How do YOU define a great collection?
MidLifeCrisis
Posts: 10,547 ✭✭✭✭✭
What makes a collection great in your opinion? Number of coins? Completeness? Matched set? Rarity? Other?
If you look at someone else’s collection, what factors make you think it’s great?
All of this is subjective, but I'm interested in different opinions.
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If another numismatist looks at your coins and says ... "Wow"!
Does it spark joy?
peacockcoins
Primary : Am I satisfied with the results
Secondary : do my friends drool and say OMG !!!
Third : Do I say the same for someone else's collection !!!
Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set
successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)
I think if you are happy and proud of what you have, that is my usual goal putting portions of mine together.
If you look at someone else’s collection, what factors make you think it’s great?
As they say, ownership adds a point or 2! So my answer is mine!
There is no right answer here, only opinions. Others may disagree with some of these points, but great collections to me:
Price isn’t always the factor to me. Just interesting, good eye appeal, someone who waits for the right coins.
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@lordmarcovan is one who has great coins. An interesting mix of countries and eras. 👍
(Among many of the other members here)
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This sentiment best represents my answer to OP’s question. A great example is the type set that @Flatwoods posted recently. It’s not at all how I’d assemble my own type set, but the outcome is impressive and worthy of respect.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
I think most collectors will answer through the lens of their own collection. I don’t think a common definition is possible nor desirable (assuming that was the objective of this thread).
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
That’s my thought. A great collection is one that gives you pleasure.
When you've assembled the most eye appealing and complete set within your means.
AND you have done it using patience, persistence, knowledge and experience.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Whether it's a great collection or not in your opinion.... Seeing the excitement, passion and commitment in someone else's eyes, tells me it's a great collection!
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
"How do YOU define a great collection?"
By calculating the total weight, divided by the number of coins and multiplied by a conversion factor based on the metallic composition.
What made Eliasberg's collection great? Pittman's? Garrett's? Norweb's? Ford's?
I was at my local coin shop and actually discussing this very topic with them. There response was (please note I am paraphrasing):
“The vast majority of collectors believe they have a great collection, but what most have is an accumulation of low value or common items. Actually the majority of collections we get are composed of constitutional and common date circulated coins. The truly great collections are few and far between, but when those come in you actually have to pull out the guides to get a value. You do double takes on the coins and mint marks as you want to make sure it is what you think it is. Those collections aren’t this is what we offer it’s let’s negotiate”
But the common date low value items are what pays the bills.
I guess based on their definition many of us don’t have a great collection, even if we think we do.
My current registry sets:
20th Century Type Set
Virtual DANSCO 7070
Slabbed IHC set - Missing the Anacs Slabbed coins
That's okay- I don't need anybody to think my collection is great (even me) in order to enjoy it.
I look at it the same way. I picked the coins and currency I have because I liked them and while they may not be a great collection, it is a collection I put together and enjoy. In the end it is what it is. I once posted this before and a collection is like a journey.
My current registry sets:
20th Century Type Set
Virtual DANSCO 7070
Slabbed IHC set - Missing the Anacs Slabbed coins
It seems like the common thread in building a great collection is effort.
For me if it produces positive P&L.
Do you think the question was directed at dealers?
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I think a great collection is when you see a young numistmatist fill up a Whitman album with as many wheat cents that they can and they are so happy with their acomplishment!
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Mr. Schwenk's collection I would characterize as fitting that criteria. My collection at its peak was more an investment hoard easily liquidated than anything though I did have some impressive coins.
Number of coins? Not in terms of sheer numbers. To quote Yoda, "Size matters not". A physically large but haphazard or unsorted bunch of coins might be "great", but it's a "hoard" or "accumulation", not a "collection". For numbers to impress me, I'd want to see a large number of different coins.
Completeness? I'd prefer to consider this as "comprehensiveness", and yes, this goes heavily towards "greatness". If you've got all the known types and varieties, all the dates and mintmarks, or whatever have you, especially if finding examples of some of those coins is difficult and/or expensive, then yes. Completeness counts.
Matched set? Not really, nah. Never really been taken with "sets".
Rarity? Sure, it's an important component, as mentioned above; a collection that includes all of the rarest and hard-to-find examples ought to be considered "great". But a collection consisting of rare and valuable coins alone isn't great just for that reason - a "valuable collection" simply means somebody's got money to throw around and the desire to throw some of it on coins. Individual coins in it might be "great", if they are finest known etc, but a collective of "great coins" does not necessarily create a "great collection".
Other? First and foremost, a "great collection" has to be assembled by a "great collector" - a true numismatist, who has a good numismatic reason for the presence of every single coin in that collection. "Great collections" don't happen by accident, they are carefully designed and curated. Some of the "greatest collections" have spanned multiple generations, where a chain of numismatists has built upon what they inherited. This kind of collection is rare, because coin collecting is not a genetically inheritable disease.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded one DPOTD.
Like anything else, it takes practice: failure, learning, correction, re-calibration, effort (as has been stated), joy, money.
It also should be shared in some way. A great collection should not be kept in isolation.
"Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."
~Wayne
You can buy a great collection from a great collector and have a great collection. Boring. I'm more interested in what makes a collector a great collector. Just too lazy to start my own thread. Carry on.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
I think a good collection truly worthy of the name should reflect the personality and character of its owner.
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
I don't think that's quite enough.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
My thoughts echo a few of the earlier posters. A great collection is something that took time, effort, knowledge and passion to put together. Something where you can sense the vision, the goal and the end result.
Now if person A builds that collection and it’s great, then sells it to person b…is person b collection great? I would say it’s a great collection of coins, but not necessarily say his collection was great…I would think of it as the previous collectors “person a “ collection was great. Along the lines of person b just had the money to buy it. There wasn’t time, effort, passion invested.
Now if person b builds off of that collection and makes it better or different, then that collection too can become great.
In my view, grade, cost, type of coin is not pertinent. If the vision was to collect a full set of Indian cents in vf and every coin is a perfect vf. Then I would say it’s a great collection. That said, if a different person said the wanted to collect the highest grade or rated Indian cents, and did it, that too could be a great collection.
Just my thoughts.
Don't try that in real life even if you do have a money bin filled with gold coins...it will NOT go over well.
D's: 50P,49S,45D+S,43D,41S,40D,39D+S,38D+S,37D+S,36S,35D+S,all 16-34's
Q's: 52S,47S,46S,40S,39S,38S,37D+S,36D+S,35D,34D,32D+S
74T: 241,435,610,654 97 Finest silver: 115,135,139,145,310
73T:31,55,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,80,152,165,189,213,235,237,257,341,344,377,379,390,422,433,453,480,497,545,554,563,580,606,613,630
95 Ultra GM Sets: Golden Prospects,HR Kings,On-Base Leaders,Power Plus,RBI Kings,Rising Stars
Two ways:
I think when you fully share your collection, and other serious specialists in your field (or across the spectrum if your collection has great diversity) honestly give praise and appreciate your collection so much they can remember things about it and examples in it many moons later, it can be considered a great collection.
I collect for my own enjoyment, and while I think I have some great coins and currency, for what they are, I am not sure I have yet to achieve a great overall collection.
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
Much like art, a great collection is in the perception of the owners and others. Some will look at a collection and be impressed, others, not so much. Owners derive enjoyment from their collection - and some will feel it is great. The term is highly subjective, and depends on depth, quality and values (both financial and historical) contained. For some collectors, one special coin is a great collection. Cheers, RickO
Great thread indeed, a lot of good points made in here.
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