Do you often question your collecting goals???

TonedPeaceNut

Every couple of months or so I go through a stage where I question my collecting goals. I start thinking about selling off a good percentage of what I now own and try something different. Often I have this modern vs. classic debate. I think I should sell off all my modern proofs and modern toners and try a more difficult, but rewarding set -- perhaps a certified Type Set.

Then I start to think about the investment necessary and begin to think I'd get frustrated and just give up and where would I be then!

Then I wonder if I should just do an A Box of 20 or so coins. But who would want a coin collection of 20 coins?

Does anyone else here go through this??? Tell me I'm not alone??? And how do you get through it? Has anyone stopped midstream and completely changed direction? Should I just finish what I have and then start on a new direction, keeping what I have?


TPN

michael

.................... well for me almost never

but .............

if it does happen it is an extremely unusual occurance of the greatest magnitude and rarity

ss350camaro

Weenie

mgoodm3

I have refined my collecting goals over time. I was collecting a US type set and various copper things and now I have decided to stick with the copper (proof and MS indian cents, matte proof lincolns mostly).

Russ

Used to, but not anymore. I now have only a single goal. Might take me forever, but it will remain the focus.

Russ, NCNE

dwssws

as stated before i was attempting a high grade Morgan set and became aware of the fact that financially would never be able to finish without greatly lowering standards. So I sold or am selling off and acquiring or upgrading my CC set with varieties and also buying Vams which greatly interest me.

Of course Russ keeps hinting that I should look at acquiring moderns so maybe I'll take a look that way

saintguru

I had one goal, and I have found myself "landlocked" due to the scarcity of the remaining coins I need...and the abundance of $$ they will cost IF I can even find them. I have one set, and that's it! I wouldn't want to feed the dealers in another go around.

Steve27

"Tell me I'm not alone???"

You're not alone, and what you need to do is find some focus. I've narrowed my collecting to only a few areas, and I'm dumping most of my modern coins.

Shamika

I do occasional fantasize about plundering my Lincoln cent collection to fund my Buffalo nickel collection, but I haven't questioned my primary collecting goals in years.

RYK

I think that most people continue to grow as collectors, and as they grow, their focus evolves. Coins in one's collection naturally turn over as one tweaks one's collecting objectives.

cladking

There has been very little evolution of my goals over the years but it's not
unusual for me to question my means of achieving them. I'm always trading
out of hot things into things that are less hot but the amount of effort required
can be great. There are several specific collections which I've given up but
and sometimes I wonder if this was wise also.

DHeath

TPN,

Every time I try to rethink my goals, the core stuff I enjoy always drags me back. The great philosopher Kareem Abdul Jabbar once said, "Ride the horse the direction its pointed instead of trying to turn it. You'll get farther. ". He spent most of his career wanting to be a DJ instead of playing ball until he had that epiphany.

vega1

This is *exactly* why I enjoy collecting type so much. Variety and 'depth'. No, since I collect type I have never questioned my goals because I can just move into a new direction within my goal (the best damn type set I can afford, which believe me, is no 4 figure a coin budget). My particular definition of my goals also leaves me free to consider anything that crosses my path and atrracts me (the widest departure from US Silver type so far has been a couple modern PCGS Brittanias), or to dump/upgrade at any time.

ziggy29

Yes -- every time I feel I have no chance of completing my collection because some of the pieces needed to complete it are way out of my price range.

ss350camaro

<< <i>Do you often question your collecting goals??? >>




Yes, Mostly because my goal(s) generally outweigh my ability ($$) to accomplish them.

streeter

You bet your sweet bippee--just about everyone has a weak moment or two.

My goal was to complete a set of half eagle S mint in 58 or there abouts. 51 coins if you include the 00/01. Rule out the 54 because it is unobtainium.

