Whatever you want is best for you. Good Luck, you've earned the right to do as you want.
But let me say these for others here: the monetization of the hobby (grading, pricing, stickers, labels, etc.) can be unseemly at times....but only if YOU let it. You can ignore it all. The business end is more out in the open but it was ALWAYS there 30 or 50 or 60 years ago. It just wasn't seen or talked about as much or as visible.
The notion that silver and gold markets are manipulated is also part of PM collecting lore. It's largely misinformation and people who want to excuse their poor market forecasts for PM prices. Markets are too big to be manipulated by any one player unless it is a country or CB dumping stock.
I’m getting close to 75, and I’ve had more fun and pleasure over the past ten years with this wonderful hobby of ours than before then! And that has NOTHING to do with the fact that the coins I buy now happen to be in higher grades than previously. Relationships, this forum, and education are the drivers of my fun and pleasure!
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
Most professional baseball players don't know when its over but when teams don't sign you, then its over because your out. Collectors got to know when its enough but collecting doesn't require any athletic skills - so when its over, its over. I guess its a mental state of mind - when you accomplished it all and you have no further to go.
I changed from collecting American coins to European medieval coins about 15 years ago and haven’t looked back.
Collecting American coins is very different than medieval or Ancient coins. Slabbing isn’t much of a thing. Grading is less technical and very high grade coins are almost nonexistent. No stickers to be found. New coins enter the market frequently due to metal detecting finds. Cleaning is acceptable. Provenance is important. Rarities can be found for cheap. High grade coins sell strong. Bargains can be found once the knowledge is acquired.
I am not suggesting you change your collecting interest to world or Ancient. You have to be interested in the history or geographic region. There’s a large learning curve. It’s easier to be burned by problem coins or forgery when there’s no slabbing. References are not easily found online, rather they are in books, which are expensive and take up space (and sometimes in other languages). Guidance on prices can be hard to pin down.
That said, there are many areas in numismatics that are not subject to the slabbing and a ticketing issues that bother you. The hobby can remain fun.
I do agree with the strategy to sell in your lifetime, if your family shows no interest. And you can always take the money and spend it on things that you and they like more- parties, vacations, luxuries that you wouldn’t normally indulge (don’t just throw it all into savings, have some fun with it!)
Maybe you need to consider a different ride… numismatics has so much to offer and there are places to go and places to see that are special without the fanfare of what you have summarized.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I'm in the phase of letting go of ...concern.... for where my coins end up.
I guess I'm the seed of the opportunity for dealers.
If the kids have NO INTEREST (and they don't) then why care how little they benefit from what you have done?
Yeh, this is kinda bitter but I am now experiencing the attitudes of my kids and finding a far cry from any of my wife's and my expectations or hopes.
Sorry it turned out this way. I still look at coins but will only BUY gold coins.
And that's for if ..... I .... am the one who sells them.
PM sent. If your kids aren't interested in your coins, sell them and travel while you still can. Just got back from Northern Spain. Next year, hanging out with more penguins.
"Vou invadir o Nordeste, "Seu cabra da peste, "Sou Mangueira......."
@Elcontador said:
PM sent. If your kids aren't interested in your coins, sell them and travel while you still can. Just got back from Northern Spain. Next year, hanging out with more penguins.
In August when I turned 80 I decided to dial it down a bit and sell a major portion of my $5. 00 Liberty Gold collection. I'm sure I'll still be interested in coins, frequent this forum and continue to attend shows but it will be more of a hobby than a obsession.
Check out the my post on the BST referencing the $5.00 Libs of mine that just went up today at Great Collection.
Good luck with your GC sale. You have lovely coins!
The “timing” of my disposition plans are right in line with yours. If I pass “prematurely”, I have VERY specific detailed instructions for the three segments of my collection for my family to follow. If I’m fortunate to be alive in six years (like you, when I turn 80), I’ll handle the disposition myself. I’m sure there will be some sadness along with joy and excitement. Also like you, I’ll continue to partake on the forum, and will continue to attend the two FUN shows!
Steve
A day without fine wine and working on your coin collection is like a day without sunshine!!!
I'm ten years behind but 57 years in. Every once in a while I trade gold and silver for white sandy beaches. My country count will hit 87 by the end of January 2025.
I still love coins; the love of their history has made my life richer.
I agree with much of what has been posted. You have me by not quite a decade and certainly I agree with you about some of the disconcerting changes that we have seen.
However, there is a reason that numismatics have been around for THOUSANDS of years. There are so many areas to explore and there are new joys to be had from the pursuit of coins and series that have been around for many years.
I switched many years ago to mainly Brit and Caribbean colonial issues and have so enjoyed meaningful collecting that is so very enjoyable at much lower price levels and so much have appreciated the acquaintances made.
Another example in recent years that was quite fun was getting the "W" quarters, some in change and others gotten raw - I chased after the best that I could find that were not slabbed and then slightly upgraded with a few rather cheap slabbed versions. On to other things but it was fun (I so enjoyed getting one in change at the Chic Filet!)....
Love that Milled British (1830-1960) Well, just Love coins, period.
Comments
Whatever you want is best for you. Good Luck, you've earned the right to do as you want.
