Your predominant reason for being in this hobby/field?

TurtleCat

I was thinking about this lately… what is it that interests me in this field. Is it history, study of the coins, ownership, what? I thought it would make a good poll question and a provocative topic. I’m sure many of us are involved in coins for a variety of reasons with different motivations for what keeps us engaged year after year but there is usually one predominant motivation, though.

I am making this one anonymous in case someone wants to participate but doesn’t want to share.

pcgscacgold

I enjoy the hobby and like collecting history. There is something about holding a gold coin from 150 years ago. I buy coins I like and do not consider the resale price. It lets me overpay for quality.

Oldhoopster

I started collecting as a kid and still enjoy filling a hole in an album, but over the years, I became very interested in history. Not sure if that interest was always there or if it came from coin collecting

I love nothing more than to see an interesting coin I know little to nothing about and then reading about the history of the time period. Currently doing a lot of reading on post WWI Germany (supports my interest in german notgeld) and medieval Europe (too many interesting coins).

DisneyFan

I enjoy the challenge of putting together a collection within my means.

ms71

Collecting, whatever the field, is an affliction. Many collectors seem to take up two or three or more specialties over a lifetime. We addicts often can't articulate the "driving force" behind it. It just is.

TurtleCat

@ms71 said:
Collecting, whatever the field, is an affliction. Many collectors seem to take up two or three or more specialties over a lifetime. We addicts often can't articulate the "driving force" behind it. It just is.

Lol, I’d say we collectors pick up a few more vices over a lifetime. For me it would be deep sky astrophotography.

WAYNEAS

I can't express how much pleasure that I get putting together the best quality set that I can afford.
Wayne

asheland

Many reasons:
pride of ownership-
Investment-
Study, research-
The friends you make-
The thrill of the hunt-
Many other reasons…

In addition to the history, the beauty of the coins, the artistry. Many things.

ricko

Certainly the joy of ownership is important... but history, design and quality all contribute. When those elements are present, one enjoys owning such specimens. Coin collecting is a many faceted hobby. Cheers, RickO

ndeagles

I chose joy of ownership which is true, but I could have also chosen the first option. I love the history I have learned from this hobby. I regularly share history tidbits with people that I have learned either directly (just joshing you) or indirectly related to collecting. Also the reason I prefer circulated coins, coins that have been used and passed through many hands. Sometimes I wonder if my colonial coins ever past through the hands of our founding fathers.

lkenefic

I said "Joy of Ownership" but there's so much more to this hobby... it brings me joy to study the coinage that has historical roots in this country.

johnny9434

i like collecting cause i like it. stamps didnt do it for me

JBK

I started collecting coins when I was young so I could meet girls.

Little did I know it would be a chick repellent.

rec78

When I was a kid, it was the only way I could save money. Every other free penny and nickel I had went into pinball machines. If I put a coin into my coin folder, it was saved. After about 3 years I had $16 in face value in my coin collection, a lot of money to a kid in 1962. And if I really needed money, coins always have face value and I could always spend them if absolutely necessary.
Since I knew that I wouldn't spend my collection coins, I started buying the keys and kept filling albums to this day. The only money in my retirement account is in my coin collection. I am incapable of saving money by putting it into a savings account.

ctf_error_coins

Freedom.

Being in business for yourself allows you to do whatever you want almost every day

Plus, playing with coins is fun.

hfjacinto

I'm like to study history, coins and currency are a way to explore the history of a country.

From colonial times.

To the first government

To some of our first coins.

To witnesses to the civil war.

To coins hoping for Peace

To the sacrifices made for WWII

Coins and currency we collect are a way to experience the past.

Eldorado9

So many cool aspects to coin collecting, but for me it is the link back to the 10 year old coin collector (me), who was intrigued by all the US coins in the Redbook, but only had the means for a handful of worn Mercury dimes, and Buffalos....And so, now, I get to do it big time, and I show that 10 year old all the great coins he wanted back then, but could only dream of.

