Method of Madness: Collecting Strategies

Cladiator

Do you or have you struggled with how to collect the coins you that you collect?

This is an issue that plagued me in my U.S. collecting for quite some time. I was lucky enough to solve the problem when I discovered my true numismatic love, the Capped Bust half dime. Ever since then my U.S. collecting has been nothing but good times.

I'm currently in the woes of trying to figure out a method of collecting non-U.S. gold. There are many ways one could go about doing this. By nation, by coin size, by era, by specific date, by design element, by grade and so on and so on...the ways are nearly endless with the sheer qauantity and variety of non-U.S. gold that is available to collectors. I've had this same talk with a couple forum members and they've echoed some of the same frustrations that I've felt due to this lack of focus.

So my questions to you are; Have you struggled with this issue? If so, how did you resolve it? What is the general method of collecting that you follow for non-U.S. gold?

Stork

Still working on resolving....let me know if you come up with anything


Cathy

Bailathacl

My strategy on Darkside gold was easy, at least at first. I wanted to obtain the single coolest design within my preset maximum price for each country that I have visited. Once complete, I started trying to obtain one from countries I hadn't visited (yet), again based on the "single coolest design I could afford" guide. It was a satisfying way to start collecting gold, but I'm sure I'll soon be itching to buy a second or third or fourth coin from certain countries.

What a dilemma though....

Cladiator

Maybe it's just me but the thought of collecting with no focus gives me a headache LOL

With the huge array of dates, mints, sizes, designs, nations and fineness it truely is dizzying. There are countless coins I find attractive from gold hammered coinage right up to the 1960's. I must figure out some parameters! (I'm a simple guy and need rules ) I've thought about restricting the collection to AU coins to keep the cost down but from the couple of hundred images I've looked at lately it seems AU gold is pretty darn "baggy" looking. Something about higher end mint state MS64+ gold that is so alluring...those clean golden fields almost look like a tub of fresh butter! Of course if I were to go the route of MS coins I'd be excluding many coins because of cost. Ugh, dilemas!

Would still love to hear how the rest of you have attacked non-U.S. gold???



Bailathacl, I like the way you dealt with structuring it. Unfortunately if I were to collect gold coins from every country I've been I'd have no non-U.S. gold.

MrEureka

This is an issue that plagued me in my U.S. collecting for quite some time. I was lucky enough to solve the problem when I discovered my true numismatic love, the Capped Bust half dime. Ever since then my U.S. collecting has been nothing but good times.

And there is your answer for world gold. Keep on playing until you find your specialty. Then focus, focus, focus.

BTW, please note my sig line. Actually, both of them.

Doogy

your issue with the breadth of non-US gold is actually what drives me in my collecting. I love having an almost endless amount of countries, designs, mint marks and the inherent historic value of the many world gold coins out there. Personally, I try not to limit myself, and find that if i buy what i like (as long as the price is right), i'm very happy. I have some of the more classic world gold coins, as well as modern NCLTs that are amazingly artistic in their designs. I try to steer clear of rare dates or issues, instead i've found that many of the most beautiful world gold coins can be had in the lower MS grades for a modest premium above daily melt value! I have a list in my head of gold issues i'm after right now, to include:

Mex 50 and Mex 20 pesos
1908 100 Corona "Lady in the Clouds" (scarce and pricey, i guess it goes against my "rare" rule listed above)
Napolean III 50 or 100 francs, mid 1850s issue
Monaco 100 francs
India mohar from mid 1800s
Brazilian coin from mid 1800s
a nice, but circluated Escudo (Spain maybe?) from 1799ish

Personally, I'd get terribly bored collecting one issue of coins that only differ by their mintmarks and year of issue. I love picking up all of my different world gold coins, each with their own personality, and studying them for their inherent beauty.

good luck!

Doug

Doogy

<< <i>This is an issue that plagued me in my U.S. collecting for quite some time. I was lucky enough to solve the problem when I discovered my true numismatic love, the Capped Bust half dime. Ever since then my U.S. collecting has been nothing but good times.

And there is your answer for world gold. Keep on playing until you find your specialty. Then focus, focus, focus.

BTW, please note my sig line. Actually, both of them. >>




Andy,

I have to admit, I just stumbled upon the Central American gold issues you have in your signature line. I'd love to learn more from you, or if you know of a website where i can read more about these fascinating issues. They certainly have their charm to them, and I'd imagine the Central American countries probably didn't churn these coins out by the millions like Sovereigns or something.


thanks!

