US vs. World coins

Aethelred

US - How much over bid will it cost?

WORLD - I can get an XXX year old coin for in BU only $XXX.XX? I'll take it!

US - What is the number on the slab?

WORLD - Why was it minted?

US - It is POP 174/18.

WORLD - If this thing could talk!

US - I made money on this deal.

WORLD - I love this coin!

US - If I crack it and send it back....

WORLD - If I crack a book I can learn the history of the period when this was made.

MacCrimmon

<< <i>WORLD - If this thing could talk! >>


Exactly. I would love to know who owned some of the British coins which I've acquired.......

For instance, who kept this coin intact in this condition for 308 years? It simply boggles my mind, but I'm glad for those caretakers throughout the centuries. After all, in the purest form, the true collector is nothing but an eternal chain of curators waiting for the next handoff.

Aethelred

Great point Mac, we don't really own our coins, we only pay for the right to care for them for a brief time!

MSD61

I have to agree with you on this Aethelred. As much as I like U.S. coins sometimes I feel that those who collect them loose sight of their history. I mean you hold a 1878 Morgan in your hand how can you not think on where this coin as been and who has had it? I was looking at an Italian 10 Centesimi I have dated 1861 and though to myself that at the time in U.S. history the civil war was on. Coins are a piece of history frozen in time and I think many collectors forget that.

Askari

I concur!

theboz11

cosmicdebris

wybrit

Well done.

cladking

While these observations may well apply to groups of the US and world
coin collectors they have no validity to individuals. There are many pure
US coin collectors and there are some world collectors who have similar
motivation to that ascribed to litesiders.

coinkat

Interesting observations by all... I am more interested in world coins because I think it is far more interesting and affordable. There have been many discussions about modern/classic coinage, TPG and a recent post that offered a Poll as to who is the most knowledgeable boardmember of general numismatics. Well general numismatics is a huge catagory that really can not be appreciated unless and until one has looked for all types of coins/medals etc. that fall within this broad topic. There is a big difference between modern US Proofs and hammered coinage from the reign of Charles I.

What is my point? I'm glad you asked... collecting should be a learning process that expands and grows as we become more knowledgeable. I started with US coins and 6 years ago I never thought I would be seeking hammered English coins among other things... I am sure others here have similar stories to tell.

cacheman

I find it interesting to hold a coin that was made shortly after the North American continent was discovered...

Aethelred

<< <i>I find it interesting to hold a coin that was made shortly after the North American continent was discovered... >>



Or before, that (the history) is the magic in collecting world coins! It is true that many US collectors LOVE the history of their coins and read a great deal about them, but I suspect many more world collectors are history buffs.

oldshep

Right on - very interesting observations, that's what makes this hobby so much fun.
Shep

wallstreetman

U.S. SILVER DOLLAR COLLECTOR- "I've done pretty good $ wise over the years!"

WORLD SILVER DOLLAR COLLECTOR- "I sure wish my collection would get in-line with my U.S. buddy, I like $ as well as an education"!

SYRACUSIAN

Point made.

MrEureka

Aethelred - Which would you pick?

paigowjohnny

Every now and then...us litesiders get it....

Was looking at some of my old circ Walkers and Lincolns last night...thinking how some of them circulated during WWI...during WW II, etc...

wybrit

If I had to pick, it would be the confederate cent. Then I would sell it immediately and buy 30-50 uncirculated gothic florins.

HalfCents

Aethelred: I even have one from your namesake.

KlectorKid

I can pick up a stone outside my house its millions of years old and costs me nothing but i dont collect them because I dont like them. Same with U.S. and world coins, collect what you like. Whats more pathetic than a U.S. coin collector doing what you wrote in the post? The person who would waste their time writing it in the first place.

Darkhorse

Definitely the U.S. coin collector.

KlectorKid

Definitely the World coin collector.

Aethelred

Nice Sceat you have there Halfcent!

coinkat

Great looking coins MrEureka... especially considering how often they are seen. Certainly these are not what I would call mainstream US coins... Thanks for sharing.

I still think there is a general difference in the mentality of most world and US collectors. TPG still is not widely accepted "across the pond" and the pricing spreads in the grading spectrum for world coins do not seem to be as severe.

Better world coins have a market that is not as well defined as the US market... especially for silver dollars. An 1885-cc Morgan can be sold easier because of the demand whereas certain world coins, even though certain dates may be significantly scarcer, are thinly traded and the market can be a more of a challenge...whether buying or selling.

1jester

"For instance, who kept this coin intact in this condition for 308 years? It simply boggles my mind, but I'm glad for those caretakers throughout the centuries. After all, in the purest form, the true collector is nothing but an eternal chain of curators waiting for the next handoff." --Mac

Exactly. That's what I find remarkable. Thinking of the history of the coin, and that we're only temporary vessels for keeping that history intact.

Mr. Eureka is trying to pretend to be a Litesider, but we all know better.... FANTASTIC Confederate cent, Andy!!!!

I'm glad to hear KK's wisdom and enthusiam....