The social aspect of collecting

lordmarcovan

What kind of collector are you?

lordmarcovan

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

Where are you on this simple three-point scale? I'm a Category 3 ever since the Internet came along, though I used to be a Category 2. I think a lot of us here are likely 2's or 3's since we're on an Internet forum, after all.

jacrispies

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I am a social butterfly so I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut on things I am excited about.

Either option 2 or 3 for me, because I have a hard time visualizing a collecting world without social interaction, but I think I could make it work.

gumby1234

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

Toss up. I'm somewhere in between 2 and 3. I like showing my coins to others and seeing theirs.

bigmarty58

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

Talking to other collectors is great. You learn from each other especially when someone who is more advanced in the practice provides their expertise. I don't tend to post a lot but really do appreciate this forum and the wonderful people on it.

pursuitofliberty

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

I'm pretty private about some things outside of our hobby, but I appreciate the comradery and knowledge shared with other collectors and dealers.

OAKSTAR

Category 1: My collection is totally private and I don't talk about it with anyone

Very few people outside you guys know I collect, why?... Because they would look at me like I have three heads!! YOU COLLECT COINS???? WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?? 😂 🤣

You guys are my interaction.

Elmhurst

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I’m at 2. I think the point is to discuss with people you trust, don’t want to advertise what you have to the general public.

messydesk

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

A big part of any hobby is sharing experiences with others involved in it. I'm an introvert, but not a hermit, and would probably lose interest if I never had contact with anyone.

2ndCharter

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

3 all the way for me. For instance, I set up a one-case "mini-exhibit" at our Club table at the ANA this past week and had an absolute ball talking with other Club members or anyone else that stopped by. By the time I got home, I had a sore throat from all the talking I did telling "war stories" to anyone who would listen.

lordmarcovan

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

I had this question in mind not so much about how private you are in your collecting (security and all that stuff), but rather whether you would collect at all in a vacuum, all alone, without input from anyone else.

silverpop

N/A

OAKSTAR

Category 1: My collection is totally private and I don't talk about it with anyone

@lordmarcovan said:
I had this question in mind not so much about how private you are in your collecting (security and all that stuff), but rather whether you would collect at all in a vacuum, all alone, without input from anyone else.

Anyone reading this is not in a vacuum. But I do understand your point here. If ones collection is totally private and don't talk about it, they wouldn't be here.

Aspie_Rocco

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

As a person with impaired social skills (Level 1 Autism/Aspergers) I do not socialize much at all in real life.
Numismatics gives me a chance to have a voice that is mostly unused in other areas of life. I post here occasionally, interact with buyers and sellers on eBay, I only speak on the phone with one person semi frequently (about buy sell trades and consignments), and on rare occasions I trade with other registry competitors in person.
I do not use any social media and do not attend coin shows (only two ever https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1013539/1st-long-beach-a-beginner-s-show-report#latest )

asheland

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

I consider myself a serious collector, and I work in a coin shop. When collectors come into the shop that are friendly, there is no end to my patience with them asking questions and trying to help them and give them good advice.

I also enjoy showing my coins and looking at my friend’s coins…

asheland

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

This forum is my all-time favorite place to discuss coins online.

I also enjoy making short videos on YouTube showing coins.

CoinHoarder

Category 1: My collection is totally private and I don't talk about it with anyone

.

OAKSTAR

Category 1: My collection is totally private and I don't talk about it with anyone

@CoinHoarder said:
My family is the only ones that know that I collect coins.

Between you and me, I know also! 😂 🤣

pcgscacgold

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

Without public sites like this and a few others it would not be fun to collect in a vacuum. I enjoy talking with people here about coins.

logger7

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

I used to collect the higher end coins as a collector/investor, but more just enjoying the hobby and process.

pmh1nic

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

My think was number 1 can't be someone on the forum. If you're here and answered the question your collecting isn't totally private.

Mr_Spud

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I enjoyed collecting more when I lived in Charlotte and my wife and I were members of the Charlotte Coin Club, but then (like now), I also liked to interact with other collectors here on the forums. Without that kind of interaction, I could still enjoy collecting coins but I wouldn’t learn as much and would probably get in a rut collecting just a couple different kinds of coins. By interacting with others I end up learning about all kinds of coin stuff I’d never even know existed. I also like sharing pictures of my coins and wouldn’t enjoy them as much if I couldn’t show them to anyone

RYK

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

I am a Category 2.5. My collecting interest, since I was five years old, at times has been a private, solo endeavor and at other times a shared experience. The latter is more fun, IMO, and keeps engaged in coin collecting longer and in greater depth than when it is a lone pursuit.

Sapyx

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

Easy Class 3 collector for me. I'm a member of four coin clubs, and try to visit other clubs whenever I travel interstate or overseas. I also volunteer at the coin club table at coin shows.

This is aside from the various internet forums I participate in.

There are certainly aspects of numismatics, most notable the fringe or exonumia (tokens, medals, etc) that I probably would never have taken an interest in if not for coin club interactions.

