There are many reasons, but the beauty of the coins, and the history associated with them, make them much more interesting. The research associated with the story behind the coins makes them much more interesting long term.
I am always telling other collectors to look beyond the US for coins to collect. I once told a fellow coin club member who was looking at a display of about a hundred Morgans to stand about 4 feet back, and they all look the same. It’s good that we were friends, because he did not appreciate it.
Bob
I like Ikes!! But I especially like Viking Ships, Swedish Plate Money, and all coins Scandinavian.
I couldn't pick only one choice myself but for me it's historical and esthetics. You are talking about some world coins being twice or even 4 times older than any U.S. coin. Imagine, holding a coin that was struck before the U.S. was even a pipedream or a hammered example maybe held in the hands of a King! When you look past your own nations coinage you are looking at other nation's history, culture and art now how exciting is that???
Well, someone whose personal site is www.napoleonicmedals.org should be obvious...
But like others I could have picked several reasons besides specific historical interest. I really like being able to get a decent coin 200 years old for $20 or less that has seen more history in its time than we sometimes care to contemplate. When my favorite Salzburg kreutzer was walking around in Mozart's pocket Napoleone Buonaparte was trying to free his native Corsica in the first afterglow of the Revolution. And that was it's *first* year on the planet...
I could have picked more than one but rarity versus cost was my choice, but I also like the variety, history, and also I have lived outside the US, and visited quite a few foreign nations..
The "pick one" nature of the poll forces me to answer "other", since I don't consider myself to be an iconoclast, and I reside (most of the year) in the U.S., but all the other choices apply and I can't pick one over all the others.
Mainly because I inherited a large collection of darkside coinage with family ties attatched. Also, they aren't as overpriced as U.S. coins. As I see it now, all of the British proof coins I have are worth more or should be worth much more than any coins in my U.S. collection. With a falling dollar I willl be rich!
Several of the options are reasons for me, but I voted for esthetics.
The real reasons are estehtics, history, beauty, variety, and the amazingly low prices for "good stuff" as compared to decent liteside stuff. I used to collect strictly liteside, but it became cost prohibitive. Since I "found" the Darkside (thanks to practically ALL of you here), my pure pleasure in collecting has increased a hundredfold. Maybe more
I like all coins but especially rare coins and gems. I'm drawn to any coin but can only afford rarity and gems in world coins, modern US, and tokens (medals). I'm also drawn to attractive coins and great variety so world coins are a natural. Early on it became obvious that I could learn about many different series so it seemed only natural to branch out. I may be the world's last generalist so it fits well with my dispositions and predispositions also.
there is no one reason so I voted other. There are some terrific designs in world coins... some rare and some are not, but it is something different than the typical US coins. I still collect US, but not with the same interest
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
I'm in the Other Category simply because there is no "one" choice for me.
I am drawn to the unique visions of other ages, the symbolism, the history and the wonder of other countries and cultures. I am patient when working on my Roman Republic - Imperials and often find myself sitting down with a finished peice with a sense of wonder, yet when I look at something like a PR70 cent or some early teen wheat pennies I just shrug with an attention span of about 2 seconds, no interest. A coin doesn't have to be "old" but it does have to be "interesting". Cost isn't an issue generally, I always buy the best I can afford at the moment and with the exception of "gold" most of my wants are rather inexpensive.
This forum has broadened my vision of the world. There are so many exceptional photographs of coins the members post from their private collections; coins I never knew existed and countries that never came to mind before I saw a photograph. The information members share, and their humor as well make the darkside ever so much more pleasant than the "litesite" which I read as well. There is a different mentality here that I find refreshingly "different" from the "liteside herd".
"Any fool can use Power, but it is our wits that make us men."
Collecting Penguins, Named Ship Coins and other assorted goodies
Historical interest first, then esthetics and bang for the buck tied for second. Also English coin denominations are similar to those in the US which made for an easy transition.
Someone put a though in my mind when i read the bit about the Indian head cent. Someone could show me a full set of them all in BU and i think i'd go 'hmm eugh' after a minute or so. It's not that they are displeasing in any way but for me they are modern. They lack history, some may argue they even lack beauty, i wouldn't go that far myself cos i like bright copper coins (not fussed on toned ones so much). But the aesthetics isn't what draws me to collecting. If it did i'd be collecting Victorian coins, but i don't.
I suppose for me it's the history, the thought that a medieval peasant, or medieval monk could have held this little silver penny, perhasps a knight, a fair maid? The stereotypical old village hag with the cat and the warts? Perhaps even a king or royalty.
This coins been there and it's seen history close at hand, which leads to the question of how did this coin reach me (of all people) looking as good as it does?
That is what's behind collecting for me, if it's nice looking or gold then it's a bonus!
Coins made out of tin also grab my attention, zinc is also good.
Interesting ... we have 60 votes in this poll and we don't have 60 regular posters. Okay, lurkers, out of the closet!! It's Christmas, so please give us the present of your presence!!
