Is it time to start COLLECTING again?

291fifth

Are you spending more and enjoying it less? Why not pick an interesting collecting area, perhaps on the darkside, that can provide the challenge of the hunt without the need for spending much money? Medals, especially modern medals, can be quite challenging while being very cheap. You'd be surprised how many recent, but scarce and interesting, issues there are out there.

RYK

No offense, but it sounds quite dull to me. I am a student of pre-Civil War US history. If I could not collect US coins from this period, I would rather not collect coins at all.

My next choice would be something like autographs of signers of the Declaration of Independence or autographs/photographs of Civil War generals, something with an even greater tie-in to history.

BillJones

Yea, I agree, EXCEPT, most of the DARK SIDE areas where I have collected pieces for many years, are getting more and more sunlight.

I collect Civil War and Hard Times Tokens. I used to be able to do that cheap, now prices are way up.

I mint collected medals. Sorry but the REALLY modern, "yellow bronze," stuff that the mint sells now does not do much for me. Trouble is the last important medal that I purchased, which was a John Paul Jones from the original dies (early 19th century strike) cost me $900.

And I collect 19th presidential campaign election medalets. Now people have found those too, and I how have a bad habit of coming second every time I bid at auction. And the last one I acquired cost me over $200.

Naw it's even getting expensive to collect on the dark side.

markglicker

I sell Dollars, but collect Ancients. The history is fascinating.

BillJones

<< <i>No offense, but it sounds quite dull to me. I am a student of pre-Civil War US history. If I could not collect US coins from this period, I would rather not collect coins at all.

My next choice would be something like autographs of signers of the Declaration of Independence or autographs/photographs of Civil War generals, something with an even greater tie-in to history. >>



With all due respect, RYK, there is a lot more history to be found on 19th century U.S. Mint medals, tokens and political medalets than there is on coins. I've been collecting this other stuff for well over a decade.

RYK

With all due respect, RYK, there is a lot more history to be found on 19th century U.S. Mint medals, tokens and political medalets than there is on coins.

The choices offered were darkside coins and modern medals. I would be interested in learning about 19th century (especially Civil War) tokens as an alternative, but frankly, right now, I am pretty content collecting what I am collecting.

291fifth

My suggestion as to modern medals and darkside material was not meant to be restrictive. Just pick something you like that doesn't cost a fortune but still provides the thrill of the hunt.

TC

AlaBill

It's an interesting question--why we don't collect something that is inexpensive?

Is the value of what we collect is at least part of the lure of numismatics and the fact that our collections can be worth something in the future part of what makes it is attractive?

I think the fact that we "stretch" for our purchases makes the chase more interesting and rewarding. There is ego involved displaying to our friends higher value collections, for few too many would be impressed with the time and effort it took to achieve a complete collection of a very low grade set.

WWW

I like to collect the pre-civil war era 1st edition (octavo sized) Audubon prints.

Here Are A Few That I've Managed To Buy

Shamika

291fifth is right. All of you guys need to stop collecting U.S. coins and take your money elsewhere. I don't need anymore competition.

Nickelback

There are those of us with limited coin budgets who still collect U.S. stuff that isn't that expensive (most Jeffs and most Roosies). I keep an eye out for interesting coins that are more expensive and have friends who concentrate on semi-key dates in the more popular series, but that's not why I collect (primarily for potential profit). I've been interested in Civil War tokens but agree that the prices have really gone up lately. Right now I'm interested in state tokens (primarily Alaska pre-statehood) and Philippine coins minted by the U.S. - there are still lots of choices out there for the budget-restricted collector.

I'd like to collect some more historical things like Bill Jones' presidential campaign medals, but am content to finish my Jeff collection and a decent pre-statehood Alaska token collection.

Michael