Walkerfan

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I get all the social coin interaction that I need right here. I love posting coin messages and coin pictures. Good place to learn and share knowledge, too.

alefzero

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

While I am definitely competitive in collecting, the hobby would be nothing to me without the social aspect. This is why I have not collected beer cans in a LONG time. The hobby has to transcend just accumulating coins and there should be side missions with collective involvement. The sad part of its evolution over the past decade or so has been the migration to efficient online trading. Used to meet up with dozens of familiar co-conspirators at any reasonably large show. The show-and-tell sessions (usually at poorly lit restaurants after the bourse closed) were almost objectives for each day. Sharing discoveries of landmark coins that later ended up in articles. Things like that.

divecchia

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I do just enough social interacting to make collecting interesting, but I could collect alone if I had to and not have a problem doing so.

Donato

HillbillyCollector

Category 1: My collection is totally private and I don't talk about it with anyone

Category 1: My collection is totally private and I don't talk about it with anyone
>
Other than you guys, VERY few people know anything about my collection. This is primarily for two reasons:
>
1) They don’t collect and would have no idea what they were looking at. If I showed them a Double Eagle, they would of course know that it was gold but that’s it!
>
2) If I showed people, I would be in constant fear of who they might be telling and of course if they told the “right” person, these people might decide they want to start collecting ( with my coins ) and so I worry about theft!😳

bsshog40

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I've collected alone as I really don't know anyone in person that collects also. So my socialization is basically on coin forums.

Barberian

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

@lordmarcovan said:
I had this question in mind not so much about how private you are in your collecting (security and all that stuff), but rather whether you would collect at all in a vacuum, all alone, without input from anyone else.

I've done that for the last 20 years up until recently. No shows, no LSCs, no coin clubs. Nobody I know collects, and I don't tell anyone I collect for security reasons. The local coin shop guy insisted on going political on topics in which I have advanced degrees and 25 years' experience, so interactions were minimal. Just myself at a computer for two decades. The only correspondence I had with anyone was some fun with Lord M over a love token and I believe I spoke with TomB and Dick Osburn once. It's not a good thing to not interact about coins with other collectors as feel I've developed notions about grading that were somewhat out of synch with the hobby. Just sitting down, showing people what I see, and getting their feedback on these things is invaluable.

Prior to the past few decades, I had good friends who also collected coins and we'd get together and talk coins and metal detecting for hours. I belonged to a coin club in Middle school where we'd search 3 bags of pennies every week. Even my roommate in college was an avid collector. I've missed that in the internet age but that's changed a bit since 2020. The 2020 FUN show and meeting so many great people from this board, talking coins and even science was downright orgasmic for me. I've attended several shows since then and intent to stay overnight the next time for the social interaction and relax a bit.

WaterSport

I am closer to 1, but of course if I am around any other collectors, I am all jabber.

WS

NeophyteNumismatist

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

I am a mix. I limit who I talk to about coins, but I am also grateful for the contacts I have made that have served as mentors since I started. There would be no way I would be where I am without some advanced numismatists and dealers showing me the ropes.

leothelyon

I would love enteracting with other collectors of Jefferson nickels here. especially with those who have a Registry Set. But I don't believe they are into discussing/talking openly here about why they have taken ownership of coins that have missing details and uphold them with some kind of regard that they are great coins to have. And the reasons why, over the years, why they haven't bothered to upgrade them to a more higher quality example?
But these people have developed an attitude I'll never understand, what are they seeing in these coins that keeps them from upgrading them to some eye popping high quality coins that have razor sharp lustrous details. Why they are not chasing after those higher calibur of coins that truly make a great collection. This can be said for any modern denomination; for dimes, quarters and half dollars. Searching for those coins that were the very first coins to be struck with the very first working hubs and dies. I thought this was/is the sole reason to collect/assemble a nice collection of coins and free of marks. To seek coins of the highest quality!

Leo

BillJones

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

My only interaction with collectors now is other the Internet. I used to be active in a local club, but a group took over and made plain they wanted nothing more to do with me. I would love to active in a local club, but that's just not possible.

coinandcurrency242

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

Category 2. I love showing my coins off to my inner circle and talking about them. One of my friends was looking at my gold coins and could not believe how small the $1 liberty gold coin is.

coinkat

There is significance here in that the poll at least raises the question as to what type of collector you are. And while I am not voting, I see the value in taking time for self reflection mainly because there is so much to absorb and contemplate. The collector we want to be should be a work in progress.

DCW

Category 2: I socialize some but could collect alone, without any interaction with other collectors

Here is the paradox for me-
Coin collecting surely is a solitary hobby. You buy the coin, you examine and study the coin, you place the coin in your collection. You're not on a team. You're not a part of some conglomerate buying group that shares ownership. Most of the time, it's just YOU.

But, it is impossible to avoid the desire to share and socialize. The hobby is just so much more fun when we are all going back and forth about interesting topics and sharing our new purchases. Afterall, that's why we all joined this forum, right?

shish

Category 3: I would lose interest in the hobby if I had no interaction with other collectors

To all those collectors that chose option1, you're missing out on more than you can imagine.