Well the rubber has meet the road and now I have to step up and write the check for a few of them biggens. Can't do it. Just call me chicken. There are about 10 that require money that is best spent elsewhere right now. The first ones just required me to sell some corvette parts to buy. The rest require a car to be sold, then I'd have to take the bus. It's he11 to walk in LA.

carl

Never gave a thought to over collecting in my life until a recent bout with cancer made me think it's time to get rid of just STUFF. I've had 25 coin giveaways on this forum to clear out STUFF that I have lost interest in or find there is no future for me in saving since no reletime wants the STUFF. Same goes for other hobbies that someone else will have to figure out what to do with. I've been giving away, booze including a wine collection, excessive garden & auto toos, lots of clothing, most of a knife & sword collection and other stuff. It's not questioning any goals, it's just getting rid of STUFF that no one else will want and will probably just be dumped. As to the coins, I just hope they don't end up in a bank for face value but...........

relayer

Well I've been slabbing a couple of SAE Proofs for the past few years so I started a Registry Set and added a few.

Yesterday I bought 3 raw ones if I slab those I'll have 9 out of 20 (I'll be skipping the 1995-W)

So today I've lost interest again in doing the set.

I think they are great coins - but you only need one

topstuf

Yes, but I usually win the debate.

PutTogether

I go through what you are talking about constantly. You described EXACTLY what i've been thinking about. Thinking about selling off the Peace Dollars and just buying random (but impressive) coins that strike my fancy. Series collecting is getting a little boring.

Myqqy

I often question my collecting goals, as I usually question everything in my life. I've decided that for the most part the coins are now picking me, instead of me picking the coins... Lately it's been morgans occupying most of my attention......

PerryHall

All the time. Sometimes I think about selling them all and starting out fresh.

ibzman350

Goals ??? what an interesting concept


I have yet to define my goals.


In the mean time I pick up whatever strikes my fancy, though my main interest are morgans.



Herb

BAJJERFAN

I would think a serious collector would have an interest span of more than a couple of months. My goals are to improve on or add to the series I'm already dedicated to.

Trooper

My goals seem to be all over the place also. Sometimes when I buy a coin I do the "what the heck did I buy this for" routine.
Then I don't buy for awhile and for some reason I jump back in to quick sometimes.
Live and learn I guess.
Tom

Longacre

I've changed in the past, but my collecting area now is one that I think I will stay with for a while.

TonedPeaceNut

I keep thinking about this and how come to the realization that I'm not alone!

So I'll sell off some dups and coins that I now longer want, not because I dont like them, but because they arent a core part of my collection and will refocus on my goals!

I have a 1879 proof set and a 1911 proof set to finish as well as a 20th Century Proof Type Set. I might unload some of the moderns I no longer look at as well. I think every so often, you need to trim the collection as you would trim your hedges so it doesnt get overgrown and messy.

I do like my "toned" only sets of Peace $, Ikes, Jeffs and Lincolns, so they'll stay. I also like my box of various nicely toned coins I find raw and submit myself. I love my various albums, theres just nothing like holding a nice Dansco album full of coins. I might either sell off my Dansco Type Set or upgrade it. I'd love to try the Watye Raymond Type Set album, but that's be a killer financially. I have a modern commem set in a WR album thats begining to tone, so thats a keeper.

I guess I just really got to sit down and decide, coin by coin, which stays and which goes!


TPN

BillJones

I haven't changed my U.S. coin collecting goals much in more than 25 years. It's to get as many different type coins as possible and to upgrade some of the coins I have when the opportunity and can afford to do it.

As for the other stuff, I set a side an occasional Civil War token when it strikes my fancy, and I have sold a few rare New England Civil War and sutler tokens since I moved to Florida. And for the modern commemoratives I have moved from the two and three piece Proof sets with gold to the four and six piece Proof and Uncirculated sets. I keep up my Proof set collection with two new ones every year, plus I reached back and finished an six piece 1942 set when my type coins brought me close to completing that.

As for my 19th century presidential campaign medalets, I’ve got my list, but filling it gets harder and harder since more collectors have discovered this once almost totally dormant series. I keep coming in second on everything upon which I place a bid, despite the fact that I have made some truly crazy bids.

mirabela

Not much lately. All but gave up on Morgans -- too much $ for a set I'd like, and the same was true of any subset I'd be interested in doing. Finished my merc set. Big whoop -- dozens and dozens of identical coins. I'm totally enjoying building a type set. Only three holes left in the 7070, but with so many of them occupied by middle-circ stuff from my father's & my past lives as collectors there's *always* something I can do to upgrade, whether I've got $25 to spend or $2,500. Besides, there are lots of issues not included in that core set. It does not get boring in the least, and all those issues means a ton of reading too. I think I've found my path.