To you - are coins more art or history?

DHeath

I'll freely admit being an art guy. Pastel toning reminds me of Monet. This is the color of the toning I like the best. I also like the engravers art. I am terribly drawn to $10 Indians, Winged Liberty Dimes, SLQs, Bust Halves, and FE's. I think the appreciation of a stunning coin is one of the reasons I also enjoy some moderns Dcam proofs are pretty pieces of art). Very PQ coins properly convey the designers intent. Many of you also enjoy the historical significance of the coins you collect. For you, I'm sure it is significant to hold and touch a piece of history, wondering what stories it could tell, and which lives it touched. The two approaches are not mutually exclusive, but they are distinct enough that I thought I would ask which camp you are closest to? For you, is it history of art?

robertpr

The art is the reason I collect, and knowledge and respect for the history is the result.

shirohniichan

For me coin collecting is an extension of my interest in history. I find beat up coins still fascinating if they are part of the Gold Rush, invasion of the Philippines, the Reformation or some other interesting period or event.

DHeath

Shiro, I'm delighted you posted to this thread. You were one of the people who crossed my mind when I was thinking of the question.

FC57Coins

I have to admit that my attraction is history with a dash of the engraver's artistry. There's a lot to be said for a piece that has seen two world wars, the rise and fall of empires and countries, and the hardship that humanity has endured over the years just to wind up in my greedy little hands - wouldn't it be great to trace back where some of these coins have been?

Frank

wingedliberty

Both!!!!
To those who think otherwise, I recommend Bower's "The Norweb Collection", or the biography of
Augustus St.Gaudens.


Best regards,
Brian.

lathmach

History for me.
When I see and old coin, first thing I think of is what was happening in the world at that time. Sometimes I have no idea and begin learning. This greatly increases the pleasure I get from my collecting.

Ray

stujoe

For me...I love history and what coins represent in that respect...tangible objects that are links to the past. I also enjoy the history behind the designs, the mint, the designers, the subjects and all the other 'Coin Lore' involved in them. I also enjoy learning all I can about them and how they are made and everything else.

Having said that, I love a beautiful piece of coin art just as much as the next person.

fcloud

Older coins I would say both! The new stuff I would say neither. The new coins have some art and history, but the exciting stuff is all old.

MrKelso

I am so happy this was posted and asked. To me it is all about history right down to the history of the artist who did the engraving for the coin.
History is a wonderful study and for me becomes a time machine that can actually transport me back to the time i am reading about
According to the Ancient Myans we only have 10 years of History left to create. December 21 2012 Weird the myans were but they loved there Gold.

MrKelso

<< <i> And one of the cannibals eating a clown said to the other, "Does this taste funny to you? >>




Best Signature Yet

agentjim007

HISTORY thats what its all about.

CLASSICS

history is truely a wonderful thing, the coins are the art of thier time, and when veiwing some of the older ones, a window to the past. lets imagine a 1851 large cent. no automobiles, ballpoint pens, computers, interstate highways, telephones, mc donalds, 3 way light bulbs, space shuttles, answering machines, faxes and the list could go on and on. for me, its the art and the history behind it.

Blade

I love the stories behind the coins - why a design was chosen, the climate of the country at the time, etc. That's probably why I am a type coin collector. Unless the date has major hostorical significance, I can't see getting every date of a series. I would say 75% history, 25% art. And on some coins, that art definitely outweighs the history. The coolest is when you have both aspects.

airplanenut

Who here read my paper, "Art and Culture Displayed in Coins?" They are both!

Jeremy

nwcs

You know, that's a good question. Although I've been able to appreciate the artistry more in coinage, I have to say that it's the history that does it for me. History in two aspects:

1. What happened when the coin was made (culturally speaking)
2. What happened after the coin was made (preservation)

But there are those times and designs and things when it's more about how cool a coin is than anything else. Like who can not see the beauty of a British Sovereign? or a St. Gaudens? Stunning in original frosted gold. Breathtaking, actually. Still, the core thing that got me interested is the fact that you can own a piece of history and hold it in your hands. Something that has lasted generations and seen so much.

Gemini

I happened to be watching a show about the Titanic last night and going through some early Lincoln cents. I then happened to come across a 1912 dated Lincoln... it kind of made me stop and think...

