Not understanding the term "Widget"

slipgate

As I think I understand it, a "Widget" is an ordinary coin that someone ordinary like me can afford. Not a key, or perhaps a low grade key, but maybe a high grade non-key coin that is maybe $150?

Do I have it wrong?

If this is the case, it almost sounds like a dealers' term to guilt or shame someone into buying something that they cannot afford.

BobGreene

<< <i>Do I have it wrong? >>


I'd say you're pretty much on the money.



<< <i>If this is the case, it almost sounds like a dealers' term to guilt or shame someone into buying something that they cannot afford. >>



Again, you're spot on.

fc

well i do know a widget can come in all price ranges!
take a 1881P liberty half eagle. They minted so many of them
you can easily find one, any day of the week, in all grades right
up to GEM. Imagine finding a low grade 1881P might be harder
then finding a MS66!

So basically it describes a coin that is replaceable, and rather easily at that.

Russ

I own lots of widgets, and it's even worse than that. My widgets are, gasp!, moderns. I like them anyway.

Russ, NCNE

jmski52

"Widget" is a derogatory term which resides in the lexicon of coin snobs.

braddick

I always thought of a widget as not so much price, although I'd imagine that plays a role, but instead common availability. For example all 1909-S VDB's (outside of maybe MS66 RED) are "widgets", so to speak, as they are easily obtainable at shows and on auctions sites such as eBay.

Cladiator

<< <i>"Widget" is a derogatory term which resides in the lexicon of coin snobs. >>

TwoSides2aCoin

Widget is not as bad as it sounds.
90% of all coins are widgets.
8% are worth investing into
2% are worth CACkling about.

Now.... Collectors:

2% are snobs
8% think they're better
90% are just like you and me ... that is ..if you're anything like me

fc

widget when being used to discuss availability, in the sense of buying something from a walmart, always available, common, i hardly consider it derogatory.

how then would you describe a coin that is common as dirt?

should i be calling the 1881P half eagle bullion then?
how about a 2003 MS penny? spending change?

widget, i will admit, can be used in a more negative connotation but i feel that most people do not think the criticism through and would rather concentrate on the negative part of the statement.

AU58WALKERS

I always thought a "WIDGET" was any coin that Laura didn't have for sale

RYK

Widget is a replaceable coin. It could be a blast white 81-S Morgan in 65, a proof 64 Kennedy in 66, a Minnesota state quarter in XF, or a High Relief Saint in 62.

jmski52

how then would you describe a coin that is common as dirt?

That, my good man - would be referred to as "common."

Swampboy

<< <i>how then would you describe a coin that is common as dirt? >>



That would be a little tiny coin shaped like a grain of sand that I could reach over and pick up for free and wouldn't need the least measly portion of my paycheck to aquire.

jmski52

Widget is a replaceable coin. It could be a blast white 81-S Morgan in 65, a proof 64 Kennedy in 66, a Minnesota state quarter in XF, or a High Relief Saint in 62.

Better watch yerself, RYK........you are starting to reference Moderns in your posts! Before you know it, you might be buying them.

fc

i purposely choose a classic coin to criticize ;-) no modern bashing for me.

the trouble with the word common is that it means different things to a lot of us.

a widget gives us a picture of availability that is more understood.

a common 1844O half eagle.. means 450 existing!

PrivateCoinCollector

Call them what you like, widgets, modern, common, keys. I want them all.

AU58WALKERS

<< <i>A "widget" is defined as a coin, regardless of value, that are available in quantity and can be replaced without much difficulty. Common date coins and available key date examples such as the 1909-S VDB cent would qualify for widget consideration. >>



...as would the 1916 standing liberty quarter

WTCG

A "widget" is defined as a coin, regardless of value, that are available in quantity and can be replaced without much difficulty. Common date coins and available key date examples such as the 1909-S VDB cent would qualify for widget consideration.

Also note that "widget" is not always a derrogatory term.

jmski52

the trouble with the word common is that it means different things to a lot of us.

a widget gives us a picture of availability that is more understood.

I guess that one might refer to "widget" in terms of the manufacturing process, in order to arrive at an understanding that a given coin is manufactured in huge numbers, assuming that many, many pieces are made for most current coin issues. And that is why I interpret the manufacturing origins of the word "widget" as having slightly derogatory connotations - that a few billion are made and therefore, not worthy of recognition of any sort. To me, "widget" implies an association with a mechanized, nameless, faceless enterprise which has no soul - but I wax philosophical - all coins deserve better than that, even the lowly cent.

Using "common" to describe a coin would place less emphasis on the manufacturing aspect of the piece, and would lean more toward the general availability of a coin after the manufacturing process, and after it was placed into circulation (or distribution, as the case may be). Once in circulation (or after being distributed), all of the other factors that cause attrition begin to work their magic, and a once-common coin may one day become "scarce." You just never quite know what might happen. Clad King might well be only one left standing when it's all over.

