Why I Collect Ugly Old Coins
Singapore
Posts: 578
Based on the almost overwhelming outcry for me to post on this topic (well, sort of) I did not want to disappoint.
CAUTION - Personal Opinion to Follow:
I think many of these old coins are attractive (I think you have to differentiate between the actual designs of the coins and the condition in which they are usually seen. An old coin worn down to F15 with active verdigris and a hole in it is unlikely to be attractive, but that same coin in PCGS MS 64 with original color, if such a thing existed, could be amazing), they have interesting historical signficance, they are absolutely rare and unusual, and they are surprisingly affordable.
I collect these old coins with designs that I feel are attractive, and I try to buy them in the finest conditions obtainable.
Lets start with a Guide Book of United States Coins by our own R.S.Yeoman and all open it to page 3. Good.
Starting with the Spanish Milled Dollar and progressing through the Fugio Cents on page 64, I think you'll find some interesting looking coins, a wide variety of designs, coins struck in various metals, of all different sizes, etc. Some of these coins are, in my opinion, attractive designs. Some are horrendous. I doubt too many people are going to say that the Jola on page 57 is a 'looker'. Plus its the size of a chickpea.
I don't feel any great need to try to build a 'complete' set, just one that I like. Thats fortunate, because there is no way I could afford a complete set or anything even approaching that. Personally, I'd rather have a small number of these coins in very high grade rather than a complete set all in F15, though there are plenty of people in this field who would take the opposite view.
So I have about 100 coins, all in very high grade, representing a nice mix of types, designs, sizes, colors, metals, etc., that I enjoy collecting, looking at, showing, etc. And, astonishing to me as I have posted over the last several days, these pristine old coins are often selling for LESS than the pristine modern coins - so I think there is good value here.
And so that is why I collect ugly old coins.
If any member of this forum collects any series or pursues any facet of numismatics and finds the same enjoyment I've found, I think thats great. I really do.
Singapore
CAUTION - Personal Opinion to Follow:
I think many of these old coins are attractive (I think you have to differentiate between the actual designs of the coins and the condition in which they are usually seen. An old coin worn down to F15 with active verdigris and a hole in it is unlikely to be attractive, but that same coin in PCGS MS 64 with original color, if such a thing existed, could be amazing), they have interesting historical signficance, they are absolutely rare and unusual, and they are surprisingly affordable.
I collect these old coins with designs that I feel are attractive, and I try to buy them in the finest conditions obtainable.
Lets start with a Guide Book of United States Coins by our own R.S.Yeoman and all open it to page 3. Good.
Starting with the Spanish Milled Dollar and progressing through the Fugio Cents on page 64, I think you'll find some interesting looking coins, a wide variety of designs, coins struck in various metals, of all different sizes, etc. Some of these coins are, in my opinion, attractive designs. Some are horrendous. I doubt too many people are going to say that the Jola on page 57 is a 'looker'. Plus its the size of a chickpea.
I don't feel any great need to try to build a 'complete' set, just one that I like. Thats fortunate, because there is no way I could afford a complete set or anything even approaching that. Personally, I'd rather have a small number of these coins in very high grade rather than a complete set all in F15, though there are plenty of people in this field who would take the opposite view.
So I have about 100 coins, all in very high grade, representing a nice mix of types, designs, sizes, colors, metals, etc., that I enjoy collecting, looking at, showing, etc. And, astonishing to me as I have posted over the last several days, these pristine old coins are often selling for LESS than the pristine modern coins - so I think there is good value here.
And so that is why I collect ugly old coins.
If any member of this forum collects any series or pursues any facet of numismatics and finds the same enjoyment I've found, I think thats great. I really do.
Singapore
Singapore
0
Comments
and I enjoyed your comments.
Camelot
Actually, I was told by someone at PCGS about a year ago that they would be adding the colonial registry section. In which case my post would not be in the wrong forum, it would just be early - and believe me, there is a BIG, BIG difference between being wrong and being early.
I'm waiting, baby, I'm waiting.
Singapore
<< <i> In which case my post would not be in the wrong forum, it would just be early - and believe me, there is a BIG, BIG difference between being wrong and being early.
I'm waiting, baby, I'm waiting. >>
It depends how far off you are. 6 mos. or a year or even five years early may be more
an asset than anything. Thirty years would be far enough ahead to just say one was wrong-
really.
prooflike:I ony made the comment because you may not get very many replies here, I could care less where you post.
The statement "I could care less" has always intrigued me. Shouldn't the statment be "I could NOT care less"?
But if you say "I could care less", that means you could care less if you chose to do so. Or maybe you could care more. Maybe you care so little, you haven't really thought about it.
Regardless (or irregardless, to stay with the theme of incorrect double negatives), I've found that most of the time when somebody says they could/could not care less, they in fact do. Care more, that is. More or less.
I have to tell ya that over the past week I have enjoyed reading your posts and mostly the remarks that follow. I hope that you do get a chance to complete a full collection of your colonial coins, because if you are truly a unique collector of these coins, then you may have accomplished something even more rare then just owning them. Completing a collection in which no one has. I think that is impressive.
Now...on the other hand...it doesn't matter to me where you post either...and all I have to say is this: I ain't not wanna tell anyone not to post here.
Paul.
Later, Paul.