If we lived in a barter or a cashless society and coins were never introduced, what would you be col

wingedliberty · May 9, 2003 1:58AM

It is a common belief that the Lycians introduced what we deem as modern
coinage in 556 B.C., What if coins were never invented? What would
you be collecting right now?

My options would be:

1. Art
2. wine
3. comic books
4. trading cards
5. post cards
6. military decorations/ medals
7. geological items (rocks, gems, etc).
8. Entomological or ornithological items
9. weapons/ fire arms, etc.
10.books (maps, atlasas, topography)

How about you?

Brian

ER · May 9, 2003 2:01AM

Guns and butterflies.
Hey, how did butterflies get in there?

cascade · May 9, 2003 2:04AM

4. Trading cards
10. Books (maps, atlasas, topography)
11. Stamps

paigowjohnny · May 9, 2003 2:05AM

beer

ER · May 9, 2003 2:06AM

Forgot the swords and knives.

longtimecollector · May 9, 2003 2:10AM

my collection would contain ONE gun........ and 120,000 bullets !!!!!!

jadecoin · May 9, 2003 2:15AM

Dust!

wingedliberty · May 9, 2003 2:15AM

longtimecollector:

I think we would call that a GATLING GUN.

LOL

Brian.

longtimecollector · May 9, 2003 2:16AM

good thing I know a little bit more about coins than guns I guess !

baccaruda · May 9, 2003 2:17AM

militaria

topstuf · May 9, 2003 2:22AM

Seashells.

CERTIFIED seashells.

With original algae of course.

Clankeye · May 9, 2003 2:25AM

Topstuf--

Would you bag them for barnacles?

Clankeye

ER · May 9, 2003 2:27AM

Seashells with algae toning. Wow! That's worth something in a PSGS slab. LOL.

Bear · May 9, 2003 2:29AM

How about toenails with colored fungus. There exist some nice yellows and greens not to speak of

the blue tones and rainbow mixtures.

dbldie55 · May 9, 2003 2:32AM

<< <i>longtimecollector:

I think we would call that a GATLING GUN.

LOL

Brian. >>

Huh? Why would you call that a gatling gun? I know I would not call it one, unless it actually was one.

barberlover · May 9, 2003 2:41AM

there are things more important then collecting coins, but those things aren't hobbies, as far as having a hobby goes though, there is no hobby that could replace coin collecting for me.

But the cashless society that you hypothetically mentioned is coming, when exactley it will happen is the only issue left, but it will happen, but when it does, it will do nothing to harm the collecting of coins already minted.

wingedliberty · May 9, 2003 3:09AM

DBLDIE:
That was a joke, since gatling guns are rapid fire and
ther reference was to multiple bullets.

Brian

ms70 · May 9, 2003 3:10AM

Barters.

dorkkarl · May 9, 2003 3:11AM

interesting question. what did people collect before money was introduced? arrow-heads???

although i guess maybe collecting food was more of a priority back then....

K S

Nysoto · May 9, 2003 3:12AM

Hubcaps, which I collect anyway. You can clean them, polish them, hang em on a nail in the garage. Try to do that with a coin.

CarlWohlforth · May 9, 2003 3:17AM

I think I would start collecting Jewel Beetles.

cladking · May 9, 2003 3:39AM

The developement, use, and exchange of money is intimately connected to the advancement
of the species. Early tokens used by farmers for the exchange of goods was likely the genesis
of the written word. Commerce allowed the creation of the first major cities. Technology would
be virtually impossible without he written word since education would require more than a life-
time. History is largely the result of urbanization.

Without coins to collect, I'd likely be collecting rocks to use for weapons and tools... and any shiny
thing that caught my eye.

Baley · May 9, 2003 3:42AM

if there weren't coins, I'd collect whatever served as the most liquid medium of exchange: what ever instead served as "money" throughout history, if coins just hadn't happened to be discs of metal but something else identifiable as having "value" whether it be gems or paper money, anything hard to counterfeit, hell maybe somday people will collect old credit cards, I don't know, just that if there weren't cash money the medium of exchange will be something practical like fuel, ammunition, or canned food. In a barter or cashless society, money of some form will almost always develop because it's more efficient than trying to find a willing trade partner who has what you want and you have what they want and you value them the same. Just got back from Peru and they know bartering and bargaining as well as money, let me tell you those street markets are wild! here's what I found of value, including some coins and minerals:

MadMarty · May 9, 2003 4:23AM

Did someone say butterflies!!! Just imagine ole' MadMarty frolicking throught the rainforest!

ER · May 9, 2003 4:27AM

MadMarty,
You are making me jealous, man.
Are they artificially toned?

ajaan · May 9, 2003 4:30AM

ex-wives.

MadMarty · May 9, 2003 4:37AM

No they are all the real thing. Be nice or I'll bring out the Blue Morphos!

cladking · May 9, 2003 4:44AM

<< <i>, hell maybe somday people will collect old credit cards >>

Actually credit card collecting has been a "hot" hobby for years now. I believe
the holy grail is the 1957 Standard Oil card.

kieferscoins · May 9, 2003 4:49AM

Police badges.

Cameron Kiefer

wingedliberty · May 9, 2003 5:58AM

I have a friend who collects police badges.
I think I would enjoy that. My goal would be complete by georgraphic
locations and municipalities.

Brian

VonZipper · May 9, 2003 6:19AM

What would we be collecting? I wanna know what would we receive as payment for working, chickens?

IrishMike · May 9, 2003 6:19AM

I collect pearl handle and abalone handle hen and rooster pocket knives. I would suspect that most coin collectors shouldn't do that though, the emergency rooms would be full.

ER · May 9, 2003 6:43AM

"the emergency rooms would be full."

More fun for me. Hey, but how am I getting paid?

SethChandler · May 9, 2003 6:59AM

My second hobby is collecting vintage Rolex and Patek Phillipe wristwatches. Anyone else?

Seth

Typetone · May 9, 2003 7:03AM

Nothing. I would get to kick the collection addiction and save some money. OK, maybe bank accounts.

Greg

ElectricEye · May 9, 2003 7:08AM

shrunken heads

Trime · May 9, 2003 2:59PM

Beads!!!!

joejeweler · May 9, 2003 3:26PM

madmarty........simply amazing how you trained all those butterflies to assemble like soldiers for the photo! Word out was they were all excited.....standing on pins and needles in fact!

For me.....i'd probably be collecting high grade mechanical watches more. My favorites are the 1960's Omega 18K yellow or rose gold Constellations........preferably with the cal. 561 or cal. 564 quick set 24 jewel chronometer movements! Screw back cases my preference.

Great looking and running beauties......and a far better value in quality recieved for dollars spent than Rolex! Most of this series of Omega watches......in solid 18k......can be had in near mint for between $600 to $900. These were in house watches(completely made by Omega.....not the case today!), and comparable quality today would set you back $3-4K. NICE..........

construct · May 9, 2003 5:37PM

I would say guineas, but chickens seem to offer more variety for the advanced collector.

fantasiize · May 9, 2003 9:57PM

Another vote for chickens and goats, but not sheep (sheep lie).

joejeweler · May 9, 2003 10:46PM

That's very true.......in some countries Sheep ALWAYS seem to have a headache!

<< <i>Another vote for chickens and goats, but not sheep (sheep lie). >>

Lakesammman · May 9, 2003 11:12PM

I've collected ironstone for the last 40 years. It's English dishware from the mid-1800's, introduced primarily into America. Here's one of my favorites. Classic Gothic all the way.

If we lived in a barter or a cashless society and coins were never introduced, what would you be col

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