DennisH

I started with joy of ownership, but it soon evolved into friendships and collaboration.

Dave99B

Collaboration for me. I get great joy out of sharing my interests with other collectors. I'd like to make a dollar of two when I eventually sell, but that's way down the list in terms of why I collect.

Dave

telephoto1

I've been collecting since age 7 (1970), working in the business since 1983, VP of a B/M since 1988 so it's a combo of collection and income for me.

1630Boston

Joy
Goes back to childhood, perusing the RedBook, dreaming of someday owning something like this
.
.

Joe_360

Other: My parents owned a neighborhood grocery store in Chicago (60's/70's) and my Dad would put the silver coins collected from customers in cigar-boxes (big payoff in 80!) , and he got us coin-albums for collecting wheat cents, and quarters.

I have two brothers and they also collect coins.

Also I like the fact that you can still find interesting coins still in circulation (thank you Coin-Star!), makes this hobby fun..

Oh yea, I'm a geek

divecchia

I voted "Joy of ownership (not investment)", but my main reason for collecting is a distraction from day to day life. When I pull out my coins and study them, I forget about everything else.

Enjoy the Hobby!!!

Donato

TurtleCat

Some great posts here for sure. For me the joy of ownership is the top but close behind is an appreciation for the history and art. I enjoy learning about how history shaped coinage and sometimes how coinage shaped civilizations. However, I tend to stay on the surface for those discussions. Not what I would call “research” but maybe a survey course

Walkerfan

I don’t fit into one category but many. I am a collector and investor who enjoys history, art and beauty. I am also attracted to the scarcity (condition and absolute rarity) and monetary (potential investment) value. I like order and completeness, too, which is why I'm a set builder. I enjoy showcasing and discussing with like-minded friends/collectors.

TurtleCat

I’m finding it interesting that so many are in the hobby predominantly for the joy of ownership. I thought I was the oddball somewhat for feeling that way. Nice to know I’m not

logger7

My family has been in publishing and classical education, numismatics is part of that.

TorinoCobra71

Joy of Ownership.....I was a big time paticipator here in the 2000s....ask some of the longer time users....I sold off most of my collection and go out of the hobby for 10+ yrs....what a mistake.....Now I am in it for the passion of collecting.....minimal flippage for me!

TC71

Kurisu

Two main influences come to mind for me...
I've always been fascinated by miniatures.
My Mom, Dad, and Grandma (on Mom's side) all loved coins but didn't really collect.
My Mom wore a gold coin from the 1500s my Dad got her before I was born...she wore it literally almost every day for my entire life. When my Mom passed I discovered random coins she saved from the countries we lived in when I was younger and some other coin jewelry that I had never seen before.
Mom was an English teacher and Dad was a PHD research chemist...sorta got the curiousness of things in general built into me and I genuinely just love these little metal objects

silverpop

well my overseas trip in 1996 to Asia and the fact that my mom had some coins from her younger days gave me the idea of looking into the coin hobby

but never had a main reason for being in this hobby

PerryHall

I picked joy of ownership. Mostly for the history they represent. Coins from the early years of the country and coins from the Civil War era are particularly appealing to me.

Mike59

The joy of ownership, check
The History, Check
The investment, Check
When I was a kid my brother spent a fortune on tropical Fish, then Saltwater fish. They are all “long gone”. I collected inexpensive Lincoln pennies, Washington quarters and currency. I still have everything I bought 50 years later. Plus I still love it today
Mike

BillJones

I enjoy the study, and the ownership comes in second.

The profits are a by-product.

jkrk

I just wanted to have a gold position. Started with bullion / bullion coins. Then in 2014 thought it would be cool to buy DE's
about $100-$150 above spot (downside was limited to gold price). Later E-Bay introduced E-Bucks and I maxed out the offers buying De's at spot and below. Premium's rose after pandemic and I sold off many De's purchased years ago (reduced my DE holdings by about 20%). What did I do with the profits? Rolled it into somewhat rarer De's with larger premiums so I'm not sure I'll wind up ahead?

erscolo

I would agree with the joy of ownership, and I also enjoy the hobby for the beauty of the coins, their artistry, composition and the message they give whether specific to a commemorated purpose or simply a coin series. The simplicity of a beautiful orange copper cent or the finish of a silver coin, each and every one has a story.

