecting for years. I think of it as if the coin sings to me then it's meant for me, otherwise I can pass and wait for another.

I want to be like you guys when i grow up... so far, few coins sing to me, but too many are kinda cool...

Jzyskowski1

@moursund said:

@TomB said:
That's how I have been collecting for years. I think of it as if the coin sings to me then it's meant for me, otherwise I can pass and wait for another.

I want to be like you guys when i grow up... so far, few coins sing to me, but too many are kinda cool...

My I suggest listening a little more. Maybe your not listening for the right thing. Just a thought 😉

ms71

@moursund said:

@TomB said:
That's how I have been collecting for years. I think of it as if the coin sings to me then it's meant for me, otherwise I can pass and wait for another.

I want to be like you guys when i grow up... so far, few coins sing to me, but too many are kinda cool...

For me, one of the main pleasures of a disciplined approach is never again coming to the point where:
1. You have a fairly massive "collection" (accumulation?) of "stuff".
2. You come across stuff you don't remember you had.
3. You more and more find yourself asking yourself "what possible reason did I have for buying that"?
4. You realize that a fair amount of your stuff isn't at all special to you.

Initially it can be tough to be going substantial periods without new acquisitions. But I eventually came to the realization that constant acquisition of new stuff really didn't end in satisfaction, none of the stuff really matters over the long haul. I can walk out of a show now having bought nothing & knowing for certain that there wasn't a single coin on the bourse that really spoke to me & promised long-term enjoyment of ownership.

moursund

@ms71 said:

@moursund said:

@TomB said:
That's how I have been collecting for years. I think of it as if the coin sings to me then it's meant for me, otherwise I can pass and wait for another.

I want to be like you guys when i grow up... so far, few coins sing to me, but too many are kinda cool...

For me, one of the main pleasures of a disciplined approach is never again coming to the point where:
1. You have a fairly massive "collection" (accumulation?) of "stuff".
2. You come across stuff you don't remember you had.
3. You more and more find yourself asking yourself "what possible reason did I have for buying that?
4. You realize that a fair amount of your stuff isn't at all special to you.

Initially it can be tough to be going substantial periods without new acquisitions. But I eventually came to the realization that constant acquisition of new stuff really didn't end in satisfaction, none of the stuff really matters over the long haul. I can walk out of a show now having bought nothing & knowing for certain that there wasn't a single coin on the bourse that really spoke to me & promised long-term enjoyment of ownership.

I have a fairly moderate accumulation of stuff, and I think I'll do a giveaway or swap for the things that no longer interest me. And try to be more disciplined...

ms71

It's not an instant process, of course. Takes time, there's more tuition to be paid.

jmlanzaf

Today I bid on a medieval Sicilian coin, an ancient Greek coin, a Mexican revolution coin and an Indonesian coin.

It's very liberating to not have to fill holes. It's also cheaper. No key dates needed.

shortnock

Ah! The tuition that must be paid! Thanks, ms71.

streeter

Guys, guys.... Let's not be so hasty.
Shhhhh
.
.
I've still got a lot of XF Indians to get rid of.

Zoins

@Gazes said:
Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously defined obscene material in a supreme court decision as "I know when I see it."

This could be a good method to build a collection. Similar to a box of 20 but not limited to 20 coins on the plus or minus sign. Simply collecting coins you know you want when you see it and passing on any you have any doubt. I suppose the other idea behind this type of collection is not hunting for a particular coin but just reviewing coins in auction and dealer inventories. Waiting for one to call out to you.

I actually do both. I generally review coins in auction an dealer inventories to find one that I really like, but was previously unaware of, a common thing in exonumia. Then I tend to build out a mini-set of related pieces. I would argue the first, but not the latter part of the approach, fits into this collecting method.

I know many already do this but thought I would give it a name. I am getting closer to this style. I generally am only interested in older gold and proof gold. I have realized after collecting this many years, the coins I want I almost know immediatly when I see them.

I think seeing coins that you immediately like is normal for many collectors. The not hunting for them is the novel approach to me here. How many collectors have that self-control?

I like thinking of this as the Gazes Collection Method more than the Potter Stewart Collection Method. Potter was talking about something completely different and it's not clear that he liked or wanted to collect what was being recognized. I think calling it the "Gazes Collection Method" could work well because one is "gazing" at coins

ricko

I have been collecting in the 'sing to me' mode for many years now. Years ago, I did some series (CC Morgans, Walkers, Franklins), then meandered for a while. I picked up some nice commemoratives... and realized that I had fun just perusing coins and finding a 'special to me' coin. That has is my method now, and I really enjoy it that way. Cheers, RickO