What Are Your Collecting Goals?
FlyingAl
Posts: 3,449 ✭✭✭✭✭
Recently, I've been having a lot of conversations about life goals and future plans. I figured it could be a fun thread to see this applied to coins.
What are your collecting goals? Where do you see your collection in five or ten years?
For me, I can see myself finishing a couple of 36-42 Proof sets in the 67+ to 68 range. I have a 42 set that fits that bill, and I feel the others could be attainable over a ten year period.
The ideal would be an original look in high grade, epitomized by these two coins. Unfortunately, I only have the honor of owning one. 
Coin Photographer.
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Comments
I'm not a set or registry collector or player. Just want to keep learning about coins and collect interesting coins that appeal to me and have nice stories behind them.
I want to get a nice MCMVII High Relief. Lot of history behind that coin...and alot of non-collectors possesing one, thus driving up the price !!
I would also like to get a Saint from the "Fab 5" years, 1929 or later. I'm waiting for my ship (the S.S. MegaMillions) to come in.
Some interesting Liberty Heads struck during famous "Panics" also of interest to me. Great stories there, but some really rare dates really limit the quality of the coin one can afford.
I love that 42, such a nice coin! (The dime is also but I've seen the Walker and it is great!)
Short term goals - finish my Koban set (one to go) and my chopmarked trade dollar set (the registry says one to go but I have another few varieties not included in the registry that I would also like to find).
Intermediate goals - Have fun with random coins that are not necessarily important to me (VaultBox, crackout game, etc)
Medium term goals - There are about a dozen other coins I have on my list that I should be able to find and afford within the next few years.
Five-ten year plan - I'll probably stop regularly putting serious money into new additions and pay more attention to real estate projects I am considering.
One of every coin type, date and mintmark ever made. Anywhere. Since 650 BC. For less than $500 each.
You didn't say it had to be an achievable goal.
It's been 45 years since I started collecting, and I'm currently 15,298 coins towards completing that goal. Assuming that's an average acquisition rate, I'd then anticipate being at around 18,700 coins in ten year's time.
My new girlfriend might have something to say about such acquisition rates, however.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded one DPOTD.
My primary collecting goal for coins over the next 5 to 7 years is to push into the 200's for different Die Marriages of CBH's, all in AU50 or better, most with noticeably original skin. Hopefully that number will be about halfway to the magic 450 number.
I may try to add a piece here and there to some long dormant sets, and I know I'll keep adding a little Currency as well, but the CBH's are still the biggest draw and my greatest passion.
Maybe I can get 225 different Die Marriages that all have a similar grade and feel to this girl
“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
I have only 3 coins to go to finish my ANACS photo cert 7070 type set. I'm thinking of doing an FE and IHC set in 64RB.
I have only one coin that I am looking for, finding a suitable example that I can afford is the trick. As to ten years from now, I expect I'll be retired and have sold everything to fund a land purchase where I can get away from the city life.
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
My goal is to teach @Catbert the virtue of "quantity" over simple "quality."
WB-14 - my twelfth 1840 New Orleans mint die marriage.
saving one of these was my Own Goal
I just want to enjoy what I have. For the most part, I just get what I like and can afford. There are some coins I’ve identified that I want, others I haven’t bothered because they’re too expensive, and then sometimes I just see something I want. Along with the random stuff, I’m slowly putting together a Philly date set for 1927 (when my grandfather was born in Philly), a British set with all the Boeing years 17X7, and a continental paper set that is esoteric and currently under wraps.
My collecting goals are simply to find coins whose story intests me, and maybe to buy some (if available at a price I'm willing to pay). That will mean only one or two coins a year, in all likelihood.
Ten years from now, I expect that my entire collection will have been sold.
My collecting goals are more fishing than coins as of late.
I have purchased some Vatican proof sets, A GSA CC Morgan and a couple SMS sets. Just some spur of the moment buys.
Thanks @FlyingAl for a stimulating thread! My inspiration for my main collecting goal is the wonderful @JBN seated half collection. I'll never accomplish what he has done since I don't have time or resources to complete the series, but nonetheless, his quality standard is what I'm trying to accomplish. And, of course, @Barberian can teach me with his exacting eye about corrosion and varieties! Those two guys have the exceedingly rare 78-S halves that I will never own!
