Is coin collecting patriotic?

Shamika

MrSpud

Probably is, especially coins, medals and tokens of historical significance.

Russ

In the 1960's the US Mint didn't think so.

Russ, NCNE

Savvy

Yes? No? Totally irrelevant.

braddick

Coin collecting, yes.

Coin hoarding, (as what was being done by the general public back in the early sixties for purely speculation purposes and not set building), no.

cladking

It's probably at least a little patriotic but more than anything it's a bet on the future. It's a bet
that people will want to have or see these mementos of our and past ages. Coin collecting is
providing something tangible for a future and this requires some confidence that things will keep
getting better.

LastExitInNY

born free and that L I B E R T Y says it all.

Coinosaurus

It may be unpatriotic in the sense that it doesn't necessarily add a whole lot of value to the economy. It seems like gambling in a sense - just pushing money around. If you rank all the industries in terms of importance to the economy, I gotta believe that coin collecting (any collecting for that matter) is pretty far down the list.

cladking

<< <i>It may be unpatriotic in the sense that it doesn't necessarily add a whole lot of value to the economy. It seems like gambling in a sense - just pushing money around. If you rank all the industries in terms of importance to the economy, I gotta believe that coin collecting (any collecting for that matter) is pretty far down the list. >>



Almost all human behavior is based on belief. It may be critical that people believe that the past has value so that the future has value. It may be critical to believe in the future as well. "Coins" are likely the basis of writing which is critical to human advancement. Coins also spurred commerce which is the basis of most wealth.

It's most human to collect something. Why not coins?

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>It may be unpatriotic in the sense that it doesn't necessarily add a whole lot of value to the economy. >>



If you do it the same way as you do for a stock what do you think the total capitalization of the Morgan market is? A lot more than face value per coin I'm sure. The economic impact of coin collecting is likely a lot more than you would think.

mrearlygold

Obviously it depends on the definition of patriotism. Some thinks it's doing some collective service or action, whereas others think that the strong individualism is more on target for what American patriotism is all about.

michael

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ego and greed yes!!

tincup

Patriotic.... you bet! At least to me. It's history. Especially as one investigates how some of the series came to be, etc. And it does help the economy.... if I buy a coin from you for $500; you may use that to help buy a new car, etc. (but then again... perhaps you will just buy some more coins!!).

Does coin collecting contribute anything tangible that is usable... probably not. (although if I purchase a coin and then get it upgraded a point or 2.... I guess I kind of helped 'create' something)

Nap

Collecting US coins is no more patriotic than collecting world coins is unpatriotic. I'd hardly think the latter true.

However, the coin business is one which is almost entirely domestic. Buying coins supports American businesses, employees, and other collectors. In my lifetime I've never heard any public official say "Buy American!" but I'm a little younger than many of you, perhaps some will remember such a time. It certainly seems a patriotic thing to do, certainly more so than spending on a SONY television or Mercedes SUV.

ChangeInHistory

<< <i>

<< <i>It may be unpatriotic in the sense that it doesn't necessarily add a whole lot of value to the economy. >>



If you do it the same way as you do for a stock what do you think the total capitalization of the Morgan market is? A lot more than face value per coin I'm sure. The economic impact of coin collecting is likely a lot more than you would think. >>



There is lots of money being thrown around and lots of money being made. That's a lot of tax revenue alone. (not that there is ANY unreported income coin the coin business!)

Coinosaurus

No question there is lots of money being made. Hopefully I'll make some too!

It just seems to me that the collective resources and efforts of all numismatists, on a purely economic basis, might be better spent somewhere else.

Perhaps trying to invent a better "widget". Bad choice of words

Activities which spur innovation must be economically better for the country than just pushing plastic around from collectors to dealers and vice versa.

I am speaking purely in an economic sense here, I agree there is a great cultural value to preserving our history.

gyocomgd

Not patriotic. You may feel a surge of patriotism seeing the eagle, the flag, the stars, "e pluribus unum" or "In God We Trust," but that's a reaction after seeing the coin, not a causative factor in going after them.

As for commemoratives, patriotism is at the root of their existence. I think commems, and certainly stuff from the Frnaklin Mint, are purchased from folks who are imbued with a sense of national pride. I mean, they don't make commemoratives celebrating a non-American person or event, right?

Myqqy

I really don't think patriotism has much to do with it- I have an intense love for coins that has nothing to do with our clumsy, big brother government, or the slackjaws who think the country can do no wrong......

Shamika

What about the interest in US coins only? I don't know if coin collecting is or is not patriotic, but I must admit that I have virtually no interest in coinage from other nations and I'm not exactly sure why that is.

tincup

<< <i>What about the interest in US coins only? I don't know if coin collecting is or is not patriotic, but I must admit that I have virtually no interest in coinage from other nations and I'm not exactly sure why that is. >>



Because it's our heritage! It's who we are, where we have come from, etc. It's fascinating to just see the changes in our coinage through the decades.... how ugly and crude some of our early coinage attempts were when we were a fledgling nation.... to the perfection MS70 coins that are now possible. The majority of our coin design/topics are historical.

I especially like the coins that have the early liberty designs... and the civil war tokens relating to liberty/freedom. To me, those really signify what our country is for!

Conder101

Sure it is, especially if you collect moderns. All those proof sets, commemoratives, state quarters, plus rolls of nickels, quarters, halves, and dollars represent tremendous donations to the federal budget to help keep tem out of the red.

ER

<< <i>...........

ego and greed yes!! >>



Is that for everybody, Michael?

LanLord

If you don't collect coins, then the terrorist have won!

FullStrike

<< <i>Is coin collecting patriotic? >>



Without a doubt. And furthermore it makes wimpy little nerds turn into superheros. Cures Warts. Eliminates Bad Breath. And in the Ghetto, can get you a cheap date, anytime, day or night .

pharmer

<< <i>What about the interest in US coins only? I don't know if coin collecting is or is not patriotic, but I must admit that I have virtually no interest in coinage from other nations and I'm not exactly sure why that is. >>




Since that's the way you feel, you were probably wondering if YOUR way of collecting was patriotic, not coin collecting per se. Patriotism is putting your country first and foremost. You're putting it's coins first and foremost. That's a lot different than patriotism. You'll have to look elsewhere for that.

Coxe

I don't think it is particularly patriotic. However, collecting classic US coins or any Americana does pay some respect to our history. At the very least, the collector become acquainted with items that represented the building of the nation. I don't think anything is a beter example of that than the old circulated copper: colonials, tokens, and early US mint. Those were the instruments of commerce for the common man in the early period of the colonies and the nation. It is truly "history in your hands." Anyway, the reflection, preservation and presentation of history does pay it homage and it noble in itself even if the goals are to make money or satisfy a collecting obsession.