Has Anyone here sold EVERYTHING and then Started Over?

braddick

Ok, maybe not every single coin, but most of your collection? Then, only to start completely over again?
If so, what were the circumstances behind that decision and was it the right choice for you at the time?

clw54

I haven't, but the answer is probably yes to the question.

majorbigtime

Not a bad concept--clean the slate and start anew!

dthigpen

<< <i>Not a bad concept--clean the slate and start anew! >>



You should try it, just don't bother with the starting over part.

GaCoinGuy

I did it when I decided to get out of the slab race.

CarlWohlforth

Yes and it was a mistake. I sold everything when I was in college. I didn't have enough beer money so the collection went. Actually there was only one coin I miss and it was a gift from a half cent collector...

majorbigtime

<< <i>

<< <i>Not a bad concept--clean the slate and start anew! >>



You should try it, just don't bother with the starting over part. >>



Whatever.

braddick

I did, mostly, back in 1985 when, after moving to Vista, California we purchased our first home. It was right before PCGS started grading and I had a type album (I forget the name of the album, but it allowed for every single type coin from 1793 forward. It has plastic sleeves that allowed the coin to be placed then snuggly into another album sheet). I sold that set (it was complete outside of about five coins). I remember buying many coins from JJTeaparty for that set along with local small coin shows in the area of New Hampshire for that collection and was proud of the coins contained within it.
I rsold the set and even remember receiving 1K for the Chain Cent, a problem free VG08 or so. That was the fair price back then.

In the end, when the home was purchased I had about $1,800. left over. I went back to the coin shop and was allowed to purchase some of the coins back with only a 10% bump in price over what he paid me.

Cladiator

I did exactly that about 2 years ago. I was collecting Capped Bust Half Dimes, Dimes, Quarters and Half Dollars. All Date sets. The entire collection comprised just under 60 coins total when I stopped. I was collecting them in grades from F-XF as long as they had the right eye appeal factor I was looking for.

I had an epiphany (sp?) one day and after a short while of thinking about it I decided to quit the collections and focus 100% on the one coin that really truely drew and held my interest and completely fascinates me to this day; the Capped Bust Half Dime.

The entire collection was either sold privately or auctioned in less than two months. I'm happy (and lucky) to say that I made a significant profit off my collection. All of the proceeds went to begin my new collection of Capped Bust Half Dimes by die marriage and die re-marriage (122 coins total). With the funds from the big sell off I was able to get a very nice jump start on the new collection acquiring several excellent AU specimens and quite a few rare varieties. Once those funds were expended my buying naturally had to slow down a bit to accomodate my normal budget but that was ok because the coins I now collect do not come around quite as often as the collections I had before. The gaps between coin purchases allow me to save the required funds.

Not only has this been an excellent move for my collecting interest but it has made for a much more impressive collection.

goose3

Yes.

I had accumulated quite a nice hoard of certified problem key dates since 1995 or so. I sold all but a few of them over the past couple of years and don't regret it a bit.

I have purchased bigger and better (to me) things with the proceeds.

Nic

Twice before. Years ago. Right choice at the time? For sure. Circumstances? The market was high and I had a need/use for the money. Regrets? Some, I wish I still had many of them. Not items easy or cheap to find. What is that term ..... oh I remember . Widget. Most were not that.
Funny thing is, I now have other coins "better" to me. Gotta love coins ....
K

TorinoCobra71

NO! I have NOT!

TorinoCobra71

"I luv ALL United States of America Coins!"

DickyBetz

I am in the process of doing that just now, but I am keeping all the best coins and using money from the lesser coins that I sold to buy even better ones.

LincolnCentMan

I do it about once every year or two.

David

MadMarty

Yes, but it was when I got laid off work. Something I hope I never have to do again!

librtyhead

jayboxx

I had everything stolen and started over, does that count?

elwood

Yes and I may do it again.

notwilight

I'm going thru an ugly, ugly divorce right now. Fortunately the house, coin collection, and many of the things I had before the marriage are not considered community property and most of the ugliness if so far focused on child sharing. But if our marriage had been long term or I had put her name on the house title (close call there), then I would be selling everything. I would guess there are those who have been forced to liquidate their collection because of divorce. --Jerry

Fairlaneman

Everything went in 1988 except a lincoln album that I hid away and did not find untill 3 years ago.

Circumstances.....two young boys to raise and just completely fed up with what was going on within the hobby at that time.

Right choice....you bet. The market really went south not soon after. I do wish I had a couple of the coins back though. My 21P Merc that I had at the time would easily grade 64FB today.

Ken

Coindexter

I've done it twice and will likely do it again. I'm still learning too quickly to be 100% confident in all of my purchases. I think you learn a lot by selling. Besides, it's not as if I own any unique or finest known pieces.

LALASD4

Kind of, I sold my set of PCGS fs Jefferson nickels, never register them but they would be in the top 10.

And started a set of error Jeffersons.

