should you concentrate on one type of coin to collect?

kidd

I personally collect all coin types. I enjoy all the types that were and still are minted. I see alot of top pops and high end coins in this forum, myself the closest thing to a top pop I have is an NGC pf70 1997 w eagle ($25) it`s just a cameo but still the only one graded so far. just wondered what you all think. Am i wrong to not care if mine are the high end coins and just enjoy them for what they are or should a person decide on one or two types to collect?

mgoodm3

there is no right way. collect what you like.

dthigpen

Collect what you enjoy and makes you happy, end of story

kidd

hey dthigpen, i`m even starting to like my holed ones after talking to you.

ziggy29

<< <i>there is no right way. collect what you like. >>

Regulated

If I were advising a new collector, I would strongly suggest beginning with one type. He or she can then develop the skill set necessary to understand issues of grading, originality, varieties, etc. within that type. Once these fundamentals are mastered within one area, the basic concepts can be applied to other areas of numismatics (with varying degrees of success).

LanLord

So far, I only collect one kind of coins.

Round.

But as soon as I find some with scalloped edges or square I'm makin a change.

As the other loonies before me have said, collect what makes you happy.

RYK

I agree with Regulated (welcome, BTW). If you can develop mastery in one area, you are doing well. Then, or perhaps concurrently, you can move into another. There is absoultely nothing wrong with collecting what you like, no matter what it is. But I see the advanced collectors as being specialists in one or a few areas, and that is what I would like to do.

Dave99B

As long as you don't collect Ike dollars, I'm fine with your approach. Do what makes you happy. It's supposed to be fun!

Dave

ColonialCoinUnion

I specialize in one area, colonials, for a number of reasons:

1) I find them interesting
2) I think they are, by and large, undervalued
3) I can become reasonably expert in this somewhat limited area
4) I don't have an unlimited budget to collect lots of different series at once

While the colonial specialty may have different dynamics than other areas of numismatics, I think these are compelling general reasons to focus on the one area that YOU find most interesting.

coinguy89

I've been told that its a good idea and it will make collecting more fun. I personally just buy what looks good to sell and my collecting is mostly limited to tokens, specifcally CWT's, store cards from my area, and Hickey Bros. tokens.

nwcs

No right way and no wrong way. Some people really enjoy set building. Others, like me, just like variety.

LindeDad

Have fun and collect what you want. Thought I was going to stick to halves. Already deep in quarters, and those dollars look good, and I think I need some of those little dimes for a date set.
Funning aside most people are more inclined to develope a liking for one type or period follow the yellow brick road where ever it goes. But remember it's a hobby so it should be what you like.

spelling.

Shamika

Contact us when you start to get board. Otherwise, keep on doing what you're doing.

littlejohn

hi
i started with just one type of coin.the lincoln cent.got about half of that set done. than i move on to the jefferson nickel, got the whole proof set from 1938 to 2004.had the top 5th set.till i move on to half dollar.did not stay with them to lone.
now i on the $10 gold liberty.been doing real with them.made some real good money.
littlejohn

kidd

thanks for all the advice, sounds like i`m doing exactly what i should be doing right now. i`ve been collecting for almost 20 years, but just now getting to enjoy it more. I am kinda leaning towards pre 65 coins. the clads are nice, but don`t have the stories behind them like the older silver and gold. Love my proofs though.working on the whole set right now. only missing the 42 and priors and the 51. Maybe santa will be kind to me. thanks for all the responses.

BAJJERFAN

I collect in the Morgan series and just dabble in some other stuff.