But let me say these for others here: the monetization of the hobby (grading, pricing, stickers, labels, etc.) can be unseemly at times....but only if YOU let it. You can ignore it all. The business end is more out in the open but it was ALWAYS there 30 or 50 or 60 years ago. It just wasn't seen or talked about as much or as visible.
The notion that silver and gold markets are manipulated is also part of PM collecting lore. It's largely misinformation and people who want to excuse their poor market forecasts for PM prices. Markets are too big to be manipulated by any one player unless it is a country or CB dumping stock.
If there was no one for me to have coin talk with and no one to have some show and tell with then this hobby wouldn't be for me.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
I’m getting close to 75, and I’ve had more fun and pleasure over the past ten years with this wonderful hobby of ours than before then! And that has NOTHING to do with the fact that the coins I buy now happen to be in higher grades than previously. Relationships, this forum, and education are the drivers of my fun and pleasure!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
Most professional baseball players don't know when its over but when teams don't sign you, then its over because your out. Collectors got to know when its enough but collecting doesn't require any athletic skills - so when its over, its over. I guess its a mental state of mind - when you accomplished it all and you have no further to go.
Neat analogy @EastonCollection . but i will have to get back to you depending on how my Egyptian inspired "take it with you" plan works out. James
I changed from collecting American coins to European medieval coins about 15 years ago and haven’t looked back.
Collecting American coins is very different than medieval or Ancient coins. Slabbing isn’t much of a thing. Grading is less technical and very high grade coins are almost nonexistent. No stickers to be found. New coins enter the market frequently due to metal detecting finds. Cleaning is acceptable. Provenance is important. Rarities can be found for cheap. High grade coins sell strong. Bargains can be found once the knowledge is acquired.
I am not suggesting you change your collecting interest to world or Ancient. You have to be interested in the history or geographic region. There’s a large learning curve. It’s easier to be burned by problem coins or forgery when there’s no slabbing. References are not easily found online, rather they are in books, which are expensive and take up space (and sometimes in other languages). Guidance on prices can be hard to pin down.
That said, there are many areas in numismatics that are not subject to the slabbing and a ticketing issues that bother you. The hobby can remain fun.
I do agree with the strategy to sell in your lifetime, if your family shows no interest. And you can always take the money and spend it on things that you and they like more- parties, vacations, luxuries that you wouldn’t normally indulge (don’t just throw it all into savings, have some fun with it!)
Maybe you need to consider a different ride… numismatics has so much to offer and there are places to go and places to see that are special without the fanfare of what you have summarized.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I'm in the phase of letting go of ...concern.... for where my coins end up.
I guess I'm the seed of the opportunity for dealers.
If the kids have NO INTEREST (and they don't) then why care how little they benefit from what you have done?
Yeh, this is kinda bitter but I am now experiencing the attitudes of my kids and finding a far cry from any of my wife's and my expectations or hopes.
Sorry it turned out this way. I still look at coins but will only BUY gold coins.
And that's for if ..... I .... am the one who sells them.
PM sent. If your kids aren't interested in your coins, sell them and travel while you still can. Just got back from Northern Spain. Next year, hanging out with more penguins.
"Seu cabra da peste,
"Sou Mangueira......."
The grocery store is too far.
In August when I turned 80 I decided to dial it down a bit and sell a major portion of my $5. 00 Liberty Gold collection. I'm sure I'll still be interested in coins, frequent this forum and continue to attend shows but it will be more of a hobby than a obsession.
Check out the my post on the BST referencing the $5.00 Libs of mine that just went up today at Great Collection.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1107708/for-sale-on-great-collections-40-different-5-liberty-gold-ending-on-october-20-2024#latest
Regards, Tom
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
Good luck with your GC sale. You have lovely coins!
The “timing” of my disposition plans are right in line with yours. If I pass “prematurely”, I have VERY specific detailed instructions for the three segments of my collection for my family to follow. If I’m fortunate to be alive in six years (like you, when I turn 80), I’ll handle the disposition myself. I’m sure there will be some sadness along with joy and excitement. Also like you, I’ll continue to partake on the forum, and will continue to attend the two FUN shows!
Steve
My collecting “Pride & Joy” is my PCGS Registry Dansco 7070 Set:
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/design-type-sets/complete-dansco-7070-modified-type-set-1796-date/publishedset/213996
I'm ten years behind but 57 years in. Every once in a while I trade gold and silver for white sandy beaches. My country count will hit 87 by the end of January 2025.
I still love coins; the love of their history has made my life richer.
fka renman95, Sep 2005, 7,000 posts
I agree with much of what has been posted. You have me by not quite a decade and certainly I agree with you about some of the disconcerting changes that we have seen.
However, there is a reason that numismatics have been around for THOUSANDS of years. There are so many areas to explore and there are new joys to be had from the pursuit of coins and series that have been around for many years.
I switched many years ago to mainly Brit and Caribbean colonial issues and have so enjoyed meaningful collecting that is so very enjoyable at much lower price levels and so much have appreciated the acquaintances made.
Another example in recent years that was quite fun was getting the "W" quarters, some in change and others gotten raw - I chased after the best that I could find that were not slabbed and then slightly upgraded with a few rather cheap slabbed versions. On to other things but it was fun (I so enjoyed getting one in change at the Chic Filet!)....
Well, just Love coins, period.