MAULUMALL

History................. But it is more Family history.
I started collecting For my youngest girls birth year.
Now I am working on dollars for her Grand Parents as well as her Uncles and Aunts.I only need one more.

I am having the most trouble finding decent sets from her Namesakes birth year.1965


As I have said before there are no coin shops in Richmond Va so ebay is where I tend to spend Most of my money.

ccrdragon

Both - the art of the coin is an excellent example of the history of the nation (did that make any sense?!?!).

Please don't ask me to explain the moderns - I have no idea where or why we have stuck with them....

BillJones

History drives me to collect, but you won't see any ugly coins in my collection and very few of them in my inventory. Coins are wonderful little works of art, and tokens and medals, which are not as restrained by government statues have the potential of being even greater works of art.

mdwoods

I collect for both reasons, although I appreciate certain coins more for their art. Thanks for the link. Those lilies looked like they were really floating on water. Amazing. mdwoods

TONEDDOLLARS

I love history. But art is where its at with my collection. White coin after white coin could get boring. Most toned coins are like fingerprints. No two are alike, unless we are talking AT. My toned Morgans are all like little pieces of art. But thats just me

MacCoin

I am a type collector and am love to own any new type coin or a design I haven't got. it sounds like I like art but if it come down to it I would pick a pitted old Mass oak or pine tree threepence before I would pick one of the pretty toned Ikes or morgans so I guess I have to say history.

coinlover

That's a really hard question to answer. The history excites and the art captivates. But I'd have to say age before beauty.
Karen

cladking

For me it would be extremely difficult to separate out human nature, history, statistics, metallurgy, art, and completeness. But if distilled, these would be left.

tjkillian

History is where it's at with me. To hold an uncirculatd coin from the 19th century and imagine this is what they saw then brings back to those times. I love history.

Tom

Rotts

PLONK

DDR

My initial gut reaction to this question was HISTORY of course. But then I got to thinking that almost all of the coins in my collection, especially the ones I specialize in, are the ones with designs I find the most pleasing artistically. So, I guess it is a combination of both.

DHeath

Thanks to those who shared an opinion. I am a little suprised there are so many more historians than art collectors (22-2), but then again, each plays a part in the hobby for all of us. Maybe it's a left brain, right brain thing. If looking at my collection would wear the surfaces, my coins would all be PO1.

ANACONDA

History. They are to 'time' as maps are to 'place".

adrian

(DHeath - by the way, you have posed an excellent question. Kudos to yudos.)

BillJones

Hi DHeath!

It really should not surprise you that more coin collectors are interested in history than in art. The strongest art ties to our hobby are with medals, and very few of us collect them to any degree. I collect some medals, and the art work on them can be truly outstanding. It's also interesting to study the medalic artist's other work to see similarities in their style.

But as a dealer I can tell you that it's almost impossible to get coin collectors interested in medals. It seems that most people just want to collect a series by date and mint, or at best form type collections. Since a type set covers American numismatic art for a 200+ year period that's about as close as most collectors get studing art appreciation.

Perhaps it's just as well that most collectors don't care for medals. In the 19th century, a VERY LARGE mintage of medals at the U.S. mint was more than 100 pieces. Needless to say it would not take a very large increase in demand to push prices well beyond the levels that most of us could pay. For those who want to say that they own something from the U.S. mint that has a mintage of less than 100 pieces, 19th century U.S. mint medals provide you with the best opportunities to achieve your goal.

Gilbert

History for me.
When I see and old coin, first thing I think of is what was happening in the world at that time. Sometimes I have no idea and begin learning. This greatly increases the pleasure I get from my collecting.

Ray

I just love those "Coin Capsule" articles in COINage magazine.

For me, I guess it's history too

dlshaw

My interest in both Art & History gives me desire for collecting coins. I have dealt in Antiques for several years and Art was one of the items I bought and sold. My interest in History is a reason I got into antiques.
I also do metal detecting and when finding a old coin you naturally wonder about its history. So I guess most people who collect coins has an interest in both Art & History

ANACONDA

BillJones -- would you be so kind as to post some cool images of medals......you're whetting my appetite......less than 100 minted......and gorgeous.......and American.....hmmmmm

When did the US first start minting medals?

How many have been produced? How serious a collector are you?

adrian