Why don't you sell ALL your coins?

topstuf

And buy just ONE with the money?

Serious question. I'd like to know some different views on "quantity vs. quality."

I know several collectors have collections that would buy one real rarity.

idocoins

One egg in One basket..........NOT

kranky

One coin doesn't make much of a collection.

roadrunner

I just might if I knew the rarity would maintain its value. This could be a logical thing to do if you wanted to get out of the coin market before the next "crash" while maintaining your capital. At one point I was considering an MS65 1876-cc 20 cent piece but got cold feet at the last minute.

roadrunner

MadMarty

At one time, I sold all my business strike Morgans and started buying proof Morgans...

kieferscoins

How many proofs do you have madmarty?

Cameron Kiefer

tradedollarnut

IMO, financially that might be a smart move. The bigger the rarity, the more likely that overseas or diversified American buyers would be interested in it. Since we're gonna have a weakening dollar over the forseeable future, the rarities will tend to maintain their value better in foreign currency [ie: go up the most in dollars].

But it might not be a very interesting collection.

LanLord

I have actually thought about it several times.

However, some of the coins I have hold more than just monitary value to me, they were left to me by my father.

I'd have difficulty parting with those, the ones I have bought myself, I could easliy sell and buy one (or a couple) big coins.

mrearlygold

"""""Why don't you sell ALL your coins?""""""""""


Why not jump out in front of moving traffic?

Would be about the same thing!


Tom

topstuf

Oh come on. I didn't MEAN the one you got from Sister Teresa on her deathbed.

PURCHASED coins....

my3cents

I keep trying to sell all my coins... problem is, I buy more faster than I can sell them

topstuf

TDN......Whadday mean "not interesting?"

Gotta think about it. You go to the coin show (shop, club, dealer) with your 1913 Lib nickel and say modestly, "Hi, I collect old nickels."

Man.....that has GOT to prove "interesting."

dan1ecu

As far as "quantity vs. quality," I derive a lot of pleasure from buying a coin or two every month. To do this, they need to be inexpensive coins. One very expensive coin would not be as much fun for me. I love those Heritage Exclusively Internet auctions! Something to look forward to every Tuesday night...

Dan

ziggy29

Just in terms of collecting, to me there's a happy medium between quality and quantity.

If I had $100,000 to spend on coins, in general I'd rather have 100 $1,000 coins than one $100,000 coin or 10,000 $10 coins.

Baley

Just in terms of collecting, to me there's a happy medium between quality and quantity.

If I had $100,000 to spend on coins, in general I'd rather have 100 $1,000 coins than one $100,000 coin or 10,000 $10 coins.

well said. I like having a meaningful collection of different coins, not one big coin.

cladking

With my collections I want just one of everything. In many cases either there
are no true rarities or acquiring them involves perseverence much more than
cash. Rare moderns will be acquired when the resources are available, but I'll
still want one of everything.

ColonialCoinUnion

I agree to a point -

I definately susbscribe to the 'sell a bunch of cheap coins and own a much smaller number of expensive coins' theory and I have done that over the years.

The next jump of dumping them all (every last one of them) and buying 1 single piece does interest me. Practically speaking, however, its not that easy. For me, today, that would mean marketing everything I own and, over a period of perhaps 6 months, realizing the cash and then finding that one right coin to buy with it.

Now, if someone offered to trade 1 single monumemtal rarity for my entire collection I'd strongly consider it, as that would take the time and effort to sell my coins out of the equation.

Myqqy

Putting together a collection piece by piece is a very satisfying experience. I also think there has to be a balance between quantity and quality...

haletj

I am having this debate right now. I'm thinking of selling a whole bunch of Lincolns from my set to buy a gem 14-d coming to the market soon. I'd have a month to try to raise the money. Problem is I might lose money if I sell to a dealer, and I may not be able to find enough collectors to sell them to in time to get the 14-d. Also not sure if I need a gem 14-d to have my set the way I want it. (A 26-s would be a better date to put a huge amount of money into I think.)

mgoodm3

I can only take so many pics of one coin. But I am trying to pare down my collection.

Bear

I constantly prune my collection ,so it stays around 60 coins, but I do like variety in types

and in colors.

LincolnCentMan

Yah, but why would I want the finest known 1804 dollar? Ok, maybe not.

I've thought about this prospect mulitpal times. Here's the reasons I've come up with:

1) Once you get to a certain level, the hobby has an investment side. I tend to think that the money is safer if diversified.