EXOJUNKIE

Other: It is therapeutic for me.

BryceM

Other:

Because it's fun, for many reasons. The poll options are far too narrow. For me, it's some blend of obsession, ownership, history, interaction with others, socializing, photography, shows, and sure, "investing".

crazyhounddog

I collect coins for the simple reason that I find them as historical art. I love some of the early designs on coinage. I find the Buffalo Nickel extremely beautiful in every way. Not to mention, but I will, they scream American. Many other U.S. coins I find very attractive. Such as the SLQ’s, Indian half and quarter eagles. Then of course the Saint $10 Indians. I could go on and on .
Coins also take me back to the late 50’s collecting with my dad. I think of him every time I look or think about coins. I’m old as dirt now so maybe you can imagine how my mind can wander.
Great topic. It made me wander😜

Cougar1978

Freedom do my own thing, enjoy nice coins and currency.

pursuitofliberty

I picked Joy of Ownership, because that maybe fits the most ... but certainly Study and Collaboration as you define them come in a close second, as sometimes they are what makes the hobby even more worthwhile.

Estil

To fill in as many holes as I can in my albums of course! I've especially caught the silver fever so I'm hoping to get all the FDR/GW/BF silvers I can get to fill in my albums while silver is still cheap...

And of course I'd like to get all the mint/proof sets I can too; thanks again to @Coinscratch to getting me started with the 1999-2008 mint sets (I hope to get 1984-98 next)!

Namvet69

Chick magnet.

CoffeeTime

I’m helping my kiddo with the hobby and diving in myself along the way

Desert Moon

All of the above............

fathom

My Grandfather gave me a silver dollar.

OKbustchaser

Other...

I like big busts (and I cannot lie.)

tommy44

I chose Other but this poll really needed a "All of the Above" choice. My initial reason for collecting was joy of ownership but that has changed over the last 60 plus years to include all of the above. From filling holes in blue Whitman folders with paper route proceeds, learning the history of this wonderful country and the world, selling coins I purchased 10 to 50 years ago at huge profits, and the many people I've met along they way it has been a great hobby for me.

jesbroken

I chose other because I enjoy it for the love of the hobby/coins theirselves and especially the fellowship and comraderie forums, shows and the internet itself gives to those of us unable to travel the country. Coin value is just a benefit when it occurs in a positive way and when negative it becomes tuition we all must pay.
Jim

TurtleCat

@tommy44 said:
I chose Other but this poll really needed a "All of the Above" choice. My initial reason for collecting was joy of ownership but that has changed over the last 60 plus years to include all of the above. From filling holes in blue Whitman folders with paper route proceeds, learning the history of this wonderful country and the world, selling coins I purchased 10 to 50 years ago at huge profits, and the many people I've met along they way it has been a great hobby for me.

I wanted to avoid the all of the above because nearly 100% of the responses would be that. Over the years listening to different people in different hobbies it seems that there is usually one significant reason someone pursues an interest above other reasons, even if there are multiple reasons someone is interested.

joeykoins

Yes, I voted "other",
Because like the ones mentioned above.
I'm here for many reasons.
#1 the fact about the history of the mint itself. Along with the many historical contributors involved, blows my mind!
Then, of course the financial aspects come into play. Plus, we can't forget the Beauty in all these little trinkets we take for granted, rolling through our hands everyday.
I'm not just talking about U.S. coins either.
All over the World coins are amazing as well.
One of the first coins that were ever in my collection.

The 1847 Large Cent

What beauty!

Estil

@OKbustchaser said:
Other...

I like big busts (and I cannot lie.)

I like big books (reference/coffee table ones; especially World Book/Britannica/etc yearbooks) and I cannot lie!