What Kinda Collector Are You?

Murphy

I know that some of you are bigtime dealers and collect all types, but others of you have more specialized interests. I'd like to hear what you collect and maybe something about your collections if you care to share with us and let us know "what kinda collector are you".

My collection is nothing to brag about...just some coins I've bought every few days or weeks or months. I really like the complete collection of Lincoln Cents, Franklin & JFK Halves, Statehood Quarters, S.B.A.'s & Sacagaweas Dollars. And I collect them all from business strikes to Proof and Silver Proof issues. I'm very close to having an up-to-date collection of Statehood Quarters. I have both leaf varieties, but lack all the 1999 Silver Proofs.

I started my collection with Lincoln Cents and all are ms-60 or better, but it's still is a work in progress. I have all business strikes from 1932 to present and several earlier than 1932. My 1909 bullseye toner & 1909-VDB are ms65+ and I collect Proofs as well as as many varieties as I can purchase or find cheaply. For instance, I have ms65+ 1998 & 2000 Wide Am's that I cherrypicked from circulated bank rolls. I have several types of the large & small S, Ball, Serif & San Serif Style S. I have the 1970 S/S (#1)Large Date RPM and two 1981-S Proof Type-2. I also have a Jailhouse Lincoln and one that is 100% non-copper, both found while searching through bank rolls.

Only in 2004 did I start collecting coins other than my Lincolns. I am really getting into Franklins & JFK's. They are the object of my affection (affliction) now. I am making it a goal to fill the SMS holes in my JFK album with at least ms65 Cameos and the 1964 Proof an Accented Hair Cameo. I have the 1967 in ms65 Cam. I have two 1981-S Type 2 Proofs. The best one is in a Proof Set with 3 other Type-2's and I can't make up my mind whether to crack the set or not. I need the penny out of there too. Decisions, decisions! I found a 1964 Proof with normal front, accented hair reverse and is a DDR. I just sent it in for attribution today...my first. My Franklin collection has several ms65's and three proofs, two of which are cameos. Going to try for FBL and ms65 on all business strikes and cameo proofs if they make them.

My Type Set is like a modern type set with very few coins from the 1800's. I did add an ms64 1893 Columbian Expo Half Dollar Commemorative this week, which I cracked out of its slab and put in my Dansco Type Set.

I keep all my coins in Dansco Albums, except a few that I have in slabs, some rolls and a variety of loose coins that my dad left me. I'll be collecting up until the time they pry my cold, cold fingers from off my Dansco Penny Album, lol.

Russ

This is what I collect - early date proof and SMS Kennedys.

I also collect other stuff from time to time. Built a modern commem set, sold it. Built a Walker Short set, sold it. Built most of a Two Cent Piece set, sold it. Built two complete proof Kennedy sets, sold everything from 1971 forward.

Russ, NCNE

Jdurg

My problem is that I like to collect everything. Looking through my life, I've had collections of baseball cards, comic books, coins, and various other things. None of which really had any 'killer' specimens. (Though I do have a complete run of Topps Baseball Cards from 1986-Present. Still need to get the 1980-1985 sets to have a complete set of every year that I've been alive. I also have a few very early Amazing Spiderman comics which may be worth fifty or sixty bucks). I started collecting coins about 15 years ago when I saw some old coins that my dad had and they interested me because they had silver in them. At that point in time, I never knew that our coins once had silver, so it really intrigued me. (I had always thought that silver was some precious commodity that only the rich could afford. Heh. I've learned since then). So I decided to start collecting the coins that were in circulation. I got some of those blue Whitman coin folders for Lincoln Pennies, Jefferson Nickels, Roosevelt Dimes, Washington Quarters, and Kennedy Halves. I then started just filling them up with coins I'd find in circulation and got a pretty good set. However, I soon realized that the real old coins wouldn't be found in circulation and that I'd have to go and get them. That is when I found out how expensive coin collecting can be. Thankfully, there was this one really nice dealer who worked at a coin shop who would always give me great discounts on some worn coins. So I got a whole lot of early Lincolns and Jeffersons for little over face value. The coins aren't in great shape at all and many appear to have been cleaned, but I never paid more than a few cents over face value, and some of them he just gave me for free. I wish I could remember the guy's name because I really appreciated his efforts to help me out. As a kid with not a lot of money to spend, he helped me get going in my collection.