Doug

Doogy

forgot to mention: You may want to consider modern NCLTs and bullion type items. I know the term "bullion" turns many off, but there are issues such as the UK Britannia that is almost beyond breathtaking in proof, that has mintages far lower than traditional bullion issues like the AGE and Krugerrand. I never miss an opportunity to trot this baby out whenever modern gold coins are brought up, as the Una & the Lion is my favorite coin design, bar none. Originally it was a 5 Sovereign proof issue in 1839; now these coins are at least $40k and up when they come up for auction. Gibraltar re-issued the exact same design in 1989 for the 150th anniversary of it, and this 2 Sovereign (1/2 oz of gold) example was limited to 1989 pieces. I really need to get this re-slabbed though, the scratches are very distracting.

Silvereagle82

Cladiator,

You can tell from my collection I'm all over the place, but I try to stick to quality and variety ..... but I am very fond of the Lowland Countries.



Doogy,
I agree with you ......."Personally, I'd get terribly bored collecting one issue of coins that only differ by their mintmarks and year of issue. I love picking up all of my different world gold coins, each with their own personality, and studying them for their inherent beauty"

Doogy

<< <i>Cladiator,

You can tell from my collection I'm all over the place, but I try to stick to quality and variety ..... but I am very fond of the Lowland Countries.



Doogy,
I agree with you ......."Personally, I'd get terribly bored collecting one issue of coins that only differ by their mintmarks and year of issue. I love picking up all of my different world gold coins, each with their own personality, and studying them for their inherent beauty" >>




Cladiator,

I suggest you take a look at Silvereagle's wonderful world gold collection. There are many issues in there that makes your jaw drop. In fact, this was the set that inspired me to start almost exclusively collecting world gold (along with Mike Marrotta's and Doug's early advice on Coinpeople)

I have the newest Friedberg on its way to me; that will certainly keep me busy drooling for a long while!


Doug

Silvereagle82

Doogy,

You won't regret getting the Friedberg.... I find having both the Friedberg and Krause compliment each other and of course you get the earlier coins in Friedberg.

Also thanks for the compliment

Ricke

Focus is overrated.

I have strings in my collection, and I have a pre-set quantity cap on each one - that's intended to keep my random accumulation in check.

I've always found that focus leads to boredom.

theboz11

I collect the gold the same way I have been collecting my other darkside and farside jewels, If it has a Lion, Car or BBL, I'll be looking to own an example

rhound1977

I resolved mine, I do not collect gold

Cruzi

Gold Sovereigns or Half Sovereigns are a good way to go for gold.

They span nearly 200yrs and come from UK, Australia, Canada, India and South Africa with 7 mints, they cover 8 monarchs with 14 odd portraits with coins in good grades for every budget with areas you can specialize in or try to do a type set of.

You can buy moderns or you can do Victorian ones, you can do a World War 1 date set or you can do a Perth Mint set, you can try for a George V mints set etc,etc,etc.

They can be common bullion to excessively rare, with 1 or 2 examples known.


I must admit to a bias for these, but do not apologise for it.

My Sovs

AuldFartte

<< <i>I resolved mine, I do not collect gold >>



Same here. Well, except for the gold for my U.S. Type Set. And the gold for my British Victorian Type Set. So far, that's it.

As far as focusing my collection goes, well, I used to grab everything I could get my hands on. It took a long time, but I finally narrowed it down, and I did it like this:

I pulled all my "collections" out, spread 'em out on the kitchen table and started looking at each one, and "feeling" which ones gave me the most pleasure in either owning or acquiring. I found that liteside type and Victorian type had given me the best feelings, especially the better quality examples. So, I got rid of a bunch of liteside stuff and began focusing on the better quality type coins. Same thing for the Victorians.

This new method of collecting, only getting quality coins (appealing to MY eye anyway) has saved me a bunch of money because I no longer go after coins on impulse (well, not too much ...). But when I do buy a coin or two, I spend more that I would have per coin than previously. My collection is growing very slowly now, but it is much more gratifying.

Example: At the last local coin show, I spent $750 on two pieces of old copper for the US set. Previously I would have spent $400 or so, and brought home around a dozen coins. The only coins I have purchased this year have been at the two local coin shows, but I'm thrilled with my purchases

Cladiator