BobGreene

<< <i>widget, i will admit, can be used in a more negative connotation but i feel that most people do not think the criticism through and would rather concentrate on the negative part of the statement. >>


I think the way in which the term is used determines how some people react to it. For instance, if somebody is proud of the 1881-S MS65 Morgan that they've recently acquired and shows it around to various people and Laura, being one of those people, looks at it in disdain and says "hmmmph.. it's just another widget!", that might tend to be a little upsetting to the coin's owner.

ricko

jmski52 hit the nail on the head..... a demeaning term, indeed one that could drive collectors out of the hobby - since their interests may be the target of such foolishness. Real collectors do not disparage others. Cheers, RickO

CoinRaritiesOnline

<< <i> Real collectors do not disparage others. Cheers, RickO >>



Well said, RickO.

fc

and then when the common man collector goes to sell and what does he hear from almost every dealer under the sun?

i guess one does not learn the bitter truth of the term until they try to sell some of those coins.

they better be top notch eye appealing all guns firing blazers to recover what you paid right?

jmski52

and then when the common man collector goes to sell and what does he hear from almost every dealer under the sun?

i guess one does not learn the bitter truth of the term until they try to sell some of those coins.

they better be top notch eye appealing all guns firing blazers to recover what you paid right?

Depends on how much he bought them for, eh?

cladking

<< <i>A "widget" is defined as a coin, regardless of value, that are available in quantity and can be replaced without much difficulty. Common date coins and available key date examples such as the 1909-S VDB cent would qualify for widget consideration.

Also note that "widget" is not always a derrogatory term. >>



This is as I understand the term.

By the same token, there are coins in all price ranges that are not easily located so are not widgets.

TwoSides2aCoin

Widget is not meant to demean... It's like the term "weenie".
There are numismatic terms and they describe things.

Think of an anomaly being queer. Think of the guy who found the 1798 Bust dollar trial die struck in copper as being "gay". It's all perspective.

RegistryCoin

I understand how the term is being used now here on the board, but basically it is a old business school term, that has been misapplied . It is just terminology to describe a generic manufactured item which was made in bulk, for the purposes of generalized discussion of manufacturing processes and marketing, and offers no implications, good or bad. The term could be used to discuss mass mintage processes of coin production, but as I see it, the term was originally posted on these boards in somewhat of a haughty way to disparage other collectors' choices, their coins and collections.

nickel

So where does widget start or stop? Is it dollar amount ,
availability ? Condition rarity? Mintage ?
An earlier post mentioned the 1909 S VDB. There are 60
listed on ebay with 484,000 minted
As for 1916 D Merc ,there are 64 listed with 264,000 minted .
One of my favorites is the 1912 S nickel , has 14 listed with
a mintage of 238,000 . To me , the nickel is not a widget .
Not rare , not expensive , but a bit tougher to find in Fine to
EF condition .
PS All coins can be replaced . Including the 1894 S Dime

speety

Can you find a 12-s at (almost) any coin show? I think so, maybe not in higher grades but in lower grades its still a 'widget' in my opinion.

I don't think of a widget as a bad name for something, it's simply something that can be 'easily' replaced at almost any time. Try finding a nice 01-O barber half in any grade above Fine or an attractive 71-CC or 73-CC seated dollar. It may take years for anyone of the three i just mentioned although the barber half is under $100 when they do come up. Neither of these are widgets imho.

FatMan

Most dealers who use the term do not use it as a derogatory term. It is part of their jargon that they use it to define readily available coins. Unfortunately, these dealers who use the term are too blind to realize that most collectors see it as a derogatory term. And dealers continue to alienate collectors/customers when they use the term in general conversation.

Connecticoin

<< <i>Also note that "widget" is not always a derrogatory term. >>



Sometimes it is a term of endearment, as is the case with this set: Link

crito

Widgets are easy to trade sight-unseen. I can put a box of generic PCGS MS64 Morgans on ebay with no picture and get full retail. You can't do that with a monster toner.

cheezhed

Widget
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Widget may refer to:

* Widget (economics), a placeholder name for an object or, more specifically, a mechanical or other manufactured device
* In computing:
o Widget engine, such as Dashboard widgets for Apple's Mac OS X v10.4, Windows Vista Sidebar, or Yahoo! Widgets (aka Konfabulator)
o GUI Widget, a component of a graphical user interface that the user interacts with
o Web widget, a third party item that can be embedded in a web page
o Mobile widget, a third party item that can be embedded in a mobile phone
* Widget (beer), the nitrogen widget in cans and bottles of beer
* Widget (comics), a character in Marvel Comics
* Widget (name), in-house name for the Delta Air Lines corporate logo
* Widget (TV series), a 1990's animated television series
* Widget (tool), a small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, used to remove paint from glass

Zoins

<< <i>Most dealers who use the term do not use it as a derogatory term. It is part of their jargon that they use it to define readily available coins. Unfortunately, these dealers who use the term are too blind to realize that most collectors see it as a derogatory term. And dealers continue to alienate collectors/customers when they use the term in general conversation. >>

This is also the impression I get. I think may be a useful term for dealers that approach coins as a business and have to deal with inventory and turnover. I also think many collectors find the term derogatory and don't even have a need for such a term because they have collections and not inventory to manage. It may be useful for dealers to find another term that doesn't alienate potential customers if the term is useful from a business perspective.