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A really good collection takes dicipline

BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
Most of us collectors tend to ramble around in our collecting

habits. It is fun buying coins, even if the purchase does not always fall

within our collecting areas. It is not unusual for collectors to make dramatic

changes in what we collect, the grades of what we collect and the aspects of toning

vrs snow white. The truly great and successful collectors all have a well planned stategy

of what they wish to achieve and the strict dicipline to carry it out. I must admit that for the past

few years I have just rambled around nibbling here and there just having a good time. Unfortunately,

such a course of collecting opens one up to frivilous purchases which one regrets within a reletively

short time. These short term purchases are usually sold at a loss that can nibble you to death, like a

thousand duck bites. While I have assembled many top flight and beautiful coins that have remained

the core of my collection , I have recently determined that purchasing dicipline is necessary and of great value.

I have selected the type, grade and appearence of the coins I wish to collect and will now attempt to refrain from

impulse buying.For the average collector, sound purchases, held for an extended period of time seems to make the

most sense. Purchases must be planned to fit in with ones collecting strategy and for the most part, adhered to.

Regardless of ones age, we all mature in our hobby at our own rate. After one runs into the wall a number of times,

you really do learn to avoid charging wildly in a hobby that is both entertaining and dangerous.
There once was a place called
Camelotimage

Comments

  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    Very well said Mr. Bear...
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,082 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Wise words to live by indeed!!
    theknowitalltroll;
  • DHeathDHeath Posts: 8,472 ✭✭✭
    learn to avoid charging wildly

    Amen.
    Developing theory is what we are meant to do as academic researchers
    and it sets us apart from practitioners and consultants. Gregor
  • Wise indeed.....and can I ever relate....but that wandering, meandering, whatever it is called, that is how I discovered what I liked. Now I am cleaning house and focusing on my Frankie MS+ series....should be fun
  • LeeGLeeG Posts: 12,162
    image So, so, true!! Very Wise Words, indeed! Thanks for sharing!!! Lee
  • Thank you for your advice. I think anyone who collects has experienced what you describe. I have four areas I am persuing, and continually try to limit to one and complete.
    image Barry
  • While focus on a specific area is important, I still think if you find something you like, why not buy it. If it's a quality coin, you can always dump it for something else. Even though much of what I have already bought is being unloaded, I still enjoyed it for a while.
  • VeepVeep Posts: 1,423 ✭✭✭✭
    Bear, I absolutely agree. Within your selected area of collecting, you also must be disciplined to buy only those coins that meet the standard that you have set for your collection. Settling for a coin will also be regretted in the future. A motto that I subscribe to: "Good enough never is."
    "Let me tell ya Bud, you can buy junk anytime!"
  • seanqseanq Posts: 8,652 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The thing that most helps me stay disciplined is a want list. I can't tell you how much time and money I blew chasing coins that I thought I couldn't live without, only to find out after that I already had something similar in my collection. Now I maintain current want lists for all of the major sets I'm working on, and try to focus my energy and resources accordingly.


    Sean Reynolds
    Incomplete planchets wanted, especially Lincoln Cents & type coins.

    "Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
  • I have been doing that for years! I know better but I keep doing it (sometimes).I think one of my problems is if I drive for a hour to the closest small coin show and they don't have anything I like I will buy something anyway. I do it partly so I haven't wasted a trip,Partly because I don't have patience enough to wait on the coin I would really like because it seems to me that it's getting harder to find nice original coins,properly graded with nice eye appeal in my price range at the small shows, and partly because if I sit at a dealers table for half an hour I try to buy something so I won't get to be known as a tire kicker. So it ends up I always have a few coins that I really don't enjoy looking at .image
  • ms70ms70 Posts: 13,954 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Stop

    double

    spacing!

    Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.

  • badgerbadger Posts: 1,217 ✭✭✭
    I find focus to be key also. Especially, since I can buy coins faster than I can sell them. Selling and getting the right price takes time. Sometimes when I need to raise cash, I have sold some really nice coins that I should have kept. However, the great coins sell a lot quicker.

    I would add to Bear's comments: Make sure that you don't get in a cash poor position that would lead to emergency sale of coins.
    Collector of Modern Silver Proofs 1950-1964 -- PCGS Registry as Elite Cameo

    Link to 1950 - 1964 Proof Registry Set
    1938 - 1964 Proof Jeffersons w/ Varieties
  • RYKRYK Posts: 35,797 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bear, one of the best posts I have ever read on these boards. Thanks.


    I must admit that for the past

    few years I have just rambled around nibbling here and there just having a good time. Unfortunately,

    such a course of collecting opens one up to frivilous purchases which one regrets within a reletively

    short time. These short term purchases are usually sold at a loss that can nibble you to death, like a

    thousand duck bites.


    I resemble that remark. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the pain from the duck bites heals quickly. If the pain lingered longer, the behavior would be easier to modify.
  • So Gentle Bear, what is your approach going to be? Type set?
    Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
  • anablepanablep Posts: 5,097 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thank you for the valuable information.

    Things to consider...
    Always looking for attractive rim toned Morgan and Peace dollars in PCGS or (older) ANA/ANACS holders!

    "Bongo hurtles along the rain soaked highway of life on underinflated bald retread tires."


    ~Wayne
  • Great advice -- but it also applies to all collections, not just the top ones. For example, I've been trying to complete a 1911 proof set for about 2 years. I can't afford gem grades so I've been looking for nice choice grades. I was lucky enought to find the Lincoln and Liberty Nickel in auctions, Mark Feld sold me the quarter as his last sale for Pinnacle and Laura from Legend got me the Half.

    I've been on a mission trying to find a matching dime. The only nice 1911 Barber proof dime I've seen in 2 yrs was Scher's in last night's auction -- way, way too rich for me though. Through several LBs and numerous auctions, no one has had one. While my proof set will/should never be called a top collection, it does take focus and discipline.

    As I wait for the more important "registry" coins, in order to quell that thirst to impulse buy -- I simply do album sets. Nothing expensive or fancy, Jeffs, Roosies, Ikes, JFKs, Quarters ect in order to spend as little as possible while waiting, but still feel as though I'm a collector.

    image
    TPN
  • TheRavenTheRaven Posts: 4,143 ✭✭✭✭
    Being I have collected now 4 years, I started collecting a little of this and that for like 3 years collecting some minor things in a good such as a simple 20th century type set, an assortment of seated liberty coinage which I really like.

    Now I settled into putting a Barber Half set together, 1oz world bullion coins sets together & type gold set (Liberty/Indians time period) when cash permits.

    I think that you should not concern yourself with sticking to one thing if you like something buy it.
    Collection under construction: VG Barber Quarters & Halves
  • NumismanicNumismanic Posts: 2,582 ✭✭✭
    I really admire the collectors that focus on one series and work towards
    completing their set. For me I have no discipline. I start working on one
    set and get tired and start working on another one. I tend to buy coins
    from impulse and then wonder if I should have done something different
    after. Collecting coins is great fun for me, but I'm still so confused! image

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