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With all the complaints going on, why do you still collect coins ?

I've done my fair share of gripes about inconsistent grading, shady dealers, unrealistic and unfair profit margins, dealer hype, dipping being thought of as conserving, etc.... But I still collect because after all this time and all the controversy it's in my blood and it's still fun. The thrill of going to a coin show still makes me feel like a kid in a candy store, if that feeling ever goes away, I'll probably give it up, but I've had that same feeling for over 35 years so I don't think it will ever happen.

How about you ? Is it still fun, or is the thrill gone ?

Les
The President claims he didn't lie about taxes for those earning less then $250,000 a year with public mandated health insurance yet his own justice department has said they will use the right of the government to tax when the states appeals go to court.

Comments

  • mgoodm3mgoodm3 Posts: 17,497 ✭✭✭
    The problems most people seem to have are mainly with the business side of things. I collect because I enjoy old coins, that won't change.
    coinimaging.com/my photography articles Check out the new macro lens testing section
  • RussRuss Posts: 48,514 ✭✭✭
    It is an odyssey of adventure; a journey of edification; an expedition in to the unknown (for me); a trek in the vast expanse of knowledge yet to be acquired. And, fun too.

    Russ, NCNE
  • lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,888 ✭✭✭✭✭
    What Russ said (very eloquently, I might add).

    If it weren't fun, I wouldn't do it anymore.

    And that includes being a dealer. I don't earn my living from it- I'm only a part-time dealer. (I often wonder if I did it full time, if the fun would go out of it...)

    Explore collections of lordmarcovan on CollecOnline, management, safe-keeping, sharing and valuation solution for art piece and collectibles.
  • LakesammmanLakesammman Posts: 17,461 ✭✭✭✭✭
    It's like driving by all the used car lots to the car of your dreams.....you just learn to ignore them.
    "My friends who see my collection sometimes ask what something costs. I tell them and they are in awe at my stupidity." (Baccaruda, 12/03).I find it hard to believe that he (Trump) rushed to some hotel to meet girls of loose morals, although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world. (Putin 1/17) Gone but not forgotten. IGWT, Speedy, Bear, BigE, HokieFore, John Burns, Russ, TahoeDale, Dahlonega, Astrorat, Stewart Blay, Oldhoopster, Broadstruck, Ricko, Big Moose, Cardinal.
  • airplanenutairplanenut Posts: 22,390 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I complain about school every day... I carry 4 AP classes, and three are in the morning... on mondays, my 5 academic classes are my first 5 periods (two of which are an hour long)...

    Why do I take such hard courses? Because in the end, I'll get somewhere... are there times when it's not fun? Of course, but I have to put those times away (even if they are most of the time)... there are enjoyable times, and in the end, I'll be better because I did this...

    It's the same with coins... there are bumps along the way, but you can't always just give up... plus, I don't have anything better to do...

    Jeremy
    JK Coin Photography - eBay Consignments | High Quality Photos | LOW Prices | 20% of Consignment Proceeds Go to Pancreatic Cancer Research
  • jdimmickjdimmick Posts: 9,783 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Dont care about what others feel, I just know that I truly love coins and plan on collecting till I am in the ground.

    Might even have a few thrown in the casket with me to look at later!
  • Because I just do... image
  • I'm having a great time. Just got two packages in the mail today--both exceeded my expectations. Pure enjoyment of the hobby.

    By learning to tune certain things out--I feel more like tuning in.


    Clankeye
    Brevity is the soul of wit. --William Shakespeare
  • JohnZJohnZ Posts: 1,732
    Part of the allure is in fact the challenge of sifting through all the hype and fraud and coming out the other side with a great coin at a great price. Sort of like playing a game of chess.

    We ARE watching you.

    image
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,702 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I collect coins because I like coins. The problems do become discouraging at times. Just in the past month I had a serious problem with an eBay seller sending me a refund check that bounced. Fortunately, he eventually made good on it with USPS Money Orders (love those USPS Money Orders!). I am also now involved in another dispute with an eBay seller who had an undisclosed "no return" policy. Yesterday, on an eBay auction, a rival bidder did what I call "bid fishing". He bid high to see what my maximum bid was and then quickly withdrew his bid. Knowing my bid had been compromised, I withdrew my bid on the lot and informed the seller what had happened.

    Problems in the hobby are nothing new. When I was just starting to collect back in 1962 a dealer tried to sell me an altered date 1914-d cent. (He was unsuccessful.)

    I'd better not think about this too much.


    All glory is fleeting.
  • dragondragon Posts: 4,548 ✭✭
    I collect for Registry points.
  • coinkatcoinkat Posts: 23,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Coin collecting can be what you make it... you can choose to avoid the crap and the issues that can make it problematic or you can choose to say what you think, based upon your experiences, and contribute in a positive way.

    As for the thrill being gone... I have come close to loosing interest in US coins several times, but something has always surfaced that has sparked my interest.

    Currently, I have a greater interest in world coins and there I really enjoy looking because it just isn't the same coins all the time.

    Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.



  • Might even have a few thrown in the casket with me to look at later! >>



    Jdimmick, you better not bury the 1901 S quarter in fine, because if you go before I do I'm gonna walk thru your graveyard with a metal detector and a shovel!!! image

    Les
    The President claims he didn't lie about taxes for those earning less then $250,000 a year with public mandated health insurance yet his own justice department has said they will use the right of the government to tax when the states appeals go to court.
  • I just can't help myself!! imageimage
  • mdwoodsmdwoods Posts: 5,559 ✭✭✭
    With all the complaints going on, why do you still collect coins ?

    It's great fun and it gives me something to complain about. image
    National Register Of Big Trees

    We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    I avoid the things that bother me, so I maintain my enjoyment level. Many things I can just shrug off (sellers hyping coins). To me coins are still cool, so it still interests me.

    BTW, eloquently said, Russ.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • nwcsnwcs Posts: 13,386 ✭✭✭
    That's the thing. I generally don't complain. I only complain about unethical behavior. Such as when a person misrepresents an artificially toned coin as natural or when a national collectors mint medal is marketed as being a 1933 $20 or 1889cc $1.
  • cladkingcladking Posts: 28,743 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I've never had any complaints about coins. ...Well, maybe the prices of some favorites are out of reach.
    But as long as something is affordable, I'll have no serious complaints.
    tempus fugit extra philosophiam.
  • mozeppamozeppa Posts: 4,431 ✭✭✭
    sure...collecting is great fun...

    stops me from climbing a belltower with a high powered rifle...

    gotta do something about stress and anger management tho
    image
  • 66Tbird66Tbird Posts: 2,858 ✭✭✭
    I collect for the thrill of acquiring a piece of beauty and history. Now if I could just figure why I just look at it for a few minutes after I get a new coin and then lock it away. I guess it's the thrill each time I look at the set.
    Need something designed and 3D printed?
  • It's sort of like chasing women when I was younger. The courting, the chasing ,the games and everything that went with it was fun. But once you get married that's when the fun ends! image

    I collect at a much lower level than I used to given all the games and shady dealings. Some say there is too much of a business element to collecting today, well when you are dropping thousands of dollars per auction and tens of thousands per year you had better know what you are doing and treat it like business or you will lose. High end coin collecting has to be one of the most expensive hobbies around. My buddy flies light aircraft and he can buy an airplane kit for as little as $18k - engine, that won't even get you a MS65 HR Saint!

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