How was your coin year?

laurentyvan

As 2003 draws to a close, I began ruminating on my first complete year in coins. Much excitement, new discoveries, lots of learning. I was going to go into the high points but since everything is still new and exciting to me it wouldn't make a lot of sense to cover things that are old hat to most everyone else on the forum. So my vote for the most significant coin-related occurance of 2003 was for me the discovery of this forum. I would have made soooo many expensive mistakes otherwise... and would never have met some very nice folks.

I would like to know, in brief or in large, how 2003 treated you. How did the so-called hot market affect what you do in coins? What was the most improved area in your collections? What happened to make this a numismatically interesting (or not) year for you? What was the single most important coin (not necessarily the most expensive one) you added to your collection?

I do notice a trend on many forum members parts towards slabbing, especially in the area of selling- have your opinions changed concerning slabs or not?

spinaker2000

Nice post Laurent. I had a good year and feel that my collecting is still evolving. I will continue to collect British coppers but may move into a sideline that was discovered this year. I really like low mintage proof coins of S. Africa, and have aquired several complete proof sets and single coppers as well. These are becoming a passion because of the design along with the thrill of the hunt.

elverno

It's good to reflect every once in awhile on whether you're still having fun! On that note, yup a great year.
Some stunners and some fillers as well but all coins or medals I wanted. The most significant is probably not
what people might expect. This year marks the first time I've collected medals known to have been in Napoleon's
personal collection. Despite that, this:



is the piece I'm most pleased with numismatically. 1797 Cisapine Republic, less than $30. My favorite geographic
area (Northern Italy), favorite time (late Directorate) and a piece I know I got because I stuck to the rule of get the
books first!

And to all those others who collect my period and just kill me with their huge pocketbooks, Happy Holidays and...

"nanner, nanner"

cosmicdebris

Spent way too much money on coins.

MacCrimmon

<< <i>Spent way too much money on coins. >>



OTOH, I was happy to see the 2004 Spinks!!

Clankeye

2003 was a very good coin year for me. It brought me to the Dark Side for the first time. And that pretty much changed everything.

I have some fairly focused collecting goals, a whole new world of coins and beauty has been opened up for me, and the capper--I've enjoyed some very intelligent and warm comradarie with the people on this forum.

I recently got a submission back from PCGS, but my liteside bias towards slabbing is being replaced with the joy of having my coins reside in holders of my choosing.

Yes, I believe 2003 has been a good year numismatically. Onward and upward.

Clankeye

newbiecollector

Well... shoot.
I did not have a good year for collecting ........ I ran out of money. That I guess can happen to anyone.

A plus for me is it took me to some of my "stash" I actually never paid enough attention to. Low value items but some lovely coins, in my opinion.

spoon

This was my first year collecting at the level above pocket change. I'm still going in broad strokes, but it's been fun

Lloyd

I've had a normal time collecting my weirdos and trading and working all hours, but the most important COIN thing that has happened during this year is joining this forum. I know that to a lot of you it's a big part of your life and I hope to make it a more significant part of my life in the new year. As long as I can get the Mrs to put a few more hours in....

One thing I learned this year: Keep your friends close and your... oops sorry wrong movie. No the thing I learned was this. If you don't enjoy coins you can't trade properly. I go to coin fairs where some guys sit alone without a customer for the best part of the day. Recently I've started talking to dealers I wouldn't normally bother with and ask what they collect. I've had everything from thimbles and £50 notes to "you can't deal and collect". Wrong - I say you can't deal and NOT collect. If you don't really like what you're doing your table will be full of "nothing" coins. They might cost £200 but you will get a better one next door for not much more. You all know the type of thing. Ever looked at a 10 page coin list and not fancied one thing, regardless of price? The full tables where people are three deep and clawing at the stock is where the dealer is a true coin 'fan'. Some of these people talk my head off on the phone, purely about coins, with no business transactions at stake.

Good post Laurent (and I'll talk to you in a minute.. pm)

Lloyd

Clankeye

An interesting and very good point, Lloyd.

Clankeye

oldshep

This was a banner year for me - I wandered over to this forum and ran into cosmicdebris and his beautiful lions and newbiecollector and his wonderful ships and that set me off to collecting world coins - and then the people on this forum opened up another world of communication and learning - all in all a good year!
Shep

rhound1977

It's been a great year, Mongoose and Spinaker pointed me this forum, I got to meet some great members at the Charlotte ANA show. I have
learned more here than almost from anywhere else. Friends have been made and coins have been traded and sold. I have traded with folks
from all around the world, and won a few giveaways and had a few. It's all fun and enjoyable, there is just as much fun in giving as receiving!

I got hooked on Great Britian, retired (mostly) from U.S. and still collect world coins. Occasionaly Mongoose, Spinaker and I compete for Copper,
but I do collect silver and all others, which I think keeps me out of too much trouble.

I look forward to the New Year, and more coin endavours, and the F.U.N. show (how many days now?)

I do wish everyone the best for the Holidays and the forthcoming New Year.

Thanks! Everyone......

Glenn

Bruce

It has been a so-so year collecting for me. I have had a few "coin slumps" while busy working on the house and camping. However, I have added much to my collection and my debt is paid off so hopefully in the new year I can make some of the more pricy acquisitions I have had to resist the last couple of years.

coinkat

It was a fun year... new friends, new purchases and lots of interesting coins

wybrit

I would say I had a great but pricey year. The British market has not yet caught up with a lot of the US dealers, but I predict it will by next year or perhaps 2005. Many dealers I used to frequent had sold their entire stocks of UK coins this year - few have obtained any more nor are they likely to do so. Colorado, which was once a fertile place for getting cheap but quality material, is virtually a wasteland now. In many cases, it is British dealers coming over here to reclaim homeland coinage. In some cases, it is the few big names who are left here buying up everything in sight and profiting handsomely from doing so.