As time went by, however, my collecting slowly stopped. I had to worry about college and other aspects of life and just didn't have the time or money to get more coins. So my collections of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars basically stopped. I did however pick up a few silver american eagles once I found out about them. My dad then proceeded to give me all his 'old' coins so I was able to get some Walkers, some Franklins, and a few other older coins (As well as a 1964 proof set, and a 1963 mint set). Nothing special, but still neat examples. I also visited some old antique stores and have been able to pull some old coins out of change. Most all of them appear to have been cleaned at one point, but I didn't have to pay any money for them so they're keepers.

In the year 2000, I had some money so I decided to get back into coin collecting a little bit. I found the US Mint's website and picked up a Proof Silver American Eagle. I was amazed at how great it looked. For Christmas that year, I was given a 1980 proof set, a 1980 mint set, a 1/4 oz Proof Gold American Eagle and a 1/10th ounce Proof Platinum Eagle. So as a person who had given up on coins, it was a very nice Christmas as I got a whole bunch of coins. Shortly thereafter, I discovered E-Bay and picked up some other coins and some of the Roosevelt Dimes I was missing. Sadly, my coin collecting died once more due to the way I was living it up in college. However, it was at this point that another collection began.

I'm a chemistry person, and when looking through my coins I realized that I had a great of different metals. Silver, Copper, Gold, Platinum, Iron and Zinc. I thought about how neat it would be to have a sample of every element on the periodic table. The only problem was, where the hell would I get many of those? So once again E-Bay came to the rescue. I was able to pick up quite a few more elements and found some people who had the same idea/hobby as me. As time went on, I put together an incredible collection that is basically complete. If it's not radioactive, I have a pure sample of it. (Except fluorine). In fact, I also have some radioactives. (Got some Americium and Neptunium from smoke detectors). One of my major sources also has some depleted uranium, and that will be added to my collection as well. I've spent a LOT of money on my element collection, but it's one collection that I have completed and have some VERY impressive samples in. (If you want to see it, you can download a full picture of it from www.chemicalforums.com. It's a big file, but worth the download). While on E-Bay, for some reason I decided to see if I could complete some of my coin collections through some auctions. Sure enough, I could. As a result, I picked up a Dansco Album for Roosevelt Dimes including proofs. Over about a two month period, I completely filled up the book. I actually have a nearly complete set of Roosies including the proofs. I'm only missing the 1950-1953 proofs, and once my financial situation improves a bit, I'll try and have it 100% complete. It's fun to pull out the album and see all those coins in there. Later on this year I'll need to get the 2005 P-D, S-Proof, and S-Silver Proof too. Also, it was because of my element collection that I came upon this site.

I was looking to buy some more platinum metal to go along with the two 1/10 ounce platinum coins I had. (A 1998 PAE, and a Chinese Panda). I found a website called www.apmex.com. At the time I was looking, they were selling random 1/10 oz platinum coins. For 83 dollars each, you could get a random coin containing 1/10 oz of platinum. These coins would be random dates and from random countries. I was looking for some cheap raw platinum coins and was only able to find graded ones, so this looked great. I ordered two of them and anxiously awaited their arrival. Much to my surprise, the coins I got were PCGS graded 2002 MS69 PAE. I couldn't believe that they shipped me slabbed coins. Curious as to their value, I came upon this website and saw that they were worth more than I paid for them. As a result, I kept one of the coins and sold the other on E-bay for about $110. With that profit, I was able to put the money towards a 5-gram platinum bar for my element collection. So some luck came my way and I was able to actually get more than I had planned on. I also found this message board and have learned a heck of a lot here. Seeing all the type sets people had actually got me started on another little con project. I decided that it would be nice to have a sample of every coin minted in the year 1880 (100 years before my birth). I figured this would be a lifetime project and wanted to start slowly. (To actually complete my collection would require over a million dollars worth of coins, so I doubt I'll see it completed in my life. lol). So I was able to pick up an 1880 Morgan, an 1880-O Morgan which has a beautiful cartwheel luster which is only marred by a few nick marks in the field othewise it would be an amazingly high grade, an 1880-S Morgan which looks great, an 1880 IHC with 'Liberty' still visible, and an 1880 $5 Half Eagle; my first 'real' gold coin.

