Are you an "art" collector, a "history" collector, a "rarity" collecto

FC57Coins

or do you just like to accumulate?

I was thinking this evening how many classics collectors would turn their eyes toward moderns if a brand new, totally classic, I mean "howl at the moon" design that would surpass the SLQ, Saint, and Buffalo, were to replace the quarter once the state program ended. Would you collect moderns then?

Then the next question that came to mind was, well - do people collect mainly for the rarity aspect of a coin? Or for the historical significance a coin, or a period of time might have?

So what flicks your bic??

Clankeye

Frank--

I have different little series I collect for different reasons.

My Carver commems I collect for the history of that particular time in the USA, the state of the civil rights movement--and I happen to think they offer more of a challenge than people realize finding them in eye appealing condition. And I am one of the few people who seem to appreciate the design.

I have gotten into Canadian coins from 1935 up for the beauty, and affordability. Some of them are not rare at all, but appeal to me on a level of fun and beauty.

Certain Dark Side coins I collect for design and times in history--like the French Walkers. I like finding a 1917 French 2 Franc and thinking about what was going on at the time it was minted (WWI).

So, Frank The Pug, different reasons--all of the above.

Clankeye

coppercoins

None of the above. I collect the largest set of coins in the largest series in US history for the challenge of doing so and little else, other than to teach others who want to do the same and either don't have the resources I have or don't have the experience I have. The Lincoln cent series, other than being the longest running series also has the most recorded (and yet unrecorded) die varieties, both minor and major, of any series ever minted - by at least five-fold. My goal is to attain at least one coin of every major die state of every die variety that exists in the series - well over 5,000 coins altogether, and possibly as many as 10,000 or more - nobody knows at this point. It's challenging, inexpensive, and fun (to me). I have always been a person of almost impossible challenges, and this one tops the cake.

There's little investment goal, there's little history involved, and it's not simple accumulation...it is a set, a series, and inevitably a collection regardless of what anyone thinks. The collection will be built upon until I die, because I know at this point that I will likely never finish it - I currently have fewer than 1,500 coins designated to a permanent home in the collection, which means that I am likely less than 25% finished. I have thousands of rolls of cents that I have yet to go through looking for my little gems, but I believe I have time for that later, once the resources for such material have all but completely dried up, and I am sure that will happen someday. So that's it in a nutshell - I'm open to questions.

Cam40

all of the above

Placid

<< <i>So what flicks your bic?? >>

Gemini

I'm A Braber collector....ooops....I mean a Barber collector...

wallstreetman

I collect whatever is rare in all of the above, whether were talking population or grade!

cladking

Most designs have been hated when they are new. There may
be nothing that can be struck on a piece of copper nickel clad that
everyone would like.

I collect modern US for all the listed reasons though "art" does take
somewhat of a back seat with most of these.

wingedliberty

The number one reason for me is aesthetic appeal., followed by the highest quality I can afford and lastly rarity. If a coin does not appeal to me on a visual level, then I will not collect it regardless of how scarce it is. I think this is the case for most true collectors.

paulheep

I am all 3! I collect Buffalo Nickels!

Paul

MacCoin

I am an unfocused collector I love the state quarters a new design 5 times a year is wonderful. with my type still all a diffent design on every coin. I love the history behind each type coin asway as the history behind my IHC, slq, and barber quarter. Rarity I am always happy to find a rare type, key, of error.

tonyhar

I collect what I like.

dorkkarl

most of my motiviation is impulse buying.

K S

FC57Coins

My first thought on collecting is that I started on the Franklin series because of the time frame it represented. It was the coin of the baby boom, and so many things were going on at that time that I found it fascinating. In due time I also fell in love with the design and the rarity aspect of high grade Frankies. At this point my collecting habits I think are leading me toward a more ecclectic pursuit in finding beautifully toned pieces of any denomination or type. To me such coins represent a departure from mainstream collecting and are interesting from the point of view that each an every one can be different, even though they're the same date and mint.

What about more opinions on the "classic modern" question?

nwcs

Art, then history.

ccr

Part history/ Part art for me. My grandmother was a daugter of a millionaire ( which was embezzaled by a crooked accountant and lawyer at the dawn of the depression ) and talked about the 1920`s like it was still going on. With WW1 nuking the worlds perception of itself and confirmed that we ( the USA ) where a force to be reckoned with. She`s been gone for a few years now ( she was in her 80`s when she died ) and now I`m still interested the period between the Great Wars. Though I`m far from being an expert on the time period.

As for art, what appeals for me is if it tells a story. Like the reverse of the Peace Dollar. We`re standing on a mountian with the Sun shining up at us looking confidently at the world around us. Almost as a protector at the dawn of a new day.

So that`s basically my angle on collecting.

MadMonk

All of the above...o.k. what did I win?

BillJones

1. History

2. Art (I am very BIG on eye appeal for the grade. I don't buy ugly coins!)

3. Rarity (rarity is nice, but a cheap coin or token with a great story finds its way into my collection quite easily.)

As for VALUE I guess one would have to say the rarity along with strong collector demand is the driver.

DHeath

Frank, great minds.......

Here's an old thread I thought you might like to revisit.

mgoodm3

1. Rarlty 2. history 3. Art. I like key dates and type. I lke all coins especially ones that are less common. I have a few series that I am interested in: IHC's, buffalos, half dimes.

razorface1027

I collect for two reasons:
1) It's fun; whatsmore, it's a challenge.
2) This is the best reason; When I CROAK, I'll at LEAST have left my 4 children with something to fight over as my father did for me and my siblings when he croaked. This, of course, is due to the fact that I BE PO, and have no greenbacks to leave'm...

mdwoods

I would say I am all three, but by preference I am first an art collector, then rarity, finally history.

CharlieB

I collect almost every coin considering

rarity 1st
art 2nd
history 3rd

Commemoratives are the exception.
I collect them in reverse order.

09sVDB

i started as kid being an accumulator. I later years I have turned to quality and rarity. Now I would have to say I am about 1/3 of each.

cladking

There are other considerations of coins also, such as importance. It is this which
makes NCLT issues to generally be seen as less desirable. There are various ways
a coin can gain importance but one of the first is how it circulated. Series which never
actually circulated or circulated for only a brief period or at low velocity aren't as impor-
tant as coins which saw more extensive circulation. Coins which had higher percentages
of their coins in actual circulation or which were important parts of commerce are more
important.

Skipper53

The artistic aspect is what first caught my eye.
The history of the coin got me hooked.
The rarity factor just made it more intriguing.

FatMan

History collector