I also have two secondary collections - Indian quarter eagles in OGH w/CAC (3 dates away from completion), and my colorful-icious proof Washington quarter set.
I must also anticipate that funding this hobby will greatly diminish in a few years once I quit my part-time consulting gig. So, in the near term, I've got to make hay.
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Try to limit new coin spending only what I get selling current holdings. Not starting anything new and stopped US Mint subscription. Would like to upgrade some stuff but trying to not increase investment in collection.
To everything there is a season. A time to collect, and a time to disperse. I hope that I can manage to get most of it sold over the next 5-10 years. It takes me a lot more time to sell a coin, than it did to buy it
My US Mint Commemorative Medal Set
This:
Liberty $2.50 Set - Try for completion but stoppers like 1848 CAL, 1854-S, 1856-D, 1864 and 1865 stand in the way.
27 Centuries Set - One gold or electrum coin from 7th Century BC through 20th Century. I need 3rd Century BC and 3rd Century AD for completion.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
@FlyingAl I Love those two coins, and in particular the Walker is an absolute winner.
My goals are to 1) Study and enjoy what I have 2) Add "A" quality proof and MS coins that have great color and originality. 3) Add a few high quality Large currency type notes to my collection i.e. Buffalo, Educational, etc. 4) Add some proof cameo gold pieces from 1890's. If I can do all that, I'll be amazed!
My present goal is to complete the graded proof clad Kennedy Half Dollar set. My latest acquisition is the one below. The 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007-2009, 2013-2018 yet remain. I do have all the issues from 1964 through 1970 graded, proof, SMS and uncirculated. My other big set is the Lincoln Cent which is from 1930-2024, missing only the 1931S, 1936-1942 proof issues and the 1978D. All are graded, a mix of PCGS and NGC, more than 300 coins there. One of the oldest, a 1932, is below.
Currently, my main goal is to complete a nice, original set of Merc proofs—I’m standing at 3/7 right now and seem to be going at a pace of one or two additions per year.
I’ve also been working on a complete set of Mercury dime for the last several years, but I’m beginning to waffle on my strategy going forward with thiat set. So things are in flux there.
5-10 years out? Who knows. We’ll see where my whims take me.
Continue to upgrade my 1950-1970 Proof and SMS Registry Sets (though improving with raw coins that I submit for grading is almost impossible now so I will be looking to buy upgrade coins that have already been slabbed); continue to look for attractively toned examples of the same coins; liquidate some of my extras; and branch out into other areas of the hobby (both US coinage and non US coinage).
Two specific directions.
Annual box of 20.... could be anything from ancient to modern to darkside.
VAM's... Got probable impossible list of 103
Purge everything else.
Wish I had done this 20 years ago.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
@catbert
Thanks for the kind words. These coins are such a great collecting pursuit. A lot of patience required for the occasional appearance of a wonderful example. The market supply for these issues is so thin that you get craziness in transaction prices. For me personally, a cogent example is two excellent coins from (what I consider to be an established excellent collection), the Spring Creek Collection [certs beginning in 3818]. For the first, a quarter, I was able to purchase for 110% guide plus shipping. The second, a half dollar, I was underbidder with the coin selling at over 4x guide.
1855 Gothic Florin
Look for and obtain coins that have the look
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
This is a coin the US Mint can do a permanent restrike program and sell a lot of.
One for the PL crowd... except this is not an 1881-s Morgan
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
To have enough material value to survive hyperinflation.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
I’m 74. My plan if I make it to approaching 80 is to sell my collection at that time to make it easier on my heirs. I’m having way too much fun now to do that at this time. Just in case I don’t make it, I currently have very detailed written instructions for my coin collection in my “Important Papers” file for my adult children to follow when I pass.
By the way, the PCGS PR68 Merc w/CAC shown in the OP is mine. Those detailed written instructions I mentioned have my heirs contacting @FlyingAl to sell to him at a very fair price at the time this Merc, as well as a specific Matte Proof Buffalo Nickel. Not only is he my current coin photographer, and coin mentor (despite his age), but more importantly, he is my friend!
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
First, completing my type set of foreign coins that circulated here from Colonial times until 1857+. Pretty far along but the list expands with research. Second, complete my US Federal type, not including gold. Chain, half disme, 25c and 50c small eagle, Third, an HR Saint and a few early gold (no plans to complete the gold type). Fourth, more pioneer gold. Fifth, complete my set of Jean Dassier medals. Not necessarily in that order, depends on resources and availability.