2) In the event that I need some money... say 20% of my collection's value, I can cash out part of my collection if I have multipal coins. If I have one, I'll have to cash it all out.

3) I want to have something to look at.

4) 50% of the fun is in the collecting. The other 50% is in the havingl. I wouldnt want to kill half my fun.

5) Completing a set gives you a super since of gratification.

David

mercurynut

I prefer few quality coins than a lot of lot of lower grade ones.

Lakesammman

I'd never be able to settle on just one....interesting concept, though.

Dog97

<<<...And buy just ONE with the money?>>>
Cause those Whitmans have so many dam holes in them.

Hadleydog

One coin would not a collection make.
My own collection is down to only 14 coins from about 30 pieces 4 years ago, I am now a staunch believer in quality over quantity. I would like to eventually even out at around 20 pieces, and it is going to take me a few years to get there!

topstuf

OK. I want the ENTIRE series of US gold coins that are identified as being from the California gold rush.

WHY.....didn't I buy an 1848 "CAL" back when?

ms70

I want to enjoy looking at all the different types & designs that came through the years. For me investment comes 2nd.

Trime

Very serious question for an investor/collector decision.
It does not have to be all for one (in my case) but the principle is clear. For the investor, quality collectables (rarity and condition) will usually increase more steeply than lots of ordinary. This not always the case however and liquidity may be better in broadly affordable price range. It really depends where you are in the value cycle.
For me I am a collector and I just accumulate "stuff"

BAJJERFAN

You know if EVERYONE subscribed to that belief you would have about 100 collectors with one coin each and little to no market for the rest of them. Coin collecting would be all but dead.

ibzman350

because 1 coin is not considered a hoard

I like "hoard"


Herb

IrishMike

Sounds like about as much fun as marrying the first gal you got to know. She better be the answer for a long time. Think of all the fun you missed out on. Seriously collecting to me is finding interesting coins much like dating was.

kieferscoins

<< <i>Sounds like about as much fun as marrying the first gal you got to know. >>



But she might be the one for you and you may not have a chance later down the road!

Cameron Kiefer

keets

hey topstuf

very good proposition, but i think some misunderstand.

i don't think everyone has really thought the question through. it's not like if we each sold all we had----minus those sentimental coins----that we couldn't buy more. just imagine the value of your present collection wrapped up in one super-coin that would appreciate better than the whole collection. then keep buying after that just like you're buying now.

to use dan1ecu as an example, after a year he'd have the super-coin and 12-24 additional coins. wouldn't that constitute a collection??

al h.

Jody526

I 've never sold a coin, so I really wouldn't know how. LOL

Seriously though, I don't enjoy my expensive pieces any more than I do my <$10 ones.
My coins' values aren't why I collect them.

ANACONDA

It's like having one wife. Take it from there.

topstuf

Actually, I suppose it's sorta what I did when I first got serious (yeah...once in a while) about coins. I used to buy a $20 gold piece every time I scrounged up 60 bucks. Then I would go to shows and trade a handful of those for a bust five or something. Then I would trade the rare coin for more $20's an so on an so on.....etc.

Such are the machinations of a geek with no money.

UncleJoe

UncleJoe

NO.

My collecting isn't about the best financial move or the best bragging rights etc.

It is a hobby. I enjoy the buying and selling of coins without worrying whether or not I made the last dollar or have the best coin.

Joe.

RedneckHB

<< <i>Just in terms of collecting, to me there's a happy medium between quality and quantity.

If I had $100,000 to spend on coins, in general I'd rather have 100 $1,000 coins than one $100,000 coin or 10,000 $10 coins.

well said. I like having a meaningful collection of different coins, not one big coin. >>



I would rather have 10 $10,000 coins.

nwcs

<< <i>One coin doesn't make much of a collection. >>

Ditto

EvilMCT

Because I'm a collector not an investor. I've not sold a single coin from my collection. A lot of my coins have value to me far beyond their market value. And, as has been said before, a single coin isn't much of a collection.

Ken

oldcameoproofsguy

I sold all of my coins to buy a house that rules. I live in my house, I don't live in a single rarity.

I've switched over to gold coins. They aren't horribly expensive, they have bullion value backing them up and if the world economy goes belly up they might even prove to be a decent investment. For now it's just a fun diversion from the types of coins I've collected for many years.

Oh yeah, if I could own the Childs 1804 Silver Dollar, I would in a second. That is probably the single most beautiful coin in existence. Even if I had to sell a collection I've been working on for 50 years to get it, I would.

topstuf

OCPG......Have you checked the house for repairs or repainting?