Petarded

I sold off everything I had (7-8 complete modern registry sets; complete, minus '16-D, Whitman Merc AU-low MS; Dansco-best affordable grade WLH and a few other singles), except one top 10 SBA registry set (a short set to assemble, and prices for top pops and pops with only 1-3 higher have been climbing, just ask DRG), and a few (and I mean like 2-3) that I really just HAD to keep. Had to for financial reasons...so, no regrets, as it was there for me and yeah, I did make a nice profit. I honesty don't think I ever will regret it, as I was starting to tire of moderns (no knocks to you moderns guys, I was just tiring of seeing pops, especially new top pops, rise in a short period of time...just couldn't stomach it any more...besides, I have taken a real liking to Barber coinage). Did it SUCK to HAVE to? SURE DID!

To Carlwohlforth...back then, you didn't even think twice about it, did you? Those cold frosty lagers were of the UTMOST importance! I know, as I hawked my senior class ring, my two gold chains with Italian horns on them, and a few other sundry items (wasnt a collector at that time...DRINKING was more important anyway!)...I see it as your coins helping you out back then as mine did now......sure, we WISH we had them, but it wasnt a bad trade off at the time, so, FUGHEDABOWDIT like I will do once this reply is done...

lkenefic

I sold off many of my lower grade Large Cents, cull IHCs, and Buff Nicks last year for financial reasons. I think I'm making more well informed decisions on my purchases since. I'm purchasing fewer coins these days but I'm making better decisions on the money I do spend. I don't have many regrets over it...I think the only thing I should have kept was a Whitman Album of Lincolns (1941-1959) the majority of which I collected from circulation when I was growing up. Mainly sentimental reasons...Leo

ER

I've done it twice.

Coxe

I had my entire collection stolen, including all of my books. Started over several years later with far better focus, discipline and reasonable priorities.

Bryan1315

yes I had about 80% of a date Morgan set and about 40% of a date/MM set all in MS-64 By either PCGS or NGC and have just about depleted the whole thing to start over with a MS-66 Minimum set

HTubbs

I haven't sold my entire collection,but there was a time when I sold off most of my collection including my seated coins.There were a number of coins from that time that I wish I had kept,my dad gave me a worn out 1867 shield nickel,boy do I kick myself often for selling that.I didn't get much for it,but there was sentimental value.


I'm back to collecting though,and I work on a set and eventually will sell it off. Right now I'm working on a date/mm set of seated and bust dimes.

Hayden

Coinhog

I've been thinking about it but I will probably save my complete 1/4 ounce proof platinum collection because I believe that the series has long legs and will increase significantly in the next ten years. I want to focus on filling my Dansco 7070 with quality specimens. I have mostly FBL franklins and all of the mints commemorative releases from the last twenty years. Time to clean house I guess.

UncleJoe

In the early 70's I sold nearly every coin I owned to pay college tuition.

Joe.

DeusExMachina

I just did. I completed a set and realized that it was more fun to build than finish.

So I am starting over with a more difficult series. Should take some time....

mgoodm3

I sold off about 100 coins last year to pare down my collection. I just wanted to concentrate on copper and get rid of the chaff.

Smittys

I sold everything in 1992, opened a sports card shop...sold it in 1996, and when back into coins

USCGCraig

Sold my complete mint state and Proof Ike Sets. Also sold a really nice complete Merc and Buffalo including 3-leg and 18/17. Was going through a tough financial time when I transferred for the Coast Guard. Regrets, no. Those can be replaced. I did hold onto three coins my grand'pa gave me:

1735 Brunswick-Luneberg-Calenberg 1 Thaler with orginal dark toning we all love on Bust coinage-PCGS VF35
1613 Danish 1 Mark-PCGS AU50 "beautiful coin"
1485-1495 English 1/2 Groat-PCGS XF40

All of these are significant as they had been in my family for at least 6 generations. I had them graded just for grins. Each has a neat story. My family is Danish so I can only imagine what and where the 1613 1 Mark came from. I believe a family member fought in a small war and acquired the 1 Thaler. As for the 1/2 Groat, no idea except it has been in the family a long time. I can only imagine a "groundling" paying their 1/2 Groat to see some guy named Bill Shakespeare put on a production back in the late 1490's.

These coins will continue to be passed down in my family.

hootchiegirl

I am doing it as we speak. I have come to the conclusion that I spend too much time and money on coins and not enough time with my family, it gets to be somewhat overwhelming and there are other places I wish to put my money...like some acreage close to home to play on the weekends and weeknights. I know I WILL GET BACK INTO IT BUT NEED A BREAK AND A PRIORITY ADJUSTMENT. aLSO THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING THAT CANNOT BE REPURCHASED...AND WITH THE ECONOMY TURNING i BELIEVE i WILL REPURCHASE SOME AT A 30 40 PERCENT REDUCTION OVER SELLING NOW. GOOD LUCK AND ITDOES HAVE A " CLEANSING FEELING ATTATCHED TO IT, BUT KEEP A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITES AS TO NOT GET SEVERE WITHDRAWL OR REGRET...KEEP THE oops caps lock.....keep the ones with a personal history..spectacular rip etc once again good luck

RBinTex

Is there any OTHER way?