Is too much knowledge discouraging to collectors?

DHeath

OK, I think coin knowledge is more collectible than coins, but does access to information and examples of truly rare coins cause you to think less of your personal collection. When you first learned to grade, did select BU and Gem BU no longer satisfy your critical eye? When you saw your first MS67 Barber, did you still like your EF's? Were you happier with your collection when no one else you knew had one, and simply finishing a series was important? OK, last question, has the minimum acceptable grade you find acceptable for you collection changed in the last 5 years?

FrattLaw

Ignorance is bliss

mbbiker

I'm still happy with "junk coins" most of my collection has been put together from junk boxes, it's a blast going thrugh them picking out coins you like, they don't cost alot so you can get lots of coins for very little money. How many people really like to just look at there sets once there done? not many the search is the most fun and what better way to search than by diggin in with both hands to see whats on the bottom of the box.

CLASSICS

don....as far as the coins go....seems most people start off with the lower grades . as they take in more knowledge they see how many coins are worth so much more money in the higher grades. they look at thier fine or very fine coin and then see a superb gem, all of a sudden they tend to want the nicer coin.... dont we all? its just human nature..... taking in knowledge can be anything from going to auctions, big coin shows, or reading all the books that have been printed, it seems one can become over come with it all. i also think many of the newer people to the hobby try to bite off a bigger chunk than what they can chew, trying to collect to much at one time can add to the problem , instead of having a plan some seem to just buy whatever comes along. with all that said...i dont beleive one can have to much knowledge about anything, one just needs to take in as much information ,and try and use it wisely. i have seen a lot of collectors become discouraged and drop out after awhile because the information {knowledge} wasnt used in the right way.

airplanenut

I enjoy the hunt and I enjoy a coin's history- who cares what someone else has?

Clankeye

<< <i>has the minimum acceptable grade you find acceptable for you collection changed in the last 5 years? >>



Don, the MS64, and 65 coins that I used to not even look at are bringing me as much fulfillment as the 66 and 67's ever used to. I am so much more patient now than I was when I first started to collect higher end material. There are absolutely beautiful examples of many of the classic commems in these grades if you wait for them. Wait for the coin that speaks to you. Eye appeal is not the exclusive territory of four, five or six figure coins.

Finding the coins that are outstanding for the grade is the challenge to me. It's a fun challenge, a good one. One that keeps the hobby alive. Being aware that there are higher grade coins out there does not diminish my enjoyment in the ones I can collect.

Carl

DesertLizard

I have gone through several phases of what I like.

Today, I actually like "lightly used" coins. Coins that actually served a purposed and were used in everyday commerce. I especially like it when they are gold and vf35-au50 with "skin". Or a rare Morgan or Seated which has been banged around a bit.

Perfect coins are well boring after you see about 2 dozen.

SarasotaFrank

I guess we all get discouraged along the way and go through phases.

I enjoyed collecting more when I knew less.

Baley

I think the answer depends on the series/specific coin within the series, but generally as a collector gains experience, he desires higher quality coins. Within my type set the post-1900 coins need to be pretty nice, say 64s for the Barbers and Indians, 66 for the Mercs, SLs and WLs, Morgans and Peace dollars, and 69 for anything clad. As for the late Seated material I'm happy with lower mint states and nice AUs, early Seated coins I like EF to AU pieces, Late Bust the same, early Bust and rare dates/varieties can be Fine to VF, and if the date starts with 17 then I just want a problem free, solid Good.

Pretty much the same tastes I had as a kid (new stuff BU, older stuff nice circ.) its just that an older kid like me can afford older old stuff (the 12 year old me would be ga ga over the coins i have now)

merz2

I think Baley is right.As we gain knowledge we are satisfied with less than perfect depending on the series.We realize that the history of circulated classic coins is more interesting.These coins are definitely cheaper in the lower grades.That also could be a factor for the majority of collectors.