The variety, different looks, less expensive prices, the uniqueness
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Blaze - Yellow male b 3/17/93 Onyx - Black male b 3/7/99 Duchess - Yellow female mix b 3/12/02 rescued 9/18/02 Rifle - Yellow male mix b 12/1/02 rescued 8/8/03 Diamond - Black female b 5/3/05 adopted 8/3/05
Comments
It's all darkside...US and Canada are both in Krause.
But i'm drawn to medieval hammered gold coins...
Come on over ... to The Dark Side!
I am always telling other collectors to look beyond the US for coins to collect. I once told a fellow coin club member who was looking at a display of about a hundred Morgans to stand about 4 feet back, and they all look the same. It’s good that we were friends, because he did not appreciate it.
Bob
You left one out: They're not boring U.S. coins.
World Coin & PM Collector
My Coin Info Pages <> My All Experts Profile
09/07/2006
But like others I could have picked several reasons besides specific historical interest. I really like being able to get a decent coin 200 years old for $20 or less that has seen more history in its time than we sometimes care to contemplate. When my favorite Salzburg kreutzer was walking around in Mozart's pocket Napoleone Buonaparte was trying to free his native Corsica in the first afterglow of the Revolution. And that was it's *first* year on the planet...
You want how much?!!
NapoleonicMedals.org
(Last update 3/6/2007)
is that you end up being governed by inferiors. – Plato
Steve
FOR SALE Items
The real reasons are estehtics, history, beauty, variety, and the amazingly low prices for "good stuff" as compared to decent liteside stuff. I used to collect strictly liteside, but it became cost prohibitive. Since I "found" the Darkside (thanks to practically ALL of you here), my pure pleasure in collecting has increased a hundredfold. Maybe more
... and THANK YOU to all of you for that!!!
My OmniCoin Collection
My BankNoteBank Collection
Tom, formerly in Albuquerque, NM.
1) Beautiful
2) Historical
3) Great Variety
4) Relatively Affordable
I had no such interest in US coinage when I returned.
rarity and gems in world coins, modern US, and tokens (medals). I'm also drawn to attractive
coins and great variety so world coins are a natural. Early on it became obvious that I could
learn about many different series so it seemed only natural to branch out. I may be the world's
last generalist so it fits well with my dispositions and predispositions also.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
...
I'd say it's the sheer variety and beauty of world coins has made my collection a total unfocused mess and I'm really enjoying that
First DAMMIT BOY! 25/9/05 (Finally!)
" XpipedreamR is cool because you can get a bottle of 500 for like a dollar. " - Aspirin
I am drawn to the unique visions of other ages, the symbolism, the history and the wonder of other countries and cultures. I am patient when working on my Roman Republic - Imperials and often find myself sitting down with a finished peice with a sense of wonder, yet when I look at something like a PR70 cent or some early teen wheat pennies I just shrug with an attention span of about 2 seconds, no interest. A coin doesn't have to be "old" but it does have to be "interesting". Cost isn't an issue generally, I always buy the best I can afford at the moment and with the exception of "gold" most of my wants are rather inexpensive.
This forum has broadened my vision of the world. There are so many exceptional photographs of coins the members post from their private collections; coins I never knew existed and countries that never came to mind before I saw a photograph. The information members share, and their humor as well make the darkside ever so much more pleasant than the "litesite" which I read as well. There is a different mentality here that I find refreshingly "different" from the "liteside herd".
Collecting Penguins, Named Ship Coins and other assorted goodies
Looking for Circulated coins of Papua New Guinea
stores.ebay.com/Grumpy's-Cave
<< <i>I'm in it for the chicks. >>
How has that been working for you?
Obscurum per obscurius
<< <i>
<< <i>I'm in it for the chicks. >>
How has that been working for you? >>
Women are always astonished when you invite them back to your place "to see your collection" and they discover you actually have one!
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media" - William Colby, former CIA director
Bob
Someone put a though in my mind when i read the bit about the Indian head cent. Someone could show me a full set of them all in BU and i think i'd go 'hmm eugh' after a minute or so. It's not that they are displeasing in any way but for me they are modern. They lack history, some may argue they even lack beauty, i wouldn't go that far myself cos i like bright copper coins (not fussed on toned ones so much). But the aesthetics isn't what draws me to collecting. If it did i'd be collecting Victorian coins, but i don't.
I suppose for me it's the history, the thought that a medieval peasant, or medieval monk could have held this little silver penny, perhasps a knight, a fair maid? The stereotypical old village hag with the cat and the warts? Perhaps even a king or royalty.
This coins been there and it's seen history close at hand, which leads to the question of how did this coin reach me (of all people) looking as good as it does?
That is what's behind collecting for me, if it's nice looking or gold then it's a bonus!
Coins made out of tin also grab my attention, zinc is also good.
Come on over ... to The Dark Side!
Blaze - Yellow male b 3/17/93
Onyx - Black male b 3/7/99
Duchess - Yellow female mix b 3/12/02 rescued 9/18/02
Rifle - Yellow male mix b 12/1/02 rescued 8/8/03
Diamond - Black female b 5/3/05 adopted 8/3/05
First Cam-slam - 9/21/04
My eBay
<< <i>
<< <i>I'm in it for the chicks. >>
How has that been working for you? >>
Isn't he single?
-JamminJ