Art collecting and coin collecting: An analogy...

MrEureka

I just bought a couple of cheap paintings from a no-name local artist. They're wonderful, but he may never catch on and the paintings may never be worth anything. On the other hand, if I build a great art collection an it includes his art, that in itself can help make his name.

That got me thinking about people that collect coins that have never been in favor, but which later became popular in large part because of the collector's interest. One example is Bill Fivaz and his Hobo Nickels. When he started collecting them, they were nearly worthless. He became the Pied Piper of Hobos and the rest is history. The best ones can bring thousands.

There must be other such examples. Name them!

SilverEagles92

Eliasberg? He was ahead of his time in his purchases, and now his coins are worth many multiples what he paid for them.

291fifth

Name art in the US is largely the creation of major market (New York) dealers and critics. The art may actually be downright awful but if the dealers and critics can steer their wealthy clients in the desired direction a star can be born. There is nothing new about this.

The hobo nickel analogy is interesting...but then, it does involve an art form.

The Flint Art Institute in Flint, Michigan undertook an aquisition project several years ago that produced a most interesting collection. They sought out top quality mid-western art by artists who were very competent (most were graduates of major art schools) but not well known. I would have taken most of the art in this collection over the promoted "name" New York art.

An art collector who makes his own decisions is someone I respect.

au58

A few years ago, I sold some coins to fund the purchase of two paintings. My wife loves them and everyone who comes to the house comments favorably. In some way, I feel like I am sharing my collection with others in a way they can appreciate.

jbsteven

I am hoping vintage ammo. I have been stackin' it deep.

ar18

My uncle is an art broker in NY City and I do own several nice examples.

WoodenJefferson

Just watch the "Anitiques Road Show" the vases on there that sold for mere cents or dollars in the teens & twenties, and now, since vase COLLECTORS want them, are worth thousands of dollars. The show host kinda crudely flips'em over to see the marking on the bottoms...wonder if they have ever broke one doing that?

AnkurJ

I have a drawing from my favorite artist, Norman Rockwell, and everytime I look at it I cant beleive that I own it! That is something I would never sell for anything (except an ill family member) :-)

Ankur

coinkat

Art seems alittle more trendy and no names can be become a name that is a mere flash in the pan. Having said that, art should have a redeeming quality that communicates and catches people differently than coins.

coinmickey

Interesting topic- I've recently been debating (with myself of course) whether to quit coin collecting and take up art collecting. Unfortunately I can do neither on a level that will bring a huge return for the investment (e.g.- Monet, Rembrandt). However, you can "invest" in some rather nice examples of art from the 19th and 20th century with relative ease. You can also collect photography, something I think is a sleeper investment.

I think the one constant in both fields is that you need to have a lot of money to make a lot of money. But that's really a maxim for a lot of things, no?

IGWT

The analogy is not working. Throwing the Pied Piper into the mix might have confused things.

ColonialCoinUnion

<< <i>There must be other such examples. Name them! >>



Certainly some (if not most) of Ford's holdings would qualify.

While some of his collecting interests (NJ coppers, for example) have been popular for well more than a century, hes had plenty of weird, off-beat stuff that brought good money because it was part of his collection.

StrikeOutXXX

Probably doesn't fit exactly into your scenario, but one person/action influincing a collecting area would have to be:

Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis. Without them and their book (And perhaps their own collecting habits), I doubt there would be such a VAM craze as there is today.

WoodenJefferson

The analogy is not working. Throwing the Pied Piper into the mix might have confused things.

I stay confused, but what else is new...caught on, I think.

There are those who did not know they would spur interest in this hobby until their demise.

Binyon comes to mind, the casino owner who was hoarding silver for just the bullion value. Bet he never thought that his coins would end up in holders and sold peice meal.

His legacy is now preserved for others to hold and enjoy.

Getting close?

MrEureka

Armand Champa did a good job of it in numismatic literature.

MrEureka

John Griffee did it with St Patrick's farthings by die variety.

Coinosaurus

John Adams and medals. A few others could be credited as well, and certainly the appearance of the Ford collection has played a part.

tradedollarnut

Bruce Scher made three cent nickels sexy....

WoodenJefferson

chopmarked Trade Dollars

Isn't there a board member here than can interprate chop marks?

KentuckyJ

We sold coins this past year to fund part of our art collection (Jenness Cortez). I don't think it was a bad trade. Her art is on the wall. We very much enjoy seeing the paintings we have. They are not as liquid as anything PCGS/NGC, if we needed to raise cash, but, in the long run, Jenness is a top quality living artist and her work will continue to appreciate. I would rather see fine art than make occasional visits to coins that mostly have to be hidden away in safe deposit boxes.

KJ

messydesk

<< <i>Probably doesn't fit exactly into your scenario, but one person/action influincing a collecting area would have to be:

Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis. Without them and their book (And perhaps their own collecting habits), I doubt there would be such a VAM craze as there is today. >>

The thing is, they never got VAM collecting much off the ground themselves. It took Jeff Oxman and Michael Fey with their Top 100 book to light the fuse back in 1996, but that was more an effective dispersal of information than a series catching on because someone else was collecting it.