Why do you collect coins?

jt88

I always wonder for what personal reasons people collect coins? Starting a collection is a basic task for those who collect coins for fun only. All that is required to become a collector is to buy coins that one likes and can afford. For me, I want to buy the coins I like but also I want the coins that I buy to be able to increase in value. That is not always easy, in fact it is pretty hard. It requires lots of research, study, and thoughts. I recently saw a coin that I like and made an offer to the seller. The seller countered with an offer with a smaller discount. I decided to pass on it because I know that once I buy it, my value will decrease. It is like buying a new car. Once it drives off of the lot, the showroom value decreases.

ms70

I'm starting to wonder myself.

Jzyskowski1

Frogs are too slippery 😳

vulcanize

Collecting girlfriends was the only other option and then better sense prevailed, I think.

drei3ree

I collect them purely for pleasure!

jt88

@drei3ree said:
I collect them purely for pleasure!

That's great.

mirabela

I got turned on to the hobby when I was 8 years old and my dad inherited a remnant of his granddad's coin collection. It reconnects me with some of the wonder and awe I felt looking at that stuff when I was a kid, and in the time since then my numismatic knowledge has functioned as a kind of an underlying matrix that has helped me organize other things I learn about history, economics, politics, geography, etc. I live in a place with a pretty tough climate and it's a good indoor hobby for foul weather. It connects me with interesting people of various ages and locales and walks of life. Also, my collection is a way to diversify a little slice of my assets.

DNADave

Honestly. Self diagnosed hoarder here. I try to keep it productive but tend to collect numerous types of things.

charlesf20

Boredom.

TurtleCat

Because they’re cool!

Batman23

@DNADave said:
Honestly. Self diagnosed hoarder here. I try to keep it productive but tend to collect numerous types of things.

Yep, I can't help myself.

coinnut

They are a part of history

Steven59

Because I always wanted to be a magician - now I can take a bunch of Hundred dollar bills and turn them into a Lincoln cent............

oldabeintx

Some of us have the collector gene. I've collected all sorts of things. I love learning, history, beauty, the hunt, organization, the sense of accomplishment, the people I've met, pride of ownership.

jt88

I wish I could just collect for the fun only but I can't. I am just too hungry. I need to get some profit back for the money I put in in my collection.

WillieBoyd2

Because they are there!

Che_Grapes

My love of silver is most what drives my passion for coins... and I only collect silver coins. I have both bullion and numismatic silver coins, but a nice silver coin with loads of luster is just hard to beat!

coinandcurrency242

I like the designs of some of the coins. I am kind of a history nerd and coins fit the bill. I do have other stuff like handwritten words by thomas jefferson and monroe! I also have a piece of the titantic and berlin wall, but I love coins

bagofnickels

My grandparents started me down the coin collecting path. I dropped it for a while then when they passed I helped my father split up their collection amongst himself and his siblings. That was about 4 years ago and motivated me to start collecting again.

As for why I collect what I collect i really can't get enough of a highly lustrous mint state coin. That and the thrill of seeking out a new coin for a set seem to drive me to keep collecting.

CoinHoarder

I don't know. I pretty much have acquired all the collector coins that I have wanted, and could afford. Currently, I am more into stacking numismatic related bullion such as hand picked 90% "junk" silver, "cull" silver dollars and Silver Eagles. But I still cannot resist snagging certified silver or gold coins when the price is right. After about 58 years of collecting, I am hopelessly addicted to the hobby.

johnny9434

Cause I like it and it keeps me out of trouble for a few

sumdunce

Thrill of the hunt, and I enjoy learning about our coinage.

markelman1125

The history and the value. I love to have something rare in my hands which also has a past that spans many years.

TonerGuy

My grandfather got me involved when I was a kid... but before I started to really collect coins I also tried collecting fossils... pretty cool collection to show off, but it was then (I don't know about now) impossible to quantify. Did I over pay for the mastodon tooth? What should I sell my Megalodon tooth for?

Coins seemed like a better idea. Part investment, part fun hobby which as long as I knew a price list and grading I couldnt really get taken for a ride.

ricko

I have been fascinated with coins since I was a kid. I collected coins most of my life... I have some valuable coins, some not so valuable... and some I just like. I do not sell coins, and I am not in the hobby for profit. People spend money on drinks, movies and other endeavors that provide no return but the momentary pleasures. I can look at coins I acquired many decades ago and still enjoy them. I also stack some bullion, for hedge purposes. It is a hobby, I enjoy it, and will continue. Cheers, RickO

BillJones

I have a huge interest in history and love a coin, token or medal with a good story surrounding it. For that reason, a fairly common item, which has a neat place in history, can excite me as much, or more, than an expensive key date that has nothing more than rarity and popularity going for it.

1946Hamm

My Mom collected antiques back in the 40's thru the 70's. I grew up going to auction sales and developed a desire to collect also. Coins are one of my interests. I sat down one day and decided to make a list of what I collect. Here is that list. I've been called a hoarder, collector and several other things. I enjoy all of it. It's just something I do.

PerryHall

@1946Hamm

lkenefic

@vulcanize said:
Collecting girlfriends was the only other option and then better sense prevailed, I think.

lol!! Talk about an expensive hobby!

I've collected coins off and on since I was about 8 years old. I was fascinated by their link to history and I could hold a piece of it in my hand. My approach is a little different in that I don't have any illusions of making money off the coins I purchase. Since this is a hobby for me, I roll in into my monthly entertainment fund and unlike a crappy movie or a bad meal out... I'll likely recoup some of that money down the road. I've made money on some coins and lost out on others... I think it's a "push" at this point... and I've had a heck of a lot of fun in the meantime and met some interesting people along the way...

jedm

Because collecting ex- wives was too expensive.

Zoins

@jt88 said:
I wish I could just collect for the fun only but I can't. I am just too hungry. I need to get some profit back for the money I put in in my collection.

Learn from Chris @ErrorsOnCoins. Your collection and your inventory can be the same thing. This way, it becomes much easier to focus on coins for your collection that generate a positive financial return. He relays the story when he started dealing and the advice he got was to sell everything. He says this approach has allowed him to collect some great coins, and I would have a to agree that he has some great coins!

Jimnight

Because!

mark_dak

@1946Hamm said:
My Mom collected antiques back in the 40's thru the 70's. I grew up going to auction sales and developed a desire to collect also. Coins are one of my interests. I sat down one day and decided to make a list of what I collect. Here is that list. I've been called a hoarder, collector and several other things. I enjoy all of it. It's just something I do.

Can't believe American Pickers never showed up on your doorstep...

Mark

Smudge

Connection with history. I see an old coin and think what life was like when it was made. Where it has been and what it has seen. Then there’s the relationships within the hobby. The challenges of finding the best coin you can afford. It’s fun and when done right legal. Coins hold value as well or better than a lot of things people collect, besides I get to interact with you fine people.

mavs2583

I love to look at well preserved coins and hold them in my hand, and love the feeling of holding a piece of history in my hands.

LeeBone

Why not?

Namvet69

Wow, I don't remember the kid but he invited me to crh 2 rolls of cents with a buck I had on me. We stood outside a Manhattan bank in Brooklyn probably 1955-56. Peace Roy

mr1931S

History in my hands.

yspsales

It's more of a treasure hunt for me.

I find something interesting, attractive, or has value.

Then flip it and repeat.