So in my coin collection, like my comic book and baseball card collection, I don't really have anything that would make other collectors go 'wow, I wish I had that.' I just have things that make me happy and are part of numerous different collections. My Roosevelt Dime set I'm extremely proud of because I've actually finished it, so to speak. Most of my other collections are so far from completion that it's not even funny. I also have many random coins that just caught my eye and made me want to get them. My element collection, however, is my real coup-de-gre. I've had many people look at it in amazement that I even have it, and then at the quality of the samples. I have some real winners in there that I am very proud of, and with what I've spent overall on that collection, I better damn well be proud of it.

ConstellatioCollector

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RotatedRainbows

http://www.RotatedDies.com/percol.htm

Hedger

Was an idiot. Now much smarter.

cladking

I enjoy all coins and tokens but have the most fun with items which are actually available
for very low cost. This is especially true when there are rarities available within the series.
My specialties include modern world and US coins, transportation tokens (by variety), tele-
phone tokens, advertising tokens and medals (especially Ford, airline, food, fast food, shoe,
Cracker Jack, and US Steel), amusement tokens (especially video arcade), and IN good-fors.

Jdurg: Please turn your PM function on in your profile or E-mail me.

Jdurg

<< <i>I enjoy all coins and tokens but have the most fun with items which are actually available
for very low cost. This is especially true when there are rarities available within the series.
My specialties include modern world and US coins, transportation tokens (by variety), tele-
phone tokens, advertising tokens and medals (especially Ford, airline, food, fast food, shoe,
Cracker Jack, and US Steel), amusement tokens (especially video arcade), and IN good-fors.

Jdurg: Please turn your PM function on in your profile or E-mail me. >>



I concurr with affordable part in particular. I just don't find the joys in spending tons of money on coins if you have to put yourself through hell just to afford it. (Actually, I feel that way about everything. heh). But I feel that I can get just as much enjoyment out of some of the cheaper varities of coins than I could out of the really expensive ones. However, if someone came up to me and gave me a nice $20 gold coin I wouldn't say no. I guess that's why I think type sets are such a neat idea. They allow a collector on a modest budget to get a glimpse of what the high end series are like, yet still be able to complete a set of their own.

ER

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tmot99

I typically collect nice AU55-MS65 type coins. I'm not picky to the denomination. I just like nice looking coins. I am currently building a toned seated half dime set by date and MM.

I also collect elongated coins from the 1893 World Columbian Expo as well as tickets from the fair. Not the generic admission tickets seen everywhere, but ride and meal tickets.

BAJJERFAN

I Have Amassed A Few Morgans

I also dabble in state quarters and smoe Mint products like proof sets mint sets and ASE's proof and bullion.

razorface1027

What Kinda Collector Are You?

A very distorted one. I purchase haphazardly, and definately in contrast with financial boundaries set by my queen bee, simply because I like to collect coins. No real rhyme or reason...I just do it because....