SELL EVERYTHING BEFORE I TURN 80! In 3 years. 50 year collections. Many top Registry sets.
A very big job!
Raw coins are the toughest to sell.
Dealers too use to buying a slab grade and not able or wanting to to grade a raw coin anymore.
Pricing raw coins as some kind of silver dreck hoping to score big. , or just shoving them back at me, telling me they want morgans or gold. I am finding a few collectors aggressive at buying my raw coins as I have priced them cheap. 1/3 to1/2 retail. No such coins or prices of same on any Bourse floor I have walked. Many or most I am taking a loss on.
Half Cent Varieties
Barber Half Dollars
Type Coins
Colonials
I don't feel any pressure to buy something unless I really really love it. As others have said, I want to spend more time enjoying what I have.
I am a newer collector (started April 2020), and I primarily focus on U.S. Half Cents and Type Coins. Early copper is my favorite.
Slow down on purchases. The last couple of years I have bought many coins and need to just enjoy what I have in the collection and be very selective of any additional purchases. Love the hobby.
This
My lifelong dream and ambition of completing a high quality Walking Liberty Half Full Set was finally realized at the end of 2021.
Now, I am very selectively and casually working on two Date Sets (One is almost complete) and a Box of twenty.
There has to be a point where you reach satisfaction. I have achieved that. Anything additional is just frosting on the cake, at this point.
It is such a WONDERFUL hobby.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
To be 95% complete by die marriage for all the silver Capped Bust coinages with a few earlier pieces thrown in for good measure.
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
Edited for decency.
I'm not much of a collector, and definitely have other things i need to be spending money on.. My original goal was simply a Carson City Morgan set and call it quits. After that, I got sucked into trying to piece together a Carson City type set. I'm probably done if I complete that one. Lol!
To quote Rockwell from the 80's:
"I'm just an average man with an average life. I work from 9 to 5. Hey, hell, I pay the price." Lol!
My Carson City Morgan Registry Set
@Walkerfan. You are 100% correct. Quality over Quantity always!
Congratulations!!! That's a major accomplishment. I started the 1916 - 1933 early set looking for well struck coins and ran out of money.
Right now to finish off the 1868 mint set with Gold. 3 more to go but these are all tough and expensive.
Thanks! That can happen very easily, especially, with those Early Walkers. Slow and steady Wins the race along with Patience and determination. Timing is everything. And, a healthy dose of LUCK also helps. 😉 🍀
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
Out of your collection, what coins would you put into your BOX of 20 (or 40)?
Generally my goals are to acquire somewhere between one and a few very nice coins per year, with an emphasis on an expanded US type set (types and sub-types beyond the scope of the 7070 -- things like Classic Head and no-motto gold, Draped Bust silver, a few 19th & early 20th century proofs, etc.). I have a few outlier items on my want/wish list too, oddball stuff I've admired forever and may eventually acquire, not all of it domestic. I have a fairly modest annual net outlay cap to spend on growing my collection, but occasional sales of US 90% and other bullion I've held for years help offset costs.
I don't generally buy anything anymore that doesn't instill in me a certain degree of awe, a voice from the younger collector in me who can scarcely believe he gets to own something like this.
Here's an example, one of the two coins I bought in 2018.
@mirabela . If that is an average purchase for you I sure hope you are one of those people big on posting trophy photos. great coin. James
Thanks, James! I'm actually a really terrible coin photographer, so I'm generally sharing sellers' photos when I share at all. That's the case here. I think it would be fair to call this coin typical of what I buy in the sense that it's not in a super high grade, nor especially impossible (or even difficult) to find in an absolute sense, nor so expensive as to be out of reach for ordinary mortals, but it has an impeccably original look and some features that make it an especially interesting example, and overall it is about as good as it's going to get at this grade and price point.
OK. Now I need to know more!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
I thought the same thing...most tantalizing post of the day.
He's a rapscallion and always interesting!
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
Finish my date set of cents. I have six large cent dates to go. The 1793, 1799 and 1804 are not among them.
Hope you can get an 1815. 😉
A: The year they spend more on their library than their coin collection.
A numismatist is judged more on the content of their library than the content of their cabinet.
Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, I too only bought a couple big coins a year.