Steve27

It's just the opposite for me, I've learned that it's difficult for professional graders to tell the difference between a 66 and a 67 for example, but those are just technical grades (i.e. only half the story). What really counts is eye appeal (unless your competing in the Registry). Thus I appreciate my lower technical graded, but higher overall quality coins, even more.

dorkkarl

<< <i>OK, I think coin knowledge is more collectible than coins, but does access to information and examples of truly rare coins cause you to think less of your personal collection >>

i would point out that "information" does not equate to "knowledge".

my personal collection, the coins i will keep, i am extremely happy with, & it ranges from the scabbiest, most disgusting basal state lg. cent (rare variety) to some high-end bust coins that would have folks like heritage drooling (oh yeah, that's right, they've already drooled over my coins, used to get TONS of offers to take my coins on consignment...).

i COLLECT exactly what i like, & i couldn't give a rat's, uh, tail, about what anyone else thinks about my collection, not heritage, not pcgs, not ngc, not b&m, not no-one.

i've quoted this before, from a dealer who was wise beyond anything i'll ever achieve:

"if you want the coin, really really want it, it is impossible to pay too much for it."

K S

DHeath

"if you want the coin, really really want it, it is impossible to pay too much for it."

Karl, Do I have anything you really want? BTW - You're right, information isn't knowledge.

nwcs

Ignorance bliss, and I wish I was more blissful at times. It's a double edged sword, though. More knowledge of numismatics helps to make informed choices, but you never enjoy coins in the same way as you once did.

shirohniichan

I find the opposite to be the case at times. Learning more about just how scarce some of my coins are has helped me to appreciate them even more.

MacCoin

to me mint state means nothing. I'm collecting the classics, but you are right. I use to send between 50. and 150 a month on coins now I spend 300 and 600 ever 3 or 4 months on a coin. I don't have as many but they are much nicer

AbesNeighbor

DHeath must have been reading my mind. I was thinking yesterday about how I began Collecting Indian cents and how happy I was until someone told me that unless you could read "LIBERTY" on the headband the coins were shabby and worthless....so than I began looking for better Insdianheads and felt more pressured...Now I just collect for mysel and the beauty of the coins...I sure think those Britannias are beautiful..don't have any though.


Dan

Coiniac

My collecting interests are twofold. To satisfy my "complete the set" cravings I am putting together low grade sets in the ol' Whitman blue folders, limiting the top grade of anything in those sets to EF. Minimum grade is problem free 'good'.
For my better U.S. type set, I go by price (I'm on a fairly limited coin budget), setting a $50 minimum for each specimen in the best grade I can manage. I am truly far more interested in the historical aspects of coin collecting than I am in pursuing top grades.

leothelyon

BTW - You're right, information isn't knowledge.

But what about wisdom?

Leo

nwcs

I'm doing the same thing with low-end sets and then a 2 higher end sets.

The same phenomenon is known to us computer programmers. If your work computer is faster than your home one, you feel the urge to upgrade your home one to better than work. Then you feel dissatisfied at work and push your boss to get new equipment which starts the cycle all over again...

Same thing with coins. You are happy with 1. But as soon as you find a better 1, then the other never looks the same, so you upgrade. Then you find the next 1, the next 1, then you compare 1s across series and upgrade there as well... Vicious cycle.

leothelyon

Same thing with coins. You are happy with 1. But as soon as you find a better 1, then the other never looks the same, so you upgrade. Then you find the next 1, the next 1, then you compare 1s across series and upgrade there as well... Vicious cycle.

I could not agree with you more. At first, the continous upgrading with me became a problem when I realized that it'll take me forever to complete the collection. So now, when I'm searching for a particular date and when I locate one that is suitable, when I decide to purchase it, it will become the last coin for that particular date that I will buy, to add to the collection. But of course, that coin will need to be equal
or close to the quality of all the other coins in the collection. It's ridiculous to buy a coin that's below average for the grade or collection, unless it's a difficult date or an easy investment.

Leo