Bear

My collection is secret. If I told you, I would have to kill you.

nwcs

I'm a somewhat random collector. I collect cool coins that catch my eye whatever they may be. Today it's a lib nick. Tomorrow it may be a bust half. Next week it may be a deep cam frankie or a cool toner. I guess I go for the eclectic feel. That is, if the coins are of sufficient quality and look then it doesn't matter if they match or not. They will simply "go together"

Sequitur

I purchase haphazardly

It's the best way, if you're interested in PQ pieces in-and-of themselves. If it's got great eye appeal, is either a conditional or actual rarity, and most importantly the price is right, I buy and hold. No pressure, no worries. And I never, ever feel pressure to spend stupid money because I need that "one" coin to complete a set or series. It's a great way to collect, in my opinion.

mgoodm3

I collect a lot of different coins, but have developed some preferences over time.

1) Proof Indian cents: Just something about proof copper from the 19th century. I like well preserved surfaces and good mirrors, don't really care what the color is otherwise. Would love to get some proof large and half cents.

2) Matte Proof Lincolns. Love the texture of the surfaces. Look really good in dark brown.

3) MS Indian cents/ large cents: preferably BN or RB. Red is kinda boring. I like the texture and variety of BN and RB.

4) US Type: I tend toward proofs when available. I think the strike detail and nice surfaces appeal to me. Older stuff, nice MS toned coins work nicely.

5) toned coins: I have been leaning toward nice toning lately, probably because they make cool photos.

Fairlaneman

These



and the stuff below.

coinlieutenant

I like these kind of coins...

bigbadchad777

COMMEMORATIVES

BillJones

I've been collecting coins for 44 years. I did some series collecting, and still have the set of Lincoln cents that I started as child and did not finish until I was in my 30's. It got down to the 1909-S-VDB, which was the last coin I needed so a bought one with ANACS papers. The only other sets that I have are a BU set of silver Roosevelt dimes because they are cheep at the time and a set of $2.50 Indians because that's only set of "old gold" that was within my reach of completing it.

Today I am mostly a type collector. I have all the copper, nickel and silver types coins except the 1796-7 half dollar, which has always been beyond my financial reach. I have 73% of the gold type coins according to the goals that they have set accross the street. Once more I'd like to get more, but the coins have been getting beyond me.

I also collect Civil War tokens and 19th century presidental campaign tokens and medalets. I've dabbled with U.S. mint medals, mostly the Commetia Americana series, which was awarded to heores of the Revolutionary War. I also collected Fractional Currency at one point and still have a complete type set. Beyond that I've never been much of a paper money collector.

Purple73

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islemangu

most type coins I enjoy buying, holding a while and then enjoy even more selling, except proof barber halves. Those I truely collect ever so slowly.
Here is my latest newp

ColonialCoinUnion

<< <i>What Kinda Collector Are You? >>



One who does extensive research before buying anything.

One who is not in a hurry.

One who doesn't have to have anything, but would like to have coins which represent a good combination of quality, history, pedigree and value.

One who likes to balance collecting with investing, as it seems imprudent to pay significant amounts of money for rare coins without at least considering the long term wisdom of the purchase and the potential alternative uses of those funds.

marmac

I am a collector that tends to zig zag thru all series. I started with Franklins and have since lost interest in them.


When I finished my last franklin set, my interest in the series dryed up..... so I moved on.
Now mostly morgans and type coins.

Trime

I am a coinaholic. I have tried to quit many times.
My addiction prefers 19th century US silver coins in MS and proof. I have been known to mainline trial pieces and will imbibe in rare Canadian coins if that if they are available. I sometimes hoard coins to assure supplies at future dates. This is a serious affliction. I pray the modern high grade, low POP, astronomical price, Registry epidemic does not infect me since I have been told that this is a fatal disease.

cladking

<< <i>I am a coinaholic. I have tried to quit many times.
My addiction prefers 19th century US silver coins in MS and proof. I have been known to mainline trial pieces and will imbibe in rare Canadian coins if that if they are available. I sometimes hoard coins to assure supplies at future dates. This is a serious affliction. I pray the modern high grade, low POP, astronomical price, Registry epidemic does not infect me since I have been told that this is a fatal disease. >>




Yeah, but what a way to go. We all pick and choose our poisons anyway. One may as well enjoy it.