Conder101

<< <i>But as soon as I find some with scalloped edges or square I'm makin a change. >>


Well then your in the wrong place Lanlord. Come on over to the Darkside, that's were we keep the scalloped edged and square coins. Also 3, 5, 6,. . . .22 sided coins.

coinguy89

<< <i>

<< <i>But as soon as I find some with scalloped edges or square I'm makin a change. >>


Well then your in the wrong place Lanlord. Come on over to the Darkside, that's were we keep the scalloped edged and square coins. Also 3, 5, 6,. . . .22 sided coins. >>



You forgot to add tokens. They have the scalloped, square, rectangular, round, and many other shapes. Most of these are afordable, with rarities out there.

keets

hey kidd

while the old axiom of "collect what you like and have fun" is hard to argue with, it seems clear that those collectors who are most successful and having the most fun are those that tend to specialize in a certain area. that's not to say the axiom's not true, what it tells me is that the rule of thumb is this---we each start where we start and eventually find an area we like above all others, turn our focus to it and settle in for the ride. i'm currently having fun collecting Jefferson Nickels by date, medals and Denominational Type.

i'm a believer that success in Numismatics, like everything else worthwhile, hinges on focus in a specific area. in any walk of life the most successful persons have focus. the trick is finding that area and then turning your attention to learning as much as you can about it.

al h.

CarlWohlforth

It is great to buy what ever catches your eye. It is fine to learn a bit about many areas of numismatics. If you are out to have some fun and aren't spending significant amounts of money then you can make impulse purchases and buy interesting things on a lark.

Some people expect to build a collection of lasting or even increasing value. Others hope to make money from trading coins. Still others want to build a finest known set. In all these cases one would need focus to be successful.

Each series has its own grading peculiarities. Each series has key dates. Each series has gone through changes year by year. To know all that and also to be aware of the market for each date/grade takes focus. Since there are so many different types of coins it is easy to be drawn in different directions.

saintguru

Personally I prefer to concentrate on ONE series. You get to know all the idiosyncratic nuances of the dates, strikes and grades. It allows one to focus on what they are doing. I for one am a GRADE fanatic, and if done by the book, it takes a dedication of funds that wuld make diversification difficult. I look at building a set of coins as making a fine sculpture...it has to be refined until it's as perfect as one can get it within their means.

CharlieB

<< <i>If I were advising a new collector, I would strongly suggest beginning with one type. He or she can then develop the skill set necessary to understand issues of grading, originality, varieties, etc. within that type. Once these fundamentals are mastered within one area, the basic concepts can be applied to other areas of numismatics (with varying degrees of success). >>



Pretty good advice. And forty years later I am doing what Saintguru eloquently opined, " it's the nuances
of the dates, strikes and grades" that now count.

100proof1957

Still a newb around here !

Was watching Coin Vault a while back and the SHQ proof sets caught my eye !
Didnt buy anything,but i did buy the 01 sets from a member here for half of the Vault price (surprise) !

Order the 04's from the mint and some peace nickels.
Start back tracking the SHQ sets in silver and clad and it starts getting spendy ! but its too late to quit,almost caught up now but im in the sets for about a grand when the smoke clears.

I see a 57 Roosie in 68 CAM on Flea Bay and i figure its a nice starter coin on a birth year proof set to hand down to my 13 year old son someday.

Little did i know that 57 CAMS are very tough and low POP's as well,and they aint cheap in 68 CAM (though the roosies are common).

Well,i have now upgraded that Roosie 4 or 5 times,searched 40-50 1957 proof sets,bought and sold a ton of those and searched raw linkys and jeffs for cams !

I have a nice Registry set across the street which has been sent to PCGS for xover and raw coins flying around and 15-20 coins in for grade now.

Lest you think me an idiot (i am)

I was into coins in the 88-90 boom and bought and sold about 50-75k in high grade Walkers,got out with my skin and a better understanding of coins.

Still have my whitman books from childhood as well.

Collect what you like !

Its the fever i tell ya !

Nickelback

I started with Jeffersons but have become interested in a lot of other series. One thing I did before joining this forum was to get a hold of some good reference books, learn from viewing forums like this, and get to know a couple of respectable dealers...now I'm becoming interested in tokens (Civil War and Alaska tokens). Most of the Alaska ones are inexpensive but have enough history behind them to really make them interesting for someone who lives there. I've learned a lot from concentrating on the Jeffs that has translated over to the whole hobbie (thats what it is to me). Just remember to have fun with it.