Several highlights: (1) Victorian type set with some absolutely fantastic silver pieces. It was a shame the crowns and godless florin were hairlined, so I negotiated out of buying those. (2) Picking up a scarce MS 1908 shilling as shown in my sig line for a price that is not at all out of line with Brit market value. (3) Filling some big holes in my halfpenny and farthing collections. (4) Finding out that some of my coins bought just 3-4 years ago have appreciated 400-500% - better than any of my stock picks!

I also sold more coins through my website than I ever could on ebay and I thank those of you here who were part of that! I hope you (have) enjoy(ed) them as much as I had.

Luvdawgs

My year was quiet as far as new purchases, although I did acquire a few nice S. Afr. 1 D and 1/2 D ship coins, and a few others.

I did enjoy reading all of your posts and the friendships I have here.

This coming year, I'd like to be able to find some Canadian error coins at reasonable prices. I've seen some on ebay, but the prices skyrocketed.

I'm very fortunate to have met all of you online and hope I can meet some in person some day.

MrMoo

While I have still yet to buy a coin in many years. Shameless plug. I have finally decided to sell off some darkside pieces.

One the other side I might start looking at Great Britan pieces again. Gotta love the Trade $.

nwcs

2003 has been a good coin year even with all the turbulence, changes, and new ideas. But I do want to start finding some better darkside stuff. None of the stuff I've seen locally has impressed me.

Aethelred

It was a great year for me in many ways, I met several forum members, added some great coins to the "Aethelred Collection" and changed from a job I hated to one that I love (at a coin shop no less).

Askari

Well, as always, I've enjoyed watching the Dark Side grow and "mature" -- and yet still become ever more fun! I've learned a lot and have really greatly expanded my collection of medals and my knowledge of them and their influence on coin designs. I can't say that any one acquisition stands out head-and-shoulders above the rest, though.

laurentyvan

I've checked your bidding patterns Askari my friend; I've looked at what you bought and you could brag a little if you wanted to but no, you're very self effacing-a quality I like!

1jester

I've been blessed this year by numerous new friends, dead and alive, many of which reside here on this forum. This place has been a great pleasure, even solace, to me as I've come to know more of you better, and also vastly increase my rather limited numismatic knowledge. So, a big thank you (and group hug) to you all!!

Also, I've had the pleasure of buying some coins from many of you, and that has been really superb as a buying experience, as I've been able to acquire many nice pieces without the hassle and stress of not knowing if what you're buying is real or fake, over or under-graded, etc etc. So, thank you for that!

And, this year has brought me the ability to significantly add to my collection, for which I'm grateful. Also, some of those coins, chiefly British coins, have increased in catalog value even over this year.

Overall, this year has been a good (if not also expensive) one, and I thank God for that!

Happy Collecting!

Darkhorse

It's been a very slow year for my collection. Nowhere near the glory of the summer of 2002 and especially 2001.

cacheman

The four "G's"

Goetz, Gothics, GeorgeIII's, and German CV's...

Darkhorse

<< <i>The four "G's"

Goetz, Gothics, GeorgeIII's, and German CV's... >>



You forgot the 5th G, Scott.

Shipcoin

The best year for my coin's collecting -sure! Why? Because I have discovered that FORUM!!! With the help of Severo, who told me about it and kindly help of Newbie, who got me here and help me a lot!! Thanks gyus and thanks for all others who encouraged me and made my first steps here really nice and pleasant!! And now is the time to tell thanks to Jester, Askari, Theboz (where is he , by the way?) and many others for their guidance and help all the time!

And it was a nice post Laurentyvan!


P. S. As for the coin of year, I though that for me it was Columbian Half, 1893 for my shipcoins theme.

1jester

Nick, thanks for the compliments and thanks for joining us over here! Your presence makes a difference for the better!

newbiecollector

Now Nick.......... post a lot more of your coin photos...........

shirohniichan

This year has had its ups and downs.

The low point was losing my job in January and having to sell my US Centennial set in March. It took me a long time to put the set together, and all I needed was the $10 gold piece to finish it.

The high points have been meeting more forum people in person, continuing to plug away on my sets, and finally finding some scarce Dansco albums for my Australia, New Zealand, and Canada sets. Just this week I found a 1932 Southern Rhodesia 2 shillings for my commonwealth George V florin set.

Shipcoin

Nice revenge, Wayne!

farthing

It's been a very good coin year for me. A couple of great medals including one with the architectural floor plan of the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the wooden clamshell it came in. Bought several high end Conder tokens this year and am focusing more of my time and resources in that direction.

Continued to add to my 1 per country/state/political style/monetary reform collection. Lots of cheap coins in that collection that are fun to track down.

I've also had the "opportunity" to create a nearly complete date set of current Singapore currency this year

canadiancoinguy

Decent year. I changed directions to work on my Canadian set more often, and pickedup a number of maritime pieces to do that. Learned alot and matured a bit more as to my tastes.

DoubleDime

I had a pretty good year. First off I managed to stay in my budget !! The list of coins I made to get at the start of the year I acquired them all and anything after that was a bonus. I deceided to give E-Bay a try and to my surprise I won afew lots and at a very price. I also added to my world coin collection thru deals with fellow forum members.